U.S. public vehicle records

Mercedes Benz 300 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

202 owner complaints analyzed

8 distinct recall campaigns

119,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1971 to 2002 model years. Data updated: 2026-10-01 (October 1, 2026). 42 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 202 complaints (8.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Electrical and battery issues	38	18.8%
Engine operation	17	8.4%
Braking behavior	14	6.9%
Transmission and shifting	6	3.0%
Steering behavior	6	3.0%
Fuel system concerns	6	3.0%

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.

Air Bags:Frontal

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Electrical System

Vehicle Speed Control

Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline

Electrical System:Wiring

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Air Bags:Frontal	18
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	18
Electrical System	17
Vehicle Speed Control	16
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	15
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	15
Electrical System:Wiring	11
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	11

Air Bags:Frontal: 18; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 18; Electrical System: 17; Vehicle Speed Control: 16; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 15; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 15; Electrical System:Wiring: 11; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 11

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 15

150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 160 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.

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

1995: 29; 1996: 28; 1997: 17; 1998: 10; 1999: 18; 2000: 18; 2001: 13; 2002: 7; 2003: 15; 2004: 7; 2005: 4; 2006: 8; 2007: 4; 2008: 10; 2009: 3; 2011: 4; 2012: 3; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 38 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 17 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 14 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.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 707386 · 1999-06-09 (June 9, 1999)

ENGINE SUDDENLY STARTED "BURNING" OIL, THEN LOST POWER AND THEN STARTED SMOKING; MECHANIC CLAIMS VALVE GASKET, VALVE SLEEVES, WATER PUMP AND TIMING CHAIN MUST BE REPLACED AT COST OF $3,000, DESPITE COMPANY'S CLAIM THAT THE MOTORS LAST 250,000 TO 300,000 MILES; CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. REBUILT ENGINE WILL COST $10,000. ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IS SHORT IN DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW THAT CAUSES FUSES TO BURN OUT. MECHANIC CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, TRIP ODOMETER STOPPED WORKING.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 707386 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 970505 · 1995-08-15 (August 15, 1995)

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE UNDER THE HOOD FIRE, ELECTRICAL SHORT, WILL PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 970505 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 508817 · 1996-09-19 (September 19, 1996)

COMPUTER FAILED, CAUSING INTERMITTENT STALLING. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 508817 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10458536 · 2012-05-15 (May 15, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 MERCEDES BENZ 300SE. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING 45 MPH HE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE ENGINE RETURNED TO IDLE SPEED AND REMAINED IDLE WITH THE RPM'S INCREASING. THE CONTACT STATED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 93V095000, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE RECALL DOES NOT INCLUDE HIS VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 170,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10458536 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10075704 · 2004-07-15 (July 15, 2004)

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, EXCESSIVE FORCE HAD TO BE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH RESULTS IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. A FAILURE IN THE BRAKE VACUUM AIR PUMP CAUSED THIS PROBLEM TO OCCUR. WHEN THIS PART FAILED THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF POWER LOSS UNTIL THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THE BRAKE VACUUM AIR PUMP FAILED EVERY 5 YEARS AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 97,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10075704 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 980837 · 1996-03-18 (March 18, 1996)

WHEN THE DRIVER PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE IT ROLLED BACKWARD VERY FAST THAT THE DRIVER WAS PUSHING HER BRAKES AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 980837 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10225545 · 2008-04-23 (April 23, 2008)

ADDITIONAL SPACE IS NEEDED TO PROVIDE A COPY OF THE COMPLAINT AND EXPERTS' OPINIONS WHICH CONTAIN THE REQUESTED INFORMATION. PLEASE PROVIDE ME AN E-MAIL ADDRESS, A MAILING ADDRESS AND/OR A FAX NUMBER. THANK YOU. *TR THE CONSUMERS 4 OLD SON WAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. AS THE MOTHER WAS REMOVING THE CHILD FROM THE VEHICLE, THE CHILD INADVERTENTLY MADE CONTACT WITH THE CENTER AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER, WHICH CAUSED THE AUTOMOBILE TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO ANOTHER GEAR. THE CONSUMER HAD HER 6 MONTH OLD SON IN HER ARMS. AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10225545 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 975879 · 1995-12-01 (December 1, 1995)

WHEN IGNITION IS OFF, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER CAN BE MOVED INTO DIFFERENT GEARS. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 975879 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 736971 · 2000-11-28 (November 28, 2000)

