U.S. public vehicle records

1994 Mercedes Benz 420 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

16 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

110,125 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1994 model year. Data updated: 2026-10-01 (October 1, 2026). 6 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Child Seat:Shell:Booster is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 16 complaints (18.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Electrical and battery issues	6	37.5%
Braking behavior	4	25.0%
Transmission and shifting	1	6.3%
Engine operation	1	6.3%

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.

Child Seat:Shell:Booster

Electrical System

Electrical System:Wiring

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

Air Bags:Frontal

Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood

Engine And Engine Cooling

Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Child Seat:Shell:Booster	3
Electrical System	2
Electrical System:Wiring	2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	2
Air Bags:Frontal	1
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	1
Engine And Engine Cooling	1
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner	1

Child Seat:Shell:Booster: 3; Electrical System: 2; Electrical System:Wiring: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

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: 3; 150,000 and above: 1

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 10 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.

1995

1999

2002

2003

2006

2007

2008

2012

1995: 3; 1999: 4; 2002: 2; 2003: 1; 2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2012: 1

Pattern summary

Child Seat:Shell:Booster leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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.

Owner report 10157901 · 2006-05-19 (May 19, 2006)

5/18/2006. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED. TOOK VEHICLE TO MBZ REPAIR SHOP AND FOUND THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS'S WIRE INSULATION BREAKING APART AND EXPOSING THE BARE WIRING. COST OF REPAIR +$900.00. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10157901 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10169170 · 2006-09-25 (September 25, 2006)

VEHICLE CHECKED AND FOUND THAT INSULATION ON ALL OF THE FUEL INJECTION WIRING, TEMPERATURE SENSOR AND FAN THERMAL SWITCH HARNESS DETERIORATED CAUSING WIRES TO RUB TOGETHER. CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT HARNESS INSULATION IS MADE OF VERY POOR MATERIAL. THE INSULATION BREAKS VERY EASY AT THE TOUCH AND TURNS INTO DUST. THE WHOLE WIRE HARNESS IS IN THE SAME SITUATION THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE CAN STALL OR SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED. REPLACE OF WIRE HARNESS AT A COST OF$1500 WAS NEEDED TO FIX. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 117,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10169170 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 477769 · 1995-01-09 (January 9, 1995)

FRONT BRAKE PADS SQUEAK, CAUSING ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM TO ACTIVATE. *SKD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 477769 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 761678 · 2002-05-08 (May 8, 2002)

THE PROBLEM STARTED LAST AUGUST. IT OCCURRS ONLY OCCASIONALLY AND HAS NEVER BEEN DUPLICATED WHEN AT A DEALERSHIP OR REPAIR SHOP. AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES AND COMING TO A STOP, THE CAR STARTS TO ROLL FORWARD. WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND REAPPLY IT, THE CAR THEN STOPS. HOWEVER, ON APRIL 7TH WHEN THIS OCCURRED REAPPLYING THE BRAKE DID NOT STOP THE CAR AND I ROLLED INTO THE REAR END OF A TRATOR TRAILER TRUCK WHO WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. IN NOVEMBER 2001 I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP IN HAVERHILL, MA SMITH MOTORS. …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 761678 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10452795 · 2012-03-23 (March 23, 2012)

CAR STOPPED SHIFTING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ASR LIGHT APPEARED WHILE DRIVING. TOOK CAR INTO AUTO MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD WIRING HARNESS WOULD NEED TO BE TOTALLY REPLACED AND WOULD COST MORE THAN AUTO'S WORTH. SAID THESE CARS WERE NOTORIOUS FOR HAVING WIRING HARNESS PROBLEMS AND CAN NOT BELIEVE IT HAS NOT CAUGHT ON FIRE YET. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 170,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10452795 at NHTSA ↗

