NHTSA Complaint #10168311 — 1994 MERCEDES BENZ 320

BEGAN EXPERIENCING VARIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IN MY MERCEDES BENZ E320. INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP ADVISED THAT ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAD INSULATION CRUMBLING OFF AND SPARKS WERE VISIBLE BETWEEN THE FIREWALL AND HARNESS. ALSO ADVISED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON EARLY 90'S MERCEDES VEHICLES DUE TO USING BIODEGRADABLE INSULATION AND A FIRE WAS A DEFINITE POSSIBILITY. THE INSULATION DOES NOT STAND UP TO THE HEAT OF THE ENGINE AND FAILS PREMATURELY. I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WAS SOME SORT OF RECALL BUT COULD FIND NO INFORMATION AND STATED THE RECALL WAS CLOSED ANYWAY, BUT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE REPAIR AND WOULD GLADLY PERFORM THE REPAIR WITH ME PAYING THE FULL PRICE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD TRAVELING ON OUR ROADS AND NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED VIA A RECALL AND REPLACEMENT WITH A NON-DEGRADABLE PRODUCT. *JB