1998 Mercedes-Benz E 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 1998 Mercedes-Benz E 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
- Engine430.8%
- Exterior lighting215.4%
- Suspension215.4%
- Seat belts17.7%
- Steering17.7%
- Tires & wheels17.7%
- Fuel system17.7%
- Other / unspecified17.7%
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
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF A 3 LANE EASTBOUND INTERSTATE 10 IN GULFPORT, MS IN A LIGHT RAIN ( IT HAD BEEN HEAVY 2 HOURS BEFORE ) WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON AT 65 MPH. I HAD JUST COME OVER THE LORRAINE COWEN (SPELLING?) EXIT AND A LITTLE AFTER THE CAR WAS ON THE FLAT ROAD, THE CAR WITHOUT WARNING SPUN 180 DEGREES AND WE WERE BACKWARD ON THE INTERSTATE. SEEING THE TRACKS ON THE SHOULDER THE NEXT DAY, THE CAR CAME OFF THE INTERSTATE BACKWARDS AT ABOUT A 15 TO 20 DEGREE ANGLE, SPUN ANOTHER 270 DEGREES AT THE LOWER EXTENT OF THE CLEARED EMBANKMENT, AND WENT INTO THE WOODS. IT MIRACULOUSLY MISSED ALL LARGE TREES AND THE 3 PASSENGERS SUSTAINED NO INJURIES AT ALL. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AS THERE WAS NO SEVERE IMPACT, THE MOST SEVERE AREA OF IMPACT DAMAGE BEING SOMEWHILE IN THE RIDE HITTING THE LEFT REAR DOOR AREA MORE SEVERELY, AS THE LARGEST DENT WAS THERE. THE SPIN-OUT WAS NOT PROCEEDED BY ANY HYDROPLANING FROM THE FRONT END. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF POOLED WATER ON THE ROAD AT THAT POINT. I WAS COMPLETELY BAFFLED AT WHY WHEN GOING ABSOLUTELY STRAIGHT, WITH NO BRAKE OR WHEEL MOVEMENTS AND NOT ENCOUNTERING NOTABLE WATER, THE CAR SHOULD SUDDENLY SPIN. AFTER THINKING ABOUT THIS, I THEORIZE THAT THE CAR PICKED UP SPEED GOING DOWNHILL FROM THE ELEVATED OVERPASS OF THE ROAD CROSSING THE INTERSTATE. THE AREA OF SPIN OUT WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH WHEN THE SLOWING CAR WOULD HAVE AGAIN GOTTEN POWER FROM THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CAR WAS AN E300 TURBODIESEL AND IT ON ACCELERATION FROM STARTING HAS ALWAYS HAD A TURBO LAG WITH A VERY NOTICEABLE BURST OF POWER WHEN THE TURBO COMES IN. IT IS NOT LIKE THE OTHER DIESELS I HAVE HAD IN THAT IT DELIVERS CONSIDERABLE TORQUE--243 FT.LB.@ 2600 RPM. I HYPOTHESIZE THAT THE SUDDEN APPLICATION OF TORQUE ON THE WET ROAD THREW THE REAR END AROUND. IF THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ENCOUNTERED IN OTHER CASES, AT THE LEAST, A WARNING TO NEVER USE THE CRUISE CONTROL IN THE RAIN SHOULD BE PUT OUT. I HAVE GIVEN UP CRUISE CONTROL FOR GOOD.
WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER FAILED TO PROVIDE A SUGGESTIVE REMEDY, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS. *AK
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
CERTAIN NEW MERCEDES HAVE HEADLIGHTS WITH A BLUE TINT WHICH CAUSES A SAFETY HAZARD TO OTHER DRIVERS BECAUSE OF THE BRIGHTNESS AND GLARE.
CERTAIN NEW MERCEDES HAVE HEADLIGHTS WITH A BLUE TINT WHICH CAUSES A SAFETY HAZARD TO OTHER DRIVERS BECAUSE OF THE BRIGHTNESS AND GLARE.
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
The front driver side coil spring ejected out while driving, causing the front of the car to dive down on the driver side. I do have the parts that came out. Luckily I had just got off of the freeway and was only going around 10 mph when it happened and no one was hurt. I'm sure at hwy speeds you could potentially lose control. This issue just happened today 11/19/23 and no repair shops, insurance or agencies have been notified. This is the first report of my problem. There were no warning signs noticed prior to the failure.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ 300E. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE TOP FRONT SPRING MOUNT FRACTURED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,000. *TR
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
UNINTENDED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN CRASH, RESULTING FROM OIL INTO INTAKE FROM SEAL ON TURBO CHARGER. CAR HAD BEEN ROUTINELY SERVICED 5 DAYS PRIOR, WITH ERROR MESSAGE ON AIR MASS SENSOR. PART WAS REPLACED. THIS ERROR MESSAGE ALSO OCCURRED 15 MONTHS BEFORE, AND WAS ALSO REPLACED THEN. CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING NORMAL PRIOR TO BOTH SERVICING. NO ENGINE INDICATOR WARNINGS EVER CAME ON PRIOR TO CRASH. SEAT BELT APPARATUS ALSO BROKE UPON IMPACT ON DRIVERS SIDE WHEN MY HEAD STRUCK IT. *JB
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
The front driver side coil spring ejected out while driving, causing the front of the car to dive down on the driver side. I do have the parts that came out. Luckily I had just got off of the freeway and was only going around 10 mph when it happened and no one was hurt. I'm sure at hwy speeds you could potentially lose control. This issue just happened today 11/19/23 and no repair shops, insurance or agencies have been notified. This is the first report of my problem. There were no warning signs noticed prior to the failure.
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
TIRE ON LEFT REAR OF VEHICLE BLEW OUT. TIRE WAS LESS THEN ONE YEAR OLD AND HAD ONLY 25,000 MILES ON IT. MICHELIN INSISTED IT WAS A ROAD HAZARD EVEN THOUGH TIRE WAS LEFT REAR. *AK (TIRESIZE: 215/55R-16)
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
UNINTENDED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN CRASH, RESULTING FROM OIL INTO INTAKE FROM SEAL ON TURBO CHARGER. CAR HAD BEEN ROUTINELY SERVICED 5 DAYS PRIOR, WITH ERROR MESSAGE ON AIR MASS SENSOR. PART WAS REPLACED. THIS ERROR MESSAGE ALSO OCCURRED 15 MONTHS BEFORE, AND WAS ALSO REPLACED THEN. CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING NORMAL PRIOR TO BOTH SERVICING. NO ENGINE INDICATOR WARNINGS EVER CAME ON PRIOR TO CRASH. SEAT BELT APPARATUS ALSO BROKE UPON IMPACT ON DRIVERS SIDE WHEN MY HEAD STRUCK IT. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
The front driver side coil spring ejected out while driving, causing the front of the car to dive down on the driver side. I do have the parts that came out. Luckily I had just got off of the freeway and was only going around 10 mph when it happened and no one was hurt. I'm sure at hwy speeds you could potentially lose control. This issue just happened today 11/19/23 and no repair shops, insurance or agencies have been notified. This is the first report of my problem. There were no warning signs noticed prior to the failure.
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 .