AI Damage1991 Mercedes-Benz 300E: common problems
Owners of the 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300E filed 7 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel system and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 7
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel system 29% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 14% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 14% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 14% of all complaints
- 5 Suspension 14% of all complaints
- 6 Vehicle speed control 14% of all complaints
- Fuel system: 2 complaints (29% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (14% of all).
- Engine: 1 complaints (14% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (14% of all).
- Suspension: 1 complaints (14% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 7 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 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.
Front support bracket that holds the coil spring thts atached to the bdy chasis is starting to come apart has cracks
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.
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.
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.
Vehicle will no longer start because of wiring harness; coating on wires have melted, and were touching one another, causing vehicle not to start.
Vehicle experienced sudden acceleration when the throttle linkage froze . Nlm
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 12,538 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 34% most complained about).
On average one model year of the 300E has 8 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 7, about average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300E?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel system, electrical system, engine. Total complaints: 7. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (14%), unintended acceleration (14%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300E?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300E from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1991 models
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.