1999 Mercedes Benz E300: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
12 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
115,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 12 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 16.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 8.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 8.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 8.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 3 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Other Fuel Types:Turbo/Supercharger | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Fuel System, Other:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 |
Suspension: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Electrical System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Other Fuel Types:Turbo/Supercharger: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Fuel System, Other:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 2
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 3 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 | 1 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
2001: 1; 2003: 2; 2005: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2011: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 2
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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 10034423 · 2003-08-22 (August 22, 2003)
PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AFTER CONSUMER GOT OUT OF VEHICLE AND SHUT THE DOOR.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10034423 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044990 · 2003-10-29 (October 29, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET TO 72 MPH CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL AND VEHICLE TOOK OFF LIKE A JET. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE JUMPED THE MEDIAN ON THE HIGHWAY, DAMAGING THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044990 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10143726 · 2005-11-27 (November 27, 2005)
FUEL LINE LEAKS X4. 1999 MERCEDES 300 TD. STARTING IN FEB. 03 FIRST FUEL LINE LEAK. CAR WOULD NOT START TOWED TO DEALER. FUEL LINE REPLACED. TWICE AGAIN IN MARCH OF 03, FUEL LINE LEAKS. REPAIRED BY DEALER. NOV.23 05, CAR CAME TO A STOP WHILE DRIVING. CAR TOWED TO DEALER. FUEL LINE LEAK DIAGNOSED. ALL FUEL LINES AND CUT OFF SWITCH REPLACED. PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 40,470 miles reported. Look up ODI 10143726 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10198500 · 2007-08-04 (August 4, 2007)
ENGINE FAILURE DURING NORMAL DRIVING IN TRAFFIC IN MY 1999 MERCEDES E300 TURBO DIESEL. BOTH IN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND DEALER IN FT. MYERS CAN NOT FIND AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM AND TRAFFIC HAZARD. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 109,315 miles reported. Look up ODI 10198500 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 ↗
Owner report 10232957 · 2008-07-01 (July 1, 2008)
THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON THAT SAID BRAKE FLUID IS BELOW MINIMAL CHECK . I CHECKED AND ADDED BRAKE FLUID. THE NEXT DAY WHILE DRIVING THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I CONTACTED ATLANTA CLASSIC CARS, HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE ABS/ASR HYDRAULIC UNIT WAS LEAKING. UPON RESEARCHING I CAME UPON SOME INFORMATION THAT IS RELATED TO MY SITUATION. THE COST TO REPLACE THE SYSTEM WAS 2048.30, THERE WAS A RECALL OF THE E-CLASS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES WHERE THE VEHICLE IS USED AS A TAXI CAB. THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT THIS SITUATION HAD NEVER OC…
Owner-reported narrative. 167,755 miles reported. Look up ODI 10232957 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10421040 · 2011-08-22 (August 22, 2011)
1999 MERCEDES BENZ E300TD FAULTY UPPER COIL SPRING SUPPORT DESIGN. MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT WHEN THE LEFT UPPER SPRING MOUNT SIMPLY COLLAPSED. THE CAR DROPPED DOWN AND THE COIL SPRING FELL OFF.IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY AS IT WAS RENDERED INOPERABLE. MOMENTS EARLIER I HAD BEEN AT 70 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY.I FEEL EXTREMELY LUCKY TO BE ALIVE! HAD THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS TRAVELING AN ACCIDENT INVESTIGATOR WOULD BE FILING THIS REPORT. I DID NOTHING UNUSUAL TO CAUSE THIS EVENT.THE VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 151,000 M…
Owner-reported narrative. 151,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10421040 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10597179 · 2014-06-17 (June 17, 2014)
1999 MERCEDES BENZ E-300. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SUSPENSION COLLAPSE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE SUSPENSION COLLAPSED AFTER HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD. HE AND HIS WIFE HEARD A FEW LOUD THUDS, A FEW SECONDS APART AS SOME THINGS STRUCK THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONSUMER REMOVED THE TIRE AND EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, HE COULD SEE THE LEFT FRONT SPRING PERCH WAS RIPPED LOOSE WHERE THE SPOT WELDING WAS WEAKENED BY RUST. HE COULD ALSO SEE THAT THE SPRING, TOGETHER WITH ANY RELATED HARDWARE, WAS MISSING. THE CONSUMER BELIE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10597179 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.