Model year record
1995 Mercedes-Benz 420 recalls & problems
The 1995 Mercedes-Benz 420 has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 15 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (7 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 1995 Mercedes-Benz 420.
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.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemWiring › Front underhood; Wiring | 7 | 100,000 mi |
| Power trainAutomatic transmission | 2 | — |
| VisibilitySun/moon roof assembly | 1 | — |
| Air bagsFrontal | 1 | — |
| SteeringSteering wheel/handle bar | 1 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components | 1 | — |
| Seat beltsFront › Anchorage | 1 | — |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | — |
| Engine | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Engine
THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM THAT MERCEDES IS WELL AWARE OF WITH THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. THE INSULATION WAS POORLY DONE, WHICH CAUSES THE WIRING TO BREAKDOWN. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX FOR THE CONSUMER. SAFETY IS THE ISSUE HERE WHEN THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO FAIL TO ACCELERATE. *TR
- Electrical system
THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS ON MY 1995 MERCEDES BENZ S420 HAS DISINTEGRATED. THE WIRING INSULATION IS CRACKED AND BROKEN IN MANY PLACES, WHICH HAS RESULTED IN A NON-OPERATING CONDITION. THE CAR HAS STALLED 3 TIMES SO FAR, IN TRAFFIC, AND WILL NOW NOT RUN AT ALL. APPARENTLY THE WIRES HAVE BROKEN DOWN DUE TO THE HEAT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I BELIEVE THE WIRES WERE NOT SUITABLE FOR THE APPLICATION THEY WERE USED FOR. *TR
- Electrical system
THE ELECTRICAL WIRING SYSTEM PLASTIC COATING IS BREAKING DOWN AND THE BARE WIRES ARE SHORTING OUT MAKING THE CAR UNABLE TO USE. *TR
- Electrical system
1995 420S MERCEDES IS HAVING PROBLEMS FIRING. CONCERNED ABOUT WIRING HARNESS. WAS CHECK AND MAY BE CAUSING THE PROBLEM. WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL ON THIS IF SO MANY PEOPLE THAT OWN THESE VEHICLES ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM? CAR IS HESITATING WHEN KEY IS TURNED TO RIGHT AND WILL NOT FIRE CORRECTLY. *TR
- Electrical system › Wiring
1995 E420 MERCEDES BENZ: WIRE HARNESS HAS PREMATURELY DISINTEGRATED, CAUSING UNSAFE OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS TO APPEAR IN VEHICLE SUCH AS: SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND UNRESPONSIVENESS TO ACCELERATOR INPUT. *AK
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhoodFire
TWO MAJOR FAILURES OF WIRING ON MY 1995 S420. (1) MAIN WIRING HARNESS SHORTED, BURNED INSULATION AND FAILURE TO OPERATE. DEALER CLAIMED NORMAL WITH A CAR THIS AGE. (2) THROTTLE ACTUATOR WIRING HARNESS SHORTED, AGAIN BURNED INSULATION AND OPERATE IN LIMPED MODE ONLY. CONTACTED REGIONAL MANAGER AND MB USA, RESULTING IN SENDING IN DAMAGED PART TO MB USA FOR ENGINEERING STUDY. ONE MONTH LATER I CONTACTED THE PRESIDENT OF MB USA. ONE WEEK LATER I WAS CONTACTED BY MB USA CUSTOMER SERVICE, WAS TOLD THEY (MB USA) KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE ENGINEERING STUDY. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALER,WHO CLAIMED THE FAULTY ACTUATOR WAS SHIPPED TO MB USA. THERE IS NOT ONLY A SERIOUS ENGINEERING PROBLEM WITH THESE…
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE OF A 1995 MERCEDEZ-BENZ E420, I WAS TOLD BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OF THE NEED TO REPLACE WIRING HARNESSES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BECAUSE THE WIRING INSULATION BECOMES BRITTLE, CRACKS, AND FALLS OFF. THIS WAS DEMONSTRATED TO BE THE CASE ON MY CAR, WITH THE MECHANIC SHOWING ME THE CONDITION OF THE WIRES IN THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. THIS REPAIR COST ME OVER $2000 - OF COURSE I HAVE RECEIPTS. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT - IT IS SO PREVALENT, I CAN FIND COUNTLESS MENTIONS OF IT IN MERCEDES DISCUSSION BOARDS ON THE INTERNET, WHOSE CONTRIBUTORS INCLUDE MERCEDES-TRAINED MECHANICS. MERCEDES SHOULD TREAT THIS AS A SAFETY-RELATED RECALL - DO YOU WANT YOUR…
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhoodFire
AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE, FIRE CAME THROUGH THE FIREWALL. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. *AK THERE WERE NO PRIOR PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE HAD FILLED WITH BLACK SMOKE WITH THE IGNITION OFF AND THE VEHICLE PARKED. THERE WAS NO WARNING. *SCC *JB
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.