The 1992 Mercedes-Benz 400e has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 6,745 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 21 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING94V0040001994-01-065,900 affected
Defect
HIGH AMBIENT ENGINE COMPARTMENT TEMPERATURES ARE EXPERIENCED AFTER THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED AND THEN PARKED. IF THE VEHICLE IS RESTARTED A SHORT TIME LATER AND THE CHARCOAL CANISTER IS SATURATED WITH FUEL, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT FUEL VAPOR MAY BE EXPELLED THROUGH THE INLET VENT LINE OF THE CANISTER ONTO THE ELECTRIC…
Consequence
UNDER CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY RADIATOR FAN PRERESISTOR BECOMES HOT ENOUGH TO IGNITE THE FUEL EXPELLED FROM THE CHARCOAL CANNISTER AND RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPOSITION THE FUEL VAPOR CANISTER VENT LINE AWAY FROM THE ELECTRIC FAN PRERESISTOR. IN ADDITION, THE PRERESISTOR WILL HAVE A LARGER HEAT SHIELD AND A FUSED WIRING HARNESS WILL BE INSTALLED.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC92V0830001992-06-11845 affected
Defect
THE PLASTIC BRAKE HYDRAULIC HOSE FROM THE AUTOMATIC SLIP CONTROL UNIT WAS MISROUTED TOO CLOSE TO THE PRE-RESISTOR FOR THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY ENGINE COOLING FAN WHICH BECOMES HOT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. THIS COULD CAUSE THE HOSE TO MELT AND LEAK BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE HOT PRE-RESISTOR.
Consequence
BRAKE FLUID CAN CATCH ON FIRE WHEN IT CONTACTS THE HOTPRE-RESISTOR, POSING THE RISK OF INJURY TO ANYONE IN OR NEAR THE VEHICLE.
Remedy
REPLACE AND REROUTE ANY HOSE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN MISROUTED.
Complaints by component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
7
1crashes
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
6
1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1
POWER TRAIN
1
1fires
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1
Total complaints21
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The check engine light came on and before I could pull over there was smoke coming from under the hood. When I opened the hood the air cleaner assembly was melted through and some flame was still glowing in the driver side air filter. The upper engine wiring harness was charred along the driver…”
“The check engine light came on and before I could pull over there was smoke coming from under the hood. When I opened the hood the air cleaner assembly was melted through and some flame was still glowing in the driver side air filter. The upper engine wiring harness was charred along the driver…”
“1992 mercedes benz 400e. Consumer writes in regards to several recall notices rendered vehicle useless. *smd mercedes benz wrote to the consumer, stating there were no outstanding recall campaigns on the vehicle. The consumer referenced recall numbers, 92v083000 and 94v004000. *jb”
“1992 mercedes benz 400e. Consumer writes in regards to several recall notices rendered vehicle useless. *smd mercedes benz wrote to the consumer, stating there were no outstanding recall campaigns on the vehicle. The consumer referenced recall numbers, 92v083000 and 94v004000. *jb”
“1992 mercedes benz 400e. I am concerned about the safety of the wiring harness on this vehicle. Insulation on wires is cracking and peeling off exposing wires to other wires and the engine. I am concerned about this causing a fire. I am aware that this is common to this model because of the…”
“Mb wiring harness failure 1992 400se. *tr”
“1992 mercedes-benz 400e wiring harness multiple failures. Replaced engine wiring harness shortly after I purchased this car (used) in 2005 due to deterioration of insulation from the wires. I was told at the time that this is a common problem with this era of mb due to some planned obsolescence or…”
“The wiring harness on my 1992 400e has disintegrated, as I've read to be common of the mercedes of the early 1990's. My car shudders dramatically when idling, and alternates between periods of slow/no acceleration to unexpected lurching forward. *tr”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1992 Mercedes-Benz 400e as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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