Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
7 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
188,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1991 model year. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 1 | 14.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 14.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 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.
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
| Suspension | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 |
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 1; Engine: 1; Service Brakes: 1; Suspension: 1; Vehicle Speed Control: 1
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 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 6 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
1999: 1; 2000: 1; 2002: 2; 2013: 1; 2016: 1; 2018: 1
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns 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 provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 MERCEDES BENZ 300E. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, HE BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. MOMENTS LATER HE NOTICED SMOKE BELLOWING FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD TO DISCOVER THAT A FIRE HAD ERUPTED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE USING WATER AND A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND AFTER SPEAKING WITH AN ENGINEER, THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE AND DUE TO THE AGE AND MILEA…
Owner-reported narrative. 188,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10493831 at NHTSA ↗
WHEN BACKING UP GOING DOWN A SLIGHT HILL THE BRAKE SKIP AND YOU HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKE TO STOP IT .THANK GOD I DO NOT LIVE ON A STEEP HILL MY DRIVE WAY HAS A LITTLE HILL W BHEN BACKING OUT THE GARAGE.. SINCE I AM NOT THAT EDUCATED IN CARS . IT IS UNKNOWN.PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANY ONE HAVE HAD A PROBLEM LIKE MINE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10850297 at NHTSA ↗
FRONT SUPPORT BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE COIL SPRING THTS ATACHED TO THE BDY CHASIS IS STARTING TO COME APART HAS CRACKS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11084372 at NHTSA ↗
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN THE THROTTLE LINKAGE FROZE . NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 549563 at NHTSA ↗
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 722709 at NHTSA ↗
VEHICLE WILL NO LONGER START BECAUSE OF WIRING HARNESS; COATING ON WIRES HAVE MELTED, AND WERE TOUCHING ONE ANOTHER, CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO START.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8001345 at NHTSA ↗
WHILE TRAVELING IN TRAFFIC CONSUMER NOTICED A GASOLINE SMELL COMING FROM TRUNK COMPARTMENT. WHEN SHE LIFTED UP THE TRUNK AREA GASOLINE HAS SPILLED INSIDE OF TRUNK. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8012502 at NHTSA ↗
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.
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
7 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
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.
| Component | 1986 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1993 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 787.5%ODI 10460188 · 103,000 miPURCHASED 1993 MERCEDES BENZ 300E AND IT DEVELOPED ENGINE MISS. TOOK TO MECHANIC FOR TUNE UP AND WAS ADVISED THAT UNABLE TO TUNE UP DUE TO ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION DISINTEGRATION. A COMMON DEFECT WITH THESE MODELS SINCE THEY WERE NEW. THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. CALLED MERCEDES BENZ USA AND WAS ADVISED TO TOW CAR TO NEAREST MERCEDES DEALER ( ROMANO MERCEDES FAYETTEVILLE NY) FOR INSPECTION . THEY INSPECTED AND FOUND INSULATION IN HARNESS TO BE BAD, AND SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE IT FOR $2600.00. WE THEN CALLED MERCE… |
| Engine | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 19.1%ODI 10572854 · 145,856 miCAR CUTS OFF AFTER A LONG DRIVE WHEN COASTING TO A STOP OR WHEN TURNING. WHEN ENGINE CUTS OFF POWER STEERING NO LONGER FUNCTIONS (VERY UPSETTING WHILE TURNING WHICH IS USUALLY WHEN IT CUTS OFF). HAVE TAKEN IT TO PRIVATE SHOP AND MERCEDES DEALER BUT NOTHING RESOLVED THE ISSUE. CAR IS DRIVEN RARELY NOW DUE TO THIS ISSUE AND ISSUE IS STILL ACTIVE IN CAR. I HAVE FIVE RECEIPTS FROM PRIVATE AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND MERCEDES BENZ DEALER DOCUMENTING EACH TIME CAR WAS TAKEN FOR THIS ISSUE DATING BACK TO 2003. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 114.3%ODI 10493831 · 188,000 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 MERCEDES BENZ 300E. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, HE BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. MOMENTS LATER HE NOTICED SMOKE BELLOWING FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD TO DISCOVER THAT A FIRE HAD ERUPTED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE USING WATER AND A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND AFTER SPEAKING WITH AN ENGINEER, THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE AND DUE TO THE AGE AND MILEA… | 337.5%ODI 10460188 · 103,000 miPURCHASED 1993 MERCEDES BENZ 300E AND IT DEVELOPED ENGINE MISS. TOOK TO MECHANIC FOR TUNE UP AND WAS ADVISED THAT UNABLE TO TUNE UP DUE TO ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION DISINTEGRATION. A COMMON DEFECT WITH THESE MODELS SINCE THEY WERE NEW. THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. CALLED