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

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

Data completeness

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

37.5%Usable mileage6 / 16 records

81.3%Valid incident date13 / 16 records

100.0%Valid filing date16 / 16 records

81.3%Ordered incident and filing dates13 / 16 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.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1994	1995	1996	1997	1999
Electrical System	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.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	212.5% ODI 10225890 · 90,000 mi I OWN A 1994 S 420 MERCEDES-BENZ I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR MY CHILD'S SAFETY AND MY OWN SAFETY AS WELL. THE WIRING HARNESS IS SHORTING OUT EVERYWHERE... SHAME ON MERCEDES-BENZ OF AMERICA..THEY KNOW ABOUT THIS DANGER AND JUST IGNORE THE WHOLE THING.. I'VE RESEARCHED IT REALLY WELL AND THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURS OVER AND OVER WITH ALL CARS OF THIS VINTAGE..I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO DIE BEFORE THEY RECALL ON THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION???THEY SHOULD STAND UP TO THE PLATE.. THE HARNESS IS 7-8 HUNDRED DOLLARS.. COME ON GUYS!!! HOW MUCH DO YO… Look up ODI 10225890 at NHTSA ↗	320.0% ODI 10235385 · 100,000 mi 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 Look up ODI 10235385 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.
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	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.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	213.3% ODI 489836 VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY VIBRATES WHEN IN ANY GEAR OTHER THAN NEUTRAL, DUE TO POSSIBLE DRIVE TRAIN COMPLICATIONS. *SKD Look up ODI 489836 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	29.1% ODI 603600 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. Look up ODI 603600 at NHTSA ↗	120.0% ODI 705376 TRANSMISSION SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS OCCURRED 5 TIMES IN TWO WEEKS. IT IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIR OF THIS DEFECT, AGAIN. *AK Look up ODI 705376 at NHTSA ↗
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs	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.	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.	522.7% ODI 10061781 WHILE VEHICLE SAT IDLING, THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING SUDDENLY DETACHED FROM ITS WELDED POSITION. (NAR) PH CB Look up ODI 10061781 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	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.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	16.3% ODI 10220009 · 139,595 mi VEHICLE IS RUNNING ERRATICALLY. UPON INVESTIGATION, I FOUND THAT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IN MODEL YEARS INCLUDING MY 1994 MERCEDES BENZ E420 HAVE A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH DETERIORATING INSULATION. AS SOME FIRES AND CRASHES HAVE BEEN REPORTED, I AM PAYING TO HAVE THIS PART REPLACED. *TR Look up ODI 10220009 at NHTSA ↗	320.0% ODI 10033790 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 Look up ODI 10033790 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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	133.3% ODI 963593 CONSUMER WAS DRIVING TRYING TO TURN A CURB THE ABS ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FAIL LOST CONTROL WAS IN A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT CAR WAS TOTALED. TT Look up ODI 963593 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.	212.5% ODI 761678 THE PROBLEM STARTED LAST AUGUST. IT OCCURRS ONLY OCCASIONALLY AND HAS NEVER BEEN DUPLICATED WHEN AT A DEALERSHIP OR REPAIR SHOP. AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES AND COMING TO A STOP, THE CAR STARTS TO ROLL FORWARD. WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND REAPPLY IT, THE CAR THEN STOPS. HOWEVER, ON APRIL 7TH WHEN THIS OCCURRED REAPPLYING THE BRAKE DID NOT STOP THE CAR AND I ROLLED INTO THE REAR END OF A TRATOR TRAILER TRUCK WHO WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. IN NOVEMBER 2001 I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP IN HAVERHILL, MA SMITH MOTORS. … Look up ODI 761678 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.	120.0% ODI 723734 STRANGE ELECTRONIC WHIRRING SOUND WHEN STARTING VEHICLE ON 6/7. SIDE VIEW MIRRORS SUDDENLY MOVED AND THEN CLOSED HALFWAY. NO RESPONSE FROM INTERIOR CONSOLE CONTROL. STEERING WHEEL ALSO BEGAN TO MOVE UP AND DOWN ON ITS OWN. REAR BRAKES CONTINUED TO SQUEAK AND GRAB. WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY LAST NOVEMBER. Look up ODI 723734 at NHTSA ↗
Suspension:Front	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.	125.0% ODI 966799 THE VEHICLE'S FRONT END WILL NOT STAY IN ALIGNMENT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO WANDER, ALSO EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE TIRES. TT Look up ODI 966799 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.	313.6% ODI 10152198 · 102,000 mi DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS RIDING ROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWED TO 5 MPH AND THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING FELL OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE BRACKET THAT HELD THE COIL SPRING ONTO THE FRAME HAD DISCONNECTED CAUSING THE COIL SPRING TO FALL OFF. THE LOCAL MERCEDES BENZ DEALER STATED THEY WOULD PAY HALF OF THE REPAIR IF DONE BY THEIR BODY SHOP. THE REPAIR WAS $2600. THE CONTACT WANTED THE REPAIRS DONE LOCALLY AND OPTED FOR THE DEAL. THE CONTACT CLAIMED T… Look up ODI 10152198 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Vehicle Speed Control	116.7% ODI 969010 THE CAR ACCELERATED WHEN TRYING TO STOP AT A LIGHT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT Look up ODI 969010 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 731002 FRON PARKED POSITION, WHEN VEHICLE PUT IN GEAR, CAR LUNGED FORWARD AT HIGH SPEED WITHOUT ENGAGING ACCELERATOR PEDAL. BREAK WOULD NOT STOP CAR. *AK Look up ODI 731002 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	16.3% ODI 8012437 AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP VEHICLE WILL TRY TO SURGE FORWARD WHILE CONSUMER APPLIES BRAKES. THIS HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER CANNOT FIND CAUSE. HAS REPLACED SEVERAL BRAKE PARTS BUT FOUND NOTHING.AK. CONSUMER STATED INCIDENT HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR AN HOUR OR MORE, THERE IS USUALLY A SOUND, CONSUMER ALSO STATED ALL 4 ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED.JB Look up ODI 8012437 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	14.5% ODI 506530 CRUISE CONTROL IS LOCATED ON A SMALL STALK NEXT TO LARGER STALK FOR TURN SIGNALS, UPON TURNING, BOTH STALKS ARE MOVED, CAUSING CRUISE CONTROL TO COME ON. Look up ODI 506530 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
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.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	125.0% ODI 10115576 THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN FRONT END COLLISION WITH HIS 1991 MERCEDES BENZ 420 SEL. NAR* NM SC *JB Look up ODI 10115576 at NHTSA ↗	16.3% ODI 973045 AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHILE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AT 30 MPH. TT Look up ODI 973045 at NHTSA ↗	16.7% ODI 502724 NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIRBAG, CAUSING INJURY IN ACCIDENT. *SD Look up ODI 502724 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.

