Mercedes Benz E300 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
39 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
109,315 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 to 2009 model years. Data snapshot: . 21 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 39 complaints (23.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 23.1% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 17.9% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 7.7% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 7.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.6% |
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 | 9 |
| Suspension | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Other Fuel Types:Turbo/Supercharger | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 2 |
| Suspension:Front | 2 |
Electrical System: 9; Suspension: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Other Fuel Types:Turbo/Supercharger: 2; Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 2; Suspension:Front: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 7
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 18 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2001: 4; 2002: 5; 2003: 3; 2004: 4; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 3; 2015: 1; 2016: 5; 2017: 2; 2020: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 10639600 · 2014-09-28 (September 28, 2014)
THE INSULATION ON THE ENGINE GLOWPLUG WIRING HARNESS HAS DETERIORATED LEAVING THE COVERING IN DUST EXPOSING BARE WIRES THAT SHORT OUT AND CAUSE MALFUNCTIONS. MBUSA WAS CONTACTED AND THE ONLY RESPONSE WAS TO GET A LOCATION. I INQUIRED A SECOND TIME BUT GOT NO RESPONSE EXCEPT A NEW HARNESS WAS $565 AT LOCAL DEALER. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10639600 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11000303 · 2017-06-20 (June 20, 2017)
ALL OF THE WIRE INSULATION ON THE MAIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAD DECAYED. SEVERE RISK OF FIRE. APPARENTLY MERCEDES-BENZ USED BIO-DEGRADABLE WIRE INSULATION. WHEN EXPOSED TO THE HEAT THAT IS IN THE ENGINE BAY, THE COATING COVERING THE WIRES DISINTEGRATES. VEHICLE HAS 90,000 MILES, ORIGINAL OWNER, NO ACCIDENTS.
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11000303 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10181780 · 2007-02-06 (February 6, 2007)
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCEDES E300. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE REAR PASSENGER BRAKE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. RECALL#05V505000 RELATED TO THE 1999 SLK MERCEDES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10181780 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8014435 · 2002-07-22 (July 22, 2002)
ROTORS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THEY WERE MAKING NOISE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, AND THERE WAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT ROTORS WERE ONLY SUPPOSE TO LAST 20000 MILES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8014435 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10884495 · 2016-07-13 (July 13, 2016)
MAIN WIRE HARNESS DEFECTIVE. INSULATION LEADING TO ALL SENSORS AND GLOW PLUGS HAS DEGRADED OR DISAPPEARED. BARE METAL WIRE IS EXPOSED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND DRIVEABILITY, STALLING AND FIRE HAZARD AND SMOKE HAS BEEN DETECTED.
Owner-reported narrative. 170,023 miles reported. Look up ODI 10884495 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040616 · 2003-09-24 (September 24, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH MERCEDES-BENZ E300 DIESEL.*MR THE CONSUMER HAS HAD ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE HESITATING AND STALLING WHILE DRIVING AND HAS SPENT APPROX $3800.00 IN REPAIRS FOR DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. *CB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10040616 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10892918 · 2016-08-03 (August 3, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ E300 DIESEL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WOBBLED AND A SQUEAKY NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME HOLDING THE SUSPENSION SHOCK ON THE DRIVER SIDE WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED WELDING. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A BODY SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,8…
Owner-reported narrative. 171,872 miles reported. Look up ODI 10892918 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10874484 · 2016-06-15 (June 15, 2016)
MY FRONT LEFT CONTROL ARM SHEARED OFF JUST AFTER PULLING OFF THE HIGHWAY. LUCKILY, I WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT RIPPED OFF. I WAS TRAVELLING AT 65 MPH MINUTES BEFORE COMPLETE FAILURE. THE STEERING DID FEEL STRANGE ON THE HIGHWAY BEFORE. THIS EVEN RESULTED IN THE FRONT WHEEL DISCONNECTING FROM THE CAR COMPLETELY. A QUICK EXAMINATION OF THE SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY REVEALED THAT THE CONTROL ARM SHEARED COMPLETELY OFF AT THE WELD OF THE LOWER BALL JOINT. THE CONTROL ARM SHEARED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN REVERSE, BACKING INTO A PARKING SPACE. THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 129,273 miles reported. Look up ODI 10874484 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10232188 · 2008-06-24 (June 24, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ 300E. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR, SHE HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. SHE PULLED OVER AND TRIED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF SHE WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE; HOWEVER, THE GRINDING NOISE CONTINUED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE MECHANIC AND THEN TO DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FULL OF SHAVINGS AND TO INSTALL A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. THE OWNER'S MANUAL INDICATED THAT FLUID CHECKS AND CHANGES FOR TRANSMISSIO…
Owner-reported narrative. 115,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10232188 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1996 | 0 |
| 1997 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 |
1995: 0; 1996: 0; 1997: 0; 1998: 0; 1999: 0; 2001: 0; 2002: 0; 2009: 0