The 1992 Mercedes-Benz 500 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 28,874 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
VISIBILITY96V1750001996-09-1928,874 affected
Defect
IF ONE OF THE HEADLAMP WIPER ARMS BECOMES MISALIGNED, THE WIPER BALDE CAN LODGE IN THE GROOVE UNDER THE HEADLAMP. IF THE WASHERS ARE ACTIVATED WITH THE WIPER BLADE IN THE MISALIGNED AND LODGED POSITION, THE WASHER PUMP WILL RUN CONTINUOUSLY EXPELLING ALL AVAILABLE FLUID.
Consequence
PUMP OPERATION IN THE ABSENCE OF FLUID CAN CAUSE THE PUMP TO OVERHEAT AND CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLAMP WASHER PUMP ON THESE VEHICLES.
Complaints by component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
4
SEATS
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
1
1deaths
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
1
1fires
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
1
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
1
Total complaints20
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Main engine/fuel injection electrical wiring harness, has cracked insulation throughout the engine wiring harness and is disintegrating causing wires to rub together and beginning to experience problems with the risk of causing dangerous engine malfunctions to include fire inside engine…”
“Engine wiring harness is disentigrating. *tr”
“Engine cutting out . All wires in the engine harness and electric cable cracked and exposed. *tr”
“Engine wiring harness pn 124-543-95-26; wiring insulation completely erodes over time with normal use, resulting in numerous short circuits. *tr”
“Wire insulation on my engine wiring harness has disintegrated exposing the internal wiring completely, especially in bent areas. This is a result of normal operation of the vehicle. As this happens the engine runs worse, problems associated include surging in idle, stumbling of engine upon initial…”
“The engine / fuel injection wiring harness, and starter/alternator wiring harness of my 1992 mercedes-benz 500e (61,000 miles), has cracked insulation throughout and is beginning to short out with the risk of causing dangerous engine malfunction and even fire inside my engine compartment. I have…”
“Upper engine wiring harness in my 1992 mercedes benz 500e (81,000 miles) has completely deteriorated. The insulation has become brittle and cracked and flaked of the harness causing electrical shorts within the ignition system causing failure to start or run conditions. Through research on the web…”
“The engine / fuel injection wiring harness of my 1992 mercedes-benz 500 sel was replaced once and now has cracked insulation throughout, I might add, this new harness is "supposed" to be the new and improved upgraded version. It does have a different part number than the original. The wires are…”
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 500 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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