Total Complaints
8 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ 400 · model year
1992 MERCEDES-BENZ 400
8 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1992MERCEDES-BENZ400 carries 8 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 0 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 1992 400 is electrical system:wiring with 3 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (1) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (1). 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 1992 400. 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.
8
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20080707ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE HOOD IS ROTTING AWAY. I HAVE A/C PROBLEMS WITH THE WIRES AND HAVE HAD LOSS OF POWER AT THE MOST INCONVENIENT TIMES. I'M STARTING TO HAVE DIFFERENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS DUE TO THIS WIRING HARNESS AND AM VERY NERVOUS OF A POSSIBLE FIRE AS MY GRANDDAUGHTER IS USUALLY IN THE CAR. IF THIS IS A PROBLEM OTHER MERCEDES OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING, I FEEL IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY MERCEDES. *TR
Mileage: 172,103
20061022ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WIRING HARNESS ON MY 1992 MERCEDES BENZ 400 SEL HAS GONE BAD. *NM
20060919ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEGRADING, THIS ISSUE HAS EFFECTED ENGINE PERFORMANCE RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER TO CAR. THIS INCIDENT NEARLY COST ME AND MY FAMILY THEIR LIFE. DUE TO THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEGRADING MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER AND DIED (ELECTRICALLY) ON THE FREEWAY. THIS ISSUE IS SERIOUS AND NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO. *JB
Mileage: 89,000
20060803ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
1992 MERCEDES 400E WITH ABOUT 140,000 MI. HAS A DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS WHICH HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN SEVERAL HUNDRED COMPLAINTS ALREADY POSTED AND MANY ENGINE FIRES. THE WIRES IN THE HARNESS HAVE NO PROTECTION AGAINST HEAT AND LAY RIGHT ABOVE THE ENGINE. THE HARNESS CONTAINS SEVERAL WIRES, ALL OF WHICH SHOW DIRECT METAL TO METAL CONTACT THAT COULD EASILY CAUSE A FIRE. AFTER CALLING ED AT THE MERCEDES DIRECT HELP LINE, HE DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OR RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS OBVIOUS ENGINEERING DEFECT. ALL OWNERS OF VEHICLES WITH THIS WIRING HARNESS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED OF THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT. AN ADEQUATELY INSULATED REPLACEMENT PART IS NEEDED. *JB
Mileage: 142,000
20060313ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
REMOVED AND REPLACED ENGINE HARNESS WIRING,(1992 MERCEDES BENZ 400SE)BASE CONTROL MODULE, CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR. *NM
Mileage: 198,456
20010906CrashAIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
THE DRIVER DOZED OFF, WOKE UP WHEN WENT OFF THE ROAD, OVERCORRECTED AND WENT INTO A SKID, HEADING INTO THE DITCH ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE PASSENGERSIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAD TO BE CUT OFF TO REMOVE THE DRIVER. STATE FARM INS. CO. TOTALED THE VEHICLE.*AK
19970828SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKE FLUID HOSE RUPTURED.
19970717POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION DELAYS SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR.
Compare 1992MERCEDES-BENZ400 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1992 MERCEDES-BENZ 400 have?▼
The 1992 MERCEDES-BENZ 400 has 8 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1992 MERCEDES-BENZ 400?▼
The most-complained component for the 1992 MERCEDES-BENZ 400 is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS.
Is the 1992 MERCEDES-BENZ 400 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.