Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
10 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
100,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1992 to 2001 model years. Data updated: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Owner-reported patterns
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 10 complaints (30.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic
Matching reports
Share of complaints
Electrical and battery issues
3
30.0%
Transmission and shifting
1
10.0%
Engine operation
1
10.0%
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
UPPER ENGINE WIRING HARNESS (MB PART# A 124 440 19 06) INSULATION CRACKED IN MANY PLACES. IT DECOMPOSED/DETERIORATED SO BADLY IT EFFECTED ADDITIONAL ENGINE COMPONENTS. ENGINE STALLED MANY TIME WHILE IN TRAFFIC. HARNESS WAS REPLACES ON 04-21-2005 AND CAR REQUIRED ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE FROM MERCEDES DEALER SHIP DUE TO ECU PROBLEMS AND STILL ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH ASR (ANTI SKID CONTROL) PROBLEMS. *JB
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER, AFTER DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM, SAID THAT A CODE INDICATING THAT THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR WAS FAULTY HOWEVER THEY DETERMINED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS DETERIORATED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE "THIS YEAR CAR WAS DESIGNED WITH A HARNESS THAT WAS BIODEGRADABLE." THE INSULATION HAS BEGUN TO CRUMBLE REQUIRING A NEW HARNESS. THE PART IS ABOUT $1100 PLUS LABOR FOR INSTALLATION. *TR
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION HAS DISINTEGRATED, CRACKED AND FLAKED OFF OF THE WIRES EXPOSING SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF BARE COPPER INCLUDING CONNECTIONS TO THE GLOW PLUG RELAY AND EVERY CONNECTOR DIRECTLY ATTACHING TO AN ENGINE COMPONENT. REMOVAL OF THE WIRING HARNESS SHOWS CRACKING AND DISINTEGRATION IF THE HARNESS INSULATION THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE HARNESS. WAS CAUSING INSTRUMENTATION MALFUNCTIONS IN GLOW PLUG CIRCUITS. SIGNIFICANT EXPOSED POWER WIRE COPPER WOULD GROUND THE SYSTEM OUT IF EVEN A SLIGHT SHIFTING OF THE HARNESS TOO…
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
10 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
70.0%Usable mileage7 / 10 records
90.0%Valid incident date9 / 10 records
100.0%Valid filing date10 / 10 records
90.0%Ordered incident and filing dates9 / 10 records
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
Component complaint heatmap
Component
1992
1993
1994
1995
2001
Electrical System
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
0Unavailable
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
350.0%ODI 10447044 · 84,013 mi
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER, AFTER DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM, SAID THAT A CODE INDICATING THAT THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR WAS FAULTY HOWEVER THEY DETERMINED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS DETERIORATED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE "THIS YEAR CAR WAS DESIGNED WITH A HARNESS THAT WAS BIODEGRADABLE." THE INSULATION HAS BEGUN TO CRUMBLE REQUIRING A NEW HARNESS. THE PART IS ABOUT $1100 PLUS LABOR FOR INSTALLATION. *TR
UPPER ENGINE WIRING HARNESS (MB PART# A 124 440 19 06) INSULATION CRACKED IN MANY PLACES. IT DECOMPOSED/DETERIORATED SO BADLY IT EFFECTED ADDITIONAL ENGINE COMPONENTS. ENGINE STALLED MANY TIME WHILE IN TRAFFIC. HARNESS WAS REPLACES ON 04-21-2005 AND CAR REQUIRED ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE FROM MERCEDES DEALER SHIP DUE TO ECU PROBLEMS AND STILL ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH ASR (ANTI SKID CONTROL) PROBLEMS. *JB
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION HAS DISINTEGRATED, CRACKED AND FLAKED OFF OF THE WIRES EXPOSING SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF BARE COPPER INCLUDING CONNECTIONS TO THE GLOW PLUG RELAY AND EVERY CONNECTOR DIRECTLY ATTACHING TO AN ENGINE COMPONENT. REMOVAL OF THE WIRING HARNESS SHOWS CRACKING AND DISINTEGRATION IF THE HARNESS INSULATION THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE HARNESS. WAS CAUSING INSTRUMENTATION MALFUNCTIONS IN GLOW PLUG CIRCUITS. SIGNIFICANT EXPOSED POWER WIRE COPPER WOULD GROUND THE SYSTEM OUT IF EVEN A SLIGHT SHIFTING OF THE HARNESS TOO…