TIRE FAILED ON EXPRESSWAY. AIR PRESSURE WAS CHECHED THE DAY BEFORE AND WAS 30PSI. WHEN TIRE FAILED A IT SOUNDED LIKE A TIRE GOING OVER THE DIRVER ALERT STRIPS OR GROOVES CUT INTO THE PAVEMENT ON THE SHOULDER OF SOME ROADS. NOTE THE EXPRESSWAY DID NOT HAVE THE GROOVES ON IT. AFTER NOISE IMMEDIATLY STARTED TO GET OVER TO RIGHT SHOULDER. WHEN STEERING WHEEL TURNED A SMOKE LIKE DUST CLOUD APPEARED ARROUND TIRE. WHEN STOPPED ON SIDE OF ROAD THE TIRE WAS COMPLETLY OFF OF RIM ON THE OUTSIDE. A SMALL AMOUNT OF BLACK DUST WAS AROUND THE TIRE. SAMS CLUB …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 736971 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 481313 · 1995-03-08 (March 8, 1995)

ALUMINUM FUEL TANK COMPONENT FAILED UNDER FIRE CONDITIONS, EXPENDING GASOLINE TO ADDITIONALLY FUEL THE FIRE. *AW

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481313 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10109323 · 2004-12-10 (December 10, 2004)

HEAD GASKET AND FUEL INJECTOR PROBLEMS. *BF *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10109323 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2002

1986: 0; 1987: 1; 1988: 1; 1989: 1; 1990: 4; 1991: 2; 1992: 1; 1993: 1; 1994: 0; 1995: 0; 1996: 0; 1997: 0; 1998: 0; 1999: 0; 2002: 0

First model yearSecond model year

Year-by-year records

Mercedes Benz 300 model-year comparison
Model year	Complaints	Recalls	Change in recalls
1971	0	3	Not available
1972	0	1	-2
1978	1	0	Not available
1980	2	0	Not available
1982	1	0	Not available
1983	6	0	0
1984	4	0	0
1985	5	0	0
1986	13	0	0
1987	29	1	+1
1988	7	1	0
1989	5	1	0
1990	5	4	+3
1991	19	2	-2
1992	22	1	-1
1993	39	1	0
1994	4	0	-1
1995	16	0	0
1996	8	0	0
1997	5	0	0
1998	2	0	0
1999	6	0	0
2002	3	0	Not available

