Total Complaints
5 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ S320 · model year
1995 MERCEDES-BENZ S320
5 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1995MERCEDES-BENZS320 carries 5 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 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 S320 is electrical system with 3 filings, followed by engine (1) and suspension (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 1995 S320. 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.
5
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
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 | 3 |
| ENGINE | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20190809SUSPENSION
LETTER TO SECRETARY FROM CONSTITUENT EXPRESSING CONCERNS RE HIS S320 MERCEDES BENZ. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, THE DRIVESHAFT DISC, BUSHING, CONTROL ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *JS *JS *JS
20180108FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE VENTS WHILE DRIVING.ON THE HIGHWAY 87 NORTH DECEMBER 23, 2017 AT 8:45AM. I WAS HEADING TO CANADA FOR CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY. LATER DISCOVERED THAT ALTERNATOR WIRING AND CABLES CAUGHT ON FIRE.
Mileage: 105,000
20160320ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE WIRING THAT CONTROLS THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE ACTUATOR HAS INSULATION THAT HAS DISINTEGRATED CAUSING A SHORT IN THE WIRING RESULTING IN AN INSTANTANEOUS LOSS OF POWER. VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT THE TIME ON THE HIGHWAY.
Mileage: 199,000
20160320ENGINE
THE WIRING THAT CONTROLS THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE ACTUATOR HAS INSULATION THAT HAS DISINTEGRATED CAUSING A SHORT IN THE WIRING RESULTING IN AN INSTANTANEOUS LOSS OF POWER. VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT THE TIME ON THE HIGHWAY.
Mileage: 199,000
20150205ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAS BECOME BRITTLE AND IS ROTTING OFF THE COPPER WIRE CAUSING SHORTS SHORTING OUT MODULES TRANSMISSION HAS STOP SHIFTING FROM 4TH TO 5TH UNLESS YOU LET UP OFF THE GAS AT HIGH RPM'S THEN LET IT FALL DOWN TO ABOUT 7000 RPM'S THEN IT SHIFTS I HAVE CAME CLOSE TO GETTING REAR ENDED BY SEMI TRUCKS TOO MANY TIMES TO COUNT THIS THING COULD CATCH FIRE AT ANY TIME I JUST WONDER WHAT ITS GOING TO TAKE TO GET THIS THING ON THE RECALL LIST IS MERCEDES WAITING FOR IT TO KILL SOMEONE FIRST OR WHAT? *TR
Mileage: 165,000
Compare 1995MERCEDES-BENZS320 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ S320 have?▼
The 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ S320 has 5 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ S320?▼
The most-complained component for the 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ S320 is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE and SUSPENSION.
Is the 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ S320 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.