THE ENGINE STOPPED. THE ENGINE RETARTED BUT WITH A DISTINCT ROUGH IDLE. INCREASING THE GAS PEDAL PRESSURE WAS RESPONDED BY THE ENGINE WITH INCREASED BUT FLUCTUATING RPMS. I COULD DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE A DAY OR MORE LATER IT RAN NORMAL. HOWEVER, SUBSEQUENTLY I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE MERCEDES DEALER IN TAMPA AND THEY BROUGHT IN A RETIRED MECHANIC WHO CONNECTED A DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER TO THE VEHICLE. HE SHOWED ME IN THE SHOP THE SIGNAL FLUCTUATIONS, IN WHAT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME, OF THE FUEL MIXTURE SYSTEM. I INQUI…
DRIVER'S POWER SEAT MOVES UNEXPECTEDLY, WITHOUT DRIVER TOUCHING THE SEAT CONTROL BUTTONS. SEAT HAS FEATURE TO PLACE SEAT IN A "MEMORIZED" POSITION UPON DEMAND. SOMETIMES THE SEAT MOVES FORWARD, SOMETIMES BACK, SOMETIMES IN A ROCKING MOTION. APPROXIMATELY 20-30 SUCH INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED. TWICE, THE SEAT MOVED ALL THE WAY FORWARD ON ITS TRACK, CROWDING ME UP TO THE DASH AND MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO MOVE MY FEET. BEHAVIOR BEGAN THIS SUMMER AND SEEMS MOST LIKELY WHEN THE CAR INTERIOR IS HOT, FROM SITTING IN THE SUN. MOST INCIDENTS OCCURRED WIT…
RIGHT FRONT SPRING PERCH AND SURROUNDING RAIL IS CRUMBLING. ONE LEG OF THE PERCH AT THE WELD HAS COMPLETELY BROKEN LOSE. THERE IS NO OTHER SIGNIFICANT RUST ON THE VEHICLE. IF THIS FAILS, THE SPRING MAY BREAK THROUGH THE RAIL INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, OR THE SPRING MAY FALL OUT. AT SPEED, THIS COULD BE A VERY BAD SITUATION. *TR
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
Component failure mileage distribution
Component
Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)
Median
Usable records
Examples
Electrical System
Too few reports for a range
100,507 mi
2 (sparse)
ODI 10447044 · 84,013 mi
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER, AFTER DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM, SAID THAT A CODE INDICATING THAT THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR WAS FAULTY HOWEVER THEY DETERMINED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS DETERIORATED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE "THIS YEAR CAR WAS DESIGNED WITH A HARNESS THAT WAS BIODEGRADABLE." THE INSULATION HAS BEGUN TO CRUMBLE REQUIRING A NEW HARNESS. THE PART IS ABOUT $1100 PLUS LABOR FOR INSTALLATION. *TR
THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS HAD MELTED IN TWO LOCATIONS. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THE PREVIOUS OWNER TOLD ME THAT HE HAD REPLACED THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS. *TR
THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS HAD MELTED IN TWO LOCATIONS. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THE PREVIOUS OWNER TOLD ME THAT HE HAD REPLACED THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS. *TR
UPPER ENGINE WIRING HARNESS (MB PART# A 124 440 19 06) INSULATION CRACKED IN MANY PLACES. IT DECOMPOSED/DETERIORATED SO BADLY IT EFFECTED ADDITIONAL ENGINE COMPONENTS. ENGINE STALLED MANY TIME WHILE IN TRAFFIC. HARNESS WAS REPLACES ON 04-21-2005 AND CAR REQUIRED ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE FROM MERCEDES DEALER SHIP DUE TO ECU PROBLEMS AND STILL ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH ASR (ANTI SKID CONTROL) PROBLEMS. *JB
THE ENGINE STOPPED. THE ENGINE RETARTED BUT WITH A DISTINCT ROUGH IDLE. INCREASING THE GAS PEDAL PRESSURE WAS RESPONDED BY THE ENGINE WITH INCREASED BUT FLUCTUATING RPMS. I COULD DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE A DAY OR MORE LATER IT RAN NORMAL. HOWEVER, SUBSEQUENTLY I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE MERCEDES DEALER IN TAMPA AND THEY BROUGHT IN A RETIRED MECHANIC WHO CONNECTED A DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER TO THE VEHICLE. HE SHOWED ME IN THE SHOP THE SIGNAL FLUCTUATIONS, IN WHAT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME, OF THE FUEL MIXTURE SYSTEM. I INQUI…
DRIVER'S POWER SEAT MOVES UNEXPECTEDLY, WITHOUT DRIVER TOUCHING THE SEAT CONTROL BUTTONS. SEAT HAS FEATURE TO PLACE SEAT IN A "MEMORIZED" POSITION UPON DEMAND. SOMETIMES THE SEAT MOVES FORWARD, SOMETIMES BACK, SOMETIMES IN A ROCKING MOTION. APPROXIMATELY 20-30 SUCH INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED. TWICE, THE SEAT MOVED ALL THE WAY FORWARD ON ITS TRACK, CROWDING ME UP TO THE DASH AND MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO MOVE MY FEET. BEHAVIOR BEGAN THIS SUMMER AND SEEMS MOST LIKELY WHEN THE CAR INTERIOR IS HOT, FROM SITTING IN THE SUN. MOST INCIDENTS OCCURRED WIT…
