MERCEDES-BENZ E320 · model year

1995 MERCEDES-BENZ E320

129 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1995MERCEDES-BENZE320 carries 129 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 5 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 1995 E320 is electrical system:wiring:front underhood with 37 filings, followed by electrical system (32) and electrical system:wiring (20). 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 E320. 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.

129
Complaints
0
Crashes
5
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

129 filings

Crashes Reported

0 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 SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD37
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM32
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING20
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING7
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE3
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER2
TIRES2
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
ENGINE2
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER1
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR1

Recent Complaints

20191212ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION FALLING OFF - COPPER WIRES EXPOSED AND MAY RESULT IN SHORT AND ENGINE FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS - COULD RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH.*DT CONSUMER STATED WIRING IS DEFECTIVE AND THAT MERCEDES HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE NATURE OF THE DEFECT FOR MANY YEARS.*JB

Mileage: 96,062

20150922FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THERE WAS SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

Mileage: 180,000

20141210FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL LINES AND THE FAN BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,664. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 155,664

20141024ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ON THIS 1995 MERCEDES E320, WOULD NOT PASS EMISSIONS, TOOK TO DEALER, WAS TOLD THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AT A COST OF $1500. THE WIRING HARNESS WAS CRUMBLING EVERYWHERE. I CHECKED ONLINE AND IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL E20. I CHECKED NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS TOTALLY A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM, THE COATING TO THE WIRING HAS DISINTEGRATED AND IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THESE CARS. I HAVE SPENT OVER $2,000 TO TRY TO GET THIS CAR TO PASS EMISSIONS, IT FAILS SO BAD I CANT EVEN GET A WAIVER. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

20141024ENGINE

ON THIS 1995 MERCEDES E320, WOULD NOT PASS EMISSIONS, TOOK TO DEALER, WAS TOLD THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AT A COST OF $1500. THE WIRING HARNESS WAS CRUMBLING EVERYWHERE. I CHECKED ONLINE AND IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL E20. I CHECKED NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS TOTALLY A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM, THE COATING TO THE WIRING HAS DISINTEGRATED AND IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THESE CARS. I HAVE SPENT OVER $2,000 TO TRY TO GET THIS CAR TO PASS EMISSIONS, IT FAILS SO BAD I CANT EVEN GET A WAIVER. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

20141024FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

ON THIS 1995 MERCEDES E320, WOULD NOT PASS EMISSIONS, TOOK TO DEALER, WAS TOLD THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AT A COST OF $1500. THE WIRING HARNESS WAS CRUMBLING EVERYWHERE. I CHECKED ONLINE AND IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL E20. I CHECKED NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS TOTALLY A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM, THE COATING TO THE WIRING HAS DISINTEGRATED AND IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THESE CARS. I HAVE SPENT OVER $2,000 TO TRY TO GET THIS CAR TO PASS EMISSIONS, IT FAILS SO BAD I CANT EVEN GET A WAIVER. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

20140929ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

PURCHASED IN LATE SPRING 2014. FIRE IN RIGHT DOOR ELECTRICAL WIRING MID JUNE. STALL AT RED LIGHT IN MID JULY. STALL ON HIGHWAY, STOP AND GO TRAFFIC IN MID SEPTEMBER. AND STALL AT A RED LIGHT SEPT. 27, 2014. BOUGHT IT, IT HAD 107,000MILES. *TR

