https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400 New NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for the Mercedes-Benz 400. en-us Sun, 18 Oct 2026 08:39:01 GMT https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400#complaint-783019 Wed, 21 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT THE WIRING HARNESS ON MY 1993 MERCEDES 400SEL IS DEFECTIVE. AFTER TALKING WITH A MERCEDES MECHANIC, HE INFORMS ME HOW IMPORTANT THIS HARNESS IS AND WHAT COULD HAPPEN WHEN IT FAILS. THE WIRES ARE CRACKING AND SPLITTING AND ARE DRIED OUT. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. AFTER DOING THE RESEARCH, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT MERCEDES KNOWS THE HARNESSES WERE DEFECTIVE AND HAS CHOSEN TO IGNORE THE PRO https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400#complaint-706944 Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT I HAVE A 1993 400 SEL MERCEDES BENZ THAT HAS HAD PROBLEMS FOR YEARS AND NOW TURNS OUT TO BE A DEFECTIVE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. IT HAS LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY RECENTLY WHICH ALMOST GOT ME KILLED WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR. *TR https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400#complaint-705718 Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MERCEDES BENZ 400 SEL. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED WITH SUMITOMO HTRZ2 TIRES AND TIRE SIZE, 245/35R20. THE CONTACT NOTICED A SPLIT ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS LATER, HE NOTICED NUMEROUS SPLITS ON THE TIRE. HE ALREADY REPLACED BOTH FRONT TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED, BUT THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THESE TIRES NEED TO BE RECALLED. https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400#complaint-677087 Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT 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 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400#complaint-619623 Sat, 07 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT 1993 400 SEL WIRING HARNESS # 140 540 1132 ROTTED AWAY. *AK https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400#complaint-600450 Sun, 22 Oct 2006 00:00:00 GMT WIRING HARNESS ON MY 1992 MERCEDES BENZ 400 SEL HAS GONE BAD. *NM https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400#complaint-596690 Tue, 19 Sep 2006 00:00:00 GMT 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 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400#complaint-591122 Thu, 03 Aug 2006 00:00:00 GMT 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 MERCED https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400#complaint-586123 Sat, 24 Jun 2006 00:00:00 GMT HELLO, RECENTLY STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY ASR SYSTEM ON MY 1993 MB 400E AND THE SERVICE WRITER TOLD ME MY WIRING HARNESS WAS FAULTY,CRACKED AND WAS TURNING TO DUST ! HE SAID IF I DIDN'T FIX IT WOULD CAUSE ME SERIOUS PROBLEMS - EVEN POSSIBLY AN ENGINE FIRE ! HE TOLD ME COST TO REPLACE THE WIRE HARNESS + LABOR WOULD BE ABOUT $ 1080.00. COME TO FIND OUT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE THIS PR https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400#complaint-583869 Sun, 04 Jun 2006 00:00:00 GMT ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WAS DETERIORATED COMPLETELY CAUSING ENGINE PROBLEMS,STALLING IN TRAFFIC. IT WAS CORRECTED BY BUYING A NEW WIRING HARNESS. THE OLD PART WAS KEPT. IT IS UNDERSTOOD BY ME THAT THE INSULATION USED WAS BIODEGRADABLE. *JB https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400#complaint-575575 Mon, 13 Mar 2006 00:00:00 GMT REMOVED AND REPLACED ENGINE HARNESS WIRING,(1992 MERCEDES BENZ 400SE)BASE CONTROL MODULE, CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR. *NM https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400#complaint-423071 Tue, 05 Aug 2003 00:00:00 GMT THE DESIGN AND LOCATION OF THE SPARK PLUGS CAUSES A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. IN ORDER TO REPLACE OR INSPECT THE PLUGS WIRE HARNESS NEEDED TO BE UNBOLTED AND PUSHED BACKWARDS, WIRE HARNESS SHOULDN'T BE MOVED. WIRE HARNESS SHORTED OUT, CAUSING A SHORT OUT OF ALL COMPONENTS IN THAT CIRCUIT.*AK https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400#complaint-423072 Tue, 05 Aug 2003 00:00:00 GMT THE DESIGN AND LOCATION OF THE SPARK PLUGS CAUSES A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. IN ORDER TO REPLACE OR INSPECT THE PLUGS WIRE HARNESS NEEDED TO BE UNBOLTED AND PUSHED BACKWARDS, WIRE HARNESS SHOULDN'T BE MOVED. WIRE HARNESS SHORTED OUT, CAUSING A SHORT OUT OF ALL COMPONENTS IN THAT CIRCUIT.*AK https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400#complaint-339846 Thu, 21 Mar 2002 00:00:00 GMT WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH AND WHEN MAKING A SUDDEN STOP AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY INDICATION, CAUSING INJURY TO CONSUMER'S FACE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400#complaint-319981 Thu, 25 Oct 2001 00:00:00 GMT ON FILLING THE FUEL TANK WITH GASOLINE, THE GASOLINE SPEWS OUT OF THE FILLER FITTING AS THE TANK FILLS BEYOND 3/4 FULL. THIS OCCURS WHETHER FILLING THE VEHICLE USING THE AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF FROM THE PUMP OR WHETHER VERY SLOWLY FILLING THE VEHICLE MANUALLY. THIS IS A NEW PHENOMENON INSOFAR AS IT HAS OCCURRED DURING THE LAST THREE FUELINGS OF THE VEHICLE. THIS DID OCCUR ONE TIME ABOUT TWO YEARS A https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400#complaint-319989 Thu, 25 Oct 2001 00:00:00 GMT WHILE ENGAGING TO A COMPLETE STOP, BRAKE ENGAGED- AT THE RATE OF 5 MPH, THE CAR SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD BECOMING AIRBORNE THROUGH A STORE WINDOW, LANDING HALFWAY INTO THE STORE AND THE REAR OF THE CAR HANGING IN THE AIR OUTSIDE OF THE STORE. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF FOREWARNING, SUCH AS A JOLT OR A FEELING OF ACCELERATIONS TO THE OCCUPANTS.*AK https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400#complaint-319990 Thu, 25 Oct 2001 00:00:00 GMT WHILE ENGAGING TO A COMPLETE STOP, BRAKE ENGAGED- AT THE RATE OF 5 MPH, THE CAR SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD BECOMING AIRBORNE THROUGH A STORE WINDOW, LANDING HALFWAY INTO THE STORE AND THE REAR OF THE CAR HANGING IN THE AIR OUTSIDE OF THE STORE. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF FOREWARNING, SUCH AS A JOLT OR A FEELING OF ACCELERATIONS TO THE OCCUPANTS.*AK https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400#complaint-312521 Thu, 06 Sep 2001 00:00:00 GMT 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 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400#complaint-274537 Wed, 14 Feb 2001 00:00:00 GMT WANT CAR REPLACED. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400#complaint-255187 Tue, 07 Nov 2000 00:00:00 GMT I HAVE A MERCEDES S420 AND HAVE HAD A CONTINUING PROBLEM WITH BAD FUMES IN THE CAR THAT ARE MAKING MY WHOLE FAMILY REALLY SICK. THE PROBLEM STARTED WHEN WE FIRST GOT THE CAR AND RECENTLY HAS BECOME SO BAD THAT I HAVE HAD TO GET AN INHAILER FROM MY DOCTOR TO BREATHE. WE HAD IT AT THE DEALER WHEN WE FIRST GOT IT AND 3 TIMES FOR MANY DAYS AT A TIME RECENTLY AND COMPLAINED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400#complaint-226709 Tue, 22 Aug 2000 00:00:00 GMT VEHICLE SHUTS ITSELF OFF WHILE IN MOTION. PROBLEM PERSISTS AT RANDOM TIMES AND SITUATIONS. INCIDENTS HAPPENED TRAVELING AT 60MPH AFTER 30MIN OF TRAVEL, AT 5MPH AFTER 1 HOUR OF TRAVEL, AND AT 5MPH IN REVERSE SECONDS AFTER TURNING VEHICLE ON. INCIDENTS HAPPENED THE DAY AFTER DEALER DELIVERED NEW VEHICLE. BOTH DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN INFORMED. DEALER TOWED TRUCK TODAY TO INSPECT. *AK https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400#complaint-198445 Mon, 21 Feb 2000 00:00:00 GMT SINCE JANUARY 25,1999, MY ML430 HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE DEPT. A TOTAL OF 18 DAYS. ON TWO OF THOSE OCCASIONS, MY VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 35MPH. AFTER TWO ATTEMPTS, DEALER FINALLY FOUND DEFECT AND REPLACED PARTS OF TRANSMISSION. NOW IN FEBRUARY 2000, MY TRANSMISSION IS HAVING PROBLEMS AGAIN. THIS TIME A MODULE HAS TO BE REPLACED. I HOPE THESE DEFEC https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400#complaint-85310 Thu, 28 Aug 1997 00:00:00 GMT BRAKE FLUID HOSE RUPTURED. https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400#complaint-81332 Thu, 17 Jul 1997 00:00:00 GMT TRANSMISSION DELAYS SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400#complaint-77199 Wed, 28 May 1997 00:00:00 GMT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AFTER MILDLY REARENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400#complaint-30069 Thu, 18 Jan 1996 00:00:00 GMT PROBLEM WITH SUNROOF. *AW https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400#complaint-22782 Thu, 12 Oct 1995 00:00:00 GMT VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY SURGES AT SPEEDS OF 10-20 MPH. *AW https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-400#complaint-1319 Wed, 25 Jan 1995 00:00:00 GMT BRAKE AND ROTOR WEAR OUT AT 4,000 MILES. 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