Mercedes Benz 500 1992

Model 500 made in 1992 by Mercedes Benz got 20 consumer complains as well as 1 recall. Consumer complaints with reference, among others things, to electrical system and engine and engine cooling. There was one recall concerning visibility .

Model 1992

Recalls


CampaignManufacturerManufacturing dateType# of units affectedDate Owner notified MfgRecall Initiated byManufacturers of recalled vehicles/productsReport Recieved DateRecord Creation DateRegulation Part NumberFMVSS Number
VISIBILITY
96V175000MERCEDES-BENZ USA, INC. V (Vehicle)2887411/15/1996MFRMERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.09/19/199609/26/1996
Defect SummaryIf one of the headlamp wiper arms becomes misaligned, the wiper balde can lodge in the groove under the headlamp. if the washers are activated with the wiper blade in the misaligned and lodged position, the washer pump will run continuously expelling all available fluid.
Consequence SummaryPump operation in the absence of fluid can cause the pump to overheat and cause a vehicle fire.
Corrective SummaryDealers will replace the headlamp washer pump on these vehicles.
NotesOwner notification:owner notification began november 18, 1996. note:owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact mercedes-benz at 1-800-367-6372.also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-800-424-9393.

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
11/15/20081859001
 Main engine/fuel injection electrical wiring harness, has cracked insulation throughout the engine wiring harness and is disintegrating causing wires to rub together and beginning to experience problems with the risk of causing dangerous engine malfunctions to include fire inside engine compartment. i've discovered from dlr hardness insulation is made of biodegradable material resulting in early deterioration. as a result, the engine is starting to exhibit stalling issues, rough running, and incorrect fault codes are produced on the car computer. *tr
08/16/20081716001
 Engine wiring harness is disentigrating. *tr
06/10/2008990001
 Engine cutting out . all wires in the engine harness and electric cable cracked and exposed. *tr
05/26/200681872106/25/2004
 Upper engine wiring harness in my 1992 mercedes benz 500e (81,000 miles) has completely deteriorated. the insulation has become brittle and cracked and flaked of the harness causing electrical shorts within the ignition system causing failure to start or run conditions. through research on the web i have discovered this is a common situation with the w124 chassis cars. since it is a known problem i feel that mercedes benz of north america is obligated to initiate a recall or voluntarily replace this known faulty item. *jb
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION
01/01/19951
 Intermittent stalling. *ak
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING
01/01/200010000001/01/2000
 Faulty wiring in the engine bay. the engine wiring harness is disentigrating for no other reason than age. as a result, the engine is starting to exibit stalling issues and rough running, also fault codes are produced on the car computer.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - FRONT UNDERHOOD
12/22/200794000107/06/2007
 Engine wiring harness pn 124-543-95-26; wiring insulation completely erodes over time with normal use, resulting in numerous short circuits. *tr
02/09/20071
 Wire insulation on my engine wiring harness has disintegrated exposing the internal wiring completely, especially in bent areas. this is a result of normal operation of the vehicle. as this happens the engine runs worse, problems associated include surging in idle, stumbling of engine upon initial acceleration and stalling or running engine. the only course of action is to replace the wiring harness with a newly purchased harness from mercedes benz. the only problem with that idea is i will be purchasing a wiring harness manufactured during roughly the same time the vehicle was in production that uses the same defective, advanced degrading wiring. *jb
05/31/2006590001
 The engine / fuel injection wiring harness, and starter/alternator wiring harness of my 1992 mercedes-benz 500e (61,000 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. i have read many reports of other mercedes-benz cars of the same age range having the exact same defect. this is a known issue with mercedes that they refuse to recall. **nm
05/12/20061325002
 The engine / fuel injection wiring harness of my 1992 mercedes-benz 500 sel was replaced once and now has cracked insulation throughout, i might add, this new harness is supposed to be the new and improved upgraded version. it does have a different part number than the original. the wires are all exposed because of the cracked insulation. please note: this is not a rare wire, all of them are cracked and damaged and exposed!!! because of the outside rubber casing which holds all of the wires, i would have never known of this problem until it would have been tooo late. luckily, my mechanic, ed at eds mbz in glendale california, (818) 247-2369 was knowledgeable enough to immediately cut the outside casing to look inside. i am still amazed a car company making an 80,000 to 100,000 dollar car would have the audacity to make one of the most crucial electrical parts the wiring harness so bad. wire harnesses are supposed to last the lifetime of the car- its a safety issue!!! it is beginning to short out with the risk of causing dangerous engine malfunction and even fire inside my engine compartment. it is also one of the major causes for computer damage. ed showed me 12 harnesses he recently replaced. all of them the same. i spoke with mbz usa- forget it- i thought i was speaking with ford regarding exploding gas tanks on opinto's. this problem is well known with any good reliable mbz mechanic. since i was blown off by mbz america, i called around- 5 mbz dealers service managers were very aware of the problem and all 10 independent mechanics were very aware and explained all the dangers and expense. it is extremely dangerous. i have read many reports of other mercedes-benz cars of the same age range having the exact same defect. this is a known issue with mercedes that they refuse to recall or correct!!! please, please, please do something before it is tooooo late!. *nm
03/15/2004132000102/20/2000
 Upper and lower engine wiring harness degraded to point where car would not run. insulation all dried up and crumbled away...i understand many 500e owners have had this problem...mercedes acknowledges using inferior 'bio-degradable' materials. *jb
09/01/200495000110/10/2002
 Upper engine wire harness failure - erratic idle, power loss, rf noise excessive, inconsistent ecu fault codes. replaced harness and all defects no longer occurred. *nm
12/03/20041
 Car suddenly lost power, drove home at very reduced speed. mechanic diagnosed it as a faulty wiring harness, a common defect on this model car 1992 mercedes benz 500e. *jb
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE
1
 Engine light continually illuminating requiring repairs.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE
02/20/1997103/01/1996
 Engine compartment fire.
EQUIPMENT - ELECTRICAL - AIR CONDITIONER
1
 Air conditioner failed.
EQUIPMENT - ELECTRICAL - RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
1
 Radio antenna failed.
SEATS
1
 Driver's seat failed.
1
 Left rear seat failed.
VISIBILITY - WINDSHIELD
1
 Left rear window failed.