1992 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 1992 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
- Electrical521.7%
- Engine521.7%
- Brakes313.0%
- Driver assistance313.0%
- Visibility28.7%
- Fuel system14.3%
- Airbags14.3%
- Suspension14.3%
- Tires & wheels14.3%
- Transmission14.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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?
WHILE DRIVING WOULD HEAR METAL CLANKING NOISES. HAD VEHICLE CHECKED BY MECHANIC. WAS INFORMED THAT ENGINE BLOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO LOSING COMPRESSION FOR DIESEL. *AK
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
FRONT PADS REPLACED EVERY 10000 MILES AND ROTORS EVERY 20000 MILES. *AK
BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT. *DSH
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
FAILURE OF VEHICLE PART ON 1992 MERCEDES-BENZ 300D.*MR THERE WAS ANOTHER RECALL REGARDING THE HEADLAMP WIPER ARM (VISIBILITY). *TS *JB *CB
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.
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
FAILURE OF VEHICLE PART ON 1992 MERCEDES-BENZ 300D.*MR THERE WAS ANOTHER RECALL REGARDING THE HEADLAMP WIPER ARM (VISIBILITY). *TS *JB *CB
THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM WAS REPLACED, WHICH INCLUDED THE MOTOR.*JB PH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
1) VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE. 2) VEHICLE ALSO IS DIFFICULT IN STARTING W/TOWING TO DEALER WHICH CAN'T DUPLICATE FAILURE. *AK
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
DURING FRONTAL IMPACT AT 25-30 MPH, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30-60 MPH THE VEHICLE VIBRATED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. *AK *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
DESIGN OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ALLOWS FOR VEHICLE TO ROLL BACKWARD WHILE ON INCLINE.
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 .