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U.S. public vehicle records

1995 Mercedes Benz 300 SERIES problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

12 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

177,900 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1995 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 12 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues1083.3%
Engine operation433.3%
Braking behavior18.3%
Steering behavior18.3%
Fuel system concerns18.3%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
6
Electrical System
4
Electrical System:Wiring
3
Engine And Engine Cooling
1
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood6
Electrical System4
Electrical System:Wiring3
Engine And Engine Cooling1
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System1

Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 6; Electrical System: 4; Electrical System:Wiring: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
1
150,000 and above
8
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9991
150,000 and above8

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 8

150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 3 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2000
1
2007
4
2008
5
2011
1
2012
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20001
20074
20085
20111
20121

2000: 1; 2007: 4; 2008: 5; 2011: 1; 2012: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10203075 · 2007-09-15 (September 15, 2007)

1995 MERCEDES E 300 DIESEL, THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IS FALLING APART. THE INSULATION IS CRUMBLING AND ALL THE WIRES ARE SHORTING CAUSING MALFUNCTIONS OF ALL ENGINE SYSTEMS, AND COULD CAUSE A FIRE. IMPOSSIBLE TO FIX THE CURRENT HARNESS BECAUSE EVERY WIRE IS INVOLVED, HAVE TO REPLACE. I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE, I HAVE HAD MANY CLASSIC CARS THAT ARE MUCH OLDER THAN THIS THAT HAVE PERFECT WIRING TO THIS DAY. I WAS TOLD BY A NON-MERCEDES SHOP THAT THIS WAS AN ATTEMPT BY MERCEDES TO MAKE THE INSULATION EASILY TO RECYCLE AND THAT ALL CARS …

Owner-reported narrative. 155,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203075 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10203190 · 2007-09-17 (September 17, 2007)

THE MAIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS FOR MY 1995 E300 DIESEL IS DETERIORATING, AND POSING A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 213,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203190 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10200978 · 2007-08-28 (August 28, 2007)

MY MERCEDES WAGON STALLED AND WOULD NOT RE-START IN BUMPER-TO-BUMPER FREEWAY TRAFFIC WHILE COMMUTING TO WORK. MY TECHNICIAN TRACED IT TO A DISINTEGRATING ENGINE WIRE-HARNESSES AND STATED I WAS LUCKY IT DID NOT START EITHER A FIRE, OR "FRIED"/SHORTED-OUT THE ENGINE COMPUTERS WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED. REPLACED AT OVER $600 PARTS & LABOR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10200978 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10221013 · 2008-03-13 (March 13, 2008)

THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND EA/CC/ISC WIRING INSULATION HAS BADLY DETERIORATED ON MY 1995 E300 DUE TO HEAT FATIGUE FROM POOR MANUFACTURING. THE DECAY HAS REACHED THE POINT OF LEAVING BARE EXPOSED WIRE WITHIN THE HARNESS. THESE WIRES MAKE CONTACT CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL, SURGE, A/C COMPRESSOR NOT TO WORK, AND SET MISC. ENGINE CODES. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES AS EVIDENCED BY CONVERSATION THREADS ON SEVERAL WELL REGARDED FORUMS. THE GENERAL UNDERSTANDING IS THAT MERCEDES WAS ATTEMPTING TO CREATE ECO-FRIENDLY WIRE I…

Owner-reported narrative. 190,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10221013 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 717654 · 2000-01-21 (January 21, 2000)

THE VEHICLE IS A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ E320 STATION WAGON PURCHASED NEW FROM MERCEDES IN FEBRUARY, 1996. THE CAR NOW HAS ABOUT 42,000 MILES. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN DAMAGED DURING OPERATION. ON FOUR (4) OCCASIONS TWICE THE WEEK OF JULY 5, 1999; ONCE ON JANUARY 5, 2000 AND AGAIN ON JANUARY 16, 2000 THE VEHICLE HAD TOTAL POWER FAILURE, WITHOUT WARNING, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED. WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED THE MOTOR SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. ON THE FIRST TWO OCCASIONS A FUEL PUMP…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 717654 at NHTSA ↗