1992 Mercedes Benz 400E
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Mercedes Benz › 400E › 1992
These records cover every 1992 Mercedes Benz 400E. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
2 recalls name the 1992 Mercedes Benz 400E. Newest first.
High ambient engine compartment temperatures are experienced after the vehicle IS operated and then parked. If the vehicle IS restarted a short time later and the charcoal canister IS saturated with fuel, it IS possible that fuel vapor may be expelled through the inlet vent line of the canister onto the electric auxiliary radiator fan preresistor.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Under certain operating conditions the electric auxiliary radiator fan preresistor becomes hot enough to ignite the fuel expelled from the charcoal cannister and result in an underhood fire.
Remedy
Dealers will reposition the fuel vapor canister vent line away from the electric fan preresistor. In addition, the preresistor will have a larger heat shield and a fused wiring harness will be installed.
The plastic brake hydraulic hose from the automatic slip control unit was misrouted too close to the pre-resistor for the electric auxiliary engine cooling fan which becomes hot under certain conditions. This could cause the hose to melt and leak brake fluid onto the hot pre-resistor.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Brake fluid can catch on fire when it contacts the hotpre-resistor, posing the risk of injury to anyone in or near the vehicle.
Remedy
Replace and reroute any hose that may have been misrouted.
Owner complaints
19 complaints1 involved a crash1 involved a fire
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Electrical system · Power train
The check engine light came on and before I could pull over there was smoke coming from under the hood. when I opened the hood the air cleaner assembly was melted through and some flame was still glowing in the driver side air filter. the upper engine wiring harness was charred along the driver…
The check engine light came on and before I could pull over there was smoke coming from under the hood. when I opened the hood the air cleaner assembly was melted through and some flame was still glowing in the driver side air filter. the upper engine wiring harness was charred along the driver side and the connector to the cam actuator had disintegrated. after getting the car towed home I followed the harness back to the amp connector and all of the insulation on the wires had completely degraded to a powder. I also checked the wires on the maf sensor and the throttle body and found the same condition. this IS a manufacturing issue: substandard wiring insulation on all wiring in the engine compartment. *tr
- Engine and engine cooling · Service brakes, hydraulic
1992 mercedes benz 400E. consumer writes in regards to several recall notices rendered vehicle useless. *smd mercedes benz wrote to the consumer, stating there were no outstanding recall campaigns on the vehicle. the consumer referenced recall numbers, 92v083000 and 94v004000. *Jb
- Electrical system
1992 mercedes benz 400E. I am concerned about the safety of the wiring harness on this vehicle. insulation on wires IS cracking and peeling off exposing wires to other wires and the engine. I am concerned about this causing a fire. I am aware that this IS common to this model because of…
1992 mercedes benz 400E. I am concerned about the safety of the wiring harness on this vehicle. insulation on wires IS cracking and peeling off exposing wires to other wires and the engine. I am concerned about this causing a fire. I am aware that this IS common to this model because of the composition of the insulation material. I do not want injury to myself or others while driving this automobile. *Tr
- Electrical system
Mb wiring harness failure 1992 400se. *tr
- Electrical system
The engine / fuel injection wiring harness of my 1992 mercedes-benz 400E (145,000 miles), has cracked insulation throughout and IS beginning to short out with the risk of causing dangerous engine malfunction and even fire inside my engine compartment. *tr
- Electrical system
I have a mercedes benz 400E and the wiring harness eventually withered and deteriorated due to faulty manufacturing. *tr
- Electrical system
1992 mercedes-benz 400E wiring harness multiple failures. replaced engine wiring harness shortly after I purchased this car (used) in 2005 due to deterioration of insulation from the wires. I was told at the time that this IS a common problem with this era of mb due to some planned obsolescence…
1992 mercedes-benz 400E wiring harness multiple failures. replaced engine wiring harness shortly after I purchased this car (used) in 2005 due to deterioration of insulation from the wires. I was told at the time that this IS a common problem with this era of mb due to some planned obsolescence or targeted self-destruction by the manufacturer. today I am told that I need to replace the wiring harness leading to the starter motor for the exact same reason. these are expensive parts, only available from the manufacturer and require extensive labor to replace. this IS absolutely a manufacturer's defect and should be resolved by a company that clearly advertises a "long-life" product. *tr
- Electrical system › Wiring
The wiring harness on my 1992 400E has disintegrated, as I've read to be common of the mercedes of the early 1990's. my car shudders dramatically when idling, and alternates between periods of slow/no acceleration to unexpected lurching forward. *tr
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
1992 mercedes e 400 main engine wiring harness failure. Harness fried due to poor wiring insulation. I own two mercedes and both are for sale. Will never buy a car from mercedes ever again. Too much money and too mant problems.
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
Automobile repair shop showed me the problem with the wiring harness. The wiring harness wires were fried and became brittle.*ak
- Electrical system › Wiring
Tl*the contact owns a 1992 mercedes benz 400E. while driving 35 mph the vehicle shut off on the highway. he restarted the vehicle and depressed the accelerator pedal, causing the vehicle to idle. the dealer stated that the vehicle needed a new wiring harness, and an ait temp sensor. the dealer…
Tl*the contact owns a 1992 mercedes benz 400E. while driving 35 mph the vehicle shut off on the highway. he restarted the vehicle and depressed the accelerator pedal, causing the vehicle to idle. the dealer stated that the vehicle needed a new wiring harness, and an ait temp sensor. the dealer stated that the bearing harness was defected and metal was visible. the wires inside were deteriorating. the vehicle was taken to the dealer on april 6TH, 8TH, 9TH, and 18TH, and the failure remained. the current mileage IS 132,000, and failure mileage was 13,000.*ak
- Electrical system › Wiring
The engine wiring harness in my 1992 mercedes 400E has deteriorated and IS causing shorts throughout the car. the gauges do not work and the throttle body IS failing. I have had the car towed twice because of this and the repair IS in the thousands of dollars. this should be a recall and replaced due to the safety hazard. my car stalled in the middle of the road. *Jb
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
I was driving 80 going on highway 696 when the car suddenly died. I was in the left lane of a 3 lane freeway. I had enough time to get onto the right side along with a few angry drivers. it appears the wire harness was toast. it short circuited and fried the lh module that controls the engine. *jb
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
Engine wiring harness cracked, replaced at cost of $728 @ mileage of 86,226 on 10/21/03. vehicle had been purchased as mb starmark vehicle at ~45,000 miles. *nm
- Electrical system › Wiring
Vehicle checked and found that insulation on all of the fuel injection wiring, temperature sensor and fan thermal switch harness deteriorated causing wires to rub together. Consumer discovered that harness insulation IS made of very poor material .the insulation breaks very easy at the touch and turns into dust. The whole wire harness IS in the same situation. *Jb
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
Vehicle checked and found that insulation on all of the fuel injection wiring ,temperature sensor and fan thermal switch harness deteriorated causing wires to rub together. Consumer discovered that harness insulation IS made of very poor material .the insulation breaks very easy at the touch and turns into dust. The whole wire harness IS in the same situation. *jb
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
Main engine wiring harness IS currently deteriorating causing the wires to be exposed to an intense amount of heat.
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
Consumer states in 08/02 experienced problems w/air conditioning cutting off. vehicle checked by dlr who diagnosed that insulation on fuel injection wiring harness deteriorated causing wires to rub together. consumer discovered that harness insulation IS made of bio-degradable material resulting in eary deterioration. nlm
- Vehicle speed control
Acceleration slip control unit failed, causing vehicle to accelerate out of control.
Every Mercedes Benz 400E model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.