Auto Recall Watch
U.S. public vehicle records

1998 Mercedes Benz 400 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

2 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

Not available median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1998 model year. Data updated: . 0 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

Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 2 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags:Frontal
1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags:Frontal1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor1

Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor: 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
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

No usable failure mileage is recorded. 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.

2000
1
2002
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20001
20021

2000: 1; 2002: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. 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.

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

2 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

0.0%Usable mileage0 / 2 records
50.0%Valid incident date1 / 2 records
100.0%Valid filing date2 / 2 records
50.0%Ordered incident and filing dates1 / 2 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
Component1992199319951998199920002001
Electrical System:Wiring
337.5%
ODI 10164376 · 142,000 mi

1992 MERCEDES 400E WITH ABOUT 140,000 MI. HAS A DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS WHICH HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN SEVERAL HUNDRED COMPLAINTS ALREADY POSTED AND MANY ENGINE FIRES. THE WIRES IN THE HARNESS HAVE NO PROTECTION AGAINST HEAT AND LAY RIGHT ABOVE THE ENGINE. THE HARNESS CONTAINS SEVERAL WIRES, ALL OF WHICH SHOW DIRECT METAL TO METAL CONTACT THAT COULD EASILY CAUSE A FIRE. AFTER CALLING ED AT THE MERCEDES DIRECT HELP LINE, HE DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OR RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS OBVIOUS ENGINEERING DEFECT. ALL OWNERS OF VEHICLES WITH THIS WIRING HARNESS SHO…

Look up ODI 10164376 at NHTSA ↗

330.0%
ODI 10032138 · 128,000 mi

THE DESIGN AND LOCATION OF THE SPARK PLUGS CAUSES A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. IN ORDER TO REPLACE OR INSPECT THE PLUGS WIRE HARNESS NEEDED TO BE UNBOLTED AND PUSHED BACKWARDS, WIRE HARNESS SHOULDN'T BE MOVED. WIRE HARNESS SHORTED OUT, CAUSING A SHORT OUT OF ALL COMPONENTS IN THAT CIRCUIT.*AK

Look up ODI 10032138 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

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00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Electrical System
112.5%
ODI 10233466 · 172,103 mi

MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE HOOD IS ROTTING AWAY. I HAVE A/C PROBLEMS WITH THE WIRES AND HAVE HAD LOSS OF POWER AT THE MOST INCONVENIENT TIMES. I'M STARTING TO HAVE DIFFERENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS DUE TO THIS WIRING HARNESS AND AM VERY NERVOUS OF A POSSIBLE FIRE AS MY GRANDDAUGHTER IS USUALLY IN THE CAR. IF THIS IS A PROBLEM OTHER MERCEDES OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING, I FEEL IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY MERCEDES. *TR

Look up ODI 10233466 at NHTSA ↗

220.0%
ODI 10257513 · 75,000 mi

I HAVE A 1993 400 SEL MERCEDES BENZ THAT HAS HAD PROBLEMS FOR YEARS AND NOW TURNS OUT TO BE A DEFECTIVE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. IT HAS LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY RECENTLY WHICH ALMOST GOT ME KILLED WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR. *TR

Look up ODI 10257513 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

110.0%
ODI 812558

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AFTER MILDLY REARENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK

Look up ODI 812558 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

150.0%
ODI 725916

VEHICLE SHUTS ITSELF OFF WHILE IN MOTION. PROBLEM PERSISTS AT RANDOM TIMES AND SITUATIONS. INCIDENTS HAPPENED TRAVELING AT 60MPH AFTER 30MIN OF TRAVEL, AT 5MPH AFTER 1 HOUR OF TRAVEL, AND AT 5MPH IN REVERSE SECONDS AFTER TURNING VEHICLE ON. INCIDENTS HAPPENED THE DAY AFTER DEALER DELIVERED NEW VEHICLE. BOTH DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN INFORMED. DEALER TOWED TRUCK TODAY TO INSPECT. *AK

Look up ODI 725916 at NHTSA ↗

150.0%
ODI 740648

WANT CAR REPLACED. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK

Look up ODI 740648 at NHTSA ↗

Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
112.5%
ODI 10152570 · 198,456 mi

REMOVED AND REPLACED ENGINE HARNESS WIRING,(1992 MERCEDES BENZ 400SE)BASE CONTROL MODULE, CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR. *NM

Look up ODI 10152570 at NHTSA ↗

110.0%
ODI 10187255 · 150,000 mi

1993 400 SEL WIRING HARNESS # [phone removed] ROTTED AWAY. *AK

Look up ODI 10187255 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

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00.0%

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00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Power Train:Automatic Transmission
112.5%
ODI 516478

TRANSMISSION DELAYS SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR.

