1993 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 1993 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
- Electrical2450.0%
- Engine714.6%
- Steering36.3%
- Fuel system36.3%
- Airbags24.2%
- Driver assistance24.2%
- Seat belts24.2%
- Brakes12.1%
- Visibility12.1%
- Body & structure12.1%
- Tires & wheels12.1%
- Heating & air conditioning12.1%
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
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE ENGINE HARNESS PROBLEM AFTER OWNING MY CAR SINCE 1993. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE ENGINE HARNESS WAS MADE WITH BIODEGRADABLE MATERIAL WHICH HAS NOW LOST IT'S PLASTIC COVERING OVER THE METAL WIRES. WITH WIRES EXPOSED AFTER THE ENGINE HARNESS DEGRATION, THE CAR WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO LAST ME FOR A LONG TIME, HAS BECOME IMPOSSIBLE TO USE. WITHOUT THE PROPER HARNESS REPLACEMENT, THE CAR IS TOTALLY USELESS. UPON CHECKING INTO THIS PROBLEM I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT EVERY E300 BUILT BETWEEN 1992 AND 1997 IS BUILT WITH THE SAME HARNESS. ALL THESE CARS THAT ARE STILL ON THE ROAD ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. I AM TOLD THIS IS A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD, THEREFORE I HAVE STOPPED USING MY CAR. THIS PROBLEM SOONER OR LATER WILL HURT SOMEONE UNTIL MERCEDES RECALLS AND REPLACES THE HARNESS FOR THE CARS THAT THEY HAVE ON THE ROAD. *TR
MY WIRING HARNESS HAS FAILED ON MY 1993 300E MERCEDES BENZ THE INSULATION COME OFF WIRING. *KB
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
HEAD GASKET AND FUEL INJECTOR PROBLEMS. *BF *JB
TIMING CHAIN BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE WAS IN ACCIDENT 9-2-00. DEALER TOLD INSURANCE COMPANY (CHUBB) THAT THERE WAS $5000 DAMAGE. AFTER CONTACTING RALPH KOOS AT MERCEDES USA, HE FOUND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. CONCOURS WAS REIMBURSED FOR MORE THAN THE CAR WAS WORTH. HOWEVER MERCEDES ASSURED US THAT THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY FIXED AND SAFE TO DRIVE. A FEW WEEKS LATER, THE RIGHT SIDE COLLAPSED, MADE NOISES AND SWAYED SIDE TO SIDE SO MUCH THE VECHILE FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO FLIP OVER. THE VEHICLE HAS EITHER A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT OR THE REPAIRS WERE NOT COMPLETE FROM THE ACCIDENT.
BRAKES FAILED, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.
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
THE ENGINE / FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESS OF MY 1993 MERCEDES-BENZ 300E HAS CRACKED INSULATION THROUGHOUT AND IS BEGINNING TO SHORT OUT WITH THE RISK OF CAUSING DANGEROUS ENGINE MALFUNCTION AND EVEN FIRE INSIDE MY ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I HAVE READ MANY REPORTS OF OTHER MERCEDES-BENZ CARS OF THE SAME AGE RANGE HAVING THE EXACT SAME DEFECT. I HAVE BROUGHT IT IN TO MY MECHANIC SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF THE HESITATION AND SHORTING THAT OCCURS - ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE THE AC OR HEATER RUNNING AND HAVE SPENT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY ON TRYING TO REMEDY IT BY ATTEMPTING TO RE-WRAP THE WIRING BUT IT ONLY AFFORDED ME A TEMPORARY FIX AT BEST. THE ESTIMATE I WAS GIVEN TODAY WAS FOR $1,400 FOR THE WIRING HARNESS AND ANOTHER $700 - $800 FOR THE LABOR COST ASSOCIATED WITH IT'S INSTALL. FROM THE NUMBER OF SIMILAR ANECDOTAL STORIES I HAVE READ ONLINE WHILE RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I WONDER WHY MERCEDES BENZ HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS OBVIOUS DESIGN DEFECT. *TR
FUEL INJECTOR HARNESS IS DRY ROTTED AS SEEN IN THE IMAGES ON THIS SITE. I JUST RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS A MAJOR DEFECT WITH THE HARNESS ASSEMBLY DUE TO POOR WORKMANSHIP THIS IS CERTAINLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. MERCEDES SHOULD REPLACE THE HARNESS FREE OF CHARGE. *TR
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
UPON IMPACT, DURING FRONTAL CRASH, AT APPROX. 50MPH, 11:00 ON FRONT BUMPER, DRIVER'S AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY, PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID DEPLOY. TT
HAD A FRONTAL COLLISION, DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TT
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
ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD BLEW OUT, CAUSING COOLING LEAKAGE. DEALER HAS REPLACED ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD. ALSO REPLACED CRUISE CONTROL AND IGNITION. *AK
DURING OPERATION THE CAR EXPERIENCES SUDDEN ACCELERATION. PROBLEM OCCURS ONLY WHEN STARTING FROM A COMPLETE STOP.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVER'S RESTRAINT DOES NOT RETRACT WHEN DRIVER LEANS FORWARD AND BACK. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK WHEN MAKING A U-TURN, THE ENGINE DIES WITHOUT ANY APPARENT REASON. *YH
SEAT BELT CAME APART DUE TO LOSS OF SPRING. YH
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
BRAKES FAILED, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.
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
BRAKES FAILED, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE WAS IN ACCIDENT 9-2-00. DEALER TOLD INSURANCE COMPANY (CHUBB) THAT THERE WAS $5000 DAMAGE. AFTER CONTACTING RALPH KOOS AT MERCEDES USA, HE FOUND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. CONCOURS WAS REIMBURSED FOR MORE THAN THE CAR WAS WORTH. HOWEVER MERCEDES ASSURED US THAT THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY FIXED AND SAFE TO DRIVE. A FEW WEEKS LATER, THE RIGHT SIDE COLLAPSED, MADE NOISES AND SWAYED SIDE TO SIDE SO MUCH THE VECHILE FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO FLIP OVER. THE VEHICLE HAS EITHER A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT OR THE REPAIRS WERE NOT COMPLETE FROM THE ACCIDENT.
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
MICHELIN TIRES #224/60 R26 97V, WORN UNEVENLY AND EXCESSIVELY.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
A/C EVAPORATOR LEAKS WHICH PREVENTS COOLING OF THE VEHICLE. R134A STOP LEAK APPLIED HOWEVER IT DID NOT SEAL LEAK.*AK
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 .