AI Damage1991 Mercedes-Benz 350: common problems
Owners of the 1991 Mercedes-Benz 350 filed 6 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 6
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 33% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 33% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel system 17% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 17% of all complaints
- Air bags: 2 complaints (33% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (33% of all).
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (17% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (17% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.5 L · diesel · turbo · 6 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 6 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 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.
Driver's side air bag failed to deploy upon 55 mph collision. Tt
While driving coolant light came on. Dealership was contacted and checked the coolant level, which was fuel. Dealership indicated that it may be a defect in the system that was causing this to occur. The vehicle is still be serviced for this problem.
When attempting to apply the brakes, the brake pedal went to the floor, resulting in extended stopping distance. The dealer was notified. The valve stuck intermittently.
Fuel leaked from the fuel injection and got into the head gasket. There was a strong diesel smell. The underhood was saturated with diesel fuel. The consumer noticed diesel fuel and oil around the top of the engine. The consumer also noticed water bubbling where the injectors severed into the head.
Driving vehicle at 65 mph, belt tensioner broke, lost power steering & power brakes, had no control of vehicle, managed vehicle to side of road, limped to gas station then had it towed to garage for repairs.
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 13,281 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 36% most complained about).
On average one model year of the 350 has 3 complaints (3 years in the data). This year has 6, above average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system 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 350?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, engine and cooling, fuel system. Total complaints: 6. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: airbags did not deploy (17%), brake failure (17%), fuel system, fuel smell (17%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1991 Mercedes-Benz 350?
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 350 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 2026-11-06.