NHTSA Complaint #10474421 — 1996 MERCEDES BENZ E320 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Complaint Details

ODI Number	10474421
Vehicle	1996 MERCEDES BENZ E320
Component	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Date of Incident	September 8, 2012
Date Filed	September 9, 2012
Mileage	148,000 miles
Crash	No
Fire	Yes
Injuries	0
Deaths	0
Vehicle Towed	No
State	GA

Consumer Description

THIS VEHICLE (1996 MERCEDES E320) HAS HAD A HISTORY OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. MANY REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AT GREAT EXPENSE! THIS TIME THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND I WAS INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE MYSELF. TROUBLESHOOTING REVEALED A DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS ASSEMBLY FROM THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CONNECTION IN THE LEFT FRONT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO THE PARK/NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH ON THE TRANSMISSION AND TO THE STARTER. THIS HARNESS ALSO INCLUDES CONNECTIONS TO THE STARTER AND SENSORS ON THE TRANSMISSION. ALL WIRES IN THE ENTIRE HARNESS HAVE CRUMBLED INSULATION AND HAVE SHORTED TOGETHER. THIS CAUSED SHORTING AND BURNING OF THE WIRES AND DAMAGE TO OTHER SYSTEM COMPONENTS. I HAVE BEEN A MECHANIC FOR 15+ YEARS AND IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE HARNESS ASSEMBLIES ON THIS VEHICLE ARE OF POOR QUALITY AND SUBJECT TO FAILURE. THE INSULATION ON ALL WIRES IS INFERIOR AND WILL FAIL AND CRACK OVER SHORT PERIODS OF TIME. FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THE OTHER HARNESSES ON THE VEHICLE HAS REVEALED THE SAME PROBLEMS. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR FIRE AND PERSONAL INJURY. LUCKILY THE DAMAGE WAS SMALL AND CONTAINED TO THIS ONE HARNESS, HOWEVER ALL HARNESS ON THE VEHICLE MUST BE REPLACED. *TR

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