1988 Mercedes Benz 300: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
6 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1988 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 6 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 1 | 16.7% |
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:Frontal | 1 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 |
| Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices:Interior | 1 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Vehicle Speed Control: 1; Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices:Interior: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
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: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 6 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 | 4 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
1995: 4; 1996: 1; 2001: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Engine operation 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 484036 · 1995-07-10 (July 10, 1995)
WATER PUMP DEFECTIVE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484036 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 489239 · 1995-04-14 (April 14, 1995)
SPRING ON DAY/NIGHT MECHANISM ON REAR-VIEW MIRROR CRACKED AND PLASTIC BOTTOM FLEW INTO DRIVER'S LAP, CAUSING INJURY. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 489239 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 508817 · 1996-09-19 (September 19, 1996)
COMPUTER FAILED, CAUSING INTERMITTENT STALLING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 508817 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 879380 · 2001-01-30 (January 30, 2001)
VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. DEALER CANNOT FIND CAUSE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 879380 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 962655 · 1995-03-28 (March 28, 1995)
ENGINE OVERHAUL IN THE FIRST YEAR. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 962655 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 973438 · 1995-10-17 (October 17, 1995)
PLASTIC THERMOSTAT HOUSING BROKE, CAUSED LOSS OF COOLANT WHICH DAMAGED THE ENGINE. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 973438 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 ↗