Model year record
The 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300 has 4 safety recalls and 5 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (3 complaints).
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine coolingEngine; Exhaust system › Emission control › Catalytic convertor | 3 | — |
| Air bagsFrontal | 1 | — |
| VisibilityDefroster/defogger/hvac system › Heater core | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
300 SE, VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY SPEED, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTANTLY. DEALER UNABLE TO FIND PROBLEM. MR
I DROP MY CAR TO THE SERVICE STATION FOR SMOG CHECK, NEXT DAY I CALLED MECHANIC,TO SEE IF MY CAR IS DONE. HE SAID NO IT STILL HAVE A HIGH READING ON HYDRO EMISSION. HE SAID HE WILL TRY TO INJECT WATER AND OR SOME KIND OF CHEMICAL INTO THE ENGINE TO REJUVENATE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. NEXT DAY HE CALLED ME AND SAID THAT MY CAR NEEDS A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER. HE SAID I CAN HAVE ONE PUT IN FOR $480.00. I SAID IT'S TOO HIGH. I TOLD HIM I WIL HAVE MY OTHER MECHANIC FROM CALIFORNIA MUFFLER INSTALL ONE ON IT. WHEN I WENT TO PICK MY CAR IN HIS SHOP I NOTICED THE VERY LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I ASKED HIM WHAT IS THAT NOISE, HE SAID IT'S SOME KIND OF CARBON DESPOSITE LOGDE IN THE PISTON.…
WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE DUE TO THE REAR MOTOR MOUNTS DROPPING. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
A/C HEATER CORE LEAKED ALLOWING THE TOXIC ANTI-FREEZE TO SPRAY INTO THE VEHICLE ONTO CONSUMER.
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG HAS MELTED. TT
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.