1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 Problems
- Complaints
- 96filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 107,500miles, 78 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 20 mpgcombined, 3.2L 6-cyl RWD · 18 city / 24 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Complaints for this model year are dominated by degradation of the engine compartment wiring harness: owners describe insulation that crumbles, exposing bare copper and producing shorts, warning lights, rough running and stalling, often diagnosed during routine service. Reports appear at a wide range of mileages, from under 50,000 to well over 200,000, and several owners say the harness was replaced at their own expense. Smaller numbers of complaints cover fuel odors from deteriorated hoses, coolant and cooling-system concerns, and a handful of other systems.
- Electrical system
Engine wiring harness insulation crumbling
- 68 complaints (71%)
- median 97,531 mi at 12.1 yrs old (58 state mileage)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- owner-quoted repair $1,450 (median of 12 quotes)
- filed 2001–2019
Owners describe the insulation on the engine compartment wiring harness cracking, flaking or crumbling away, leaving bare copper wires that touch and short. Symptoms reported include intermittent check engine lights, rough idle and misfiring, loss of power or limp mode, surging or unexpected acceleration, and the engine stalling or shutting off while driving. Many say the problem was found by an independent mechanic or dealer during unrelated service, and that replacement of the harness was recommended or performed, usually at the owner's cost; several report the same diagnosis recurring after a repair. Reported across a wide mileage range, from under 50,000 to over 200,000 miles, with many in the 70,000-150,000 mile range.
What to check: Open the hood and inspect the harness near the ignition coils, injectors and sensors for stiff, cracked or missing insulation and exposed wire; ask whether the engine harness has been replaced and request the receipt if so.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“My car stalled in an extremely inopportune time due to a failed wiring harness. The car stalled on the freeway, I appreciate being alive to write this. The engine wiring harness is disintegrating for no other reason than age. My car is 95 mercedes wagon. Mercedes customer service wants to take no responsibility, they blame prior mechanics and the arizona heat.”
NHTSA complaint #10211479, filed 2007-12, 10,700 miles“My 1995 mercedes wagon E320 has only 42k miles on it but all the wires aka the engine harness are crumbling to the touch. All the wire insulation has deteriorated because of the use of bio-gradable plastic. The dealer wants me to pay $1500 for the engine harness. How can such a major part be so poorly made and unreliable. This is a major safety issue for my family.”
NHTSA complaint #10134777, filed 2005-08, 42,000 miles - Engine
Stalling or loss of power traced to wiring
- 43 complaints (45%)
- median 99,000 mi at 13.0 yrs old (39 state mileage)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- owner-quoted repair $1,900 (median of 6 quotes)
- filed 2003–2019
A subset of owners describe the car stalling, hesitating or losing power while driving, sometimes on a highway, and in some cases the vehicle had to be towed. Diagnostics at a shop typically pointed to deteriorated wiring in the engine harness or to the throttle actuator wiring, and replacing the harness resolved or was proposed to resolve the stalling. Some describe repeated misfiring and multiple cylinder failures before the harness was identified. Mostly reported between roughly 40,000 and 200,000 miles, with several cases in the 100,000-160,000 range.
What to check: Ask whether the car has ever stalled or lost power while driving, and whether the throttle actuator or engine harness wiring has been inspected or replaced; a test drive with attention to idle quality and hesitation is worthwhile.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“The car began to idle rough months before, it completely stopped. I thought this was just a mass airflow sensor, but after getting that fixed I didn't know what it was. A few months later, the car stopped in the middle of the road. It could have ended in a crash but thankfully I was on a road with fairly light traffic. Upon inspection, the wiring harness on my '95 E320 completely was wearing away, specifically around the ignition coils. …”
NHTSA complaint #10497769, filed 2013-02, 197,000 miles“Car engine stalled during driving. Car was brought to the mercedes benz dealer (millennium in nj ( who told me that the wiring harness needed replacement. I had more than 100k miles on the car so I paid $2,700 to have the problem fixed.”