RIGHT FRONT SPRING PERCH AND SURROUNDING RAIL IS CRUMBLING. ONE LEG OF THE PERCH AT THE WELD HAS COMPLETELY BROKEN LOSE. THERE IS NO OTHER SIGNIFICANT RUST ON THE VEHICLE. IF THIS FAILS, THE SPRING MAY BREAK THROUGH THE RAIL INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, OR THE SPRING MAY FALL OUT. AT SPEED, THIS COULD BE A VERY BAD SITUATION. *TR
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month
Complaints
Campaigns announced
Examples
2024-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2024-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-10
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
1995: 0 complaints · 2001: 1 complaints
Equal observation windows
Model year
Through age 0
Through age 1
Through age 2
1995
0
0
0
2001
1
1
1
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year
Incident dates used
Filing date fallbacks
Excluded dates
1995
6
0
0
2001
0
1
0
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
Component co-occurrence matrix
Component
Electrical System
Engine
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
Engine And Engine Cooling
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
Fuel/Propulsion System
Seats
Suspension
Electrical System
—
1ODI 10553097 · 117,000 mi
THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS HAD MELTED IN TWO LOCATIONS. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THE PREVIOUS OWNER TOLD ME THAT HE HAD REPLACED THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS. *TR
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION HAS DISINTEGRATED, CRACKED AND FLAKED OFF OF THE WIRES EXPOSING SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF BARE COPPER INCLUDING CONNECTIONS TO THE GLOW PLUG RELAY AND EVERY CONNECTOR DIRECTLY ATTACHING TO AN ENGINE COMPONENT. REMOVAL OF THE WIRING HARNESS SHOWS CRACKING AND DISINTEGRATION IF THE HARNESS INSULATION THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE HARNESS. WAS CAUSING INSTRUMENTATION MALFUNCTIONS IN GLOW PLUG CIRCUITS. SIGNIFICANT EXPOSED POWER WIRE COPPER WOULD GROUND THE SYSTEM OUT IF EVEN A SLIGHT SHIFTING OF THE HARNESS TOO…
THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS HAD MELTED IN TWO LOCATIONS. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THE PREVIOUS OWNER TOLD ME THAT HE HAD REPLACED THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS. *TR
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION HAS DISINTEGRATED, CRACKED AND FLAKED OFF OF THE WIRES EXPOSING SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF BARE COPPER INCLUDING CONNECTIONS TO THE GLOW PLUG RELAY AND EVERY CONNECTOR DIRECTLY ATTACHING TO AN ENGINE COMPONENT. REMOVAL OF THE WIRING HARNESS SHOWS CRACKING AND DISINTEGRATION IF THE HARNESS INSULATION THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE HARNESS. WAS CAUSING INSTRUMENTATION MALFUNCTIONS IN GLOW PLUG CIRCUITS. SIGNIFICANT EXPOSED POWER WIRE COPPER WOULD GROUND THE SYSTEM OUT IF EVEN A SLIGHT SHIFTING OF THE HARNESS TOO…
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
2 patterns with matching reports.
Warning lights and dashboard alerts
2 mentions · 20.0% of complaints
Median mileage: 92,007 mi (2 usable records).
ODI 10447044 · 84,013 mi
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER, AFTER DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM, SAID THAT A CODE INDICATING THAT THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR WAS FAULTY HOWEVER THEY DETERMINED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS DETERIORATED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE "THIS YEAR CAR WAS DESIGNED WITH A HARNESS THAT WAS BIODEGRADABLE." THE INSULATION HAS BEGUN TO CRUMBLE REQUIRING A NEW HARNESS. THE PART IS ABOUT $1100 PLUS LABOR FOR INSTALLATION. *TR
UPPER ENGINE WIRING HARNESS (MB PART# A 124 440 19 06) INSULATION CRACKED IN MANY PLACES. IT DECOMPOSED/DETERIORATED SO BADLY IT EFFECTED ADDITIONAL ENGINE COMPONENTS. ENGINE STALLED MANY TIME WHILE IN TRAFFIC. HARNESS WAS REPLACES ON 04-21-2005 AND CAR REQUIRED ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE FROM MERCEDES DEALER SHIP DUE TO ECU PROBLEMS AND STILL ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH ASR (ANTI SKID CONTROL) PROBLEMS. *JB