U.S. public vehicle records

1995 Mercedes Benz 420 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

15 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

95,784 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1995 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

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 15 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Electrical and battery issues	6	40.0%
Engine operation	2	13.3%
Steering behavior	2	13.3%
Braking behavior	1	6.7%

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

Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Air Bags:Frontal

Electrical System:Wiring

Engine

Engine And Engine Cooling

Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Electrical System	3
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	3
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	2
Air Bags:Frontal	1
Electrical System:Wiring	1
Engine	1
Engine And Engine Cooling	1
Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage	1

Electrical System: 3; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 3; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Electrical System:Wiring: 1; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage: 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: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 9 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

1996

1998

2002

2003

2005

2007

2008

2012

1995: 2; 1996: 3; 1998: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2005: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2012: 2

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 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 10128910 · 2005-07-15 (July 15, 2005)

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 B…

Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10128910 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10136415 · 2005-09-13 (September 13, 2005)

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 ST…

Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10136415 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10194198 · 2007-06-25 (June 25, 2007)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 108,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10194198 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10453897 · 2012-04-03 (April 3, 2012)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 91,567 miles reported. Look up ODI 10453897 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10033790 · 2003-12-10 (December 10, 2003)

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-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10033790 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 506873 · 1996-07-30 (July 30, 1996)

AFTER TURNING RIGHT, STEERING WHEEL RESISTS TURNING BACK TO LEFT POSITION.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 506873 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 511835 · 1996-11-27 (November 27, 1996)

BRAKES VIBRATE, CAUSING ROARING SOUNDS WHEN APPLYING BRAKES FIRMLY AFTER DRIVING LONG DISTANCES.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 511835 at NHTSA ↗

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

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

Data completeness

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

40.0%Usable mileage6 / 15 records

93.3%Valid incident date14 / 15 records

100.0%Valid filing date15 / 15 records

93.3%Ordered incident and filing dates14 / 15 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	95,784 mi	2 (sparse)	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 ↗ ODI 10453897 · 91,567 mi 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 Look up ODI 10453897 at NHTSA ↗
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	Too few reports for a range	84,000 mi	2 (sparse)	ODI 10128910 · 110,000 mi 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 B… Look up ODI 10128910 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10136415 · 58,000 mi 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 ST… Look up ODI 10136415 at NHTSA ↗
Electrical System:Wiring	Too few reports for a range	108,750 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10194198 · 108,750 mi 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 Look up ODI 10194198 at NHTSA ↗
Engine	Too few reports for a range	82,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10459977 · 82,000 mi 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 Look up ODI 10459977 at NHTSA ↗
Engine And Engine Cooling	Too few reports for a range	91,567 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10453897 · 91,567 mi 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 Look up ODI 10453897 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	Electrical System	Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	Power Train:Automatic Transmission	Air Bags:Frontal	Electrical System:Wiring	Engine	Engine And Engine Cooling	Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
Electrical System	—	0	0	0	0	0	1 ODI 10453897 · 91,567 mi 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 Look up ODI 10453897 at NHTSA ↗	0
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	0	—	0	0	0	0	0	0
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	0	0	—	0	0	0	0	0
Air Bags:Frontal	0	0	0	—	0	0	0	0
Electrical System:Wiring	0	0	0	0	—	0	0	0
Engine	0	0	0	0	0	—	0	0
Engine And Engine Cooling	1 ODI 10453897 · 91,567 mi 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 Look up ODI 10453897 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	0	0	0	—	0
Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage	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

1 patterns with matching reports.

Stalling or loss of power

2 mentions · 13.3% of complaints

Median mileage: 100,159 mi (2 usable records).

ODI 10194198 · 108,750 mi

Look up ODI 10194198 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 10453897 · 91,567 mi

Look up ODI 10453897 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

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