Most common 1995 Mercedes-Benz 420 problems
Share of the 15 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercedes-Benz 420 complaints by model year
Best 420 years: 1999. Years to avoid: 1997. Compare all years →
What 1995 Mercedes-Benz 420 owners say
Electrical system
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 study. I contacted my local dealer,who claimed the faulty actuator was shipped to mb USA. There is not only a serious engineering problem with these wiring harnesses but unconscionable that they choose to ignore it. Further, I found customer service to be pretty much non existent, particularly at mb USA.
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 boards on the internet, whose contributors include Mercedes-trained mechanics. Mercedes should treat this as a safety-related recall - do you want your engine quitting on the freeway? Do you want a fire in your engine compartment? Mercedes should refund me the money I spent returning my car to a safe condition.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1995 Mercedes-Benz 420 a good car?
Based on 15 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1995 420 rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the 420 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1995 Mercedes-Benz 420?
The electrical system — 7 complaints, 47% of all complaints for this model year, most often about wiring › front underhood. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (2) and engine & cooling (2).
How many recalls does the 1995 Mercedes-Benz 420 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1995 Mercedes-Benz 420. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercedes-Benz 420?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1999. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1997. See the full Mercedes-Benz 420 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1995 Mercedes-Benz 420 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 100,000 miles; 0% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.