Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
5 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
90,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1991 to 1991 model years. Data updated: . 3 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 2 of 5 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic
Matching reports
Share of complaints
Electrical and battery issues
3
60.0%
Steering behavior
1
20.0%
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
2
Electrical System:Wiring
2
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
1
Engine And Engine Cooling
1
Fuel System, Gasoline
1
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
1
Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields
1
Component breakdown data
Category
Count
Electrical System
2
Electrical System:Wiring
2
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
1
Engine And Engine Cooling
1
Fuel System, Gasoline
1
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
1
Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields
1
Electrical System: 2; Electrical System:Wiring: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
1
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
Category
Count
Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
1
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
1
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
2002
1
2003
2
2004
1
2006
1
Complaints over time data
Category
Count
2002
1
2003
2
2004
1
2006
1
2002: 1; 2003: 2; 2004: 1; 2006: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior 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.
CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS TOTALED. THE FIRE INSPECTOR INDICATED THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *JB
I HAVE PROBLEM WITH DISINTEGRATING WIRING CAUSING MY CAR TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. I TOOK IT TO THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT ASR WAS LET ALONE FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY HAD MY CAR FOR 1 AND A-HALF WEEKS. PLEASE INFORM ME AS TO WHAT TO DO AS I FEEL I AM DRIVING A DANGEROUS VEHICLE. *NM
WHILE DRIVING AND A RIGHT TURN WAS MADE, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *AK . AFTER HAVING A THIRD SET OF MOTOR MOUNTS INSTALLED, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD A HEAT SHIELD WAS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE MOTOR MOUNT FROM THE EXHAUST HEAT. BUT MERCEDES NEVER NOTIFIED THE CONSUMER ABOUT THE NEED FOR A HEAT SHIELD AND THE VEHICLE DIDN'T COME WITH A HEAT SHIELD. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *CB *JB
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
5 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
60.0%Usable mileage3 / 5 records
80.0%Valid incident date4 / 5 records
100.0%Valid filing date5 / 5 records
80.0%Ordered incident and filing dates4 / 5 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
1991
Electrical System
240.0%ODI 10011882
CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS TOTALED. THE FIRE INSPECTOR INDICATED THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *JB
I HAVE PROBLEM WITH DISINTEGRATING WIRING CAUSING MY CAR TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. I TOOK IT TO THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT ASR WAS LET ALONE FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY HAD MY CAR FOR 1 AND A-HALF WEEKS. PLEASE INFORM ME AS TO WHAT TO DO AS I FEEL I AM DRIVING A DANGEROUS VEHICLE. *NM
THE WIRES ARE EXPOSED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. AND THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE WIRES CAN CAUSE A FIRE. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*JB CONSUMER ADDS THE WIRING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HAD TOTALLY DETERIORATED TO THE POINT THAT BARE WIRES WERE EXPOSED BECAUSE THE INSULATION HAD CRACKED AND FELL OFF THE WIRE HAVING AN POTENTIAL TO CAUSE AN FIRE. *TT
WHILE DRIVING AND A RIGHT TURN WAS MADE, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *AK . AFTER HAVING A THIRD SET OF MOTOR MOUNTS INSTALLED, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD A HEAT SHIELD WAS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE MOTOR MOUNT FROM THE EXHAUST HEAT. BUT MERCEDES NEVER NOTIFIED THE CONSUMER ABOUT THE NEED FOR A HEAT SHIELD AND THE VEHICLE DIDN'T COME WITH A HEAT SHIELD. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *CB *JB
I HAVE PROBLEM WITH DISINTEGRATING WIRING CAUSING MY CAR TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. I TOOK IT TO THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT ASR WAS LET ALONE FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY HAD MY CAR FOR 1 AND A-HALF WEEKS. PLEASE INFORM ME AS TO WHAT TO DO AS I FEEL I AM DRIVING A DANGEROUS VEHICLE. *NM
WHILE DRIVING AND A RIGHT TURN WAS MADE, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *AK . AFTER HAVING A THIRD SET OF MOTOR MOUNTS INSTALLED, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD A HEAT SHIELD WAS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE MOTOR MOUNT FROM THE EXHAUST HEAT. BUT MERCEDES NEVER NOTIFIED THE CONSUMER ABOUT THE NEED FOR A HEAT SHIELD AND THE VEHICLE DIDN'T COME WITH A HEAT SHIELD. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *CB *JB
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.
1991: 0 complaints
Equal observation windows
Model year
Through age 0
Through age 1
Through age 2
1991
0
0
0
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year
Incident dates used
Filing date fallbacks
Excluded dates
1991
4
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
Electrical System:Wiring
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
Engine And Engine Cooling
Fuel System, Gasoline
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields
Electrical System
—
0
0
1ODI 10040933 · 90,000 mi
UNDER-HOOD FIRE TOTALED CAR. FIRE DEPT. REQUIRED TO EXTINGUISHED FIRE. FIRE STARTED WHILE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN. CAUSE UNDETERMINED.
THE WIRES ARE EXPOSED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. AND THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE WIRES CAN CAUSE A FIRE. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*JB CONSUMER ADDS THE WIRING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HAD TOTALLY DETERIORATED TO THE POINT THAT BARE WIRES WERE EXPOSED BECAUSE THE INSULATION HAD CRACKED AND FELL OFF THE WIRE HAVING AN POTENTIAL TO CAUSE AN FIRE. *TT
THE WIRES ARE EXPOSED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. AND THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE WIRES CAN CAUSE A FIRE. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*JB CONSUMER ADDS THE WIRING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HAD TOTALLY DETERIORATED TO THE POINT THAT BARE WIRES WERE EXPOSED BECAUSE THE INSULATION HAD CRACKED AND FELL OFF THE WIRE HAVING AN POTENTIAL TO CAUSE AN FIRE. *TT
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.
1 patterns with matching reports.
Steering assistance concerns
1 mentions · 20.0% of complaints
Median mileage: 61,000 mi (1 usable records).
ODI 10038059 · 61,000 mi
WHILE DRIVING AND A RIGHT TURN WAS MADE, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *AK . AFTER HAVING A THIRD SET OF MOTOR MOUNTS INSTALLED, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD A HEAT SHIELD WAS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE MOTOR MOUNT FROM THE EXHAUST HEAT. BUT MERCEDES NEVER NOTIFIED THE CONSUMER ABOUT THE NEED FOR A HEAT SHIELD AND THE VEHICLE DIDN'T COME WITH A HEAT SHIELD. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *CB *JB