NHTSA complaint #10164085, filed 2006-08, 118,000 miles - Electrical system
Warning light and electrical faults from harness shorts
- 45 complaints (47%)
- median 105,000 mi at 13.2 yrs old (43 state mileage)
- 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
- owner-quoted repair $1,450 (median of 8 quotes)
- filed 2003–2019
Owners report recurring check engine and other warning lights, erratic instrument behavior and shorts in various circuits that were ultimately traced to degraded harness wiring. Some note the harness fault damaged or threatened sensors and control modules, and one describes a fire in the engine bay that a mechanic attributed to the wiring. Repairs described include replacing the harness and, in some cases, additional electronic components. Spread from under 50,000 to about 200,000 miles, with many reports between 75,000 and 150,000 miles.
What to check: Check that all dashboard warning lamps behave normally at key-on and after start, and ask whether any electrical faults have been diagnosed or repaired; visible crumbling insulation in the engine bay is a reason to budget for harness work.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I have two mercedes benz w124 cars. Both cars have had the wiring harness failure and that destroyed many very expensive electronic components on the cars. 1993 300e 4 door sedan, wiring harness failure and destroy many things very expensive on the car 1995 E320 cabriolet rare collectors convertible made in 1994 and 1995 only! Please send me two forms to fill out.”
NHTSA complaint #10403711, filed 2011-05, 93,000 miles“Car ran great one day and the next day the car started skipping I sent the car to a local shop thinking it just needed a tune up but was I wrong the motor wire harness had melted the shop replaced the wire harness .car still has problems light on the dash flicker on and off car still doesn't run right I've spent over $1000 dollars and still have a car that I can't drive.”
NHTSA complaint #10213638, filed 2008-01, 208,434 miles
Buying note. The engine wiring harness is the item to focus on: inspect it closely or get a pre-purchase inspection from a shop familiar with these cars, and factor in the possibility of harness replacement. Also check for fuel odors and cooling system condition, and ask for records of any prior electrical repairs.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 96 consumer complaints for the 1995 Mercedes-Benz E320. 78 of the complaints include a mileage, and 8% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 107,500 miles. Of all complaints, 3 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 28 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Electrical system89 93%
- Engine cooling8 8.3%
- Fuel system8 8.3%
- Air bags2 2.1%
- Brakes2 2.1%
- Engine2 2.1%
- Equipment2 2.1%
- Body and structure2 2.1%
- Tires2 2.1%
- Vehicle speed control2 2.1%
Also reported: Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (2), Electronic stability control (1), Exterior lighting (1), Other or unknown (1), Transmission and drivetrain (1).
Example complaints
Electrical system: “The wiring harness has disintegrated into nothing but strands of wire all touching themselves and causing shorts and problems all over my car. I have been quoted insane amounts of money to replace something that should never have failed to begin with in this car. Further research suggests that this is a problem that mb USA should have recalled and fixed years ago.”
