Most common 1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 problems
Share of the 96 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercedes-Benz E320 complaints by model year
Best E320 years: 2008, 2009, 2002. Years to avoid: 2005, 2004, 2003, 1999, 1997. Compare all years →
What 1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 owners say
Electrical system all 89 →
Tl* the contact owns a 1995 Mercedes Benz E320. While driving at 55 MPH, there was smoke under the hood of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the wiring harness failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 180,000.
Tl contact owns a 1995 Mercedes Benz E320. The contact stated that she had just left a repair shop where a bulb was replaced when she was driving at approximately 30 MPH and smelled burning wires. She took her foot off the accelerator pedal and the vehicle suddenly hesitated. She turned around to go back to the repair shop but noticed that the vehicle had caught fire. She called the fire department and the fire was put out. She was not sure if a fire report was filed. The contact then drove back to the repair shop where the vehicle was repaired. The vehicle caught fire again after leaving the repair shop. The contact called the fire department again and the fire was extinguished. Once again, she was not sure if a fire report was filed. The vehicle was returned to the same repair shop where the contact was informed that the failure was caused by an electrical problem and a brake failure. …
Engine & cooling
The whole engine wiring harness that runs all over my engine is defective. The insulation around the wiring literally fell apart, as everyone else on here described as breaking into brittle pieces and disintegrating. The car shut off completely in the middle of the highway. A service advisor at a local dealership knows about it and says they won't fix it because "the government hasn't ordered them to recall it" and went on to give me a quote for nearly $2,000. Now my car is stuck in a shop with all the bare wires showing and the decayed insulation in pieces all over the floor. I don't know what to do. I did a lot of research and apparently it is a defect in every 1995 E320 manufactured in the us. A lot of people say it also affects 1993-1994, as well as other models with the same engine. I'm the original owner, bought the car new from the dealership in 1995. …
The wires in the wiring harness connecting to the coils for the fuel injection system are disintegrating. Currently this is causing the car to loose power, run rough, only 2-4 cylinders are firing. My mechanic said he found on the web that this is happening a lot to Mercedes cars made during the time period my car was made but Mercedes never issued a recall for this huge problem. My cost to fix this problem was estimated at $3200.00 or more depending on how much of the wiring system has disintegrated and what other systems are affected. I called Mercedes on howe ave in sacramento and after checking my VIN number said my car has never been recalled for this problem or any other problems.
Fuel & propulsion system
The whole engine wiring harness that runs all over my engine is defective. The insulation around the wiring literally fell apart, as everyone else on here described as breaking into brittle pieces and disintegrating. The car shut off completely in the middle of the highway. A service advisor at a local dealership knows about it and says they won't fix it because "the government hasn't ordered them to recall it" and went on to give me a quote for nearly $2,000. Now my car is stuck in a shop with all the bare wires showing and the decayed insulation in pieces all over the floor. I don't know what to do. I did a lot of research and apparently it is a defect in every 1995 E320 manufactured in the us. A lot of people say it also affects 1993-1994, as well as other models with the same engine. I'm the original owner, bought the car new from the dealership in 1995. …
On this 1995 Mercedes E320, would not pass emissions, took to dealer, was told the engine compartment wiring harness needed to be replaced, at a cost of $1500. The wiring harness was crumbling everywhere. I checked online and it is a very common problem with all e20. I checked no recall for this problem. This is totally a manufacturing problem, the coating to the wiring has disintegrated and it is unsafe to drive these cars. I have spent over $2,000 to try to get this car to pass emissions, it fails so bad I cant even get a waiver.
1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 18 / 24 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 a good car?
Based on 96 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1995 E320 rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the E320 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 E320?
The electrical system — 89 complaints, 93% of all complaints for this model year, most often about wiring › front underhood. Next are the engine & cooling (10) and fuel & propulsion system (8).
How many recalls does the 1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1995 Mercedes-Benz E320. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercedes-Benz E320?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2008, 2009 and 2002. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2005, 2004, 2003, 1999 and 1997. See the full Mercedes-Benz E320 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 108,000 miles; 8% 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.