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U.S. public vehicle records

Mercedes Benz 300E problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

30 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

145,428 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1986 to 1993 model years. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 30 complaints (23.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues620.0%
Engine operation310.0%
Braking behavior310.0%
Fuel system concerns310.0%
Steering behavior13.3%

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
7
Engine
5
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
5
Vehicle Speed Control
3
Air Bags:Frontal
2
Suspension
2
Tires
2
Air Bags
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System7
Engine5
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly5
Vehicle Speed Control3
Air Bags:Frontal2
Suspension2
Tires2
Air Bags1

Electrical System: 7; Engine: 5; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Suspension: 2; Tires: 2; Air Bags: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
7
150,000 and above
5
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0001
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9997
150,000 and above5

Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 5

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 16 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.

1995
1
1996
1
2000
2
2001
3
2002
3
2003
1
2004
2
2005
1
2006
1
2009
3
2012
2
2013
3
2014
1
2015
3
2016
2
2018
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
19951
19961
20002
20013
20023
20031
20042
20051
20061
20093
20122
20133
20141
20153
20162
20181

1995: 1; 1996: 1; 2000: 2; 2001: 3; 2002: 3; 2003: 1; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2009: 3; 2012: 2; 2013: 3; 2014: 1; 2015: 3; 2016: 2; 2018: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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 8001345 · 2002-01-02 (January 2, 2002)

VEHICLE WILL NO LONGER START BECAUSE OF WIRING HARNESS; COATING ON WIRES HAVE MELTED, AND WERE TOUCHING ONE ANOTHER, CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO START.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8001345 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10460188 · 2012-05-31 (May 31, 2012)

PURCHASED 1993 MERCEDES BENZ 300E AND IT DEVELOPED ENGINE MISS. TOOK TO MECHANIC FOR TUNE UP AND WAS ADVISED THAT UNABLE TO TUNE UP DUE TO ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION DISINTEGRATION. A COMMON DEFECT WITH THESE MODELS SINCE THEY WERE NEW. THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. CALLED MERCEDES BENZ USA AND WAS ADVISED TO TOW CAR TO NEAREST MERCEDES DEALER ( ROMANO MERCEDES FAYETTEVILLE NY) FOR INSPECTION . THEY INSPECTED AND FOUND INSULATION IN HARNESS TO BE BAD, AND SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE IT FOR $2600.00. WE THEN CALLED MERCE…

Owner-reported narrative. 103,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10460188 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10101215 · 2004-12-21 (December 21, 2004)

VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED WHILE DRIVING DOWN AN INCLINE OR SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP POSITION. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND AT THE DEALER ONCE, HOWEVER, AND NEITHER OF THEM COULD RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM.*AK WHEN TURNING ON THE HEADLIGHTS THE SRS AND ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATE. THE TACHOMETER PERFORMED ERRATICALLY. THE ALTERNATOR ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE NOISE WAS CAUSED BY A BOLT IN THE WATER PUMP WHICH WAS TOO LONG AND HIT AGAINST THE PUMP. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10101215 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10263812 · 2009-03-31 (March 31, 2009)

SUDDEN ACCELERATION . A 1989 MERCEDES BENZ 300E WITH AROUND 158,900 MILES. SINCE THE PAST 6 WEEKS HAS BEEN EXHIBITING THE APPARENTLY HARD TO PROOF CASE OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON HIGHWAY 101. THERE WAS A CONSTRUCTION GOING ON SO THE TRAVELING SPEED ON THAT STRETCH OF THE HIGHWAY WAS REDUCED TO AROUND 50MPH. AFTER DRIVING FOR SOME MINUTES WITH MY SPEED AROUND 50MPH, THE CAR SUDDENLY SURGED WITH THE SPEEDOMETER RISING. I WASN'T IN ANYWAY ACCELERATING. I WAS MAINTAINING MY CURRENT SPEED, THE SUDD…

Owner-reported narrative. 158,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10263812 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10147609 · 2006-01-12 (January 12, 2006)

I JUST EXPERIENCED MY 4TH FUEL TANK FRACTURE OVER 5 YEARS. THE FRACTURES OCCUR IN THE SURFACE OF THE TANK NOT CAUSED BY WEAR OF ANY SORT. THEY JUST SPONTANEOUSLY OCCUR. THE TANK IS COMPLETELY FACTORY INSTALLED IN THE TRUNK OF THE CAR THIS ALLOWS FUMES TO ENTER THE ENTIRE CAR. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED A FRACTURED TANK IN ANY BRAND IN 40 YEARS OF DRIVING. THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 180,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10147609 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 489326 · 1995-04-17 (April 17, 1995)

ALUMINUM COMPONENT OF FUEL TANK FAILED UNDER FIRE CONDITIONS, EXPENDING GASOLINE T0 ADDITIONALLY FUEL THE FIRE. *SKD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 489326 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10572854 · 2014-03-17 (March 17, 2014)

CAR CUTS OFF AFTER A LONG DRIVE WHEN COASTING TO A STOP OR WHEN TURNING. WHEN ENGINE CUTS OFF POWER STEERING NO LONGER FUNCTIONS (VERY UPSETTING WHILE TURNING WHICH IS USUALLY WHEN IT CUTS OFF). HAVE TAKEN IT TO PRIVATE SHOP AND MERCEDES DEALER BUT NOTHING RESOLVED THE ISSUE. CAR IS DRIVEN RARELY NOW DUE TO THIS ISSUE AND ISSUE IS STILL ACTIVE IN CAR. I HAVE FIVE RECEIPTS FROM PRIVATE AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND MERCEDES BENZ DEALER DOCUMENTING EACH TIME CAR WAS TAKEN FOR THIS ISSUE DATING BACK TO 2003. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 145,856 miles reported. Look up ODI 10572854 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

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.

1986
0
1989
0
1990
0
1991
0
1993
0
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
19860
19890
19900
19910
19930

1986: 0; 1989: 0; 1990: 0; 1991: 0; 1993: 0

Year-by-year records

Mercedes Benz 300E model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
198660Not available
198970Not available
1990300
1991600
199380Not available