NHTSA Complaint #10178917 — 1995 MERCEDES BENZ E320

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. *NM