Mercedes Benz 400e
Model 400e made by Mercedes Benz got 17 consumer complains as well as 2 recalls. Consumer complaints with reference, among others things, to electrical system and vehicle speed control. There were some recalls concerningengine and engine cooling and service brakes, hydraulic.
Model 1992
Recalls
| Campaign | Manufacturer | Manufacturing date | Type | # of units affected | Date Owner notified Mfg | Recall Initiated by | Manufacturers of recalled vehicles/products | Report Recieved Date | Record Creation Date | Regulation Part Number | FMVSS Number | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM | ||||||||||||||||
| 94V004000 | MERCEDES-BENZ USA, INC. | from 05/01/1991 to 10/01/1992 | V (Vehicle) | 5900 | 02/15/1994 | MFR | MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC. | 01/06/1994 | 01/11/1994 | |||||||
| Defect Summary | 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. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | 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. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | 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. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | System: exhaust/crankcase emission control devices.vehicle description: passenger cars.note: if your vehicle is presented to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and the remedy is not provided within a reasonable time and free of charge or the remedy does not correct the defect or noncompliance, please contact mercedes-benz service center at 1-201-573-2616. also, contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at1-800-424-9393. | |||||||||||||||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | ||||||||||||||||
| 92V083000 | MERCEDES-BENZ USA, INC. | from 08/01/1991 to 05/01/1992 | V (Vehicle) | 845 | 06/05/1992 | MFR | MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC. | 06/11/1992 | 06/26/1992 | |||||||
| Defect Summary | 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. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | Brake fluid can catch on fire when it contacts the hotpre-resistor, posing the risk of injury to anyone in or near the vehicle. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Replace and reroute any hose that may have been misrouted. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | System: brakes; non metal hydraulic lines.vehicle description: passenger cars with asr automatic slip control.note: the manufacturer suggests that the car be operated with the automaticclimate control turned off or on ec (economy) mode. this will prevent thepre-resistor fromgetting too hot. | |||||||||||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | |||
| 10/28/2008 | 1 | ||
| 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 | |||
| 09/27/2008 | 1 | ||
| Mb wiring harness failure 1992 400se. *tr | |||
| 07/09/2007 | 145000 | ||
| 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 | |||
| 01/24/2007 | 1 | ||
| I have a mercedes benz 400e and the wiring harness eventually withered and deteriorated due to faulty manufacturing. *tr | |||
| 06/10/2008 | 135000 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 03/20/2008 | 95000 | 1 | 03/01/2007 |
| 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 | |||
| 04/06/2007 | 13000 | 2 | 10/01/2001 |
| 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 | |||
| 07/01/2006 | 100000 | 100 | 03/08/2006 |
| 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 | |||
| 03/07/2006 | 1 | ||
| 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 | |||
| 06/10/2007 | 125000 | 2 | 06/20/1999 |
| 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. | |||
| 08/15/2003 | 165000 | 1 | 04/07/1996 |
| Automobile repair shop showed me the problem with the wiring harness. the wiring harness wires were fried and became brittle.*ak | |||
| 08/15/2006 | 162000 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 10/21/2003 | 86226 | 1 | 08/30/1998 |
| 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 | |||
| 05/15/2003 | 1 | 06/06/2001 | |
| 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 | |||
| 09/12/2002 | 120239 | 1 | 08/14/2002 |
| Main engine wiring harness is currently deteriorating causing the wires to be exposed to an intense amount of heat. | |||
| 08/01/2002 | 1 | ||
| 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 | |||
| 06/01/1998 | 2 | 12/31/1992 | |
| Acceleration slip control unit failed, causing vehicle to accelerate out of control. | |||
Car dealers selling
| State | City | Zip | Name | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00 | NASHVILLE | BMW OF NASHVILLE | ||
| SC | COLUMBIA | DICK DYER & ASSOCIATES |