Total Complaints
3 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ E420 · model year
1994 MERCEDES-BENZ E420
3 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1994MERCEDES-BENZE420 carries 3 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 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 1994 E420 is electrical system with 2 filings, followed by engine (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 1994 E420. 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.
3
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
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
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| ENGINE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20160229ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCEDES-BENZ E420. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN OVER TO START THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND WAS TO BE TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,732.
Mileage: 84,732
20130123ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE STARTED IDLING VERY RAPIDLY (BETTER THAN 1600 RPM) AND I LOST CONTROL ON THE ICY ROADS. I WAS UNABLE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE FAST IDLE WITH THE BRAKES WITHOUT DRAGGING THE FRONT TIRES. UPON INVESTIGATION I FOUND THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME FAULTY, DETERIORATING WIRING PROBLEM THAT TENS OF HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY REPORTED TO THIS SITE. EXACTLY HOW MANY COMPLAINTS ARE NECESSARY BEFORE YOU TAKE ACTION AGAINST THIS MANUFACTURER? I HAVE BEEN IN THE ELECTRICAL TRADES ALL OF MY LIFE AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH DEFECTIVE, DETERIORATED WIRING AS UNDER THE HOOD OF THIS MERCEDES. THE MERCEDES IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND A FIRE HAZARD. *TR
Mileage: 149,350
20130123ENGINE
THE VEHICLE STARTED IDLING VERY RAPIDLY (BETTER THAN 1600 RPM) AND I LOST CONTROL ON THE ICY ROADS. I WAS UNABLE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE FAST IDLE WITH THE BRAKES WITHOUT DRAGGING THE FRONT TIRES. UPON INVESTIGATION I FOUND THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME FAULTY, DETERIORATING WIRING PROBLEM THAT TENS OF HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY REPORTED TO THIS SITE. EXACTLY HOW MANY COMPLAINTS ARE NECESSARY BEFORE YOU TAKE ACTION AGAINST THIS MANUFACTURER? I HAVE BEEN IN THE ELECTRICAL TRADES ALL OF MY LIFE AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH DEFECTIVE, DETERIORATED WIRING AS UNDER THE HOOD OF THIS MERCEDES. THE MERCEDES IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND A FIRE HAZARD. *TR
Mileage: 149,350
Compare 1994MERCEDES-BENZE420 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1994 MERCEDES-BENZ E420 have?▼
The 1994 MERCEDES-BENZ E420 has 3 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 MERCEDES-BENZ E420?▼
The most-complained component for the 1994 MERCEDES-BENZ E420 is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE.
Is the 1994 MERCEDES-BENZ E420 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.