What causes all gauges in my car dash to go off and on

My friend, that is the $100,000.00 dollar question. I thought I had it figured out at least 20 times. Every time it happened it was under different conditions, and there were different variables. If I turned the key to the #2 position, hesitated and then started the car. When the car was started for the first time of the day. The temperature that day. And then due to how much gas I was in the tank. In the past two years of internet research, I have read so many different theory's from other Mercedes owners that I have started writing them down. Some possibly plausible, and others that were literally comical. Yet no one seems to have even close to a definite answer. My question is, "Why hasn't Mercedes just came forward, said they didn't have a clue, and do a simple recall. Although, I don't believe the odometer reading is affected when the gauges aren't working. Nor is the low fuel light when the gas gauge isn't working. I just purchased my third 96 C Class, and the cluster doesn't seem to show any signs of the symptoms. Good luck with your quest for the answer!