1987 Mercedes-Benz 300 Owner Complaints

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK (IT'S A TEN MILE DRIVE ONE WAY) WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO GO FASTER AND FASTER UNTIL IT REACHED ABOUT 110 MPH. I COULDN'T GET IT TO STOP. I FORCED IT TO SLOW DOWN ENOUGH TO EXIT THE FREEWAY, LEAVING SKID MARKS IN THE ROAD, AND WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR OFF. I WAITED FOR A FRIEND TO COME AND SEE IF THEY COULD HELP. WHEN THEY GOT THERE THEY HAD ME TURN THE CAR ON IN PARK. THE ENGINE STARTED TO REVVED REALLY FAST SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF TO KEEP THE VALVES FROM BEING DAMAGED. WE TOWED THE CAR OURSELVES THE LAST HALF MILE HOME. JUST A NOTE THE CAR HAS THE ORIGINAL ENGINE BUT IT WAS COMPLETELY REBUILT ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO AND WASN'T REALLY DRIVEN MUCH UNTIL ABOUT A YEAR AGO.

NHTSA ID

10807860

Incident

Nov 22, 2015

Mileage

303,000 mi

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 TO FIND A LOCATION TO CRASH MY VEHICLE, WHICH WAS A BUILDING. EVIDENTLY, THE HOOD HAD PINNED THE THROTTLE FULLY BACK, AND THE VACUUM HOSES, WHICH ARE NECESSARY TO CUT FUEL TO THE DIESEL WE SEVERED. ALSO THE VACUUM HOSES BEING CUT NEGATED THE POWER ASSIST TO THE BRAKES THUS CAUSING THE MALFUNCTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10470437

Incident

Jun 27, 2012

Mileage

134,000 mi

ADDITIONAL SPACE IS NEEDED TO PROVIDE A COPY OF THE COMPLAINT AND EXPERTS' OPINIONS WHICH CONTAIN THE REQUESTED INFORMATION. PLEASE PROVIDE ME AN E-MAIL ADDRESS, A MAILING ADDRESS AND/OR A FAX NUMBER. THANK YOU. *TR THE CONSUMERS 4 OLD SON WAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. AS THE MOTHER WAS REMOVING THE CHILD FROM THE VEHICLE, THE CHILD INADVERTENTLY MADE CONTACT WITH THE CENTER AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER, WHICH CAUSED THE AUTOMOBILE TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO ANOTHER GEAR. THE CONSUMER HAD HER 6 MONTH OLD SON IN HER ARMS. AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK, IT ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR HIT THE MOTHER, AND THE 6 MONTH FELL FROM HIS MOTHERS ARMS AND FELL TO THE GROUND, PARTIALLY UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD ROLLED SUFFICIENTLY TO PINCH THE CHILD BETWEEN THE ROAD AND THE TIRE. THE KEYS WERE NOT IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE DIDN'T REQUIRE A SHIFT LEVER RELEASE BUTTON TO BE DEPRESSED BEFORE THE SHIFT LEVER COULD BE MOVED FROM PARK TO ANOTHER GEAR. THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE TO INCORPORATE AN IGNITION SWITCH SHIFT INTERLOCK DEVICE WHICH WOULD REQUIRE THE KEY TO BE PLACED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH IN THE ON POSITION AND THE BRAKE BEING APPLIED BEFORE CHANGING GEARS CONSTITUTES A DESIGN DEFECT. UPDATED

NHTSA ID

10225545

Incident

Nov 29, 2004

CRACKS IN THE REAR SUB-FRAME THE NECESSITATED A $3,000 REPAIR THAT MERCEDES-BENZ WOULD NOT COVER. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT I NOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THE REPAIR WAS MADE. THE PIECE IN QUESTION WAS ABOVE THE REAR AXLE AND SUPPORTED THE SUSPENSION AND REAR SPRINGS. FROM RESEARCH I HAVE DONE IT AFFECTED 1987-1988 MERCEDES STATION WAGONS. I READ THAT MERCEDES COVERED THIS REPAIR FOR 10 YEARS, BUT NOT IN THE US. I THINK THIS REPAIR SHOULD BE A WARRANTY ITEM FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. THE REPLACEMENT PIECE WAS MUCH HEAVIER THAN THE ONE THAT ORIGINALLY CAME ON THE CAR. I KEPT THE OLD PIECE IF ANYONE NEEDS TO INSPECT THE FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10221920