MERCEDES BENZ USA AND WAS ADVISED TO TOW CAR TO NEAREST MERCEDES DEALER ( ROMANO MERCEDES FAYETTEVILLE NY) FOR INSPECTION . THEY INSPECTED AND FOUND INSULATION IN HARNESS TO BE BAD, AND SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE IT FOR $2600.00. WE THEN CALLED MERCE… |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 218.2%ODI 10132581 · 100,000 miI HAVE EXPERIENCED HAIRLINE CRACK FAILURES IN THREE (3) SEPARATE FUEL TANKS PLACED INTO MY 1986 MERCEDES 300E 4 DOOR SEDAN OVER 6 YEARS. THESE CRACKS NEVER ALLOWED LIQUID TO ESCAPE, BUT FUMES DID REPEATEDLY EMIT INTO THE CAR TRUNK AND PASSENGER CABIN. AFTER BEING IN PLACE FOR 9 MONTHS THE 3RD TANK IS NOW LEAKING FUMES AND I HAVE DISCOVERED STAINING WHERE THE CRACKS EXIST. THIS IS, BY ITSELF, A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. TO HAPPEN THREE TIMES WITH THREE DIFFERENT REPLACEMENT TANKS IS EXCEPTIONAL! I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT THIS INDICATES THERE … | 19.1%ODI 489326ALUMINUM COMPONENT OF FUEL TANK FAILED UNDER FIRE CONDITIONS, EXPENDING GASOLINE T0 ADDITIONALLY FUEL THE FIRE. *SKD | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 228.6% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Air Bags | 19.1%ODI 512460FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG RESULTING IN INJURIES (BURNS) TO FACE AND CHEST AND DAMAGES TO VEHICLE. | 327.3% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 327.3% | 19.1%ODI 850227WHILE SITTING AT A STOP AIR BAG ON THE DRIVER'S DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHP WHERE THE AIR BAG WAS REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 19.1%ODI 10292058 · 150 miSUDDEN ACCELERATION SYNDROME. I BELIEVE I ELIMINATED THIS PROBLEM BY DISCONNECTING THE CRUISE CONTROL AMP LOCATED UNDER THE DASH BOARD BY UNPLUGGING CABLE ATTACHED TO THE UNIT. WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM BY RECONNECTING THE ATTACHED CABLE. BELIEVE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEMS DESIGN DEFECTIVE. AT PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUND SOME COMPLAINTS REGARDING SUDDEN ACCELERATION SYNDROME PERTAINING TOO THIS VEHICLE- MODEL- YEAR. LUCKY MINE IS A STICK SHIFT IN THAT REGARD. DAIMLER AND NHTSA BOTH WERE NOTIFIED. DAIMLER WOULD CHARGE FOR THE DIAGNOSES AND … | 218.2%ODI 10263812 · 158,900 miSUDDEN ACCELERATION . A 1989 MERCEDES BENZ 300E WITH AROUND 158,900 MILES. SINCE THE PAST 6 WEEKS HAS BEEN EXHIBITING THE APPARENTLY HARD TO PROOF CASE OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON HIGHWAY 101. THERE WAS A CONSTRUCTION GOING ON SO THE TRAVELING SPEED ON THAT STRETCH OF THE HIGHWAY WAS REDUCED TO AROUND 50MPH. AFTER DRIVING FOR SOME MINUTES WITH MY SPEED AROUND 50MPH, THE CAR SUDDENLY SURGED WITH THE SPEEDOMETER RISING. I WASN'T IN ANYWAY ACCELERATING. I WAS MAINTAINING MY CURRENT SPEED, THE SUDD… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 114.3%ODI 549563VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN THE THROTTLE LINKAGE FROZE . NLM | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 19.1% | 19.1%ODI 836990THE DASH INDICATOR RESTRAINT SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION. DEALER SAYS SEAT BELTS AND AIR BAG UNIT ARE DEFECTIVE. THE CONTROL UNIT WAS REPLACED AT 1350 PLUS LABOR. PLEASE ADD VIN#. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Suspension | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 114.3%ODI 11084372FRONT SUPPORT BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE COIL SPRING THTS ATACHED TO THE BDY CHASIS IS STARTING TO COME APART HAS CRACKS | 112.5%ODI 10808147 · 46,690 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MERCEDES BENZ 300E (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE WHAT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STARTER AND THE REAR STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,690. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | Too few reports for a range | 188,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10493831 · 188,000 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 MERCEDES BENZ 300E. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, HE BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. MOMENTS LATER HE NOTICED SMOKE BELLOWING FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD TO DISCOVER THAT A FIRE HAD ERUPTED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE USING WATER AND A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND AFTER SPEAKING WITH AN ENGINEER, THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE AND DUE TO THE AGE AND MILEA… |
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
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.
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
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.
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.
1991: 0 complaints · 1993: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| 1993 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
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.
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | Engine | Service Brakes | Suspension | Vehicle Speed Control |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
1 patterns with matching reports.
1 mentions · 14.3% of complaints
Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).
WHILE TRAVELING IN TRAFFIC CONSUMER NOTICED A GASOLINE SMELL COMING FROM TRUNK COMPARTMENT. WHEN SHE LIFTED UP THE TRUNK AREA GASOLINE HAS SPILLED INSIDE OF TRUNK. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
\b(fuel leak\w*|gas leak\w*|gas(?:oline)? smell|smell\w* (?:of )?(?:fuel|gas))\b