https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420 New NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for the Mercedes-Benz 420. en-us Sun, 18 Oct 2026 06:12:22 GMT https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420#complaint-1013882 Fri, 04 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMT WELD BROKE AND DISLODGED THE SPRINGS.. *TR https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420#complaint-922970 Thu, 14 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCEDES BENZ E420. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, HE HEARD A LOUD POP NEAR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND SAW THAT METAL WAS HANGING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN BUT WAS UNSAFE AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION. https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420#complaint-920616 Tue, 29 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM THAT MERCEDES IS WELL AWARE OF WITH THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. THE INSULATION WAS POORLY DONE, WHICH CAUSES THE WIRING TO BREAKDOWN. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX FOR THE CONSUMER. SAFETY IS THE ISSUE HERE WHEN THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO FAIL TO ACCELERATE. *TR https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420#complaint-912751 Tue, 03 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS ON MY 1995 MERCEDES BENZ S420 HAS DISINTEGRATED. THE WIRING INSULATION IS CRACKED AND BROKEN IN MANY PLACES, WHICH HAS RESULTED IN A NON-OPERATING CONDITION. THE CAR HAS STALLED 3 TIMES SO FAR, IN TRAFFIC, AND WILL NOW NOT RUN AT ALL. APPARENTLY THE WIRES HAVE BROKEN DOWN DUE TO THE HEAT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I BELIEVE THE WIRES WERE NOT SUITABLE FOR THE APPLICATION https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420#complaint-912752 Tue, 03 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS ON MY 1995 MERCEDES BENZ S420 HAS DISINTEGRATED. THE WIRING INSULATION IS CRACKED AND BROKEN IN MANY PLACES, WHICH HAS RESULTED IN A NON-OPERATING CONDITION. THE CAR HAS STALLED 3 TIMES SO FAR, IN TRAFFIC, AND WILL NOW NOT RUN AT ALL. APPARENTLY THE WIRES HAVE BROKEN DOWN DUE TO THE HEAT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I BELIEVE THE WIRES WERE NOT SUITABLE FOR THE APPLICATION https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420#complaint-911300 Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT CAR STOPPED SHIFTING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ASR LIGHT APPEARED WHILE DRIVING. TOOK CAR INTO AUTO MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD WIRING HARNESS WOULD NEED TO BE TOTALLY REPLACED AND WOULD COST MORE THAN AUTO'S WORTH. SAID THESE CARS WERE NOTORIOUS FOR HAVING WIRING HARNESS PROBLEMS AND CAN NOT BELIEVE IT HAS NOT CAUGHT ON FIRE YET. *TR https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420#complaint-879057 Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT I AM FILING A COMPLAINT REGARDING AFTER WARRANTY SUPPORT FOR THE ABOVE REFERENCED VEHICLE. THE SPRING SEAT DETACHED FROM THE BODY OF THE AUTOMOBILE CAUSING THE SUSPENSION TO FAIL WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT 45 MPH ON A DOWNHILL GRADE. AS THE SUSPENSION DETACHED FROM THE CAR, THE LEFT FRONT SIDE DRAGGED ON THE ROAD CAUSING THE RIGHT REAR TO SLIDE INTO THE OTHER LANE OF TRAFFIC. IMPACT FROM A https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420#complaint-868705 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT I AM A VICTIM OF A DANGEROUS SAFETY DESIGN FLAW IN MY 1997 MERCEDES BENZ E420. LAST WEEK, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR IN A STRAIGHT LINE ON A LOCAL STREET NEAR OUR HOME, WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING FLEW OUT OF THE CAR, RESULTING IN HER COMPLETELY LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS - NO SOUNDS, RATTLES, ETC. LUCKILY, SHE WAS DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED OF 35MPH AND THA https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420#complaint-707422 Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT 1997 MERCEDES E420 DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING PERCH FAILURE. *TR https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420#complaint-697415 Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESS IS DISINTEGRATING, AND LOOKS IDENTICAL TO PICTURES SENT TO NHTSA BY OTHER OWNERS AND IS A FIRE HAZARD THAT IS UNDETECTABLE UNTIL SHORTS OR FIRES DEVELOP. THE INSULATION IS LITERALLY FALLING APART, AND THIS CREATES GREAT POTENTIAL FOR UNSAFE OPERATION, SHORTCIRCUITS, BREAKDOWN AND IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. *TR https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420#complaint-684071 Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT THE ELECTRICAL WIRING SYSTEM PLASTIC COATING IS BREAKING