Mileage: 117,000

20140812FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I DROPPED OFF MY CAR AT AUTO SHOP DUE TO MY CAR STARTING ROUGH, THE AC AND FAN CUT OFF, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS ALSO CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD BE THE WIRE HARNESS AS I HAD READ ABOUT PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, AND HAD DISCUSSED POSSIBLE ISSUE WITH VARIOUS MERCEDES MECHANICS. I WAS TOLD THAT MERCEDES BENZ HAD INSTALLED BIO DEGRADABLE WIRE HARNESS THAT WERE RESULTING IN PREMATURE DETERIORATION. WHILE MY CAR WAS IN THE SERVICE BAY AT S THE AUTOMOTIVE SHOP MY ENGINE WIRE HARNESS CAUGHT ON FIRE! THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT BEFORE ENTIRE CAR AND HIS SHOP CAUGHT ON FIRE. I HAVE ASKED HIM TO RETAIN HARNESS FOR EVIDENCE, HE SAID HARNESS IS IN PIECES DUE TO EXTREME HEAT OF THIS ELECTRICAL FIRE. I AM SO THANKFUL THAT THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE AT THE SHOP, OR MY ENTIRE FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I SAY THIS AS MY ELECTRIC LOCKS WERE MESSED UP, AND SOMETIMES I HAD TO WAIT UP TO A MINUTE OR MORE TO OPEN THE CAR DOORS AND TRUNK, AND ALSO TO LOCK MY VEHICLE DUE T

Mileage: 99,000

20140812FireELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

I DROPPED OFF MY CAR AT AUTO SHOP DUE TO MY CAR STARTING ROUGH, THE AC AND FAN CUT OFF, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS ALSO CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD BE THE WIRE HARNESS AS I HAD READ ABOUT PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, AND HAD DISCUSSED POSSIBLE ISSUE WITH VARIOUS MERCEDES MECHANICS. I WAS TOLD THAT MERCEDES BENZ HAD INSTALLED BIO DEGRADABLE WIRE HARNESS THAT WERE RESULTING IN PREMATURE DETERIORATION. WHILE MY CAR WAS IN THE SERVICE BAY AT S THE AUTOMOTIVE SHOP MY ENGINE WIRE HARNESS CAUGHT ON FIRE! THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT BEFORE ENTIRE CAR AND HIS SHOP CAUGHT ON FIRE. I HAVE ASKED HIM TO RETAIN HARNESS FOR EVIDENCE, HE SAID HARNESS IS IN PIECES DUE TO EXTREME HEAT OF THIS ELECTRICAL FIRE. I AM SO THANKFUL THAT THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE AT THE SHOP, OR MY ENTIRE FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I SAY THIS AS MY ELECTRIC LOCKS WERE MESSED UP, AND SOMETIMES I HAD TO WAIT UP TO A MINUTE OR MORE TO OPEN THE CAR DOORS AND TRUNK, AND ALSO TO LOCK MY VEHICLE DUE T

Mileage: 99,000

20130908ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ENGINE WIRING HARNESS FAILED. THE WIRES CRUMBLED. VEHICLE NO LONGER RUNS. *LN

Mileage: 104,500

20130519ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE ELECTRICAL INSULATION ON THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS FAILED AND CAUSE THE ENGINE TO MISFIRE. MY CONCERN IS EITHER AN ELECTRICAL SHORT COULD CAUSE A FIRE OR COMPUTER FAILURE. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

20130405ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WIRING HARNESS DETERIORATION DUE TO MANUFACTURER DEFECT. WIRING HARNESS INSULATION DETERIORATES LEADING TO OTHER COMPONENT FAILURES, AND COMPROMISED SAFETY, FIRE HAZARD, DRIVABILITY COMPROMISED. *TR

Mileage: 41,005

20130322ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE WIRES IN THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTING TO THE COILS FOR THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM ARE DISINTEGRATING. CURRENTLY THIS IS CAUSING THE CAR TO LOOSE POWER, RUN ROUGH, ONLY 2-4 CYLINDERS ARE FIRING. MY MECHANIC SAID HE FOUND ON THE WEB THAT THIS IS HAPPENING A LOT TO MERCEDES CARS MADE DURING THE TIME PERIOD MY CAR WAS MADE BUT MERCEDES NEVER ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS HUGE PROBLEM. MY COST TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WAS ESTIMATED AT $3200.00 OR MORE DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH OF THE WIRING SYSTEM HAS DISINTEGRATED AND WHAT OTHER SYSTEMS ARE AFFECTED. I CALLED MERCEDES ON HOWE AVE IN SACRAMENTO AND AFTER CHECKING MY VIN NUMBER SAID MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM OR ANY OTHER PROBLEMS. *TR