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

202 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

20.8%Usable mileage42 / 202 records

81.2%Valid incident date164 / 202 records

100.0%Valid filing date202 / 202 records

81.2%Ordered incident and filing dates164 / 202 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2002
Air Bags:Frontal	228.6% ODI 484036 WATER PUMP DEFECTIVE. Look up ODI 484036 at NHTSA ↗	120.0% ODI 487278 SEAT BELT BOLTS UNFASTEN FROM FLOOR UNSECURED. *SD Look up ODI 487278 at NHTSA ↗	120.0% ODI 965673 THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG HAS MELTED. TT Look up ODI 965673 at NHTSA ↗	421.1% ODI 804586 DURING A FRONTAL IMPACT ACCIDENT AT 35 MPH. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PASSENGER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT DID NOT RETRACT, RESULTING IN AN INJURY. *AK Look up ODI 804586 at NHTSA ↗	14.5% ODI 821409 DURING FRONTAL IMPACT AT 25-30 MPH, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK Look up ODI 821409 at NHTSA ↗	25.1% ODI 967720 HAD A FRONTAL COLLISION, DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TT Look up ODI 967720 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	120.0% ODI 853702 WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE DUE TO THE REAR MOTOR MOUNTS DROPPING. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE. *AK Look up ODI 853702 at NHTSA ↗	210.5% ODI 517203 THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET DEVELOPED A LEAK THAT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE PISTON, A CYLINDER WALL, AND THE HEAD. Look up ODI 517203 at NHTSA ↗	14.5% ODI 732846 THIS IS THE SECOND 1992 300SD THAT I KNOW OF THAT HAS HAD THE SAME FAILURE, IN THE RELATED CASE MBZ REPLACED THE ENTIRE ENGINE DUE TO FAILED HEAD GASKET AND CRANKSHAFT BEING TOO SOFT, OR NOT STRONG ENOUGH, BUT THEY REFUSE TO HELP US, HE OTHER CASE WAS AN ACQUAINTANCE FROM CONNETICUT Look up ODI 732846 at NHTSA ↗	512.8% ODI 10109323 HEAD GASKET AND FUEL INJECTOR PROBLEMS. BF JB Look up ODI 10109323 at NHTSA ↗	125.0% ODI 10453681 ENGINE STOP RUNNING WHILE DRIVING. CAR WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC WHO FOUND THAT ENGINE HARNESS WAS COMPLETELY DEGRADED AND WIRES WERE TOUCHING EACH OTHER THANK GOD IT DID NOT CATCH FIRE INSTEAD IT SHUT OFF. MY MECHANIC SAYS THAT HE SEES THIS ALOT AND THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A VEHICLE LIKE THIS. *JS Look up ODI 10453681 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	133.3% ODI 10012412 THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. *JB Look up ODI 10012412 at NHTSA ↗
Electrical System	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	210.5% ODI 10286243 · 119,000 mi 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. *… Look up ODI 10286243 at NHTSA ↗	14.5% ODI 10393998 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET WHEN SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM BENEATH THE HOOD AND INTO THE VEHICLE. I PULLED OVER AND OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW FLAMES COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT. AFTER EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE THE CAR NO LONGER STARTED. UPON INSPECTION ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HAD MELTED. *TR Look up ODI 10393998 at NHTSA ↗	923.1% ODI 10225826 · 97,400 mi THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS OF MY MERCEDES 1993 300E WIRES HAD DISINTEGRATED CAUSING SHORTAGES ON THE WIRES. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE MERCEDES WITH SUCH HIGH REPUTATION ON QUALITY WOULD IGNORE SUCH FAILURES ON THEIR PART. *TR Look up ODI 10225826 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	16.3% ODI 10253696 · 155,000 mi 1995 MERCEDES BENZ E300 DIESEL, WIRING HARNESS IS DEFECTIVE. INSULATION IS FAILING AND WIRES ARE EXPOSED. I AM CONCERNED THIS COULD BE A FIRE HAZARD. *TR Look up ODI 10253696 at NHTSA ↗	112.5% ODI 10088701 · 159,600 mi DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL AND ELECTRONICS ON FRONT DASH WENT BLANK, CAR DECELERATED, AND I HAD TO GET OFF THE ROAD BEFORE IT STOPPED. CAR WOULD NOT START FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES. WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND DRIVE TO SAFETY. DROVE CAR HOME AFTER A FEW DAYS - IN AREA AWAY FROM HOME AND HAD TO USE RENTAL. ON RETURN HOME WITH VEHICLE, IT AGAIN STALLED OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH ON A DRAWBRIDGE AT NIGHT! AGAIN, CAR WAS ABLE TO EVENTUALLY GET RESTARTED AND DRIVEN TO SAFETY. I HAVE HAD CAR AT MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AND TWO OTHER CAR REPA… Look up ODI 10088701 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	233.3% ODI 10003832 WITHOUT WARNING THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE DUE TO A FAULTY BASE CIRCUIT. JB TS Look up ODI 10003832 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Vehicle Speed Control	114.3% ODI 879380 VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. DEALER CANNOT FIND CAUSE. *AK Look up ODI 879380 at NHTSA ↗	240.0% ODI 10458536 · 170,000 mi TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 MERCEDES BENZ 300SE. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING 45 MPH HE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE ENGINE RETURNED TO IDLE SPEED AND REMAINED IDLE WITH THE RPM'S INCREASING. THE CONTACT STATED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 93V095000, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE RECALL DOES NOT INCLUDE HIS VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,000. Look up ODI 10458536 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	210.5% ODI 602447 THROTTLE SENSOR FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER. Look up ODI 602447 at NHTSA ↗	29.1% ODI 10040364 FAILURE OF VEHICLE PART ON 1992 MERCEDES-BENZ 300D.MR THERE WAS ANOTHER RECALL REGARDING THE HEADLAMP WIPER ARM (VISIBILITY). TS JB CB Look up ODI 10040364 at NHTSA ↗	25.1% ODI 801199 DURING OPERATION THE CAR EXPERIENCES SUDDEN ACCELERATION. PROBLEM OCCURS ONLY WHEN STARTING FROM A COMPLETE STOP.*AK Look up ODI 801199 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	16.3% ODI 533418 SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING ACCIDENT Look up ODI 533418 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	820.5% ODI 10003489 · 103,756 mi MERCEDES 1993 300E WIRE HARNESS ENGINE WIRING HARNESS.(300E MERCEDES) CRACKED AND BRITTLE. MADE WITH VERY POOR MATERIALSMADE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND MAKE OF MERCEDES. IF YOU OWN ONE OF THESE CARS IT IS WELL KNOWN YOU WILL NEED TO REPLACE YOUR HARNESS. MERCEDES KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND DOES NOTHING TO HELP. I HAVE A PROBLEM WHEN MY CAR WILL NOT PASS SMOG UNTIL I REPLACE MINE. I THINK MERCEDES SHOULD A THE LEAST REPLACE THE PART AT NO CHARGE. THOUSANDS OF THESE CARS WERE MADE AND AT A COST OF OVER $500.00 PER HARNESS TH… Look up ODI 10003489 at NHTSA ↗	125.0% ODI 733503 WIRING-HARNESS FAILURE CREATED EXTREEM SAFETY CONCERN. GASOLINE FLOWED OPEN INTO CYLINDER #1 UNBURNED THRU TAILPIPE & C. CONVERTER(USED 10 GAL GAS IN 50 MILES). SHORT IN HARNESS ALSO SHORTED OUT HFM CONTROL. GAS LADEN OIL FILLED THE CRANKCASE Look up ODI 733503 at NHTSA ↗	531.3% ODI 10144877 · 168,491 mi WIRING HARNESS FAILURE. *JB Look up ODI 10144877 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	114.3% ODI 962655 ENGINE OVERHAUL IN THE FIRST YEAR. TT Look up ODI 962655 at NHTSA ↗	120.0% ODI 487278 SEAT BELT BOLTS UNFASTEN FROM FLOOR UNSECURED. *SD Look up ODI 487278 at NHTSA ↗	120.0% ODI 8024188 300 SE, VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY SPEED, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTANTLY. DEALER UNABLE TO FIND PROBLEM. MR Look up ODI 8024188 at NHTSA ↗	15.3% ODI 714923 ENGINE DIES WHILE DRIVING AFTER ABOUT THE FIRST 5 MINUTES WHEN THE ENGINE DIES IT CANNOT BE RESTARTED WITHOUT TURNING THE KEY OFF WHICH LOCKS THE STEERING WHILE YOUR STILL MOVING. THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE YOU CAN BE HIT FROM BEHIND BY ANOTHER CAR. THE REPAIR SHOP HAS FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE IN THE COMPUTER FOR THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. *AK Look up ODI 714923 at NHTSA ↗	14.5% ODI 744412 THERE ARE MULTIPLE MODELS OF THE SAME CAR THAT HAVE THE SAME FAILURE, PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL ASAP, THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCEDENT. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK Look up ODI 744412 at NHTSA ↗	12.6% ODI 875955 DRIVER'S RESTRAINT DOES NOT RETRACT WHEN DRIVER LEANS FORWARD AND BACK. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED. AK WHEN MAKING A U-TURN, THE ENGINE DIES WITHOUT ANY APPARENT REASON. YH Look up ODI 875955 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	16.3% ODI 967929 TRANSMISSION HAS A PROBLEM SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS. *AK Look up ODI 967929 at NHTSA ↗	112.5% ODI 518437 A/C FAN GOES OFF/ON INTERMITTENTLY. Look up ODI 518437 at NHTSA ↗	240.0% ODI 530969 INSTRUMENT GAUGE CLUSTER DOES NOT ILLUMINATE ALL THE GAUGES, SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS, HOWEVER CONTINUES TO FAIL, BULBS BURNING OUT. Look up ODI 530969 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Wiring	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	15.3% ODI 511109 ELECTRICAL WIRING OVERHEATED, CAUSING FIRE. Look up ODI 511109 at NHTSA ↗	29.1% ODI 8004706 WIRING HARNESS IS EXPOSED OUTSIDE OF HOOD AREA. