MERCEDES-BENZ 320 · model year

1995 MERCEDES-BENZ 320

39 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1995MERCEDES-BENZ320 carries 39 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 7 crashes, 2 fires, 10 injuries, and 6 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1995 320 is electrical system with 8 filings, followed by electrical system:wiring:front underhood (6) and air bags:frontal (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 15 investigation files overlapping the 1995 320. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

39
Complaints
7
Crashes
2
Fires
10
Injuries
6
Deaths

Total Complaints

39 filings

Crashes Reported

7 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM8
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD6
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL3
AIR BAGS2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM1
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR1
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION1
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE1
STRUCTURE1
SUSPENSION:REAR1

Recent Complaints

20121220ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CAR WAS CRUISING AT 10MPH BEFORE GETTING INTO OUR HOUSE DRIVEWAY, WHEN SMOG CAME UNDER THE HOOD, OPEN HOOD IMMEDIATELY AND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE ELECTRICAL HARNESS WAS MELTING DOWN, SHUT OFF ENGINE AND DISCONNECTED BATTERY. *TR

Mileage: 132,000

20120222ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, MISSING INSULATION WAS DISCOVERED ON WIRING TO A SENSOR IN THE AIR TUBE, VISIBLE OUTSIDE OF TAPE WRAP. I MADE SURE THAT WIRES WERE NOT TOUCHING AND INSULATED THE EXPOSED AREAS AT THE CLIP-ON CONNECTOR TO THE SENSOR. ENGINE MISSFIRE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO FUEL DELIVERY AND INJECTOR CLEANER WAS ADDED TO TANK. DRIVEABILTY CONTINUED TO WORSEN, AS ENGINE MISSFIRE BEGAN TO OCCUR MORE OFTEN. I WAS RECENTLY MADE AWARE OF THE WIRING ISSUES, SO I DECIDED TO REMOVE THE TAPE WRAP ON THE LEAD TO THE SENSOR. THE ENTIRE LENGTH THAT I EXPOSED, HAS CRACKED AND MISSING INSULATION. I THEN STOPPED, AS DISTURBING ANY ADDITIONAL WIRING WILL WORSEN THE PROBLEM. I CHECKED WITH MY LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THAT MERCEDES ISN'T DOING ANYTHING TOWARD FIXING THE DEFECTIVE WIRING, AND THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE DISPOSED OF THEIR VEHICLES OR JUST QUIT DRIVING THEM RATHER THAN SPEND THE MONEY TO HAVE REPAIRS MADE. MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 90,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEE

20100511ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ 320SL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND HAVE IT TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE COMPUTER IN THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,000.

Mileage: 50,000

20100511ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ 320SL. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED AUTOMOTIVE CENTER WHERE THE COMPUTER WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

Mileage: 50,000

20091103ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS IN THE CAR IS KNOW NOT GOOD THAT COULD CAUSE FIRE IN THE CAR. BENZ SHOULD REPAIR IT AT NO CHARGE. *TR

Mileage: 170,000

20090312ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER. I WAS TOLD THE LIGHT CAME ON DUE TO A "BAD" WIRING HARNESS. COST TO REPAIR WAS $1,500.00. WAS TOLD IF THE REPAIRS WERE NOT DONE THE VEHICLE MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE PROBLEMS. PRIOR TO SPENDING THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE WEB AND FIND THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING 1991-1996 WIRING HARNESSES. I BELIEVE AN IN DEPTH ANALYSIS OF THE VAST NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS WOULD CLEARLY INDICATE MERCEDES SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 104,000

20080908ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WIRING HARNESS WAS NOTICED TO BE DAMAGED DURING SERVICE AT MERCEDES SERVICE CENTER AND WAS REPLACED. EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE PART AND WAS TOLD BY REPAIR FACILITY THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. HFM CONTROL UNIT IS NOW DAMAGED, ANOTHER VERY EXPENSIVE PART, AND WAS TOLD THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY THE DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS. *TR

Mileage: 202,000

20080507ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DETERIORATED TO THE POINT OF CAUSING UNEVEN IDLE AND ENGINE SPEED. *TR

Mileage: 129,560

20071009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

FAILURE OF ENGINE WIRE HARNESS ON 1995 E320 MERCEDES BENZ. APPARENTLY DUE TO INFERIOR WIRE. HEAT DESTROYED SOME BUT NOT ALL WIRES. TOTAL ELECTRONIC FAILURE AND NO USE OF THE VEHICLE! QUOTES TO REPAIR (MERCEDES) FROM $2,000 TO $3,700. *TR

Mileage: 104,581

20070302ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

HIGH STATIC ELECTRICITY SHOCK. VEHICLE SHOCKS AFTER ENGINE IS TURNED OFF WHEN BODY CHASSIS IS TOUCHED. *JB

20070226ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES SL 320. DURING 60,000 MILE MAINTENANCE CHECK THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.*AK UPDATED 03/19/07. *JB

Mileage: 59,000

20061103ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

FAULTY(PREMATURE DETERIORATION) OF WIRING WITHIN MAIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS; KNOWN ISSUE BY MANUFACTURER(MERCEDES BENZ) CAUSING SERIOUS DAMAGE TO RELATED ENGINE COMPONENTS AND COMPROMISING OVERALL SAFETY AND DRIVEABILITY OF VEHICLE, 1995 MERCEDES BENZ E320 SEDAN.