Mileage: 137,000

20130322ENGINE

THE WIRES IN THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTING TO THE COILS FOR THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM ARE DISINTEGRATING. CURRENTLY THIS IS CAUSING THE CAR TO LOOSE POWER, RUN ROUGH, ONLY 2-4 CYLINDERS ARE FIRING. MY MECHANIC SAID HE FOUND ON THE WEB THAT THIS IS HAPPENING A LOT TO MERCEDES CARS MADE DURING THE TIME PERIOD MY CAR WAS MADE BUT MERCEDES NEVER ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS HUGE PROBLEM. MY COST TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WAS ESTIMATED AT $3200.00 OR MORE DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH OF THE WIRING SYSTEM HAS DISINTEGRATED AND WHAT OTHER SYSTEMS ARE AFFECTED. I CALLED MERCEDES ON HOWE AVE IN SACRAMENTO AND AFTER CHECKING MY VIN NUMBER SAID MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM OR ANY OTHER PROBLEMS. *TR

Mileage: 137,000

20130211ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE CAR BEGAN TO IDLE ROUGH MONTHS BEFORE, IT COMPLETELY STOPPED. I THOUGHT THIS WAS JUST A MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR, BUT AFTER GETTING THAT FIXED I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. IT COULD HAVE ENDED IN A CRASH BUT THANKFULLY I WAS ON A ROAD WITH FAIRLY LIGHT TRAFFIC. UPON INSPECTION, THE WIRING HARNESS ON MY '95 E320 COMPLETELY WAS WEARING AWAY, SPECIFICALLY AROUND THE IGNITION COILS. I'M ASHAMED OF MERCEDES FOR NOT RECALLING THIS PROBLEM, AS IT (I HAVE FOUND OUT AFTER READING) IS AN INFAMOUS PROBLEM WITH MB FROM 1993-96. I HOPE THAT THEY SORT THIS OUT SO NO ONE GETS IN A CRASH, OR WORSE. *TR

Mileage: 197,000

20110602ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

1995 MERCEDES BENZ E320. CONSUMER STATES DISINTEGRATING WIRING HARNESS DEFECT *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEAD GASKET DEVELOPED A LEAK, BUT IN ORDER TO DO THE REPAIR A NEW WIRING HARNESS IS NEEDED.*JB

20110602ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

1995 MERCEDES BENZ E320. CONSUMER STATES DISINTEGRATING WIRING HARNESS DEFECT *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEAD GASKET DEVELOPED A LEAK, BUT IN ORDER TO DO THE REPAIR A NEW WIRING HARNESS IS NEEDED.*JB

20110530ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAVE TWO MERCEDES BENZ W124 CARS. BOTH CARS HAVE HAD THE WIRING HARNESS FAILURE AND THAT DESTROYED MANY VERY EXPENSIVE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS ON THE CARS. 1993 300E 4 DOOR SEDAN, WIRING HARNESS FAILURE AND DESTROY MANY THINGS VERY EXPENSIVE ON THE CAR 1995 E320 CABRIOLET RARE COLLECTORS CONVERTIBLE MADE IN 1994 AND 1995 ONLY! PLEASE SEND ME TWO FORMS TO FILL OUT. *TR

Mileage: 93,000

20110530FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

I HAVE TWO MERCEDES BENZ W124 CARS. BOTH CARS HAVE HAD THE WIRING HARNESS FAILURE AND THAT DESTROYED MANY VERY EXPENSIVE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS ON THE CARS. 1993 300E 4 DOOR SEDAN, WIRING HARNESS FAILURE AND DESTROY MANY THINGS VERY EXPENSIVE ON THE CAR 1995 E320 CABRIOLET RARE COLLECTORS CONVERTIBLE MADE IN 1994 AND 1995 ONLY! PLEASE SEND ME TWO FORMS TO FILL OUT. *TR

Mileage: 93,000

20110409ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WIRING HARNESS DETERIORATED CAUSING ELECTRICAL SHORT-CIRCUIT. *TR

Mileage: 80

Compare 1995MERCEDES-BENZE320 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 have?
The 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 has 129 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 5 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ E320?
The most-complained component for the 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD with 37 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING.
Is the 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 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.