AI DamageMercedes-Benz 300: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Mercedes-Benz 300 across 22 model years: 203 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 25% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 22% of all complaints
- 3 Air bags 13% of all complaints
- 4 Vehicle speed control 10% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 9% of all complaints
- 6 Service brakes 8% of all complaints
- 7 Tires 7% of all complaints
- 8 Fuel system 6% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 50 complaints (25% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 45 complaints (22% of all).
- Air bags: 26 complaints (13% of all), 7 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Vehicle speed control: 20 complaints (10% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 19 complaints (9% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.6 L · petrol · 6 cyl 1990–1992
- 2.8 L · petrol · 6 cyl 1993
- 3 L · petrol · 6 cyl 1986–1993
- 3.2 L · petrol · 6 cyl 1992–1993
- 3.8 L · petrol · 8 cyl 1984
- 2.5 L · diesel · 5 cyl 1993
- 2.5 L · diesel · turbo · 5 cyl 1990–1992named in 1 complaints
- 3 L · diesel · 5 cyl 1984
- 3 L · diesel · turbo · 5 cyl 1984–1985
- 3 L · diesel · 6 cyl 1986
- 3 L · diesel · turbo · 6 cyl 1987named in 1 complaints
- 3.5 L · diesel · turbo · 6 cyl 1992–1993named in 1 complaints
- automatic, 4-speed 1984–1993
- automatic, 5-speed 1990–1993
- manual, 5-speed 1986–1993
Drive: RWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 203 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 50 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 45 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 26 | 7 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 20 | 3 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 16 | 3 | 0 |
| Tires | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| Structure | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 5 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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…
During frontal impact at 25-30 mph, the driver's and passenger's side air bags did not deploy.
The driver's side air bag did not deploy. Passenger's side shoulder belt did not retract, resulting in an injury.
,vehicle involved in a frontal collision, impact 12:00 position, spped 25mph, dual airbags did not deploy.
Going 65 mph drunk driver hit guardrail, spun around & hit mercedes benz head-on, 7 other vehicles hit mercedes which took out street light; seat belt yanked hard across breast & injured breast.
Customer was driving and the driver side air bag deployed, please describe .
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.