1987 Mercedes Benz 300: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
21 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
167,110 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1987 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 21 complaints (19.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 14.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 9.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 4.8% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 4.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Tires | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 1 |
Air Bags: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Tires: 2; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 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 | 3 |
Under 25,000: 2; 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: 3
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 15 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 6 |
| 1996 | 3 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
1995: 6; 1996: 3; 2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2003: 3; 2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2012: 1; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10004823 · 2003-01-28 (January 28, 2003)
FRONT SHOCK TOWER FAILED THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE TO COLLAPSED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004823 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006584 · 2003-02-05 (February 5, 2003)
VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP, AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THERE NECK AND WRIST. PH
Owner-reported narrative. 200,220 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006584 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015169 · 2003-04-11 (April 11, 2003)
THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT THE VEHICLE'S PREVIOUS OWNER/SELLER, TAMPERED WITH THE ODOMETER. MR SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015169 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10158500 · 2006-05-29 (May 29, 2006)
I WAS DRIVING MY 1987 MERCEDES 300E ON THE INTERSTATE, WHEN SUDDENLY THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON, INJURING MY LEFT ARM, BURNS AND BRUISES FROM THE AIRBAG. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT I CAN DO TO SETTLE THIS MATTER. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 14,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10158500 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10159052 · 2006-06-05 (June 5, 2006)
DRIVING ON INTERSTATE...AIRBAG DEPLOYED, SEAT BELTS LOCKED, CAUSED INJURIES TO LEFT ARM, PAIN UP THROUGH ARM AND NECK, BRUISES, AND BURNS. DROVE TO MB ON 5/30/06. THEY CHECKED CAR OUT. MB STATED IT WAS THE FRONT FLEX DISC THAT BROKE AND HIT THE SENSER TO CAUSE AIRBAG AND ALL SAFETY FEATURES TO LOCK UP. GAVE ME MY CAR BACK, WITHOUT ASKING TO FIX MY SAFETY FEATURES.. FLEX DISC WAS BOUGHT NEW AND INSTALLED 4 MONTHS EARLIER. HAD ANOTHER NEW DISC INSTALLED ON 6/3/06. WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MY SAFETY FEATURES FIXED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 141 miles reported. Look up ODI 10159052 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10210777 · 2007-12-04 (December 4, 2007)
THE RIGHT REAR TIRE OF MY MERCEDES BENZ 300 SDL (YEAR 1987) HAD A BLOW OUT AT A SPEED OF APPROX. 40 MPH. THE ORIGIN OF THE BLOW OUT IS THE INNER SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE. THE TIRE IS A MICHELIN MXV4. I WAS TRAVELING ON TELEPHONE ROAD BY HOUSTON'S HOBBY AIRPORT WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE ROAD WAS CLEAR OF POTHOLES AND DEBRIS. THE BLOWOUT SOUNDED LIKE GUNFIRE. I TRAVELED ANOTHER 50 YARDS TO GET TO A SAFE AREA TO CHANGE THE TIRES. I AM FORTUNATE THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN THE DAY BEFORE WHEN I WAS GOING 75MPH ON I10. TOOK THE TIRE BACK…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10210777 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10221920 · 2008-03-21 (March 21, 2008)
CRACKS IN THE REAR SUB-FRAME THE NECESSITATED A $3,000 REPAIR THAT MERCEDES-BENZ WOULD NOT COVER. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT I NOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THE REPAIR WAS MADE. THE PIECE IN QUESTION WAS ABOVE THE REAR AXLE AND SUPPORTED THE SUSPENSION AND REAR SPRINGS. FROM RESEARCH I HAVE DONE IT AFFECTED 1987-1988 MERCEDES STATION WAGONS. I READ THAT MERCEDES COVERED THIS REPAIR FOR 10 YEARS, BUT NOT IN THE US. I THINK THIS REPAIR SHOULD BE A WARRANTY ITEM FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. THE REPLACEMENT PIECE WAS MUCH HEAVIER THAN THE ONE THAT ORI…
Owner-reported narrative. 211,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10221920 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10225545 · 2008-04-23 (April 23, 2008)
ADDITIONAL SPACE IS NEEDED TO PROVIDE A COPY OF THE COMPLAINT AND EXPERTS' OPINIONS WHICH CONTAIN THE REQUESTED INFORMATION. PLEASE PROVIDE ME AN E-MAIL ADDRESS, A MAILING ADDRESS AND/OR A FAX NUMBER. THANK YOU. *TR THE CONSUMERS 4 OLD SON WAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. AS THE MOTHER WAS REMOVING THE CHILD FROM THE VEHICLE, THE CHILD INADVERTENTLY MADE CONTACT WITH THE CENTER AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER, WHICH CAUSED THE AUTOMOBILE TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO ANOTHER GEAR. THE CONSUMER HAD HER 6 MONTH OLD SON IN HER ARMS. AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10225545 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
93V095000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 1993-05-27 (May 27, 1993)
DUE TO HEAT EFFECTS, THE THROTTLE BUSHING LOCATED ON THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE, CAN FATIGUE AND BREAK, CAUSING THE THROTTLE LINKAGE TO SEPARATE.
Consequence: IF THE THROTTLE LINKAGE SEPARATES, THE ENGINE WILL RETURNTO IDLE SPEED, AND REMAIN AT IDLE, WITH NO ACCELERATION ABILITY. LOSS OF ENGINESPEED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND ANACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE THROTTLE BUSHING WITH A NEW BUSHING MADE FROM MORE HEAT-RESISTANT MATERIALS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