AI DamageMercedes-Benz 124: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Mercedes-Benz 124 across 4 model years: 10 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
| Year | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) | YouTube repair videos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1994 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1992 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 40% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 20% of all complaints
- 3 Engine and cooling 20% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel/propulsion system 10% of all complaints
- 5 Seats 10% of all complaints
- 6 Suspension 10% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 4 complaints (40% of all).
- Engine: 2 complaints (20% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (20% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 1 complaints (10% of all).
- Seats: 1 complaints (10% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 10 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The engine wire harness had melted in two locations. When I bought the car the previous owner told me that he had replaced the engine wire harness.
The engine stopped. The engine retarted but with a distinct rough idle. Increasing the gas pedal pressure was responded by the engine with increased but fluctuating rpms. I could drive the vehicle home. After restarting the vehicle a day or more later it ran normal.
The car started to lose power at a slow speed at any stop. The engine almost dies if you don't give gas. The check engine light came on.
Engine wiring harness insulation has disintegrated, cracked and flaked off of the wires exposing significant amounts of bare copper including connections to the glow plug relay and every connector directly attaching to an engine component.
There is no other significant rust on the vehicle. If this fails, the spring may break through the rail into the engine compartment, or the spring may fall out. At speed, this could be a very bad situation.
The check engine light came on. The dealer, after diagnosing the problem, said that a code indicating that the temperature sensor was faulty however they determined that the wiring harness was deteriorated and needed to be replaced because "this year car was designed with a harness that was biodegradable." the…
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.