The Mercedes-Benz 400 spans 1992–1993 with 3 recorded NHTSA recalls and a 4.5/5 ForCar reliability score. It delivers up to 18 mpg combined and NHTSA-rated safety.
How we score: NHTSA crash-test safety (40%), recall frequency across all years (25%) and the share of owner complaints involving a crash, fire or injury (35%). Based on NHTSA & EPA data — not user reviews.
Overview
The Mercedes-Benz 400 is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 1992 to 1993 across multiple generations.
How to read a Mercedes-Benz 400 VIN — every digit explained
Every Mercedes-Benz 400 carries a unique 17-character VIN stamped at the factory. Each position is a code — together they spell out where, when and how your car was built. Here's exactly what every digit means.
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Mercedes-Benz and the country it was built in (real Mercedes-Benz codes below).
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled this 400.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
- GermanyW1H · W1K · W1N · W1W · W1Y · W1Z
- USA1MB · 4JG · 55S · WD0 · WD8 · WDW
- Argentina8BR · 8BT · 8BU
- Brazil9DB
Digits 4–17 — the engine code (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard, identical on every car. For the full year-code table (2001–2026), country codes and where the VIN is stamped on your 400, see the complete guide to reading a VIN.
How many recalls does the Mercedes-Benz 400 have?
The Mercedes-Benz 400 has 3 recorded NHTSA recalls across 1992–1993. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.
1993 Mercedes-Benz 400 recalls 1
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System
What's wrong. HIGH AMBIENT ENGINE COMPARTMENT TEMPERATURES ARE EXPERIENCED AFTER THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED AND THEN PARKED. IF THE VEHICLE IS RESTARTED A SHORT TIME LATER AND THE CHARCOAL CANISTER IS SATURATED WITH FUEL, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT FUEL VAPOR MAY BE EXPELLED THROUGH THE INLET VENT LINE OF THE CANISTER ONTO THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY RADIATOR FAN PRERESISTOR.
Risk. UNDER CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY RADIATOR FAN PRERESISTOR BECOMES HOT ENOUGH TO IGNITE THE FUEL EXPELLED FROM THE CHARCOAL CANNISTER AND RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Fix. DEALERS WILL REPOSITION THE FUEL VAPOR CANISTER VENT LINE AWAY FROM THE ELECTRIC FAN PRERESISTOR. IN ADDITION, THE PRERESISTOR WILL HAVE A LARGER HEAT SHIELD AND A FUSED WIRING HARNESS WILL BE INSTALLED.
1992 Mercedes-Benz 400 recalls 2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
What's wrong. THE PLASTIC BRAKE HYDRAULIC HOSE FROM THE AUTOMATIC SLIP CONTROL UNIT WAS MISROUTED TOO CLOSE TO THE PRE-RESISTOR FOR THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY ENGINE COOLING FAN WHICH BECOMES HOT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. THIS COULD CAUSE THE HOSE TO MELT AND LEAK BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE HOT PRE-RESISTOR.
Risk. BRAKE FLUID CAN CATCH ON FIRE WHEN IT CONTACTS THE HOTPRE-RESISTOR, POSING THE RISK OF INJURY TO ANYONE IN OR NEAR THE VEHICLE.
Fix. REPLACE AND REROUTE ANY HOSE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN MISROUTED.
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System
What's wrong. HIGH AMBIENT ENGINE COMPARTMENT TEMPERATURES ARE EXPERIENCED AFTER THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED AND THEN PARKED. IF THE VEHICLE IS RESTARTED A SHORT TIME LATER AND THE CHARCOAL CANISTER IS SATURATED WITH FUEL, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT FUEL VAPOR MAY BE EXPELLED THROUGH THE INLET VENT LINE OF THE CANISTER ONTO THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY RADIATOR FAN PRERESISTOR.
Risk. UNDER CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY RADIATOR FAN PRERESISTOR BECOMES HOT ENOUGH TO IGNITE THE FUEL EXPELLED FROM THE CHARCOAL CANNISTER AND RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Fix. DEALERS WILL REPOSITION THE FUEL VAPOR CANISTER VENT LINE AWAY FROM THE ELECTRIC FAN PRERESISTOR. IN ADDITION, THE PRERESISTOR WILL HAVE A LARGER HEAT SHIELD AND A FUSED WIRING HARNESS WILL BE INSTALLED.
Best and worst years for the Mercedes-Benz 400
We're still compiling NHTSA owner-complaint history for the Mercedes-Benz 400 — best- and worst-year trends will appear here once that data is in.
What are the most common Mercedes-Benz 400 problems?
We're still compiling NHTSA owner-complaint data for the Mercedes-Benz 400 — the most-reported problems will appear here once that data is in.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, all model years. Bar = share of total complaints. Full reports searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Mercedes-Benz 400 specifications & dimensions
The 1993 Mercedes-Benz 400 measures 187″ long on a 110″ wheelbase, with a curb weight near 3,858 lb. Full dimensions below — engine, horsepower and trim decode from your VIN. For the original factory build — MSRP, trim and standard equipment — rebuild the Mercedes-Benz 400 window sticker.
| Years | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Curb weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 187″ | 69″ | 56″ | 110″ | 3,858 lb |
| 1992 | 201″ | 74″ | 59″ | 120″ | 4,718 lb |
Source: NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada vehicle specifications. Metric values converted to imperial; generation ranges approximate.
