1991 Mercedes-Benz 300E 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 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300E, 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
- Fuel system228.6%
- Brakes114.3%
- Driver assistance114.3%
- Electrical114.3%
- Engine114.3%
- Suspension114.3%
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
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE TRAVELING IN TRAFFIC CONSUMER NOTICED A GASOLINE SMELL COMING FROM TRUNK COMPARTMENT. WHEN SHE LIFTED UP THE TRUNK AREA GASOLINE HAS SPILLED INSIDE OF TRUNK. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *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
WHEN BACKING UP GOING DOWN A SLIGHT HILL THE BRAKE SKIP AND YOU HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKE TO STOP IT .THANK GOD I DO NOT LIVE ON A STEEP HILL MY DRIVE WAY HAS A LITTLE HILL W BHEN BACKING OUT THE GARAGE.. SINCE I AM NOT THAT EDUCATED IN CARS . IT IS UNKNOWN.PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANY ONE HAVE HAD A PROBLEM LIKE MINE.
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
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN THE THROTTLE LINKAGE FROZE . NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE WILL NO LONGER START BECAUSE OF WIRING HARNESS; COATING ON WIRES HAVE MELTED, AND WERE TOUCHING ONE ANOTHER, CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO START.
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 MERCEDES BENZ 300E. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, HE BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. MOMENTS LATER HE NOTICED SMOKE BELLOWING FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD TO DISCOVER THAT A FIRE HAD ERUPTED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE USING WATER AND A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND AFTER SPEAKING WITH AN ENGINEER, THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE AND DUE TO THE AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE, THEY WOULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 188,000.
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
FRONT SUPPORT BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE COIL SPRING THTS ATACHED TO THE BDY CHASIS IS STARTING TO COME APART HAS CRACKS
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 .