1998 Mercedes Benz E300: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
7 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
106,223 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 7 complaints (28.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 1 | 14.3% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 14.3% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel | 2 |
| Suspension | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Other Fuel Types:Turbo/Supercharger | 1 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
| Tires | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel: 2; Suspension: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Other Fuel Types:Turbo/Supercharger: 1; Fuel System, Diesel: 1; Seat Belts:Front: 1; Steering: 1; Tires: 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 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 4 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2002: 2; 2004: 3; 2013: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking 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 10060517 · 2004-03-05 (March 5, 2004)
UNINTENDED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN CRASH, RESULTING FROM OIL INTO INTAKE FROM SEAL ON TURBO CHARGER. CAR HAD BEEN ROUTINELY SERVICED 5 DAYS PRIOR, WITH ERROR MESSAGE ON AIR MASS SENSOR. PART WAS REPLACED. THIS ERROR MESSAGE ALSO OCCURRED 15 MONTHS BEFORE, AND WAS ALSO REPLACED THEN. CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING NORMAL PRIOR TO BOTH SERVICING. NO ENGINE INDICATOR WARNINGS EVER CAME ON PRIOR TO CRASH. SEAT BELT APPARATUS ALSO BROKE UPON IMPACT ON DRIVERS SIDE WHEN MY HEAD STRUCK IT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 106,223 miles reported. Look up ODI 10060517 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10071820 · 2004-04-29 (April 29, 2004)
WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER FAILED TO PROVIDE A SUGGESTIVE REMEDY, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10071820 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10081309 · 2004-07-18 (July 18, 2004)
I WAS DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF A 3 LANE EASTBOUND INTERSTATE 10 IN GULFPORT, MS IN A LIGHT RAIN ( IT HAD BEEN HEAVY 2 HOURS BEFORE ) WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON AT 65 MPH. I HAD JUST COME OVER THE LORRAINE COWEN (SPELLING?) EXIT AND A LITTLE AFTER THE CAR WAS ON THE FLAT ROAD, THE CAR WITHOUT WARNING SPUN 180 DEGREES AND WE WERE BACKWARD ON THE INTERSTATE. SEEING THE TRACKS ON THE SHOULDER THE NEXT DAY, THE CAR CAME OFF THE INTERSTATE BACKWARDS AT ABOUT A 15 TO 20 DEGREE ANGLE, SPUN ANOTHER 270 DEGREES AT THE LOWER EXTENT OF THE CLEARED EMBANK…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10081309 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10513726 · 2013-05-28 (May 28, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ 300E. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE TOP FRONT SPRING MOUNT FRACTURED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,000. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 200,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10513726 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11555921 · 2023-11-19 (November 19, 2023)
The front driver side coil spring ejected out while driving, causing the front of the car to dive down on the driver side. I do have the parts that came out. Luckily I had just got off of the freeway and was only going around 10 mph when it happened and no one was hurt. I'm sure at hwy speeds you could potentially lose control. This issue just happened today 11/19/23 and no repair shops, insurance or agencies have been notified. This is the first report of my problem. There were no warning signs noticed prior to the failure.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11555921 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 757925 · 2002-02-07 (February 7, 2002)
TIRE ON LEFT REAR OF VEHICLE BLEW OUT. TIRE WAS LESS THEN ONE YEAR OLD AND HAD ONLY 25,000 MILES ON IT. MICHELIN INSISTED IT WAS A ROAD HAZARD EVEN THOUGH TIRE WAS LEFT REAR. *AK (TIRESIZE: 215/55R-16)
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 757925 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8023098 · 2002-11-21 (November 21, 2002)
CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE WITH NO SUCCESS. CHECKED OIL AND DIPSTICK WAS DRY. CONSUMER ADDED ADDITIONAL OIL AND VEHICLE STARTED. RECHECKED OIL AND REALIZED THAT IT WAS OVERFILLED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED CAR HAS A DEFECTIVE "SHUT-OFF VALVE". DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IF CAR IS PARKED ON AN INCLINE THE OIL AND FUEL WILL DRAIN TO AN AREA OUTSIDE OF "SHUT OFF VALVE" MAKING THE CAR "THINK" IT HAS NO OIL OR FUEL. CONSUMER STATED CONTACTED MANUFACTURER WHO ACKNOWLEDGED THAT PROBLEM DOES EXIST. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8023098 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.