Total Complaints
21 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ 400E · model year
21 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1992MERCEDES-BENZ400E carries 21 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 2 fires, 0 injuries, 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 400E is electrical system:wiring:front underhood with 7 filings, followed by electrical system (6) and electrical system:wiring (4). 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 400E. 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.
Total Complaints
21 filings
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 7 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 6 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 4 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND BEFORE I COULD PULL OVER THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD THE AIR CLEANER ASSEMBLY WAS MELTED THROUGH AND SOME FLAME WAS STILL GLOWING IN THE DRIVER SIDE AIR FILTER. THE UPPER ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WAS CHARRED ALONG THE DRIVER SIDE AND THE CONNECTOR TO THE CAM ACTUATOR HAD DISINTEGRATED. AFTER GETTING THE CAR TOWED HOME I FOLLOWED THE HARNESS BACK TO THE AMP CONNECTOR AND ALL OF THE INSULATION ON THE WIRES HAD COMPLETELY DEGRADED TO A POWDER. I ALSO CHECKED THE WIRES ON THE MAF SENSOR AND THE THROTTLE BODY AND FOUND THE SAME CONDITION. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE: SUBSTANDARD WIRING INSULATION ON ALL WIRING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR
Mileage: 135,905
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND BEFORE I COULD PULL OVER THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD THE AIR CLEANER ASSEMBLY WAS MELTED THROUGH AND SOME FLAME WAS STILL GLOWING IN THE DRIVER SIDE AIR FILTER. THE UPPER ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WAS CHARRED ALONG THE DRIVER SIDE AND THE CONNECTOR TO THE CAM ACTUATOR HAD DISINTEGRATED. AFTER GETTING THE CAR TOWED HOME I FOLLOWED THE HARNESS BACK TO THE AMP CONNECTOR AND ALL OF THE INSULATION ON THE WIRES HAD COMPLETELY DEGRADED TO A POWDER. I ALSO CHECKED THE WIRES ON THE MAF SENSOR AND THE THROTTLE BODY AND FOUND THE SAME CONDITION. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE: SUBSTANDARD WIRING INSULATION ON ALL WIRING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR
Mileage: 135,905
1992 MERCEDES BENZ 400E. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVERAL RECALL NOTICES RENDERED VEHICLE USELESS. *SMD MERCEDES BENZ WROTE TO THE CONSUMER, STATING THERE WERE NO OUTSTANDING RECALL CAMPAIGNS ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL NUMBERS, 92V083000 AND 94V004000. *JB
1992 MERCEDES BENZ 400E. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVERAL RECALL NOTICES RENDERED VEHICLE USELESS. *SMD MERCEDES BENZ WROTE TO THE CONSUMER, STATING THERE WERE NO OUTSTANDING RECALL CAMPAIGNS ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL NUMBERS, 92V083000 AND 94V004000. *JB
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
MB WIRING HARNESS FAILURE 1992 400SE. *TR
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
Mileage: 145,000
I HAVE A MERCEDES BENZ 400E AND THE WIRING HARNESS EVENTUALLY WITHERED AND DETERIORATED DUE TO FAULTY MANUFACTURING. *TR
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
Mileage: 135,000
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
Mileage: 95,000
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.
Mileage: 125,000
AUTOMOBILE REPAIR SHOP SHOWED ME THE PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING HARNESS. THE WIRING HARNESS WIRES WERE FRIED AND BECAME BRITTLE.*AK
Mileage: 165,000
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
Mileage: 13,000
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
Mileage: 100,000
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
Mileage: 162,000
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
Mileage: 86,226
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
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
MAIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IS CURRENTLY DETERIORATING CAUSING THE WIRES TO BE EXPOSED TO AN INTENSE AMOUNT OF HEAT.
Mileage: 120,239
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
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.