1991 Mercedes Benz 300: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
6 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
119,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1991 model year. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System 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% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 16.7% |
| Steering behavior | 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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Power Train:Driveline:Constant Velocity Joint | 1 |
| Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module | 1 |
Electrical System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System: 1; Power Train: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Power Train:Driveline:Constant Velocity Joint: 1; Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module: 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 | 1 |
| 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: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 5 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 |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 2 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
1996: 2; 2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2005: 1; 2009: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior 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 10127907 · 2005-06-28 (June 28, 2005)
THE DRIVE TRAIN ON THE CONSUMERS 1991 MERCEDES BENZ 300 LOCKED UP. *JB THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN TOTALLY ISOLATED TO THE CONTROL UNIT. THE TOTAL LOCK UP OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY OR THE PROBLEM MAY BE ELSEWHERE CAUSED BY A CERTAIN SET OF CONDITIONS. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10127907 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10286243 · 2009-10-04 (October 4, 2009)
MY 1991 300SL BENZ HAS HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS REPLACED PER MB DEALER BECAUSE IT'S GOING BAD AND DECOMPOSING CAUSING A POTENTIAL FIRE PROBLEM. THIS AFTER A NO START PROBLEM AND A MONTH IN THE SHOP. AND THEY NOT BEING ABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE. NOW , AFTER REPLACING THE HARNESS , THEY ARE STILL NOT ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE HARNESS IS A "GREEN WIRING HARNESS" AS REQUIRED BE GERMANY TO ITS AUTO MAKERS IN 1991-1996. THE DECOMPOSING OF THE WIRING CAUSES A FIRE HAZARD AND SHOULD BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. *…
Owner-reported narrative. 119,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10286243 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 500776 · 1996-01-15 (January 15, 1996)
CLAMP HOLDING POWER STEERING HOSE TOO BIG TO HOLD HOSE IN PLACE WHEN TIGHTENED ALL THE WAY, CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK OUT OF SYSTEM. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 500776 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 502008 · 1996-02-23 (February 23, 1996)
DISTRIBUTOR ROTOR/BRACKET FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 502008 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 555952 · 2000-10-12 (October 12, 2000)
MOTOR MOUNTS WERE REPLACED. *CJ
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 555952 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 891470 · 2001-06-27 (June 27, 2001)
WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH IN 1991, MERCEDES BENZ, 300D 2.5 TURBO, RIGHT REAR GOODYEAR ROAD HANDLER VOYAGER LX TIRE SIZE P195/60R15, DOT PJUNYBLR319 EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT IN SIDEWALL OF TIRE. THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES ON THE TIRES, AND THEY WERE NOT ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON VEHICLE. *AK *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 891470 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 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 ↗96V175000 · Visibility
Reported: 1996-09-19 (September 19, 1996)
IF ONE OF THE HEADLAMP WIPER ARMS BECOMES MISALIGNED, THE WIPER BALDE CAN LODGE IN THE GROOVE UNDER THE HEADLAMP. IF THE WASHERS ARE ACTIVATED WITH THE WIPER BLADE IN THE MISALIGNED AND LODGED POSITION, THE WASHER PUMP WILL RUN CONTINUOUSLY EXPELLING ALL AVAILABLE FLUID.
Consequence: PUMP OPERATION IN THE ABSENCE OF FLUID CAN CAUSE THE PUMP TO OVERHEAT AND CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLAMP WASHER PUMP ON THESE VEHICLES.
NHTSA campaign record ↗