Check a VIN

1992 Mercedes Benz 500 problems

The most common problem on the 1992 Mercedes Benz 500 is electrical system, typically around 100,000 miles. It has 1.4 times the complaints of a typical 500 model year.

Typical year1.4x the typical complaints
Owner complaints
15
Recalls
1
Worst area
Electrical

The worst 1992 Mercedes Benz 500 problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

Recalls 1

VisibilityReported September 19, 1996 · 28,874 vehicles affected
What is wrong
If one of the headlamp wiper arms becomes misaligned, the wiper balde can lodge in the groove under the headlamp. If the washers are activated with the wiper blade in the misaligned and lodged position, the washer pump will run continuously expelling all available fluid.
Risk
Pump operation in the absence of fluid can cause the pump to overheat and cause a vehicle fire.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the headlamp washer pump on these vehicles.

Recall number 96V175000 · Recall details

See all 1 recalls for the 1992 Mercedes Benz 500

What 1992 Mercedes Benz 500 owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Nov 30, 2008 · Electrical · 185,900 miles · CA

Main engine/fuel injection electrical wiring harness, has cracked insulation throughout the engine wiring harness and is disintegrating causing wires to rub together and beginning to experience problems with the risk of causing dangerous engine malfunctions to include fire inside engine compartment. I've discovered from dlr hardness insulation is made of biodegradable material resulting in early deterioration. As a result, the engine is starting to exhibit stalling issues, rough running, and incorrect fault codes are produced on the car computer.

Filed Aug 28, 2008 · Electrical · 171,600 miles · CO

Engine wiring harness is disentigrating.

Filed Jul 5, 2008 · Electrical · 99,000 miles · MN

Engine cutting out . All wires in the engine harness and electric cable cracked and exposed.

Filed Dec 22, 2007 · Electrical · 94,000 miles · CA

Engine wiring harness pn 124-543-95-26; wiring insulation completely erodes over time with normal use, resulting in numerous short circuits.

Filed Feb 9, 2007 · Electrical · TX

Wire insulation on my engine wiring harness has disintegrated exposing the internal wiring completely, especially in bent areas. This is a result of normal operation of the vehicle. As this happens the engine runs worse, problems associated include surging in idle, stumbling of engine upon initial acceleration and stalling or running engine. The only course of action is to replace the wiring harness with a "newly" purchased harness from mercedes benz. The only problem with that idea is I will be purchasing a wiring harness manufactured during roughly the same time the vehicle was in production that uses the same defective, advanced degrading wiring.

Filed May 31, 2006 · Electrical · 59,000 miles · TX

The engine / fuel injection wiring harness, and starter/alternator wiring harness of my 1992 mercedes-benz 500e (61,000 miles), has cracked insulation throughout and is beginning to short out with the risk of causing dangerous engine malfunction and even fire inside my engine compartment. I have read many reports of other mercedes-benz cars of the same age range having the exact same defect. This is a known issue with mercedes that they refuse to recall. *

Filed May 28, 2006 · Electrical · 81,872 miles · CT

Upper engine wiring harness in my 1992 mercedes benz 500e (81,000 miles) has completely deteriorated. The insulation has become brittle and cracked and flaked of the harness causing electrical shorts within the ignition system causing failure to start or run conditions. Through research on the web I have discovered this is a common situation with the w124 chassis cars. Since it is a known problem I feel that mercedes benz of north america is obligated to initiate a recall or voluntarily replace this known faulty item.

Filed May 13, 2006 · Electrical · 132,500 miles · CA

The engine / fuel injection wiring harness of my 1992 mercedes-benz 500 sel was replaced once and now has cracked insulation throughout, I might add, this new harness is "supposed" to be the new and improved upgraded version. It does have a different part number than the original. The wires are all exposed because of the cracked insulation. Please note: this is not a rare wire, all of them are cracked and damaged and exposed!!! Because of the outside rubber casing which holds all of the wires, I would have never known of this problem until it would have been tooo late. Luckily, my mechanic, ed at eds mbz in glendale california, (818) 247-2369 was knowledgeable enough to immediately cut the outside casing to look inside. I am still amazed a car company making an 80,000 to 100,000 dollar car would have the audacity to make one of the most crucial electrical parts the wiring harness so bad. Wire harnesses are supposed to last the lifetime of the car- its a safety issue!!! It is beginning to short out with the risk of causing dangerous engine malfunction and even fire inside my engine compartment. It is also one of the major causes for computer damage. Ed showed me 12 harnesses he "recently" replaced. All of them the same. I spoke with mbz USA- forget it- I thought I was speaking with ford regarding exploding gas tanks on opinto's. This problem is well known with any good reliable mbz mechanic. Since I was blown off by mbz america, I called around- 5 mbz dealers service managers were very aware of the problem and all 10 independent mechanics were very aware and explained all the dangers and expense. It is extremely dangerous. I have read many reports of other mercedes-benz cars of the same age range having the exact same defect. This is a known issue with mercedes that they refuse to recall or correct!!! Please, please, please do something before it is tooooo late!.

Filed May 5, 2006 · Electrical · 132,000 miles · CT

Upper and lower engine wiring harness degraded to point where car would not run. Insulation all dried up and crumbled away...I understand many 500e owners have had this problem...mercedes acknowledges using inferior 'bio-degradable' materials.

Filed Sep 30, 2005 · Electrical · 95,000 miles · CA

Upper engine wire harness failure - erratic idle, power loss, rf noise excessive, inconsistent ecu fault codes. Replaced harness and all defects no longer occurred.

Compare the 1992 Mercedes Benz 500

Other model years

19901992199319941995199619971998199920002003

Questions about the 1992 Mercedes Benz 500

Is the 1992 Mercedes Benz 500 reliable?

Owners have filed 15 complaints about the 1992 Mercedes Benz 500, 1.4 times a typical 500 model year.

What is the most common problem with the 1992 Mercedes Benz 500?

Electrical system, with 13 complaints, typically around 100,000 miles. Next is engine (2).

How many recalls does the 1992 Mercedes Benz 500 have?

1 recall, covering visibility.

What year does the Mercedes Benz 500 have the most electrical problems?

The Mercedes Benz 500 model years with the most electrical complaints are 1993 (16 complaints) and 1992 (13 complaints).

Share your experience with the 1992 Mercedes Benz 500

Tell other buyers what went wrong and what it cost. We review every report before it appears, and we never publish names, emails or VINs.

No names, contact details or links. Reports about a dealer or a person are not published.

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car

Buying a used 1992 Mercedes Benz 500?

Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.

Check its history
Is this car on a recall?Check VIN