# 1995 MERCEDES BENZ E320 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
> NHTSA complaint `1097193` · 2014-08-12 · Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** MERCEDES BENZ
- **Model:** E320
- **Year:** 1995
- **Manufacturer:** Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
- **Component:** ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- **Miles at failure:** 99,000
## Narrative
I DROPPED OFF  MY CAR AT AUTO SHOP DUE TO MY CAR STARTING ROUGH, THE AC AND FAN CUT OFF, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON.  I WAS ALSO CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD BE THE WIRE HARNESS AS I HAD READ ABOUT PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, AND HAD DISCUSSED POSSIBLE ISSUE WITH VARIOUS MERCEDES MECHANICS. I WAS TOLD THAT MERCEDES BENZ HAD INSTALLED BIO DEGRADABLE WIRE HARNESS THAT WERE RESULTING IN PREMATURE DETERIORATION.  WHILE  MY CAR WAS IN THE SERVICE BAY AT S THE AUTOMOTIVE SHOP MY ENGINE WIRE HARNESS CAUGHT ON FIRE!  THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO PUT THE  FIRE OUT BEFORE ENTIRE CAR AND HIS SHOP CAUGHT ON FIRE.  I HAVE ASKED HIM TO RETAIN HARNESS FOR EVIDENCE, HE SAID HARNESS IS IN PIECES DUE TO  EXTREME HEAT OF THIS ELECTRICAL FIRE.    I AM SO THANKFUL THAT THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE AT THE SHOP, OR MY ENTIRE FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.  I SAY THIS AS MY ELECTRIC LOCKS WERE MESSED UP, AND SOMETIMES I HAD TO WAIT UP TO A MINUTE OR MORE TO OPEN THE CAR DOORS AND TRUNK, AND ALSO TO LOCK  MY VEHICLE DUE TO SOME SORT OF SHORT.  WE COULD HAVE ALL BURNED TO DEATH IF THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AND WE COULD NOT OF EXITED THE VEHICLE.  THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL.  THERE ARE OVER 700 COMPLAINTS,  ALONG WITH DOZENS OF FIRE COMPLAINTS, REGARDING ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEFECT ON MERCEDES BENZ BUILT BETWEEN 1991-1997  WITH THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. HOW MANY SAFETY REPORTS, ENGINE HARNESS FIRES, AND POSSIBLE HARNESS FIRES
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*