Incident

Aug 5, 2007

Mileage

211,750 mi

THE RIGHT REAR TIRE OF MY MERCEDES BENZ 300 SDL (YEAR 1987) HAD A BLOW OUT AT A SPEED OF APPROX. 40 MPH. THE ORIGIN OF THE BLOW OUT IS THE INNER SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE. THE TIRE IS A MICHELIN MXV4. I WAS TRAVELING ON TELEPHONE ROAD BY HOUSTON'S HOBBY AIRPORT WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE ROAD WAS CLEAR OF POTHOLES AND DEBRIS. THE BLOWOUT SOUNDED LIKE GUNFIRE. I TRAVELED ANOTHER 50 YARDS TO GET TO A SAFE AREA TO CHANGE THE TIRES. I AM FORTUNATE THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN THE DAY BEFORE WHEN I WAS GOING 75MPH ON I10. TOOK THE TIRE BACK TO TIREMAX WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED AND THEY SAID THAT IT IS DUE TO A ROAD HAZARD. I DISAGREE BECAUSE I DID NOT ENCOUNTER A ROAD HAZARD NOR HAVE I GONE OVER POTHOLES THAT MAY HAVE WEAKENED THE TIRES. LET THIS BE A RECORD THAT I HAVE REGISTERED A COMPLAINT WITH MICHELIN AND HAVE BROUGHT THE TIRE BACK TO TIREMAX FOR INSPECTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10210777

Incident

Dec 2, 2007

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE...AIRBAG DEPLOYED, SEAT BELTS LOCKED, CAUSED INJURIES TO LEFT ARM, PAIN UP THROUGH ARM AND NECK, BRUISES, AND BURNS. DROVE TO MB ON 5/30/06. THEY CHECKED CAR OUT. MB STATED IT WAS THE FRONT FLEX DISC THAT BROKE AND HIT THE SENSER TO CAUSE AIRBAG AND ALL SAFETY FEATURES TO LOCK UP. GAVE ME MY CAR BACK, WITHOUT ASKING TO FIX MY SAFETY FEATURES.. FLEX DISC WAS BOUGHT NEW AND INSTALLED 4 MONTHS EARLIER. HAD ANOTHER NEW DISC INSTALLED ON 6/3/06. WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MY SAFETY FEATURES FIXED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10159052

Incident

May 29, 2006

Mileage

141 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY 1987 MERCEDES 300E ON THE INTERSTATE, WHEN SUDDENLY THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON, INJURING MY LEFT ARM, BURNS AND BRUISES FROM THE AIRBAG. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT I CAN DO TO SETTLE THIS MATTER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10158500

Incident

May 29, 2006

Mileage

14,100 mi

THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT THE VEHICLE'S PREVIOUS OWNER/SELLER, TAMPERED WITH THE ODOMETER. MR SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10015169

VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP, AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THERE NECK AND WRIST. PH

NHTSA ID

10006584

Incident

Feb 2, 2003

Mileage

200,220 mi

FRONT SHOCK TOWER FAILED THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE TO COLLAPSED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID

10004823

AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH. VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. AFTER VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED IT WAS DETERMINED THAT FLEX DISC CAUSED DRIVESHAFT TO COME LOOSE,ACTIVATING THE AIR BAG SENSOR. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK THE DRIVETRAIN HAD SNAPPED AND THE SENSOR TO THE AIR BAG IS LOCATED THERE, CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. *SLC

