1994 Mercedes-Benz 320 Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 42about this part
- Share
- 86%of 49 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 137,602miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 42 complaints about the electrical system of the 1994 Mercedes-Benz 320, 86% of the 49 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 137,602 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My 1994 Mercedes-Benz e320 cabriolet has a check engine light on. An investigation leads to disintegrated engine wire harness, that is shorting. The vehicle is running rough and stalling. There is a potential for a fire hazard. The car stalled on highway, causing me to loose control and crash into a side pole, damaging the front of the car.”
NHTSA complaint #10247195, filed 2008-10, 56,556 miles“Wire harness failure outer sheath is missing and exposed insulation is brittle. I understand this is common with the mercedes vehicles between '93 - '95. When will the company stand up and admit they have a problem. I guess sometimes it takes a accident with lives lost and lawsuit before anyone will admit there is a problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10222948, filed 2008-03, 122,000 miles“I have a 1994 e320, im going to sum this up, the harness is junk, my car stalls on the freeway, uses up gas like a running hose, got 6 miles on 12.00 worth of gas, lights flicker, when I cut back the tape it looked like someone put cig tobacco in the wire, then I looked and it was the insulation that had turned to nothing, all wires are rubbing. The fuel inj. Get floods with oil,gas. Its a mess and they want over 1000.00 to get a new one. Recall this harness before people start to die.”
NHTSA complaint #10419345, filed 2011-08, 150,000 miles“I was inspecting my car to prepare for a smog check.the check engine lite was on. I noticed that the wires going to the air pump had no insulation on them. I cut into the harness to find all of the wires were disintegrating. I ran the code check and got 3 codes. 4,5,and 18. One was EGR failure which is common. The other two were air pump and auto cam timing advance failure or shorted out. The wires to these components have no insulation on them. If mercedes didn't know this was a problem why did they afford a specific code for a shorted out smog component?”
NHTSA complaint #10500882, filed 2013-03, 192,350 miles“A year or two after the vehicle was purchased(may, 1995) I observed an oil leak. I brought this to the attention of the dealer back then, and was told essentially that all cars leak oil and that this leak was minor. Over the years it has been getting more pronounced, now leaking on the exhaust causing smoke. Recently I stopped going to the dealer for service, now to an independent mercedes specialist. They tell me that this oil leak is from the headgasket, a very common problem on the w124 chassis (e320 model). …”
NHTSA complaint #10206569, filed 2007-10, 10,000 milesElectrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 3 | 27% |
| 2001 | 6 | 35% |
| 2000 | 3 | 18% |
| 1999 | 7 | 23% |
| 1998 | 1 | 3% |
| 1997 | 3 | 16% |
| 1996 | 3 | 21% |
| 1995 | 16 | 55% |
| 1994 | 42 | 86% |
Other parts of the 1994 Mercedes-Benz 320
4 complaintsEngine cooling
4 complaintsEquipment
2 complaintsEngine
1 complaintsInterior lighting
1 complaintsSeats
1 complaintsSuspension
1 complaintsTires
1 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1994 Mercedes-Benz 320
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology