1994 Mercedes Benz 420 recalls & complaints
Source: NHTSA, updated daily. Last checked 2026-10-20. Recalls apply to specific VINs — run your VIN to confirm.
Recalls: check by VIN
Useful for owners
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Most complained-about parts: Electrical system (5), Brakes (4), Hydraulic (4), Child seat (3), Engine (1).
Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.
Read recent complaints (8)
03/23/2012 · Electrical system
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
04/28/2008 · Electrical system
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 WON…
03/04/2008 · Electrical system
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
04/28/2007 · Engine
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 TH…
09/25/2006 · Electrical system
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 SITUATI…
05/19/2006 · Electrical system
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
03/04/2003 · Unknown Or Other
THE VEHICLES ASR LIGHT ILLUMINATED THEN THE POWER DRIVE WOULD SHUT OFF. *NLM *TS
06/24/2002 · Brakes
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, CONS…