Model year record

1992 Mercedes-Benz 400E recalls & problems

The 1992 Mercedes-Benz 400E has 2 safety recalls and 19 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (17 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints19filed by owners

Crashes · fires1 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Engine and engine coolingJan 6, 1994

Exhaust system

Recall 94V0040005,900 vehicles

Problem: HIGH AMBIENT ENGINE COMPARTMENT TEMPERATURES ARE EXPERIENCED AFTER THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED AND THEN PARKED. IF THE VEHICLE IS RESTARTED A SHORT TIME LATER AND THE CHARCOAL CANISTER IS SATURATED WITH FUEL, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT FUEL VAPOR MAY BE EXPELLED THROUGH THE INLET VENT LINE OF THE CANISTER ONTO THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY RADIATOR FAN PRERESISTOR.
Risk: UNDER CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY RADIATOR FAN PRERESISTOR BECOMES HOT ENOUGH TO IGNITE THE FUEL EXPELLED FROM THE CHARCOAL CANNISTER AND RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPOSITION THE FUEL VAPOR CANISTER VENT LINE AWAY FROM THE ELECTRIC FAN PRERESISTOR. IN ADDITION, THE PRERESISTOR WILL HAVE A LARGER HEAT SHIELD AND A FUSED WIRING HARNESS WILL BE INSTALLED.

Service brakes, hydraulicJun 11, 1992

Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Recall 92V083000845 vehicles

Problem: THE PLASTIC BRAKE HYDRAULIC HOSE FROM THE AUTOMATIC SLIP CONTROL UNIT WAS MISROUTED TOO CLOSE TO THE PRE-RESISTOR FOR THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY ENGINE COOLING FAN WHICH BECOMES HOT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. THIS COULD CAUSE THE HOSE TO MELT AND LEAK BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE HOT PRE-RESISTOR.
Risk: BRAKE FLUID CAN CATCH ON FIRE WHEN IT CONTACTS THE HOTPRE-RESISTOR, POSING THE RISK OF INJURY TO ANYONE IN OR NEAR THE VEHICLE.
Fix: REPLACE AND REROUTE ANY HOSE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN MISROUTED.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

400E

16mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 20 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

4.2 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $5,150/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Typical mileage*
Electrical systemWiring › Front underhood; Wiring	17	1	1	125,000 mi
Vehicle speed control	1	0	0	—
Engine and engine cooling	1	0	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulic	1	0	0	—
Power train	1	0	1	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Electrical systemFire
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…
May 26, 2014 · 135,905 miles
Engine and engine cooling
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
Mar 3, 2014
Electrical system
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
Oct 28, 2008
Electrical system
MB WIRING HARNESS FAILURE 1992 400SE. *TR
Sep 27, 2008
Electrical system
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
Jul 9, 2007 · 145,000 miles
Electrical system
I HAVE A MERCEDES BENZ 400E AND THE WIRING HARNESS EVENTUALLY WITHERED AND DETERIORATED DUE TO FAULTY MANUFACTURING. *TR
Jan 24, 2007
Electrical system
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
Jun 10, 2008 · 135,000 miles
Electrical system › Wiring
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
Mar 20, 2008 · 95,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.