Model year record

1993 Mercedes-Benz 400E recalls & problems

The 1993 Mercedes-Benz 400E has 1 safety recall and 19 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (14 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints19filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 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.

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

18mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 22 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

4.2 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/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	Fires	Typical mileage*
Electrical systemWiring; Wiring › Front underhood	14	1	116,000 mi
Vehicle speed control	2	0	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine	2	0	—
Engine	2	0	—
Fuel/propulsion system	1	0	—
Electronic stability control (esc)	1	0	—
Unknown or other	1	0	—

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

Recent owner complaints

Electronic stability control (esc)
PARKED THE VEHICLE AND PLACED IT IN PARK THEN TURNED IGNITION OFF. BURNING SMELL COMING FROM VEHICLE THEN SMOKE STARTED GOING IN THROUGH VENTS AND SEEMED LIKED IT WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS IS CREATING MASS AND THE CAR NEARLY WENT UP IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND WERENT ABLE TO PUT OUT THE SMOKE AS THE SOURCE OF IT WAS NOT IMMEDIATLY DETERMINED. I AM NOT LOOKING AT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS.
Mar 24, 2016 · 163,000 miles
Engine
THE FUEL INJECTION ENGINE HARNESS WIRING HAS COMPLETELY DETERIORATED DUE TO THE USE OF A BIO DEGRADABLE MATERIAL BY MERCEDES BENZ. HAS RESULTED IN A LOT OF SHORTING ISSUES, WHICH RESULTED IN AIR CONDITIONING TURNING OFF, FAN CONTROL OFF, ENGINE HEATING UP, BLUE AND BLACK SMOKE, AND NOW SMOG FAILURE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO MERCEDES AND THEY NEED TO FIX IT. I HAVE HAD OVER $4000 REPAIRS AND STILL NEED TO GET THE ENGINE HARNESS CHANGED, WHICH IS A CUSTOM PAR AND MERCEDES WILL TAKE 2 MONTHS TO BUILD AND THE REPAIR ESTIMATE ON MY CAR IS OVER $8000 BY MERCEDES STEVEN CREEK. THESE PROBLEMS GOT ME 2 TRAFFIC TICKETS FOR NO REASON. DISGUSTING. MERCEDES NEEDS TO RECALL AND FIX THIS ISSUE, AND…
Dec 25, 2014 · 180,000 miles
Electrical systemFire
WIRING CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO FAULTY WIRING HARNESS INSULATION, WHICH IS WELL DOCUMENTED. YET, MERCEDES REFUSES TO RESOLVE/RECALL THIS ISSUE. WIRING HARNESS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Aug 4, 2014
Electrical system
FAULTY WIRING IN ENGINE HARNESS RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER AT SPEED ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE, LUCKILY AT THE TIME I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CAR'S CHARGING SYSTEM HAD BEEN SHORTED OUT. STILL WAITING ON OTHER SYSTEM TESTS. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN MERCEDES. WHY ISN'T ANYTHING BEING DONE ABOUT THIS? *TR
Nov 9, 2012 · 278,000 miles
Electrical system
I OWN A 1993 400E MERCEDES. RECENTLY IT HAS HAD MAJOR DIFFICULTY TURNING OVER. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MERCEDES BENZ REPAIR SHOP. THEY TOLD ME IT THE ENGINE HARNESS HAS GONE BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED COMPLETELY. EVIDENTLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AS MERCEDES USED SUB-STANDARD MATERIALS WHEN BUILDING THE WIRING HARNESS. THIS CAUSES MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES AND I BELIEVE MERCEDES SHOULD BE FORCED TO BEGIN RECALLING THESE VEHICLES. *TR
Jan 1, 2010 · 100,000 miles
Electrical system
WIRING HARNESS ON MERCEDES BENZ 400E FAILED AND ENTERED A LOW POWER BACKUP MODE ON THE HIGHWAY FAR AWAY FROM OUR RESIDENCE. WIRING HARNESS IS CHARRED AND HARNESS SHORTED OUT ON ENGINE. *TR
Jan 30, 2009 · 211,000 miles
Electrical system
MERCEDES 400 E HAS A TERRIBLE WIRE HARNESS DRY ROTTED FROM TEMPERATURE FROM ENGINE. *TR
May 8, 2008 · 210,789 miles
Electrical system › Wiring
THE WIRE HARNESS IS CRACKED AND ROTTEN. THE MOTOR DOES NOT RUN RIGHT. IT STALLS AND CUTS OUT. THE MECHANIC SAYS TO JUST GIVE HIM $1000.00 FOR A TEMP. FIX DUE TO THE MATERIALS USED IN THE REPLACEMENT HARNESS. *JB
Jan 10, 2007

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