Look up ODI 516478 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

1100.0%
ODI 719069

SINCE JANUARY 25,1999, MY ML430 HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE DEPT. A TOTAL OF 18 DAYS. ON TWO OF THOSE OCCASIONS, MY VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 35MPH. AFTER TWO ATTEMPTS, DEALER FINALLY FOUND DEFECT AND REPLACED PARTS OF TRANSMISSION. NOW IN FEBRUARY 2000, MY TRANSMISSION IS HAVING PROBLEMS AGAIN. THIS TIME A MODULE HAS TO BE REPLACED. I HOPE THESE DEFECTS WILL END SOON. I FEEL THAT I HAVE PURCHASED A LEMON. THANK YOU . RACHEL HARRIS ([email removed]). *AK

Look up ODI 719069 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Vehicle Speed Control
00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

110.0%
ODI 482765

VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY SURGES AT SPEEDS OF 10-20 MPH. *AW

Look up ODI 482765 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

150.0%
ODI 753422

WHILE ENGAGING TO A COMPLETE STOP, BRAKE ENGAGED- AT THE RATE OF 5 MPH, THE CAR SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD BECOMING AIRBORNE THROUGH A STORE WINDOW, LANDING HALFWAY INTO THE STORE AND THE REAR OF THE CAR HANGING IN THE AIR OUTSIDE OF THE STORE. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF FOREWARNING, SUCH AS A JOLT OR A FEELING OF ACCELERATIONS TO THE OCCUPANTS.*AK

Look up ODI 753422 at NHTSA ↗

Air Bags:Frontal
00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

150.0%
ODI 8006094

WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH AND WHEN MAKING A SUDDEN STOP AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY INDICATION, CAUSING INJURY TO CONSUMER'S FACE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Look up ODI 8006094 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Air Bags:Side/Window
112.5%
ODI 751341

THE DRIVER DOZED OFF, WOKE UP WHEN WENT OFF THE ROAD, OVERCORRECTED AND WENT INTO A SKID, HEADING INTO THE DITCH ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE PASSENGERSIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAD TO BE CUT OFF TO REMOVE THE DRIVER. STATE FARM INS. CO. TOTALED THE VEHICLE.*AK

Look up ODI 751341 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

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00.0%

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00.0%

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00.0%

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00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

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
ComponentMileage range (25th–75th percentile)MedianUsable recordsExamples
No usable records for this analysis.

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

1 reports2024-112026-10

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
MonthComplaintsCampaigns announcedExamples
2024-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2024-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-100None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-10 (partial)0None

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.

Age 0Age 1Age 22 reports

2000: 2 complaints · 2001: 1 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model yearThrough age 0Through age 1Through age 2
2000122
2001111
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
YearIncident dates usedFiling date fallbacksExcluded dates
2000200
2001101

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
ComponentAir Bags:FrontalEngine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor
Air Bags:Frontal—0
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor0—

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.

Warning lights and dashboard alerts

1 mentions · 50.0% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 735704

I HAVE A MERCEDES S420 AND HAVE HAD A CONTINUING PROBLEM WITH BAD FUMES IN THE CAR THAT ARE MAKING MY WHOLE FAMILY REALLY SICK. THE PROBLEM STARTED WHEN WE FIRST GOT THE CAR AND RECENTLY HAS BECOME SO BAD THAT I HAVE HAD TO GET AN INHAILER FROM MY DOCTOR TO BREATHE. WE HAD IT AT THE DEALER WHEN WE FIRST GOT IT AND 3 TIMES FOR MANY DAYS AT A TIME RECENTLY AND COMPLAINED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS COMING ON BUT THEY SAID THEY DID NOT THINK THERE WAS A PROBLEM. WE ARE GETTING REALLY SICK WITH OUR EYES BURNING SO WE HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT BCERTIF…

Look up ODI 735704 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule\b(warning light\w*|check engine|dashboard warning\w*|malfunction indicator)\b