Mercedes-benz engine wiring harness defect concerning the chronic engine compartment wiring harness failure suffered by (at least) 1992 through 1995 mercedes benz automobiles. I am outraged at mercedes-benz' refusal to take responsibility for this design defect. I do not understand why the federal safety agency has not investigated this dangerous fault, especially with the huge number of complaints. One starts to wonder if the federal safety agency has been paid to look the other way.
The worst 1994 Mercedes Benz S Class problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Electrical12
- Suspension1
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Electrical12
- Suspension1
Recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Technical service bulletins for the 1994 Mercedes Benz S Class 5
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Complaints about poor wiping effect of winshield wiper
- Mercedes: parktronic intermittently not functioning
- Mercedes: corrosion protection coatings for brake components and hardware may be damaged and or stripped...
- Seal between exterior rear view mirror housing and door
- Updated information to reflect additon of approved tires
1994 Mercedes Benz S Class fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6‑cyl Diesel | RWD | 19 | 26 | 21 |
| 3.2L 6‑cyl | RWD | 15 | 22 | 18 |
| 4.2L 8‑cyl | RWD | 14 | 18 | 15 |
| 5.0L 8‑cyl | RWD | 12-13 | 17-18 | 14 |
| 6.0L 12‑cyl | RWD | 11 | 15-16 | 13 |
What 1994 Mercedes Benz S Class owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Instrument cluster dose not fully work. The temp gauge is the only one that works all the time. The rest of the time, the cluster may work for a time them stop functioning altogether.
Mercedes dealer repair shop reported to me that the wiring harness is made of biodegradable material and had to be replaced. The faulty harness caused several problems with engine, including acceleration. I had the part replaced in 2000 and do not have the original. Both catalytic converters went bad at 100,000 miles for no reason. Makes car run rough, especially on acceleration. Mercedes mechanic states it is a fire hazard, and cost to replace exceeds $2200. Should have been included in recall for later models. Suspension is bad in the rear even after parts have been replaced.
I purchased a classic 1994 s320 from the original owner and after finding out I had a oil leak I had to have the engine gasket replaced the mechanic said that this was a problem with this model also I've had to have the wire harness replaced be cause I was told that the harness was made from biodegradable materials this was a problem that could have caused a possible engine fire I think this was a major defect and should have been addressed years ago my engine#003388 if you buy new or old mercedes-benz is the best car in the world and the company should address all problems.
I own a 1994 mercedes s600 with v12 engine. The wiring harness on the engine has deteriorated to the point that it is a hazard to drive on the highway not only for the safety of my family but to the general public, it is a fire ready to burn at any moment, I understand that mercedes will not admit the problem and has refused to correct even though over 500 complaints have been filed. This is a common problem on '94 through '96 s models.
Two reputable independent mercedes mechanics informed me that the engine wiring harness insulation in my 1994 s420 is decaying which may have caused my lh control unit, and m.a.f to fail to malfunction and this problem is prevalent in mercedes vehicles made from 1991-1996. There should be a recall issued for this part before more serious events occur due to the flaw in mercedes manufacturing process from 1991-1996 . *ak
Engine wire harness is corroded causing severe mechanical problems.
I have a 1994 mercedes benz s600 the car is in good shape but it start stalling once I was pulling out in traffic I was almost a goner and the problem kept occurring and then I took it in to a mb mechanic to find out what's going on and it had many trouble codes but the problem was with the wire harness it was coming a part and causing shorts in fuel injection system this should have been a recall when I found out the number of people with the same problem.
Tl*the contact owns a 1994 mercedes benz s500. The contact stated that the engine wiring harness is decaying and the wires are shorting. As a result, the asr is engaged, which removes the throttle control from the vehicle. While driving approximately 70 MPH, the asr light illuminated and the vehicle decelerated on its own. The failure almost caused the contact to be rear ended by another vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the shop a few times, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The failure mileage was 95,000 and current mileage was 125,000. Updated 12/12/2007 *bf updated 12/12/07
Engine runs erratic, various electrical malfunctions including temp gauge, SRS, fuel injection. Car sometimes will not start and others starts immediately. Repair shop says engine wiring harness needs replacing.
Compare the 1994 Mercedes Benz S Class
Other model years
Questions about the 1994 Mercedes Benz S Class
Is the 1994 Mercedes Benz S Class reliable?
Owners have filed 12 complaints about the 1994 Mercedes Benz S Class, fewer than a typical S Class model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1994 Mercedes Benz S Class?
Electrical system, with 12 complaints, typically around 129,500 miles. Next is suspension (1).
How many recalls does the 1994 Mercedes Benz S Class have?
No recalls on record.
What year does the Mercedes Benz S Class have the most electrical problems?
The Mercedes Benz S Class model years with the most electrical complaints are 2000 (33 complaints), 1995 (22 complaints) and 2001 (21 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 1994 Mercedes Benz S Class get?
Official estimates for the 1994 Mercedes Benz S Class range from 13 to 21 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.5L 6-cyl diesel, RWD) gets 19 city and 26 highway.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 1994 Mercedes Benz S Class?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history