AI Damage1992 Mercedes-Benz 600: common problems
Owners of the 1992 Mercedes-Benz 600 filed 8 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 8
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 88% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 13% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 7 complaints (88% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (13% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 6 L · petrol · 12 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 8 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 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 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 possible risk of fire due to this condition is worth an immediate recall by mercedes in itself. Why has the nhtsa not ordered mercedes to address this serious production problem that I have learned is common to hundreds of v-12 engines from 1992-1995?
The engine wiring harness on my '92 600 sel failed because it was made of wiring that was not adequately tested. The wiring failed in 2007 due to the wiring be designed to be biodegradable. Repair cost was $7000 !!!!!! . Updated 01/11/08. The wiring harness brittle and cracked. Updated
My family and I can be driving and the car automatic drop speed and go into limp mode which is very danger. I also had the car check out also and it will put out codes that don't even exist. The mercedes benz dealer need to be responsible for the repairs of the car. Because it is very expensive.
Park place motor cars in dallas tx worked on vehicle for check engine light on constantly, while driving vehicle had flames coming from exhaust.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 11,899 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 32% most complained about).
On average one model year of the 600 has 7 complaints (6 years in the data). This year has 8, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1992 Mercedes-Benz 600?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 8. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (25%), loss of power / limp mode (13%), warning lights, check engine (13%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1992 Mercedes-Benz 600?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1992 Mercedes-Benz 600 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1992 models
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 2026-11-06.