AI Damage1995 Mercedes-Benz S320: common problems
Owners of the 1995 Mercedes-Benz S320 filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 4
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 75% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 25% of all complaints
- 3 Suspension 25% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 3 complaints (75% of all).
- Engine: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Suspension: 1 complaints (25% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 4 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 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 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 consumer stated the vehicle's steering wheel would shake while being driven. The consumer was informed the tie rod assembly, the driveshaft disc, bushing, control arms needed to be replaced. The consumer was informed the vehicle was no longer under warranty.
Smoke coming through the vents while driving.on the highway 87 north december 23, 2017 at 8:45am. I was heading to canada for christmas holiday. Later discovered that alternator wiring and cables caught on fire.
The wiring that controls the electronic throttle actuator has insulation that has disintegrated causing a short in the wiring resulting in an instantaneous loss of power. Vehicle was moving at the time on the highway.
Engine wiring harness has become brittle and is rotting off the copper wire causing shorts shorting out modules transmission has stop shifting from 4th to 5th unless you let up off the gas at high rpm's then let it fall down to about 7000 rpm's then it shifts I have came close to getting rear ended by semi trucks too…
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 15,524 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 42% most complained about).
On average one model year of the S320 has 4 complaints (3 years in the data). This year has 4, about average.
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.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1995 Mercedes-Benz S320?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine, suspension. Total complaints: 4. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (50%), loss of power / limp mode (25%), vibration (25%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1995 Mercedes-Benz S320?
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 1995 Mercedes-Benz S320 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 1995 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.