NHTSA complaint #10199285, filed 2007-08, 111,000 milesEngine cooling: “The contact owns a 1995 mercedes benz E320. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the engine stalled and then shut off. There were no warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was towed to a dealer and they stated that the engine wiring harness was deteriorated. The dealer remedied the issue. In december of 2008, the vehicle shut off while driving approximately 60 MPH. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and they stated that the wiring harness failed again. The manufacturer could not assist. …”
NHTSA complaint #10252655, filed 2008-12, 69,000 milesFuel system: “Wiring harness in 1995 mercedes benz E320 deteriorated causing the vehicle to stop abruptly and had to be towed - this is a known problem with these cars and mercedes has no response to correct or discount the repair parts - paid 3200.00 to replace engine harness, fuel actuator, transmission wiring harness -”
NHTSA complaint #10155439, filed 2006-04, 70,000 milesAir bags: “The contact owns a 1995 mercedes benz E320. While turning the key in the ignition, the air bag suddenly deployed. The contact filed a police report and called the dealership but the dealer stated that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The contact called the manufacturer and filed a complaint. The current and failure mileages were approximately 307,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10327503, filed 2010-04, 307,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
8% of the 78 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 77,200 and 143,728 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E320 Convertible RWD | 3.2L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 16 | 21 | 18 | $4,550 |
| E320 Coupe RWD | 3.2L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 18 | 24 | 20 | $4,100 |
| E320 Sedan RWD | 3.2L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 18 | 24 | 20 | $4,100 |
| E320 Wagon RWD | 3.2L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 16 | 22 | 18 | $4,550 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 28 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 10186141Dec 10, 2020Electrical system. NTG5.5: Incorrect time shown on instrument cluster, COMAND display, and analog clock
- 10186142Dec 9, 2020Electrical system. Unmotivated Reaction from Park Assist - model series 213 facelift / 238 facelift with option code 235 (active par- king assist) and option code 501 (surround view system)
- 10186135Dec 9, 2020Electronic stability control, Brakes. If the customer brakes sharply from a speed of > 30mph, without ABS intervention, there is a single cracking noise from the area of the ESP hydraulic unit
- 10179951Jul 20, 2020Electrical system. AIRMATIC Fault Message "Max 80 km/ h (50 mph) " In Instrument Cluster
- 10151959Jul 23, 2018Seat belts. Seat belt extender toothed rack sluggish or makes noises
- 10151948Jul 19, 2018Electronic stability control, Suspension. Display of suspension setting in head unit implausible
- 10151924Jul 2, 2018Body and structure. Liftgate intermittently does not open fully
- 10235972Apr 4, 2016Equipment. Enclosed for your information and pursuant to part 579.5, please find our latest Service and Warranty Bulletins for March, 2016
- 10135598Mar 25, 2015Engine. Engine diagnosis warning lamp lights up in instrument cluster, fault code U145400: "Implausible data were received from the ethanol sensor"
- 10135628Oct 14, 2014Equipment. iPhone mobile phone: Various complaints after software update to iOS8
Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz E320
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 8 | 62,209 | 3 | — | 26 | — | Not enough data |
| 2008 | 10 | 120,000 | 3 | — | 26 | — | Not enough data |
| 2007 | 17 | 85,551 | 4 | — | 26 | — | Falling |
| 2006 | 41 | 91,468 | 4 | — | 27 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 231 | 85,500 | 3 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 203 | 96,500 | 2 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2003 | 214 | 99,850 | 2 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 23 | 85,992 | 0 | — | 21 | — | Falling |
| 2001 | 38 | 89,500 | 0 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2000 | 44 | 155,000 | 0 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 1999 | 83 | 85,000 | 0 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 37 | 99,900 | 0 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 63 | 115,000 | 0 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 1996 | 45 | 110,000 | 0 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 96 | 107,500 | 0 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 11 | 146,754 | 0 | — | 19 | — | Not enough data |
All Mercedes-Benz E320 model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1995 Mercedes-Benz E320?
Complaints for this model year are dominated by degradation of the engine compartment wiring harness: owners describe insulation that crumbles, exposing bare copper and producing shorts, warning lights, rough running and stalling, often diagnosed during routine service. The issues reported most often: Engine wiring harness insulation crumbling; Stalling or loss of power traced to wiring; Warning light and electrical faults from harness shorts.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 have?
NHTSA recorded 96 consumer complaints for the 1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 is reported most often?
Electrical system is named most often, in 89 complaints (93% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 8.
Has the 1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 get?
The EPA rates the 1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 (E320 Coupe, 3.2L 6-cyl) at 20 mpg combined, 18 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,100 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 reported?
Among the 78 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 107,500 miles and the middle half falls between 77,200 and 143,728 miles; 8% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.