1993 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 1993 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
- Electrical866.7%
- Engine325.0%
- Suspension18.3%
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 HAVE BEEN AN ARDENT SUPPORTER OF THE MERCEDES-BENZ LINE FOR MANY YEARS AND MODELS. CURRENTLY I OWN A 1993 300SE AND MY "SUMMER CAR," A 1978 450SL. BOTH OF MY CARS ARE MAINTAINED TO THE HIGHEST OF STANDARDS, IT IS NOT A EXAGGERATION TO SAY THAT YOU COULD EAT OFF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF EITHER CAR. WHICH IS WHY I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN THE FOLLOWING CHAIN OF EVENTS: PROBLEM: 1993 MERCEDES BENZ 300SE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND THROTTLE ACTUATOR WIRING . THE WIRE INSULATION USED ON THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND THE THROTTLE ACTUATOR IN MY CAR HAS BADLY DEGRADED, AND IS CRUMBLING! THIS CAUSES SHORTS IN THE ELECTRONICS OF THE VEHICLE AND PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRIC THROTTLE SYSTEM. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS SITUATION ACROSS THE UNITED STATES (VIA THE INTERNET) AND I HAVE FOUND WEB FORUMS THAT ARE FULL OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS. WHAT IS CLEAR IS THAT FROM 1991-1997 MERCEDES BENZ USED A BIO-DEGRADABLE INSULATION ON THE WIRING OF THESE VEHICLES. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY BUT IT DIDNT STAND UP TO THE HEAT OF THE ENGINE BAY. EVERY ONE OF THESE CARS (91-97) WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THERE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DUE TO THIS "DESIGN FLAW" BUILT INTO THESE CAR'S. NOTHING HAS DONE BY MERCEDES TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM EXCEPT TO OFFER TO SELL ME A NEW WIRING HARNESS FOR $1000 DOLLARS!!!.. THIS VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE A MANUFACTURERS RECALL BY MERCEDES BEFORE SOMEBODY'S THROTTLE GETS STUCK AND THEY GET HURT/KILLED, OR BEFORE THEIR CAR AND THEY CATCH ON FIRE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MERCEDES BENZ 300E (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE WHAT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STARTER AND THE REAR STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,690.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT FIRE WHILE IN SHOP FOR REPAIRS. *TR
CAR IS MIS-FIRING AND WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE ENGINE HARNESS JUST CRUMBLED WHEN HE TOUCHED IT. THE ENTIRE HARNESS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MERCEDES BENZ 300E (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE WHAT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STARTER AND THE REAR STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,690.
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 .