DOWN AND THE BARE WIRES ARE SHORTING OUT MAKING THE CAR UNABLE TO USE. *TR https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420#complaint-679479 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT 1995 420S MERCEDES IS HAVING PROBLEMS FIRING. CONCERNED ABOUT WIRING HARNESS. WAS CHECK AND MAY BE CAUSING THE PROBLEM. WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL ON THIS IF SO MANY PEOPLE THAT OWN THESE VEHICLES ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM? CAR IS HESITATING WHEN KEY IS TURNED TO RIGHT AND WILL NOT FIRE CORRECTLY. *TR https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420#complaint-667475 Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT I OWN A 1994 S 420 MERCEDES-BENZ I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR MY CHILD'S SAFETY AND MY OWN SAFETY AS WELL. THE WIRING HARNESS IS SHORTING OUT EVERYWHERE... SHAME ON MERCEDES-BENZ OF AMERICA..THEY KNOW ABOUT THIS DANGER AND JUST IGNORE THE WHOLE THING.. I'VE RESEARCHED IT REALLY WELL AND THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURS OVER AND OVER WITH ALL CARS OF THIS VINTAGE..I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO DIE BEFO https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420#complaint-663779 Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT I HAVE A 1997 MERCEDES BENZ E420. THE SPRING PERCHES HAVE FAILED ON BOTH FRONT SIDES OF THIS CAR. THE DRIVE SIDE COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME OF THE CAR AND HAD TO BE WELDED AND REPAIRED. I CAUGHT THE PASSENGER SIDE BEFORE ANY SERIOUS DAMAGE OCCURRED. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THIS AUTOMOBILE AND HAS BEEN RECALLED IN CANADA FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM BUT NOT IN THE USA. THIS IS A KNOWN P https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420#complaint-660048 Tue, 04 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT VEHICLE IS RUNNING ERRATICALLY. UPON INVESTIGATION, I FOUND THAT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IN MODEL YEARS INCLUDING MY 1994 MERCEDES BENZ E420 HAVE A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH DETERIORATING INSULATION. AS SOME FIRES AND CRASHES HAVE BEEN REPORTED, I AM PAYING TO HAVE THIS PART REPLACED. *TR https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420#complaint-636677 Thu, 30 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCEDES BENZ 420. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING WAS CRACKED. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AT THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT NO RECALLS WERE AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT RUST ENCOMPASSES THE ENTIRE AREA WHERE THE COIL SPRING CRACKED. HE INSPECTED THE COIL SPRING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND IT TOO HAS RUST, BUT IT IS NOT https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420#complaint-628366 Mon, 25 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT 1995 E420 MERCEDES BENZ: WIRE HARNESS HAS PREMATURELY DISINTEGRATED, CAUSING UNSAFE OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS TO APPEAR IN VEHICLE SUCH AS: SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND UNRESPONSIVENESS TO ACCELERATOR INPUT. *AK https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420#complaint-622104 Sat, 28 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT I GOT 94 E420 BENZ WITH DEFECT ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. THEY ARE CRACKING. THE IDLE IS ROUGH AND I GOT ENGINE CODE ERRORS. ONE TIME THE ENGINE FAILED ON THE SURFACE STREET. IT WAS LUCKY THERE WAS NO CAR BEHIND ME AT THAT TIME. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT ALL MERCEDES MODELS FROM 91-96 HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THAT WAS SO SAD THAT NO ONE HAS TAKEN ACTION AGAINST THE FACTORY. *TR https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420#complaint-610903 Thu, 25 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT TL* - ON 1/16/07 THE LEFT UPPER SUSPENSION SPRING SUPPORT SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME OF A 1997 MERCEDES BENZ 420. ON 01/02/07 THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER IN MORRISTOWN, NJ FOR A SAFETY CHECK, AND THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE SUSPENSION COIL SPRINGS. ON 01/23/07 CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO LOCAL DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE LEFT PERCH WAS RUSTED ,AND THAT THE SUSPENSION C https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420#complaint-597330 Mon, 25 Sep 2006 00:00:00 GMT 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 THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE CAN STALL https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420#complaint-586575 Wed, 28 Jun 2006 00:00:00 GMT LEFT UPPER SUSPENSION SPRING SUPPORT SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. I NOTICED A SCRAPING SOUND COMING FROM THE LEFT FROM ON THE CAR. I REMOVED THE TIRE AND FOUND THAT THE SPRING SUPPORT WAS JUST ABOUT READY TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE FRAME. I WAS HORRIFIED TO THINK OF WHAT COULD OF HAPPENED IF THIS WOULD HAVE FAILED DURING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. MERCEDES BENZ OFFERED TO PAY HALF OF THE REPAIR https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420#complaint-582496 Fri, 19 May 2006 00:00:00 GMT 5/18/2006. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED. TOOK VEHICLE TO MBZ REPAIR SHOP AND FOUND THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS'S WIRE INSULATION BREAKING APART AND EXPOSING THE BARE WIRING. COST OF REPAIR +$900.00. *JB https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420#complaint-575076 Wed, 08 Mar 2006 00:00:00 GMT DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS RIDING ROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWED TO 5 MPH AND THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING FELL OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE BRACKET THAT HELD THE COIL SPRING ONTO THE FRAME HAD DISCONNECTED CAUSING THE COIL SPRING TO FALL OFF. THE LOCAL MERCEDES BENZ DEALER STATED THEY WOULD PAY HALF OF THE https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420#complaint-562028 Wed, 09 Nov 2005 00:00:00 GMT NO TETHER ANCHORAGES ARE PRESENT ON THIS VEHICLE AND NO TETHER ANCHORAGES HAVE EVER BEEN PRESENT ON THIS VEHICLE. THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND MBNA SERVICE BULLETINS STATE THAT THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH TETHER ANCHORAGES FOR USE WITH CHILD RESTRAINTS THAT HAVE A TOP TETHER STRAP. TETHER ANCHORAGES ARE NEEDED TO PROPERLY ATTACH MY FORWARD-FACING CHILD RESTRAINT. MERCEDES-BENZ-USA AND MERCEDES- https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420#complaint-560770 Mon, 31 Oct 2005 00:00:00 GMT ON OCT. 20, 2005, I ASKED MERCEDES BENZ OF USA AND MERCEDES BENZ OF EUGENE(OR), TO SHOW/TELL ME SPECIFICALLY WHERE THE TETHER ANCHORS ARE IN MY 1990 420 SEL MERCEDES. ALSO,ON OCT. 21, 2005, I FILED A SIMILAR COMPLAINT, BY EMAIL, AT THIS SITE OF NHTSA. TO DATE, I HAVE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE FROM MBNA OF USA. ALSO, MB OF EUGENE HAS NOT, APPARENTLY, BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET OR ATTACH THE ANC https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420#complaint-559605 Fri, 21 Oct 2005 00:00:00 GMT THE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR MY 1990 420 SEL, ON PAGE 46, STATES:"THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH TETHER ANCHORAGES FOR USE WITH CHILD RESTRAINTS THAT HAVE A TOP TETHER STRAP. CONSULT YOUR AUTHORIZED MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER FOR THE EXACT LOCATION OF THESE ANCHORAGES." AFTER REPEATED PHONE CALLS, EMAILS AND FAXES AND A VISIT TO THE DEALER, NEITHER THE EUGENE DEALER, MERCEDES BENZ OF EUGENE, OR THE MERCEDES https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420#complaint-554235 Tue, 13 Sep 2005 00:00:00 GMT TWO MAJOR FAILURES OF WIRING ON MY 1995 S420. (1) MAIN WIRING HARNESS SHORTED, BURNED INSULATION AND FAILURE TO OPERATE. DEALER CLAIMED NORMAL WITH A CAR THIS AGE. (2) THROTTLE ACTUATOR WIRING HARNESS SHORTED, AGAIN BURNED INSULATION AND OPERATE IN LIMPED MODE ONLY. CONTACTED REGIONAL MANAGER AND MB USA, RESULTING IN SENDING IN DAMAGED PART TO MB USA FOR ENGINEERING STUDY. ONE MONTH LATER I CONT https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420#complaint-550935 Tue, 23 Aug 2005 00:00:00 GMT I RECENTLY HAD A GAS TANK PRESSURE SENSOR REPLACED ON MY 1997 E MODEL MERCEDES. UPON INSPECTION OF THE INTERIOR OF THE GAS TANK, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE RETURN LINES INSIDE THE TANK HAD BECOME DISCONNECTED WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF TANK PRESSURE, LEAKAGE, AND /OR IMPROPER EMISSION SYSTEM SENSOR READOUTS. THE TANK HAS NOT BEEN DAMAGED DUE TO MPACT SO THE DISCONNECTED LINE APPEARS TO BE A D https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420#complaint-544340 Fri, 15 Jul 2005 00:00:00 GMT SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE OF A 1995 MERCEDEZ-BENZ E420, I WAS TOLD BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OF THE NEED TO REPLACE WIRING HARNESSES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BECAUSE THE WIRING INSULATION BECOMES BRITTLE, CRACKS, AND FALLS OFF. THIS WAS DEMONSTRATED TO BE THE CASE ON MY CAR, WITH THE MECHANIC SHOWING ME THE CONDITION OF THE WIRES IN THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. THIS REPAIR COST ME OVER $2000 - OF C https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-420#complaint-528974 Thu, 31 Mar 2005 00:00:00 GMT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN FRONT END COLLISION WITH HIS 1991 MERCEDES BENZ 420 SEL. **NAR*** *NM *SC *JB