NHTSA ID

895836

Incident

Aug 18, 2001

TIRE FAILED ON EXPRESSWAY. AIR PRESSURE WAS CHECHED THE DAY BEFORE AND WAS 30PSI. WHEN TIRE FAILED A IT SOUNDED LIKE A TIRE GOING OVER THE DIRVER ALERT STRIPS OR GROOVES CUT INTO THE PAVEMENT ON THE SHOULDER OF SOME ROADS. NOTE THE EXPRESSWAY DID NOT HAVE THE GROOVES ON IT. AFTER NOISE IMMEDIATLY STARTED TO GET OVER TO RIGHT SHOULDER. WHEN STEERING WHEEL TURNED A SMOKE LIKE DUST CLOUD APPEARED ARROUND TIRE. WHEN STOPPED ON SIDE OF ROAD THE TIRE WAS COMPLETLY OFF OF RIM ON THE OUTSIDE. A SMALL AMOUNT OF BLACK DUST WAS AROUND THE TIRE. SAMS CLUB CLAIRMONT ROAD DECATUR GA REPLACED TIRE AND CHECKED MANUFACTURES DEFECT. (DOT NUMBER: C6D311 TIRESIZE: P195/65R15)

NHTSA ID

736971

Incident

Nov 27, 2000

MY SON (DOB 2 JULY 97) CAN UNHOOK BOTH THE TOP CLIP AND THE BUCKLES TO GET OUT OF THE CAR SEAT WHILE WE ARE DRIVING. WE PURCHASED THREE OF THESE SEATS BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE KISS OFFICE.

NHTSA ID

713961

Incident

Sep 15, 1999

ENGINE SUDDENLY STARTED "BURNING" OIL, THEN LOST POWER AND THEN STARTED SMOKING; MECHANIC CLAIMS VALVE GASKET, VALVE SLEEVES, WATER PUMP AND TIMING CHAIN MUST BE REPLACED AT COST OF $3,000, DESPITE COMPANY'S CLAIM THAT THE MOTORS LAST 250,000 TO 300,000 MILES; CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. REBUILT ENGINE WILL COST $10,000. ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IS SHORT IN DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW THAT CAUSES FUSES TO BURN OUT. MECHANIC CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, TRIP ODOMETER STOPPED WORKING.

NHTSA ID

707386

Incident

May 24, 1999

FRONT TURN SIGNAL FIXTURE FELL OFF OF VEHICLE ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS.

NHTSA ID

531645

Incident

Sep 1, 1997

VEHCILE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO SUDDEN STOP WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID THAT THE FLEXIBLE DISC BROKE, THAT IS WHAT CAUSED THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. ANYWAY, THE OWNER STATES THAT IT WAS $6000 WORTH OF DAMAGE DONE TO THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

817165

Incident

Sep 27, 1997

DEALER REFUSED RECALL REPAIRS ON THE TRAP OXIDIZER BECAUSE THE COMPONENT HAS NOT YET FAILED.

NHTSA ID

603356

TRAP OXIDIZER FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL, AFTER REPLACEMENT THE HEAD GASKET BLEW, RECALL WORK PERFORMED WITH (2ND) NEW TRAP OXIDIZER AND THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED REPLACEMENT AGAIN, POSSIBLE REMEDY PROBLEM WITH UNIT WHICH MAY BE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE HEAD GASKETS AFTER RECALL REPAIR.

NHTSA ID

513477

HEAD CYLINDER CRACKED TWICE.

NHTSA ID

516678

CONSUMER RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE OXIDIZER, HOWEVER HE WAS INSTRUCTED BY TWO DEALERSHIPS TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE OXIDIZER FAILS.

NHTSA ID

521390

Incident

Dec 1, 1996

TWO OHTSU TIRES SUFFERED BELT SEPARATION. *DSH

NHTSA ID

503474

Incident

Apr 22, 1996

WHILE BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE, TURN ON IGNITION, APPLIED BRAKES, SHIFTED TO REVERSE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, MADE LOUD SOUND, CAUSED ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

982654

Incident

Mar 17, 1996

WHILE DRIVING ON THE STREET,THE CAR EXPERINCED AN ENGINE COMPARMENT FIRE.PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID

979848

Incident

Jan 31, 1996

WHEN IGNITION IS OFF, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER CAN BE MOVED INTO DIFFERENT GEARS. TT

NHTSA ID

975879

Incident

Nov 28, 1995

OTHER: AIR BAG COVER IS CRACKING. *DSH

NHTSA ID

487732

Incident

Nov 5, 1995