1997 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 1997 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
- Interior & seats333.3%
- Engine222.2%
- Brakes111.1%
- Exterior lighting111.1%
- Powertrain (other)111.1%
- 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
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
INSTRUMENT GAUGE CLUSTER DOES NOT ILLUMINATE ALL THE GAUGES, SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS, HOWEVER CONTINUES TO FAIL, BULBS BURNING OUT.
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *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
REPEATED SERVICE CALLS TO CORRECT PROBLEM SINCE CAR HAD APPROXIMATEKLY 6,000 MILES. ONE SERVICE REPAIR COST $1,674. WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. NW ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED CAR BACK TO DEALER FOR SIXTH TIME CAR HAS 17, 450 MILES AT THIS TIME.
INSTRUMENT GAUGE CLUSTER DOES NOT ILLUMINATE ALL THE GAUGES, SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS, HOWEVER CONTINUES TO FAIL, BULBS BURNING OUT.
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
INSTRUMENT GAUGE CLUSTER DOES NOT ILLUMINATE ALL THE GAUGES, SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS, HOWEVER CONTINUES TO FAIL, BULBS BURNING OUT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
INSTRUMENT GAUGE CLUSTER DOES NOT ILLUMINATE ALL THE GAUGES, SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS, HOWEVER CONTINUES TO FAIL, BULBS BURNING OUT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE MESSAGE PANEL CONTINUES TO INTERMITTANTLY SIGNAL LIGHT DEFECTIVE EVEN AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO FIX.
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
VEHICLE HAS ONE WINDSHIELD WIPER WHICH DOES NOT SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *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 .