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. AK CONSUMER STATED THAT INSULATION IS CRACKING AND FALLING OFF ALL WIRING AROUND THE ENGINE. YD Look up ODI 8004706 at NHTSA ↗	717.9% ODI 10052963 DURING A RECENT SERVICE OF MY VEHICLE AT AN AUTHORIZED MERCEDES BENZ SERVICE CENTER, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE INSULATION COVERING MY WIRES WERE DECOMPOSING AND THE WIRES WERE EXPOSED TO THE ENGINE, HENCE CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD FOR MY FAMILY. DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THIS PROBLEM, AND THE POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES IF THE WIRES CAUGHT ON FIRE, I ATTEMPTED TO ASCERTAIN SOME CLARITY TO WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS PROBLEM. I THEN SPOKE TO THE MECHANIC, AT WHICH TIME HE ADVISED IT WAS A MATERIAL DEFECT. DURING THIS BRIEF DISCUSSION IT WAS ALSO REVEALED T… Look up ODI 10052963 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	112.5% ODI 10213383 · 205,650 mi CAR STALLS AT 40+ MPH IN TRAFFIC APPARENTLY CHOKED FOR FUEL. AFTER 5 TO 10 MINUTES AT REST - THE CAR CAN BE STARTED ALTHOUGH THE KEY MUST BE HELD IN THE START POSITION FOR 30 TO 40 SECONDS. THIS IS A 1996 300D MERCEDES BENZ 4-DOOR SEDAN. IT WAS DIAGNOSED BY A CERTIFIED MERCEDES BENZE REPAIR CENTER, CUMMINS AUTOMOTIVE, WHICH VERIFIED THRU FAULT CODES THAT HE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IS BAD. UPON INSPECTION THEY HAVE FOUND INSULATION WEAR THAT HAS CAUSED THE FAULT (WIRES TOUCHING EACH OTHER) THAT HAS CAUSED THE STALLS.*CN Look up ODI 10213383 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	15.3% ODI 10127907 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 Look up ODI 10127907 at NHTSA ↗	14.5% ODI 504633 DESIGN OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ALLOWS FOR VEHICLE TO ROLL BACKWARD WHILE ON INCLINE. Look up ODI 504633 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	212.5% ODI 601174 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS. *TT Look up ODI 601174 at NHTSA ↗	225.0% ODI 10088701 · 159,600 mi DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL AND ELECTRONICS ON FRONT DASH WENT BLANK, CAR DECELERATED, AND I HAD TO GET OFF THE ROAD BEFORE IT STOPPED. CAR WOULD NOT START FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES. WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND DRIVE TO SAFETY. DROVE CAR HOME AFTER A FEW DAYS - IN AREA AWAY FROM HOME AND HAD TO USE RENTAL. ON RETURN HOME WITH VEHICLE, IT AGAIN STALLED OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH ON A DRAWBRIDGE AT NIGHT! AGAIN, CAR WAS ABLE TO EVENTUALLY GET RESTARTED AND DRIVEN TO SAFETY. I HAVE HAD CAR AT MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AND TWO OTHER CAR REPA… Look up ODI 10088701 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	116.7% ODI 10003828 CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED.JB TS Look up ODI 10003828 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
Electrical System	85,700–140,000 mi	120,000 mi	11	ODI 10286243 · 119,000 mi 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. … Look up ODI 10286243 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10225826 · 97,400 mi THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS OF MY MERCEDES 1993 300E WIRES HAD DISINTEGRATED CAUSING SHORTAGES ON THE WIRES. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE MERCEDES WITH SUCH HIGH REPUTATION ON QUALITY WOULD IGNORE SUCH FAILURES ON THEIR PART. TR Look up ODI 10225826 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10227117 · 70,000 mi 1993 300E 3.2 M104 ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DISINTERGRATING, WIRE INSULATION FALLS APART ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS WIRES EVEN NOT EXPOSED TO HEAT DAMAGED. CHRONIC PROBLEM ALL 3 OF OUR MERCEDES HAVE THIS PROBLEM THE 300E THE WORST. I WORKED AT MERCEDES AND REPLACED THESE HARNESS EVERY WEEK. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE CAN RESULT IN FIRES, ECM FAILURE, DRIVABLE ISSUES, NO START, AND MANY MORE PROBLEMS. *TR Look up ODI 10227117 at NHTSA ↗
Vehicle Speed Control	Too few reports for a range	170,000 mi	3 (sparse)	ODI 10470437 · 134,000 mi AFTER BEING HIT FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE, THE THROTTLE STUCK IN A FULL THROTTLE MODE. THE IGNITION SWITCH DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH REMAINED IN FULL THROTTLE MODE AFTER TURNING TO THE OFF POSITION, AND THE BRAKES WERE IMPAIRED TO THE POINT THAT I COULD NOT OVERPOWER THE ACCELERATION, CAUSING ME TO BE FORCED TO FIND A LOCATION TO CRASH MY VEHICLE, WHICH WAS A BUILDING. EVIDENTLY, THE HOOD HAD PINNED THE THROTTLE FULLY BACK, AND THE VACUUM HOSES, WHICH ARE NECESSARY TO CUT FUEL TO THE DIESEL WE SEVERED. ALSO THE VACUUM HOSES BEING C… Look up ODI 10470437 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10807860 · 303,000 mi I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK (IT'S A TEN MILE DRIVE ONE WAY) WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO GO FASTER AND FASTER UNTIL IT REACHED ABOUT 110 MPH. I COULDN'T GET IT TO STOP. I FORCED IT TO SLOW DOWN ENOUGH TO EXIT THE FREEWAY, LEAVING SKID MARKS IN THE ROAD, AND WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR OFF. I WAITED FOR A FRIEND TO COME AND SEE IF THEY COULD HELP. WHEN THEY GOT THERE THEY HAD ME TURN THE CAR ON IN PARK. THE ENGINE STARTED TO REVVED REALLY FAST SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF TO KEEP THE VALVES FROM BEING DAMAGED. WE TOWED THE CAR OURSELVES THE LAST HALF MILE H… Look up ODI 10807860 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10458536 · 170,000 mi TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 MERCEDES BENZ 300SE. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING 45 MPH HE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE ENGINE RETURNED TO IDLE SPEED AND REMAINED IDLE WITH THE RPM'S INCREASING. THE CONTACT STATED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 93V095000, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE RECALL DOES NOT INCLUDE HIS VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,000. Look up ODI 10458536 at NHTSA ↗