Mercedes-Benz 400 cargo space, seating & interior room
How much the 400 holds — passengers and cargo. EPA measures its interior at 112 cu ft of passenger volume and 16 cu ft of cargo. Seating capacity and legroom vary by trim.
Exact seating capacity, third-row availability, legroom and headroom decode from your VIN or vary by trim — the original factory equipment & options list shows what each trim included.
Passenger & cargo volume from EPA fueleconomy.gov (largest configuration). Seats, legroom and headroom from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Mercedes-Benz 400 tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What MPG does the Mercedes-Benz 400 get?
The Mercedes-Benz 400 returns up to 18 combined MPG (EPA), which works out to roughly $4,300/yr in fuel. Pick an engine to see MPG, annual running cost and CO₂ by year:
The 1993 Mercedes-Benz 400 (4.2L 8-cyl) gets 18 mpg combined and costs about $4,300/yr to fuel, emitting 494 g/mi CO₂ — about $10,500 more than the average new vehicle over 5 years.
| Year | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel/yr | CO₂ g/mi | Smog | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 400 | 16 | 22 | $4,300 | 494 | — | 4.2L 8-cyl | |
| 1992 400 | 15 | 20 | $4,800 | 555 | — | 4.2L 8-cyl |
Source: EPA fuel-economy database (ForCar-hosted, 1986–2027) — best combined rating per engine & year, with EPA annual fuel cost and tailpipe CO₂. Trim & drivetrain vary slightly; decode your VIN for the exact figure.
See how the 400 stacks up against the most fuel-efficient sedans, or calculate this 400's real yearly fuel cost.
What engines does the Mercedes-Benz 400 have? Power & range
The Mercedes-Benz 400 is offered with 1 powertrain — 4.2L 8-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V8 | 4.2L · 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | RWD | Premium |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
How much does a Mercedes-Benz 400 cost to own?
A Mercedes-Benz 400 tends to depreciate faster than average. A typical example keeps roughly 37% of its value after five years — losing about 63% to depreciation. Check what a used 400 is worth today or browse current used-market prices before you buy or sell. Fuel, maintenance and insurance add to the total cost to own.
| Age | Value retained | Est. resale value | Lost to depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 75% | $22,500 | −$7,500 |
| Year 2 | 63% | $18,900 | −$11,100 |
| Year 3 | 53% | $15,900 | −$14,100 |
| Year 4 | 44% | $13,200 | −$16,800 |
| Year 5 | 37% | $11,100 | −$18,900 |
What goes into the five-year cost to own:
- Depreciation — the biggest cost: this 400 loses about 63% of its value over five years. See the full depreciation curve by age.
- Fuel — ≈ $21,500 over five years at roughly 15,000 miles a year.
- Maintenance & repairs — routine service, tires and wear items as the 400 ages.
- Insurance — varies by driver, state and trim; get a quote for your exact figure.
Resale & depreciation are ForCar estimates from typical segment value-retention curves — not a live market quote. Fuel from EPA fueleconomy.gov at ~15k mi/yr.
Is the Mercedes-Benz 400 safe?
NHTSA crash-test ratings aren't published for the 400 yet — see the top-rated safest cars instead.
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How many miles does a Mercedes-Benz 400 last?
A well-maintained Mercedes-Benz 400 typically lasts 250,000–300,000+ miles. It's exceptionally durable — with routine maintenance many owners report 250k+ on the original powertrain. Its ForCar Reliability Score is 4.5/5.
Check your Mercedes-Benz 400’s VIN — history, recalls & specs
Title records, open recalls, build details and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.
Check this 400’s VIN free →All Mercedes-Benz 400 model years
A year-by-year snapshot of the Mercedes-Benz 400 — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.
| Year | Recalls | Best MPG | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 400 | 1 recall | — | |
| 1992 400 | 2 recalls | — |
Recalls = NHTSA campaigns that year · MPG = best EPA combined · Safety = NHTSA overall stars (tested years).
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the 400?
We're still compiling NHTSA owner-complaint history for the Mercedes-Benz 400.
How many recalls does the 400 have?
3 recorded NHTSA recalls across 1992–1993. Always check open recalls by your VIN. See all Mercedes-Benz recalls and reliability across every model.
What MPG does the 400 get?
Up to 18 combined MPG (EPA), depending on engine — from the base 4-cylinder to the hybrid.
How many miles does a 400 last?
A well-maintained 400 typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.
Is the 400 reliable?
Our ForCar Reliability Score for the 400 is 4.5/5, based on NHTSA safety, recall history and complaint severity.
What's the Mercedes-Benz 400 warranty?
New Mercedes-Benz models carry a 4 years / 50,000 miles basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty and a 4 years / 50,000 miles powertrain warranty. Coverage can vary by model year and market — confirm with a Mercedes-Benz dealer.
Where is the Mercedes-Benz 400 made?
The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your 400's VIN above to see exactly where it was built; Mercedes-Benz may build it at more than one plant depending on the year.
How much does a 400 weigh?
The 400's curb weight is around 3,858 lb. Its GVWR — the maximum loaded weight — decodes from the VIN.
How much ground clearance does the 400 have?
Ground clearance varies by trim and drivetrain — AWD/4WD versions often sit higher. Decode your VIN or check the specific trim for the exact figure.