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Mercedes-Benz 300Years to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 202 owner complaints and 9 safety recalls on record for the Mercedes-Benz 300.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints202Top: Electrical systemSafety recalls91971–2002 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Mercedes-Benz 300 years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 300 median. Tap a year for its full report.

'71'72'78'80'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'02
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2002Not rated–/1003 complaints · 0 recalls1999Not rated–/1006 complaints · 0 recalls1998Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls1997Not rated–/1005 complaints · 0 recalls1996Not rated–/1008 complaints · 0 recalls1995Not rated–/10016 complaints · 0 recalls1994Not rated–/1004 complaints · 0 recalls1993Not rated–/10039 complaints · 1 recall1992Not rated–/10022 complaints · 1 recall1991Not rated–/10019 complaints · 2 recalls1990Not rated–/1005 complaints · 4 recalls1989Not rated–/1005 complaints · 1 recall1988Not rated–/1007 complaints · 1 recall1987Not rated–/10029 complaints · 1 recall1986Not rated–/10013 complaints · 0 recalls1985Not rated–/1005 complaints · 0 recalls1984Not rated–/1004 complaints · 0 recalls1983Not rated–/1006 complaints · 0 recalls1982Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1980Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls1978Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1972Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1971Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Mercedes-Benz 300 problems

All model years combined: 202 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system508
Engine and engine cooling451
Air bags2616
Vehicle speed control204
Power train183
Tires150
Service brakes, hydraulic143
Fuel system, gasoline112
Visibility92
14 other systems497
9 recalls

Mercedes-Benz 300 recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Visibility96V-175 · 1991–1993 · Sep 19, 1996 · 28,874 vehicles–Vehicle speed control93V-095 · 1987–1991 · May 27, 1993 · 128,000 vehicles–Tires: sidewall90V-062 · 1990 · May 1, 1990 · 278 vehicles–Appliance: air conditioner90V-068 · 1990 · May 1, 1990 · 1,584 vehicles–Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components90V-033 · 1990 · Jan 26, 1990 · 594 vehicles–Fuel injection system: injectors74V-131 · 1971–1972 · Aug 19, 1974 · 8,963 vehicles–Fuel system, gasoline: delivery71V-168 · 1971 · Sep 27, 1971 · 2,281 vehicles–Vacuum: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings71V-073 · 1971 · Apr 30, 1971 · 16,107 vehicles–Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system67V-054 · null · Jun 19, 1967 · 253 vehicles
4 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the 300

  1. ACCEL LINKAGE DISCONNECTIONDP93002 · 1988 · closed Jun 11, 1993
    No recall
  2. ABS FAILURESPE88032 · 1985–1987 · closed May 2, 1988
    No recall
  3. SUDDEN ACCELERATIONEA88003 · 1986–1987 · closed Jul 31, 1990
    No recall
  4. SUDDEN ACCELERATIONDP87019 · 1984–1986 · closed Oct 29, 1987
    No recall