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	102,317–172,118 mi	133,756 mi	8	ODI 10003489 · 103,756 mi MERCEDES 1993 300E WIRE HARNESS ENGINE WIRING HARNESS.(300E MERCEDES) CRACKED AND BRITTLE. MADE WITH VERY POOR MATERIALSMADE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND MAKE OF MERCEDES. IF YOU OWN ONE OF THESE CARS IT IS WELL KNOWN YOU WILL NEED TO REPLACE YOUR HARNESS. MERCEDES KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND DOES NOTHING TO HELP. I HAVE A PROBLEM WHEN MY CAR WILL NOT PASS SMOG UNTIL I REPLACE MINE. I THINK MERCEDES SHOULD A THE LEAST REPLACE THE PART AT NO CHARGE. THOUSANDS OF THESE CARS WERE MADE AND AT A COST OF OVER $500.00 PER HARNESS TH… Look up ODI 10003489 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10003491 · 103,756 mi MERCEDES 1993 300E WIRE HARNESS ENGINE WIRING HARNESS.(300E MERCEDES) CRACKED AND BRITTLE. MADE WITH VERY POOR MATERIALSMADE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND MAKE OF MERCEDES. IF YOU OWN ONE OF THESE CARS IT IS WELL KNOWN YOU WILL NEED TO REPLACE YOUR HARNESS. MERCEDES KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND DOES NOTHING TO HELP. I HAVE A PROBLEM WHEN MY CAR WILL NOT PASS SMOG UNTIL I REPLACE MINE. I THINK MERCEDES SHOULD A THE LEAST REPLACE THE PART AT NO CHARGE. THOUSANDS OF THESE CARS WERE MADE AND AT A COST OF OVER $500.00 PER HARNESS TH… Look up ODI 10003491 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10154262 · 98,000 mi 1993 MERCEDES BENZ 300E THE WIRING ON THE FUEL INJECTOR SYSTEM (AS WELL AS OTHER AREAS OF THE HARNESS) WAS REPLACED 5 YEARS AGO AS DEFECTIVE NOW IT IS DEFECTIVE AGAIN. MERCEDES BENZ REFUSES TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE CAR IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD AS THE RISK OF FIRE IS GOOD. MERCEDES APPEARS TO HAVE USED AN INSULATION THAT IS KNOWN FOR DEGRADATION AND REFUSES TO RECALL OR CARE FOR THE ISSUE. *JB Look up ODI 10154262 at NHTSA ↗
Electrical System:Wiring	Too few reports for a range	119,000 mi	4 (sparse)	ODI 10154252 · 158,000 mi 1993 MB 300E - WIRING HARNESS HAS BEGUN TO DETERIORATE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL AND OR NOT START. STALLING CAN OCCUR WHILE DRIVING, THUS LOSING ALL POWER TO PROPERLY CONTROL THE VEHICLE. JB Look up ODI 10154252 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10185318 · 80,000 mi WIRING HARNESS DISINTERGRATED CAUSING WIRES EXPOSED AND TOUCHING OTHER WIRES. LITTLE OR NO INSULATION IS LEFT ON MOST WIRES. THE ENGINE SURGES/CHARGES WHILE COMPLETE IDLE AND BREAK FULLY ON HOLD. Look up ODI 10185318 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10417754 · 37,854 mi MY RESEARCH INDICATE THAT THIS ENGINE WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM IS AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR MANY MERCEDES BENZ, 300 E, AND 300SE CARS WITH THE TWIN CAM ENGINES MADE BETWEEN THE YEARS OF 1993-1995. NOT ONLY I AM UNABLE TO HAVE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE DONE, BUT I AM TOLD BY THE REPAIR FACILITY THAT THIS PRESENTS A SAFETY PROBLEM, BECAUSE THERE IS A RISK OF FIRE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS DEFECT. TT Look up ODI 10417754 at NHTSA ↗
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	Too few reports for a range	209,800 mi	2 (sparse)	ODI 10088701 · 159,600 mi DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL AND ELECTRONICS ON FRONT DASH WENT BLANK, CAR DECELERATED, AND I HAD TO GET OFF THE ROAD BEFORE IT STOPPED. CAR WOULD NOT START FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES. WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND DRIVE TO SAFETY. DROVE CAR HOME AFTER A FEW DAYS - IN AREA AWAY FROM HOME AND HAD TO USE RENTAL. ON RETURN HOME WITH VEHICLE, IT AGAIN STALLED OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH ON A DRAWBRIDGE AT NIGHT! AGAIN, CAR WAS ABLE TO EVENTUALLY GET RESTARTED AND DRIVEN TO SAFETY. I HAVE HAD CAR AT MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AND TWO OTHER CAR REPA… Look up ODI 10088701 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10244498 · 260,000 mi CAR LOOSING POWER WHEN DRIVING. *TR Look up ODI 10244498 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)	None	No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

