By model year
The 1993 model year drew the most complaints, 39
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, all years filed, by model year.
Source: NHTSA ODI. Complaints are not verified by NHTSA, and NHTSA publishes no sales volumes, so counts are not rates.
Model line
Mercedes-Benz 300
Every Mercedes-Benz 300 model year on file, 1971 to 2002. Pick a year for its recalls, investigations, service bulletins and the full text of owner complaints.
Owner complaints, all model years20137 involved a crash, fire, injury or death
Model years231971 to 2002
Recall campaigns5Distinct campaigns listing it
Service bulletins10Summed across model years
Components
Electrical system leads the Mercedes-Benz 300 complaint record
Owner complaints across all model years, by component.
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Model years
The record for each Mercedes-Benz 300 model year
Peer index compares complaints with the median vehicle of the same model year and body class (100 is the median). It corrects for age, not for how many were sold.
| Year | Body | Complaints | Severity index | Peer index | Recalls | Investigations | Bulletins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Not decoded | 3 | 33.3 | 300 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1999 | Sedan | 6 | 0.0 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | SUV | 2 | 0.0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 | Sedan | 5 | 0.0 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 | Sedan | 8 | 0.0 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | Sedan | 16 | 18.8 | 87 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 1994 | Sedan | 4 | 0.0 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1993 | Sedan | 39 | 10.3 | 163 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 1992 | Sedan | 22 | 18.2 | 122 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991 | Wagon | 19 | 26.3 | 380 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990 | Sedan | 5 | 0.0 | 50 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1989 | Not decoded | 5 | 20.0 | 500 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | Sedan | 7 | 28.6 | 70 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1987 | Sedan | 29 | 37.9 | 414 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 1986 | Sedan | 13 | 46.2 | 186 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 1985 | Wagon | 5 | 0.0 | 250 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 1984 | Wagon | 4 | 0.0 | 133 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1983 | Sedan | 6 | 0.0 | 300 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1982 | Sedan | 1 | 0.0 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1980 | Not decoded | 2 | 0.0 | 200 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1978 | Not decoded | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1972 | Not decoded | 0 | None | None | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1971 | Not decoded | 0 | None | None | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA ODI. Body class from NHTSA's VIN decoder where decoded.
Latest recalls
Recent campaigns covering the Mercedes-Benz 300
- 96V-175 Sep 19, 1996
If one of the headlamp wiper arms becomes misaligned, the wiper balde can lodge in the groove under the headlamp
Visibility and wipers · 29k vehicles - 93V-095 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
Speed control · 128k vehicles - 90V-068 May 1, 1990
Under certain operating conditions, the plastic cover of the preresistor for the auxiliary fan may melt, possibly igniting the preresistor
Equipment · 1,584 vehicles - 90V-062 May 1, 1990
Left front and left rear tires may have been damaged by a worn chain drive of the conveyor system
Tires · 278 vehicles - 90V-033 Jan 26, 1990
Bolts used for the brake strut support do not meet specifications and may break
Brakes · 594 vehicles
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.