RoadVitals

1991 Mercedes-Benz 300 Series

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
4
Latest Jul 7, 2005
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300 Series, most frequently naming the engine, driver assistance and electrical categories.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine216.7%
  • Driver assistance216.7%
  • Electrical216.7%
  • Suspension18.3%
  • Transmission18.3%
  • Brakes18.3%
  • Visibility18.3%
  • Interior & seats18.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Driver assistance
Filed Jul 7, 2005

DT: CONSUMER STATES HIS WIFE WAS COMING HOME FROM WORK ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE ACCELERATOR QUIT WORKING. SHE THEN HAD TO CROSS LANES TO PULL OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT POWER. THE CONSUMER FOUND ONLINE THAT THERE WAS RECALL, NHTSA CAMPAIGN 93V095000. HE THEN CALLED MERCEDES AND INQUIRED ABOUT THIS RECALL, AFTER SUPPLYING HIS VIN THEY INFORMED HIM THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TIE UP THE ACCELERATOR THROTTLE BUSHING AND GETTING THE VEHICLE HOME. THE VEHICLE IS NOW GOING TO BE TOWED TO MERCEDES TO BE SERVICED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10127739
Incident
Jul 6, 2005
Mileage
49,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Dec 18, 2004

WIRING IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND ALL RUBBER HOSES ON THE VACUUM SYSTEM HAVE DETERIORATED .THE WIRING CONNECTORS HAVE ALL FELL APART AND THE HOSES HAVE TURNED HARD AND FELL APART. *JB

NHTSA ID
10104057
Incident
Dec 17, 2004
Mileage
118,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical+6 more
Filed Dec 18, 2001

FORMANIC TRANSFER CASE FAILED, WAS REPLACED AT 42718 MILES, FORMANIC LIGHT CAME ON, HAD TRANSFER CASE REPLACED A SECOND TIME ON 1/10/01 AT 84,000 MILES, HOWEVER, FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY, FAILURE OF INTERNAL BEARINGS, CAUSED A LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKING POWER. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER, WHERE MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR FOR A THIRD TIME. DEALER URGED CONSUMER TO DISPOSE OF VEHICLE WHOLESALE, NOT WORTH REPAIRING.*AK THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR WINDOW SWITCH WAS REPLACED. LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON WITH COOLANT IN SYSTEM DUE TO COOLANT LEVEL SENSOR FAILURE. WIPER INSERTS WERE REPLACED. WINDSHIELD FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. BATTERY WAS LOOSE. FRONT DIFFERENTIAL OUT PUT SEAL WAS LEAKING. RIGHT FRONT AXLE SHAFT BOOT WAS LEAKING. FRONT AND REAR BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED. THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. HEAD LIGHT FAILED. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING CORNERS. MONO BELT WAS REPLACED. BOTH SIDE REAR WINDOWS WERE LEAKING. FRONT SWAY BAR WAS LOOSE. THE COOLING FAN MALFUNCTIONED. MIDDLE SEAT WERE HARD TO FOLD DOWN. VEHICLE VIBRATED AT HIGHWAY SPEED, IDLER ARM BUSHING WAS REPLACED, FRONT WHEELS SHIMMY, GAS PEDAL NEEDS TO BE PUSHED TO THE FLOOR, PARTS WERE MISSING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TRUNK, VEHICLE HAD A PROBLEM WITH SHIFTING INTO SECOND GEAR, REAR LAMP WAS OUT, HEAD WAS GASKET REPLACED. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF THE REPAIRS, CAR RENTAL EXPENSES AND LOSS ON SALE OF THE VEHICLE. *YH

NHTSA ID
8000846
Incident
Oct 6, 1995
Engine
Filed Jan 12, 1997

POOR DESIGN OF RADIATOR CAUSED IT TO BREAK.

NHTSA ID
528066

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mercedes-Benz 300 Series by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1995120031.5
1993210035.8
1992130041.8
1991Viewing400—
1990200—
1988100—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.