Mileage: 45,200

20060803ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

CAR CUTS OFF AT VERY HIGH SPEED WHILE TRAVELING IN TRAFFIC. *JB

Mileage: 85,000

20060622FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

1995 MERCEDES BENZ E320; MY CAR HAS BEEN HESITATING AT IDLE, WORST WHEN A/C IS ON, WHEN ACCELERATING, MAKING TURNS, BACKFIRES CONSTANTLY WHICH FRIGHTENS ME THAT MY CAR COULD CATCH FIRE AND INJURE THE KIDS IN THE CAR AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ON THE ROAD. MY MECHANIC SAYS THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS SHOULD BE REPLACED FIRST BEFORE HE COULD TROUBLESHOOT ANY PROBLEMS AND THIS WOULD COST ME $1000-1600 FOR THE PART PLUS LABOR. I FEEL THAT THIS IS TOO MUCH TO PAY FOR A BUNCH OF WIRES AND I FEEL THAT THIS IS NOT RIGHT MERCEDES BENZ CARS AREN'T SUPPOSE TO DETERIORATE LIKE THIS, IT SHOULD LAST FOREVER. WHEN HAVING TO PAY MORE THAN 50K DOLLARS FOR A CAR, THESE THINGS AREN'T SUPPOSE TO HAPPEN. PLS. APPROVE THIS IMPORTANT RECALL. *NM

Mileage: 50,000

20030504ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WIRING HARNESS ON MY 1995 MERCEDES E320 HAS DETERIORATED AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT AT MY EXPENSE AS PER MERCEDES DEALER. THE CAR STALLS AND IS A SAFETY AND FIRE HAZARD. ONBOARD DIAGNOSTICS ARE RENDERED USELESS. IT IS AN OBVIOUS MATERIALS OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT. PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN BY MECHANICS, BUT DENIED BY DEALER SERVICE MANAGER. *JB

Mileage: 80,000

20020522AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND TRANSMISSION GEAR CONSOLE CAME APART. DRIVER WAS INJURED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. CONSUMER FELT AIRBAG SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED IF NOTHING WAS HIT.*AK

20020522POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND TRANSMISSION GEAR CONSOLE CAME APART. DRIVER WAS INJURED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. CONSUMER FELT AIRBAG SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED IF NOTHING WAS HIT.*AK

20011109FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH HOOD OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THERE WAS A POWER SURGE IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THAT CAUSED A FIRE TO START. *AK *YH

20000519ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I CONTACTED TWO DEALERS AND THREE INDEPENDENT MERCEDES MECHANICS AND THEY ALL REPORTED THE SAME THING. MERCEDES USED A NEW TYPE OF GASKET MATERIAL ON THE MERCEDES IN-LINE SIX ENGINE AND THERE HAS BEEN REPEATED FAILURES WITH THERE GASKETS. *AK

20000320ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND MY SERVICE TECH ADVISED ME OF A DETERIORATED ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION. I CONTACTED OUR PARTS SUPPLIER AND WAS TOLD THAT MERCEDES WAS HAVING A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE HARNESSES IN 1994 AND 1995 E CLASS MODELS. AT THAT POINT I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE A FACTORY REP LOOK AT MY CAR. I WAS TOLD THAT THE FACTORY REP SAID MERCEDES WAS NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF RECONDITIONING CARS. I THEN ASK TO SPEAK TO THE FACTORY REP MYSELF. THE FACTORY REP CALLED AND SAID HE KNEW OF NO SUCH PROBLEM. HE SUGGESTED I TAKE MY CAR TO ATLANTA SINCE THEY HAD EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM IN THEIR REGION. AFTER CALLING SEVERAL DEALERS INSIDE HIS REGION AS WELL AS OTHERS I FOUND THAT ALL DEALERS WERE AWARE OF THIS FIRE HAZARD AND MOST WERE REPLACING THE HARNESS AT NO COST. THE PART NUMBER IS 124 440 5632 AND IS STOCKED AT MOST MAJOR DEALERS BECAUSE OF THE ONGOING PROBLEM. MY FEELING IS , IF MERCEDES-BENZ KNOWS OF THIS SAFETY PROBLEM, WHY HASN'T A RECALL BEEN ISSUED. PLEASE CONTACT

Compare 1995MERCEDES-BENZ320 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ 320 have?
The 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ 320 has 39 NHTSA complaints, 7 crashes, 2 fires, 10 injuries, and 6 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ 320?
The most-complained component for the 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ 320 is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 8 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD and AIR BAGS:FRONTAL.
Is the 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ 320 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.