Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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 wiring harness insulation falling off - copper wires exposed and May result in short and engine failure at highway speeds - could result in injury or death. Consumer stated wiring is defective and that Mercedes has been aware of the nature of the defect for many years.
I have changed the plugs in my 1995 Mercedes 3 times in the past two years. The last time by the dealership in huntsville, al. They said the plugs I has put in new a month before were bad and replaced them again. This did not fix my problem and has progressively become worse. This past week end I checked the plugs again and when I started the engine it was missing on at least two cylinders. Two plugs were not even firing. After inspecting the wires going to the magnetos I discovered they were all bare wires on the harness going to the engine. The plastic cover on all the wires would just fall off the wire. I cut the rubber insert inside where the plugs are located and the wires were of the same condition and had actually turned green and brown with corrosion. …
I dropped off my car at auto shop due to my car starting rough, the ac and fan cut off, and check engine light came on. I was also concerned that this could be the wire harness as I had read about problem on the internet, and had discussed possible issue with various Mercedes mechanics. I was told that Mercedes Benz had installed bio degradable wire harness that were resulting in premature deterioration. While my car was in the service bay at s the automotive shop my engine wire harness caught on fire! The mechanic was able to put the fire out before entire car and his shop caught on fire. I have asked him to retain harness for evidence, he said harness is in pieces due to extreme heat of this electrical fire. I am so thankful that the car caught on fire at the shop, or my entire family could have been killed. …
Initial problem started in late October 2005. Intermittent misfiring of cylinders, hesitant. Several trips into shop resulted in "could not replicate trouble". Finally sent in with severe misfiring. Replaced coil, some ignition wires, spark plugs. A few days later, same symptoms happened. After more diagnosis, determined engine wiring harness had failed. Insulation had completely disintegrated allowing wires to touch. Potential for more severe damage to vehicle computers, accident or worst, fire. Local mb shop indicated it was "not a major problem", "should expect it with 10 year old car". Item was in stock for $975.00 (so I assume it does happen frequently), with labor of 8 hours @$119.00. I did not feel this should happen on a 10 year old car, not to mention a former "certified pre-owned" vehicle. …
I have a 1995 Mercedes Benz E320 which was well maintained. As I was driving to work this month, the car started stalling on the highway and I was lucky I was not hit from behind by other fast moving cars. After replacing ignition parts the car still was stalling and then stopped totally. Upon examination, all the engine harness wires were found to have been totally stripped of their insulation inside the outer fabric cover. They all were contacting each other and it was hopless to fix since all the wires failed at once. Several merecedes Benz dealers knew of this problem and it was common knowledge to them. However, merecedes Benz seems to think this problem is not of their concern and contacting them results in refusal to replace the wiring harness as car is out of warranty. This is a defect that could injure by accident or start a fire and not a warranty problem. …
My 1995 e-320 wagons engine wiring harness insulation has deteriorated to a point where the car was going crazy, odd accelerator behavior, loss of power, loss of trans control, loss of traction control, all wire insulation on this harness has deteriorated to the point that it is amazing that there has not been a fire or accident b/c of the malfunctions. I cannot believe I have been driving around with my 20 month old daughter in the car with it like this. When the car stated acting up. I took it to a cert. Mechanic and he showed me that I the car could have burned up or I could have lost steering or braking capabilities or trans control. I couldn't believe it!!! I could not tell that anything was wrong until he removed the cover from around the group of wires. I have never seen anything like it, not even in my 30 year old Volkswagen beetle I had. …
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. …
Wiring harness on my 1995 E320 has deteriorated to an unsafe condition and needs replacement. I have experienced several unusual check engine indications which have turned out to be false alarms. In one case it caused a problem for me in getting my california smog certification because of a false check engine light. After consulting with several Mercedes authorized mechanics I have learned that this wiring harness condition is a know problem affecting several models over several years. I visually inspected the wires and can see the insulation cracking and crumbling before my eyes. I contacted Mercedes Benz USA in nj and was informed that my vehicle is not subject to recall and was 12 years old with high mileage (105000 miles). As a result I am forced to replace wiring harness at my own expense to rectify an obvious manufacture defect resulting in serious safety issues.
Electrical complaints in other E320 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 1995 Mercedes-Benz E320?
NHTSA has 89 complaints about the electrical system of the 1995 Mercedes-Benz E320, 93% of the model year's 96 complaints. The component named most often is wiring › front underhood (37 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 1995 Mercedes-Benz E320. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 107,000 miles, and 3% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 3 fires and 0 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.