Mercedes Benz 300 SERIES problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
51 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
150,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1988 to 1995 model years. Data snapshot: . 41 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 51 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 35 | 68.6% |
| Engine operation | 14 | 27.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 5.9% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 5.9% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 3.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.0% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 17 |
| Electrical System | 16 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 10 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 17; Electrical System: 16; Electrical System:Wiring: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 16 |
| 150,000 and above | 21 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 21
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 10 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 10 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2003: 5; 2004: 3; 2005: 4; 2006: 4; 2007: 10; 2008: 8; 2009: 4; 2011: 6; 2012: 4; 2013: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 35 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 14 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 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 10052864 · 2004-01-11 (January 11, 2004)
INTERMITTENT WIRING PROBLEMS CAUSE STALLING AND THE LOSS OF FUNCTIONS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 105,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052864 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10104057 · 2004-12-18 (December 18, 2004)
WIRING IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND ALL RUBBER HOSES ON THE VACUUM SYSTEM HAVE DETERIORATED .THE WIRING CONNECTORS HAVE ALL FELL APART AND THE HOSES HAVE TURNED HARD AND FELL APART. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 118,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10104057 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014208 · 2003-04-09 (April 9, 2003)
EMISSIONS AIR PUMP SEIZED CAUSING THE SERPENTINE BELT TO MELT ALL OVER ASSOCIATED COMPONENTS. THIS IS THE THIRD KNOWN REPLACEMENT OF A SERPENTINE BELT--TWO OF WHICH WERE 16,000 MILES BETWEEN REPLACEMENTS. EMISSIONS AIR PUMP, IDLE PULLEY AND SERPENTINE BELT WERE REPLACED. THIS CAR ALSO HAS A 7 YEAR HISTORY OF RANDOM STALLING WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN FIXED.
Owner-reported narrative. 143,137 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014208 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8000846 · 2001-12-18 (December 18, 2001)
FORMANIC TRANSFER CASE FAILED, WAS REPLACED AT 42718 MILES, FORMANIC LIGHT CAME ON, HAD TRANSFER CASE REPLACED A SECOND TIME ON 1/10/01 AT 84,000 MILES, HOWEVER, FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY, FAILURE OF INTERNAL BEARINGS, CAUSED A LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKING POWER. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER, WHERE MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR FOR A THIRD TIME. DEALER URGED CONSUMER TO DISPOSE OF VEHICLE WHOLESALE, NOT WORTH REPAIRING.*AK THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR WINDOW SWITCH WAS REPLACED. LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON WITH COOLANT IN SYSTEM DUE TO COOLANT LEVEL SENSOR…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8000846 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10100950 · 2004-12-02 (December 2, 2004)
93 300SE PURCHASED IN 1999; TRANSMISSION REPLACED IN MONTH AND HALF; 11/22/04 TRANSMISSION STOPPED PULLING ON HIGHWAY HALFWAY BETWEEN MEMPHIS AND ST LOUIS. WHEN WE TURNED THE CAR OFF, IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. LIGHTS, RADIO, HORN, ETC WORKED, BUT CAR WOULD NOT SAY ANYTHING. READ ARTICLE ON INTERNET REGARDING DEFECTIVE B2 PISTON AND 'T' SEAL IN 93 AND EARLIER TRANSMISSIONS (722.3,.4,.5). WE HAVE 722.502. MERCEDES (1-800 FOR MERC) DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT. MERCEDES TRANS SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN FIVE YEARS. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO SIK…
Owner-reported narrative. 192,658 miles reported. Look up ODI 10100950 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10292860 · 2009-11-19 (November 19, 2009)
I OWN A MERCEDES 300CE WHICH HAS GIVEN ME PROBLEMS WITH OVER ACCELERATION, IDLING ISSUES AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. I LIKE MANY OTHER PEOPLE COULD NOT AFFORD A NEW CAR SO I DECIDED TO TAKE IT IN FOR REPAIRS. I STARTED WITH REPLACING THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IN 2007 DUE TO THE ENGINE LIGHT CONSISTENTLY TURNING ON. AT AROUND THE SAME TIME, THE STARTER GAVE UP AS WELL AS THE TRANSMISSION. I ALSO HAD THE TAIL LIGHT PANEL REPLACED DUE TO THE BREAK LIGHT CONSISTENTLY TURNING ON. ADDITIONALLY, THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS REPLACED TWICE. YET, AFTER ALL …
Owner-reported narrative. 149,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10292860 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 ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1988 | 0 |
| 1990 | 0 |
| 1991 | 0 |
| 1992 | 0 |
| 1993 | 0 |
| 1995 | 0 |
1988: 0; 1990: 0; 1991: 0; 1992: 0; 1993: 0; 1995: 0