Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 7 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300SD, most frequently naming the electrical, engine and steering categories. 3 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 2000 | 1 | 1 |
| Sep 2000 | 2 | 3 |
| Oct 2005 | 1 | 4 |
| Feb 2009 | 1 | 5 |
| Sep 2016 | 1 | 6 |
| Aug 2019 | 1 | 7 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MERCEDES-BENZ 300SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSULATION HAD EXPOSED AND BURNT WIRES. THE CONTACT CALLED ARLINGTON MERCEDES-BENZ (585 N GLEBE RD, ARLINGTON, VA 22203, (703) 525-2100) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY NO LONGER HAD PARTS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,172.
THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS OF MY 1993 MERCEDES-BENZ 300SD HAS CRACKED INSULATION THROUGHOUT AND IS BEGINNING TO SHORT-CIRCUIT WITH THE RISK OF CAUSING DANGEROUS ENGINE MALFUNCTION AND FIRE. I HAVE READ MANY REPORTS OF OTHER MERCEDES-BENZ CARS OF THE SAME AGE RANGE 1992-1997 HAVING THE EXACT SAME DEFECT "ECO WIRING". JUST LOOK AT ANY ONLINE FORUM OR TALK TO ANY MERCEDES TECHNICIAN. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MERCEDES THAT THEY REFUSE TO RECALL.
I PURCHASED A 1993 MERCEDES 300SD IN AUGUST 2009. THE CAR HAD 58,000 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT. I WAS THE SECOND OWNER. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL IMPORT CAR/MERCEDES SERVICE CENTER TO HAVE IT CHECKED OVER. THE MECHANIC POINTED OUT THAT THE MAIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND THE GLOW PLUG WIRING HARNESS HAD SERIOUS PROBLEMS. THE WIRES HAD SERIOUS CRACKS AND MUCH OF THE INSULATION WAS MISSING. I WAS INFORMED THAT UNLESS THESE WIRING HARNESSES WERE REPLACED THERE WOULD BE SERIOUS PROBLEMS. I REPLACED BOTH SETS OF WIRES. THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE INSULATION ON MB ENGINE WIRES. THIS CAR HAD SAT IN A GARAGE MOST OF ITS' 15 YEARS AND THE INSULATION DETERIORATED BECAUSE MB USED A DEFECTIVE INSULATION AND SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. THIS CAR SOLD FOR OVER $64,000 NEW, AND FOR THE INSULATION TO DROP OFF THE ENGINE ELECTRICAL WIRES IS COMPELLING THAT MBUSA SHOULD HAVE TO RECALL AND REPAIR THEIR DEFECTS. *TR
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS FAILURE. APPARENTLY THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 100 OF THESE REPORTED BUT NO ACTION. WHY? *JB
WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE WAS SHAKING AND VIBRATING. ALSO, LOST CONTROL FOR A FEW MONUTES. HE STEERED T VEHICLE TO SAFETY. DRIVER'S REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. *AK
I PURCHASED A 1993 MERCEDES BENZ-300SD THROUGH A LOCAL BUSINESS MAN IN COLUMBIA, SC WHO HAD THE CAR ON LEASE. I PAID THE LEASING COMPANY, MERCEDES CORPORATION FOR THE CAR. THIS CAR HAD TO HAVE A NEW MOTOR AT 46,000 MILES. I AM NOW TOLD THAT I MIGHT HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER MOTOR. I HAVE HAD TO REPACE THE MOTOR FOR THE FAN THAT RUNS THE AIR/HEAT; REPLACE UNITS THAT CONTROLS THE FACTORY INSTALLED TELEPHONE AND NOW AM BEING TOLD THAT THE NEW MOTOR WILL COST FROM $10,000 TO $12,000. I AM HAVING PROVLEMS KEEPING FREON IN THE AIR CONDITIONER AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS MIGHT COST UP TO $2,500; ALSO I WAS TOLD THAT I NEED BUSHINGS WHICH HAS BEEN ESTIMATED AT $2,000. I BELIEVE THAT I HAVE A LEMON SITUATION. I DID CONTACT THE COMPANY'S REPRESENTATIVE AND HE TELLS ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING HE CAN DO. I NEED YOUR HELP VERY DESPERATELY. WHATEVER YOU CAN DO, CONTACT THEM OR WHATEVER WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THE REPRESENTATIVE THAT I SPOKE WITH WAS RICE BYERLY.
UNCONTROLABLE STEERING SHAKE AT 50 MPH
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY
MERCEDES MY-ALL MODELS 164.195 212.095, 221-195 222-163, 245.286 . VEHICLES MUST BE EXAMINED IMMEDIATELY AFTER AN ACCIDENT TO AVOID DAMAGE TO HV BATTERY. *LJ
ENGINE
EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION OR IN AIR CHARGE SYSTEM. UPDATED 8/6/14. *LJ
ENGINE
ENGINE INDICATOR LAMP LIGHTS UP, ENGINE IN LIMP HOME MODE, FAULT CODES PRESENT IN GAS RECIRCULATION SYSTEM. *LJ
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993Viewing | 7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1984 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — |
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.