RoadVitals

1992 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.
22
Latest Apr 1, 2011
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.
1
Latest Sep 19, 1996
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.
4

Overview

Our database contains 22 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1992 Mercedes-Benz 300, most frequently naming the electrical, engine and brakes categories. 1 safety recall has 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

  • Electrical521.7%
  • Engine521.7%
  • Brakes313.0%
  • Driver assistance313.0%
  • Visibility28.7%
  • Fuel system14.3%
  • Airbags14.3%
  • Suspension14.3%

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

1 campaign cover this model year

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
96V175000

VISIBILITY

Sep 19, 1996
28,874 units potentially affected
The defect: IF ONE OF THE HEADLAMP WIPER ARMS BECOMES MISALIGNED, THE WIPER BALDE CAN LODGE IN THE GROOVE UNDER THE HEADLAMP. IF THE WASHERS ARE ACTIVATED WITH THE WIPER BLADE IN THE MISALIGNED AND LODGED POSITION, THE WASHER PUMP WILL RUN CONTINUOUSLY EXPELLING ALL AVAILABLE FLUID.
The risk: PUMP OPERATION IN THE ABSENCE OF FLUID CAN CAUSE THE PUMP TO OVERHEAT AND CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLAMP WASHER PUMP ON THESE VEHICLES.
MERCEDES-BENZ USA, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 22
Electrical
Filed Apr 1, 2011
Fire reported

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET WHEN SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM BENEATH THE HOOD AND INTO THE VEHICLE. I PULLED OVER AND OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW FLAMES COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT. AFTER EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE THE CAR NO LONGER STARTED. UPON INSPECTION ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HAD MELTED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10393998
Incident
Mar 30, 2011
Electrical
Filed Apr 12, 2005

WHILE DRIVING MY BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON. I HAVE REPLACED MY BATTERY TWICE IN A 2-YEAR PERIOD. INITIALLY, MY CAR WOULDN'T START. I WAS TOLD THAT EVEN WHILE MY CAR WAS OFF, SOMETHING WAS CONSANTLY RUNNING CAUSING MY BATTERY TO FAIL. I HAD MY NEW BATTERY REPLACED AND MY INIGNITION CHECK AND THINGS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BATTERY REPLACED. THE PROBLEM IS HAPPENING AGAIN. CAR IS SLOW TO START AND BATTERY LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF AT INTERVALS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10116806
Incident
Apr 1, 2005
Mileage
109,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 19, 2004

FAILURES OF GOODYEAR AQUATRED TIRES.*MR WHILE ON A TRIP THE TREAD OF THE LEFT REAR TIRE CAME LOOSE FROM THE STEEL CORD. THIS CAUSED A WOBBLE WHILE DRIVING. THE NEXT DAY THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE BLEWOUT AT THE SIDEWALL. *NM

NHTSA ID
10083350
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Engine
Filed Jul 18, 2004

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, I SLOWED TO TURN OFF HIGHWAY. AFTER COMPLETING TURN TRIED TO ACCELERATE BUT ENGINE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR OFF ROADWAY AT IDLE RPM ONLY. CAR TOWED TO LOCAL SHOP. A PLASTIC PIECE ON THE END OF THE ACCELERATOR CABLE HAD DISINTEGRATED CAUSING THE ACCELERATOR CABLE TO BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE ENGINE THROTTLE LEVER. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED. THE PLASTIC PIECE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE OF METAL. WHAT IF I HAD BEEN IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF A SIX LANE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURRED?

NHTSA ID
10081294
Incident
Nov 15, 2003
Mileage
130,000 mi
Driver assistanceVisibility
Filed Nov 3, 2003

FAILURE OF VEHICLE PART ON 1992 MERCEDES-BENZ 300D.*MR THERE WAS ANOTHER RECALL REGARDING THE HEADLAMP WIPER ARM (VISIBILITY). *TS *JB *CB

NHTSA ID
10040364
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 26, 2003

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED. A MECHANIC AT AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE ACCELERATOR CABLE BROKE. AFTER THIS INCIDENT THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE ACCELERATOR CABLE, STATING COULD CAUSE SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION IF BROKEN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA ID
10034598
Visibility
Filed Jan 29, 2003

THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM WAS REPLACED, WHICH INCLUDED THE MOTOR.*JB PH

NHTSA ID
10003936
Mileage
118,152 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 27, 2002

WIRING HARNESS IS EXPOSED OUTSIDE OF HOOD AREA. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT INSULATION IS CRACKING AND FALLING OFF ALL WIRING AROUND THE ENGINE. *YD

NHTSA ID
8004706
Incident
Feb 2, 2002

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
1992Viewing221044.8
1991192054.0
1990540—
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.