1999: 1 complaints · 2002: 1 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
1999	0	1	1
2002	0	1	1

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
1999	3	3	0
2002	2	0	1

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
Component	Air Bags:Frontal	Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	Electrical System	Vehicle Speed Control	Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	Electrical System:Wiring	Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Air Bags:Frontal	—	0	0	0	0	1 ODI 487278 SEAT BELT BOLTS UNFASTEN FROM FLOOR UNSECURED. *SD Look up ODI 487278 at NHTSA ↗	0	0
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	0	—	0	2 ODI 605803 SPEEDOMETER/TACHOMETER FAILED. Look up ODI 605803 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 853295 ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD BLEW OUT, CAUSING COOLING LEAKAGE. DEALER HAS REPLACED ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD. ALSO REPLACED CRUISE CONTROL AND IGNITION. *AK Look up ODI 853295 at NHTSA ↗	0	2 ODI 551004 ENGINE DOES NOT CRANK AT TIMES DUE TO STARTER MOTOR FAILURE. YH Look up ODI 551004 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 516678 OIL LEAK. Look up ODI 516678 at NHTSA ↗	0	2 ODI 479621 GASKET REPLACED. Look up ODI 479621 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 516678 OIL LEAK. Look up ODI 516678 at NHTSA ↗
Electrical System	0	0	—	1 ODI 490801 SUDDEN ACCELERATION/LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT. *SD Look up ODI 490801 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	1 ODI 10437495 MY WIRING HARNESS HAS FAILED ON MY 1993 300E MERCEDES BENZ THE INSULATION COME OFF WIRING. *KB Look up ODI 10437495 at NHTSA ↗	1 ODI 10088701 · 159,600 mi DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL AND ELECTRONICS ON FRONT DASH WENT BLANK, CAR DECELERATED, AND I HAD TO GET OFF THE ROAD BEFORE IT STOPPED. CAR WOULD NOT START FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES. WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND DRIVE TO SAFETY. DROVE CAR HOME AFTER A FEW DAYS - IN AREA AWAY FROM HOME AND HAD TO USE RENTAL. ON RETURN HOME WITH VEHICLE, IT AGAIN STALLED OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH ON A DRAWBRIDGE AT NIGHT! AGAIN, CAR WAS ABLE TO EVENTUALLY GET RESTARTED AND DRIVEN TO SAFETY. I HAVE HAD CAR AT MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AND TWO OTHER CAR REPA… Look up ODI 10088701 at NHTSA ↗
Vehicle Speed Control	0	2 ODI 605803 SPEEDOMETER/TACHOMETER FAILED. Look up ODI 605803 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 853295 ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD BLEW OUT, CAUSING COOLING LEAKAGE. DEALER HAS REPLACED ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD. ALSO REPLACED CRUISE CONTROL AND IGNITION. *AK Look up ODI 853295 at NHTSA ↗	1 ODI 490801 SUDDEN ACCELERATION/LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT. *SD Look up ODI 490801 at NHTSA ↗	—	0	0	0	0
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	0	0	0	0	—	0	0	0
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	1 ODI 487278 SEAT BELT BOLTS UNFASTEN FROM FLOOR UNSECURED. *SD Look up ODI 487278 at NHTSA ↗	2 ODI 551004 ENGINE DOES NOT CRANK AT TIMES DUE TO STARTER MOTOR FAILURE. YH Look up ODI 551004 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 516678 OIL LEAK. Look up ODI 516678 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	0	—	0	2 ODI 516678 OIL LEAK. Look up ODI 516678 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 967929 TRANSMISSION HAS A PROBLEM SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS. *AK Look up ODI 967929 at NHTSA ↗
Electrical System:Wiring	0	0	1 ODI 10437495 MY WIRING HARNESS HAS FAILED ON MY 1993 300E MERCEDES BENZ THE INSULATION COME OFF WIRING. *KB Look up ODI 10437495 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	0	—	0
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	0	2 ODI 479621 GASKET REPLACED. Look up ODI 479621 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 516678 OIL LEAK. Look up ODI 516678 at NHTSA ↗	1 ODI 10088701 · 159,600 mi DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL AND ELECTRONICS ON FRONT DASH WENT BLANK, CAR DECELERATED, AND I HAD TO GET OFF THE ROAD BEFORE IT STOPPED. CAR WOULD NOT START FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES. WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND DRIVE TO SAFETY. DROVE CAR HOME AFTER A FEW DAYS - IN AREA AWAY FROM HOME AND HAD TO USE RENTAL. ON RETURN HOME WITH VEHICLE, IT AGAIN STALLED OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH ON A DRAWBRIDGE AT NIGHT! AGAIN, CAR WAS ABLE TO EVENTUALLY GET RESTARTED AND DRIVEN TO SAFETY. I HAVE HAD CAR AT MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AND TWO OTHER CAR REPA… Look up ODI 10088701 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	2 ODI 516678 OIL LEAK. Look up ODI 516678 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 967929 TRANSMISSION HAS A PROBLEM SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS. *AK Look up ODI 967929 at NHTSA ↗	0	—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

Search patterns

6 patterns with matching reports.

Stalling or loss of power

17 mentions · 8.4% of complaints

Median mileage: 159,600 mi (7 usable records).

ODI 707386

Look up ODI 707386 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 508817

COMPUTER FAILED, CAUSING INTERMITTENT STALLING. *AK

Look up ODI 508817 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 10458536 · 170,000 mi

Look up ODI 10458536 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b

Battery drain and no-start mentions

4 mentions · 2.0% of complaints

Median mileage: 96,500 mi (4 usable records).

ODI 10286243 · 119,000 mi

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. *…

Look up ODI 10286243 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 10227117 · 70,000 mi

1993 300E 3.2 M104 ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DISINTERGRATING, WIRE INSULATION FALLS APART ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS WIRES EVEN NOT EXPOSED TO HEAT DAMAGED. CHRONIC PROBLEM ALL 3 OF OUR MERCEDES HAVE THIS PROBLEM THE 300E THE WORST. I WORKED AT MERCEDES AND REPLACED THESE HARNESS EVERY WEEK. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE CAN RESULT IN FIRES, ECM FAILURE, DRIVABLE ISSUES, NO START, AND MANY MORE PROBLEMS. *TR

Look up ODI 10227117 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 10088701 · 159,600 mi

DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL AND ELECTRONICS ON FRONT DASH WENT BLANK, CAR DECELERATED, AND I HAD TO GET OFF THE ROAD BEFORE IT STOPPED. CAR WOULD NOT START FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES. WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND DRIVE TO SAFETY. DROVE CAR HOME AFTER A FEW DAYS - IN AREA AWAY FROM HOME AND HAD TO USE RENTAL. ON RETURN HOME WITH VEHICLE, IT AGAIN STALLED OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH ON A DRAWBRIDGE AT NIGHT! AGAIN, CAR WAS ABLE TO EVENTUALLY GET RESTARTED AND DRIVEN TO SAFETY. I HAVE HAD CAR AT MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AND TWO OTHER CAR REPA…

Look up ODI 10088701 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

Warning lights and dashboard alerts

3 mentions · 1.5% of complaints

Median mileage: 130,000 mi (1 usable records).

ODI 8024188

300 SE, VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY SPEED, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTANTLY. DEALER UNABLE TO FIND PROBLEM. MR

Look up ODI 8024188 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 10227953 · 130,000 mi

VEHICLE IS 1993 MERCEDES 300E SEDAN. 1. STRANGE THINGS GO ON WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2. WHEN UNLOCKING KEY, SOMETIMES THE ALARM WILL GO ON. 3. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF EVEN AFTER REPAIR WAS DONE. 4. SOMETIMES AIR BLOWER WILL WORK, SOMETIMES NOT. 5. SOMETIMES ANTENNA WILL COME UP, SOMETIMES NOT. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE WIRING HARNESS MIGHT BE AFFECTING THE CAR'S ELECTRICAL PERFORMANCE. I WOULD HATE TO STRIP THE HARNESS TO FIND OUT. BUT THERE ARE PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS NOW ON THIS WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM. I WISH T…

Look up ODI 10227953 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 742685

THE ENGINE RAN VERY ROUGH AND RAW GAS WAS GOING OUT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE "CHECK ENGINE" WARNING LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAD MELTED THE INSULATION AND CAUSE THE WIRES TO TOUCH. THIS CAUSED THE #6 INJECTOR TO SPRAY TO MUCH FUEL. THE WIRES THAT TOUCHED ALSO BURNED OUT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. THE CRANK CASE AND THE EXHAUST WERE FILLED WITH GAS, AND STILL NO "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON. MERCEDES-BENZ HAS A DIAGNOSTIC DIRECTORY # AF07.00-U-3400A ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT THE WILL NOT PAY …

Look up ODI 742685 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(warning light\w*|check engine|dashboard warning\w*|malfunction indicator)\b

Brake response concerns

2 mentions · 1.0% of complaints

Median mileage: 97,000 mi (1 usable records).

ODI 10075704 · 97,000 mi

Look up ODI 10075704 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 502938

BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT. *DSH

Look up ODI 502938 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

Hard or delayed shifting

1 mentions · 0.5% of complaints

Median mileage: 127,000 mi (1 usable records).

ODI 10398067 · 127,000 mi

DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF MY VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACT ERRATICALLY. AT START, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT NORMALLY IDLE; INSTEAD IT LURCHED BETWEEN 500-1500 RPM. DURING OPERATION, AT A RANDOM POINTS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO PRESSING THE GAS, INSTEAD SURGING POWER UNTIL I STOP AND IDLE FOR A MINUTE. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE PROBLEM IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE WIRING HARNESS, WHICH IS DISINTEGRATING. THIS WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE USE OF INFERIOR MATERIALS BY MERCEDES-BENZ WHICH ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR USE IN HIGH-TEMPERATURE ENV…

Look up ODI 10398067 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

Steering assistance concerns

1 mentions · 0.5% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 500776

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

Look up ODI 500776 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(power steer\w*|steering assist\w*|steering lock\w*|steering wheel lock\w*)\b