1988 Mercedes-Benz 300 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1988 Mercedes-Benz 300, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine333.3%
- Airbags222.2%
- Brakes111.1%
- Driver assistance111.1%
- Electrical111.1%
- Visibility111.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
PLASTIC THERMOSTAT HOUSING BROKE, CAUSED LOSS OF COOLANT WHICH DAMAGED THE ENGINE. TT
AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WAS FLASHING OFF/ON, REPLACED AIR BAG, STILL HAPPENS ON LONG TRIPS. *DSH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 5-10 MPH THE AIR BAG ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE SITUATION. THE AIR BAG HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. *AK
AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WAS FLASHING OFF/ON, REPLACED AIR BAG, STILL HAPPENS ON LONG TRIPS. *DSH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
COMPUTER FAILED, CAUSING INTERMITTENT STALLING. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. DEALER CANNOT FIND CAUSE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
COMPUTER FAILED, CAUSING INTERMITTENT STALLING. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
SPRING ON DAY/NIGHT MECHANISM ON REAR-VIEW MIRROR CRACKED AND PLASTIC BOTTOM FLEW INTO DRIVER'S LAP, CAUSING INJURY. *SKD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .