RoadVitals

1990 Mercedes-Benz 300

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.
5
Latest Dec 11, 2002
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.
4
Latest May 27, 1993
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 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300, most frequently naming the engine, airbags and visibility categories. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year.

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

  • Engine360.0%
  • Airbags120.0%
  • Visibility120.0%

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

4 campaigns cover this model year

View all 4

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
93V095000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

May 27, 1993
128,000 units potentially affected
The defect: DUE TO HEAT EFFECTS, THE THROTTLE BUSHING LOCATED ON THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE, CAN FATIGUE AND BREAK, CAUSING THE THROTTLE LINKAGE TO SEPARATE.
The risk: IF THE THROTTLE LINKAGE SEPARATES, THE ENGINE WILL RETURNTO IDLE SPEED, AND REMAIN AT IDLE, WITH NO ACCELERATION ABILITY. LOSS OF ENGINESPEED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND ANACCIDENT.
The remedy: REPLACE THE THROTTLE BUSHING WITH A NEW BUSHING MADE FROM MORE HEAT-RESISTANT MATERIALS.
MERCEDES-BENZ USA, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
90V062000

TIRES:SIDEWALL

May 1, 1990
278 units potentially affected
The defect: LEFT FRONT AND LEFT REAR TIRES MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BY A WORN CHAIN DRIVE OF THE CONVEYOR SYSTEM.
The risk: DAMAGED OR CUT TIRES COULD FAIL DURING USE AND RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT WITH POSSIBLE INJURIES.
The remedy: REPLACE DAMAGED TIRES WITH TIRES OF THE SAME BRAND NAME.
MERCEDES-BENZ USA, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
90V068000

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

May 1, 1990
1,584 units potentially affected
The defect: UNDER CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS, THE PLASTIC COVER OF THE PRERESISTOR FOR THE AUXILIARY FAN MAY MELT, POSSIBLY IGNITING THE PRERESISTOR.
The risk: THIS RESULTS IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE THAT WOULD BE HAZARDOUS TO OCCUPANTS.
The remedy: REPLACE THE PRERESISTOR WITH VERSION HAVING A METAL COVER.
MERCEDES-BENZ USA, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Engine
Filed Dec 11, 2002

300 SE, VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY SPEED, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTANTLY. DEALER UNABLE TO FIND PROBLEM. MR

NHTSA ID
8024188
Incident
Nov 1, 1990
Engine
Filed Apr 28, 2002

I DROP MY CAR TO THE SERVICE STATION FOR SMOG CHECK, NEXT DAY I CALLED MECHANIC,TO SEE IF MY CAR IS DONE. HE SAID NO IT STILL HAVE A HIGH READING ON HYDRO EMISSION. HE SAID HE WILL TRY TO INJECT WATER AND OR SOME KIND OF CHEMICAL INTO THE ENGINE TO REJUVENATE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. NEXT DAY HE CALLED ME AND SAID THAT MY CAR NEEDS A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER. HE SAID I CAN HAVE ONE PUT IN FOR $480.00. I SAID IT'S TOO HIGH. I TOLD HIM I WIL HAVE MY OTHER MECHANIC FROM CALIFORNIA MUFFLER INSTALL ONE ON IT. WHEN I WENT TO PICK MY CAR IN HIS SHOP I NOTICED THE VERY LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I ASKED HIM WHAT IS THAT NOISE, HE SAID IT'S SOME KIND OF CARBON DESPOSITE LOGDE IN THE PISTON. IT SHOULD GO AWAY. I DROVE THE CAR TO THE CALIFORINA MUFFLER SHOP AND HAD A CATALYTIC CONVERTER INSTALLED. I TOOK THE CAR BACK FOR RE-TEST AT TEXACO STATION, AND AGAIN IT FAILED. I INSISTED THAT HE SCREWED NU MY ENGINE AND SAID NO. HE ASKED ALL HIS MECHANIC FRIENDS THAT NOISE WILL EVENTUALLY GO AWAY. UPSET ABOUT THE SITUATION I TOLD THE MECHANIC. YOU OWE ME AN ENGINE, HE SAID HE CAN NOT HELP ME BECAUSE HE IS A COMMISION MECHANIC, I HAVE TO BRING MY COMPLAIN TO THE OWNER OF THE STATION. SO I CONFRONTED THE OWNER, HE TOLD MY YOU GOT PROBLEM, HAVE YOUR LAWYER TALK TO MY LAWYER. MEANTIME I HAD MY MERCEDES MECHANIC LOOK INTO HTE NOISE PROBLEM. HE WENT AND DROP THE OIL PAN AND FOUND ALL KINDS OF METAL FILINGS IN IT. HE ALSO TOLD ME #4 PISTON IS THE ONE MAKING THE NOISE. I HAD THEM DROP THE WHOLE ENGINE AND OPENED IT UP. SURE ENOUGH THE #4 PISTON PUSH ROD WAS BENT. PISTON SKIRT WAS HITTING THE CAM SHAFT MAKING THE LOUND NOISE, THAT BY NOW YOU CAN BARELY HEAR IT ANY EXCEPT IF YOU DRIVE THE CAR AND GO INTO TUNNEL OR NEXT TO CONCRETE WALL THAT YOU HEAR THE NOISE. NO WONDER IT WON'T PASS SMOG RE-TEST WHEN BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO HIS SHOP.MY CAR IS STILL AT THE MERCEDES BENZ MECH. IN TORRANCE AUTO HOUSE IN TORRANCE, CA. WAITING FOR AN ENGINE. IT'S BEEN THERE SINCE LAST DECEMBER LAST YEAR. *

NHTSA ID
761289
Incident
Dec 17, 2001
Engine
Filed Dec 30, 1999

WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE DUE TO THE REAR MOTOR MOUNTS DROPPING. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
853702
Incident
Dec 1, 1999
Visibility
Filed Sep 4, 1997

A/C HEATER CORE LEAKED ALLOWING THE TOXIC ANTI-FREEZE TO SPRAY INTO THE VEHICLE ONTO CONSUMER.

NHTSA ID
521722
Incident
Jul 11, 1997
Airbags
Filed May 23, 1995

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG HAS MELTED. TT

NHTSA ID
965673
Incident
Apr 1, 1995

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mercedes-Benz 300 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2002300—
1999600—
1998200—
1997500—
1996800—
1995160037.0
1994400—
1993391043.6
1992221044.8
1991192054.0
1990Viewing540—
1989510—
1988711—
1987291261.3
1986130357.9
1985502—
1984401—
1983600—
1982100—
1980200—
1978100—
1972010—
1971030—

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.