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	130,000 mi	2 (sparse)	ODI 10225890 · 90,000 mi I OWN A 1994 S 420 MERCEDES-BENZ I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR MY CHILD'S SAFETY AND MY OWN SAFETY AS WELL. THE WIRING HARNESS IS SHORTING OUT EVERYWHERE... SHAME ON MERCEDES-BENZ OF AMERICA..THEY KNOW ABOUT THIS DANGER AND JUST IGNORE THE WHOLE THING.. I'VE RESEARCHED IT REALLY WELL AND THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURS OVER AND OVER WITH ALL CARS OF THIS VINTAGE..I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO DIE BEFORE THEY RECALL ON THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION???THEY SHOULD STAND UP TO THE PLATE.. THE HARNESS IS 7-8 HUNDRED DOLLARS.. COME ON GUYS!!! HOW MUCH DO YO… Look up ODI 10225890 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10452795 · 170,000 mi CAR STOPPED SHIFTING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ASR LIGHT APPEARED WHILE DRIVING. TOOK CAR INTO AUTO MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD WIRING HARNESS WOULD NEED TO BE TOTALLY REPLACED AND WOULD COST MORE THAN AUTO'S WORTH. SAID THESE CARS WERE NOTORIOUS FOR HAVING WIRING HARNESS PROBLEMS AND CAN NOT BELIEVE IT HAS NOT CAUGHT ON FIRE YET. *TR Look up ODI 10452795 at NHTSA ↗
Electrical System:Wiring	Too few reports for a range	117,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10169170 · 117,000 mi VEHICLE CHECKED AND FOUND THAT INSULATION ON ALL OF THE FUEL INJECTION WIRING, TEMPERATURE SENSOR AND FAN THERMAL SWITCH HARNESS DETERIORATED CAUSING WIRES TO RUB TOGETHER. CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT HARNESS INSULATION IS MADE OF VERY POOR MATERIAL. THE INSULATION BREAKS VERY EASY AT THE TOUCH AND TURNS INTO DUST. THE WHOLE WIRE HARNESS IS IN THE SAME SITUATION THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE CAN STALL OR SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED. REPLACE OF WIRE HARNESS AT A COST OF$1500 WAS NEEDED TO FIX. *JB Look up ODI 10169170 at NHTSA ↗
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	Too few reports for a range	139,595 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10220009 · 139,595 mi VEHICLE IS RUNNING ERRATICALLY. UPON INVESTIGATION, I FOUND THAT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IN MODEL YEARS INCLUDING MY 1994 MERCEDES BENZ E420 HAVE A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH DETERIORATING INSULATION. AS SOME FIRES AND CRASHES HAVE BEEN REPORTED, I AM PAYING TO HAVE THIS PART REPLACED. *TR Look up ODI 10220009 at NHTSA ↗
Engine And Engine Cooling	Too few reports for a range	65,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10189151 · 65,000 mi I GOT 94 E420 BENZ WITH DEFECT ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. THEY ARE CRACKING. THE IDLE IS ROUGH AND I GOT ENGINE CODE ERRORS. ONE TIME THE ENGINE FAILED ON THE SURFACE STREET. IT WAS LUCKY THERE WAS NO CAR BEHIND ME AT THAT TIME. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT ALL MERCEDES MODELS FROM 91-96 HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THAT WAS SO SAD THAT NO ONE HAS TAKEN ACTION AGAINST THE FACTORY. *TR Look up ODI 10189151 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

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

ComponentPeriod

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	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)	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.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

1997: 2 complaints · 1999: 5 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
1997	1	1	2
1999	3	4	5

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
1997	18	1	3
1999	5	0	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	Child Seat:Shell:Booster	Electrical System	Electrical System:Wiring	Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	Air Bags:Frontal	Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	Engine And Engine Cooling	Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner
Child Seat:Shell:Booster	—	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Electrical System	0	—	0	0	0	0	0	0
Electrical System:Wiring	0	0	—	0	0	0	0	0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	0	0	0	—	0	0	0	0
Air Bags:Frontal	0	0	0	0	—	0	0	0
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	0	0	0	0	0	—	0	0
Engine And Engine Cooling	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	0
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	—

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.

Search patterns

3 patterns with matching reports.

Warning lights and dashboard alerts

2 mentions · 12.5% of complaints

Median mileage: 170,000 mi (1 usable records).

ODI 10157901

5/18/2006. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED. TOOK VEHICLE TO MBZ REPAIR SHOP AND FOUND THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS'S WIRE INSULATION BREAKING APART AND EXPOSING THE BARE WIRING. COST OF REPAIR +$900.00. *JB

Look up ODI 10157901 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 10452795 · 170,000 mi

Look up ODI 10452795 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

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

Brake response concerns

1 mentions · 6.3% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 761678

Look up ODI 761678 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

Stalling or loss of power

1 mentions · 6.3% of complaints

Median mileage: 117,000 mi (1 usable records).

ODI 10169170 · 117,000 mi

Look up ODI 10169170 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b