Model year record
The 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300 has 1 safety recall and 39 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (25 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* |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemWiring › Front underhood; Wiring | 25 | 103,756 mi |
| Engine and engine coolingEngine; Cooling system › Fan | 7 | — |
| SteeringSteering wheel/handle bar; Gear box › Shaft sector | 3 | — |
| Fuel system, gasolineFuel injection system | 3 | — |
| Air bagsFrontal | 2 | — |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | — |
| Tires | 2 | — |
| Seat beltsFront › Anchorage; Front › Retractor | 2 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components | 1 | — |
| VisibilityDefroster/defogger/hvac system | 1 | — |
| StructureFrame and members | 1 | — |
| EquipmentAppliance › Air conditioner | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
THE ENGINE HARNESS PROBLEM AFTER OWNING MY CAR SINCE 1993. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE ENGINE HARNESS WAS MADE WITH BIODEGRADABLE MATERIAL WHICH HAS NOW LOST IT'S PLASTIC COVERING OVER THE METAL WIRES. WITH WIRES EXPOSED AFTER THE ENGINE HARNESS DEGRATION, THE CAR WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO LAST ME FOR A LONG TIME, HAS BECOME IMPOSSIBLE TO USE. WITHOUT THE PROPER HARNESS REPLACEMENT, THE CAR IS TOTALLY USELESS. UPON CHECKING INTO THIS PROBLEM I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT EVERY E300 BUILT BETWEEN 1992 AND 1997 IS BUILT WITH THE SAME HARNESS. ALL THESE CARS THAT ARE STILL ON THE ROAD ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. I AM TOLD THIS IS A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD, THEREFORE I HAVE STOPPED USING MY CAR. THIS PROBLEM SOONER OR…
MY WIRING HARNESS HAS FAILED ON MY 1993 300E MERCEDES BENZ THE INSULATION COME OFF WIRING. *KB
MY RESEARCH INDICATE THAT THIS ENGINE WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM IS AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR MANY MERCEDES BENZ, 300 E, AND 300SE CARS WITH THE TWIN CAM ENGINES MADE BETWEEN THE YEARS OF 1993-1995. NOT ONLY I AM UNABLE TO HAVE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE DONE, BUT I AM TOLD BY THE REPAIR FACILITY THAT THIS PRESENTS A SAFETY PROBLEM, BECAUSE THERE IS A RISK OF FIRE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS DEFECT. *TT
DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF MY VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACT ERRATICALLY. AT START, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT NORMALLY IDLE; INSTEAD IT LURCHED BETWEEN 500-1500 RPM. DURING OPERATION, AT A RANDOM POINTS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO PRESSING THE GAS, INSTEAD SURGING POWER UNTIL I STOP AND IDLE FOR A MINUTE. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE PROBLEM IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE WIRING HARNESS, WHICH IS DISINTEGRATING. THIS WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE USE OF INFERIOR MATERIALS BY MERCEDES-BENZ WHICH ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR USE IN HIGH-TEMPERATURE ENVIRONMENTS. RECENTLY, THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE; TODAY, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT ACHIEVE ANY GOOD ACCELERATION NOR IS IT VERY RESPONSIVE WHEN THE GAS…
1. BURNING SMELL 2. POOR RUNNING FAST IDLE TO NO IDLE 3. BM NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM. *TR
THE ENGINE / FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESS OF MY 1993 MERCEDES-BENZ 300E HAS CRACKED INSULATION THROUGHOUT AND IS BEGINNING TO SHORT OUT WITH THE RISK OF CAUSING DANGEROUS ENGINE MALFUNCTION AND EVEN FIRE INSIDE MY ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I HAVE READ MANY REPORTS OF OTHER MERCEDES-BENZ CARS OF THE SAME AGE RANGE HAVING THE EXACT SAME DEFECT. I HAVE BROUGHT IT IN TO MY MECHANIC SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF THE HESITATION AND SHORTING THAT OCCURS - ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE THE AC OR HEATER RUNNING AND HAVE SPENT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY ON TRYING TO REMEDY IT BY ATTEMPTING TO RE-WRAP THE WIRING BUT IT ONLY AFFORDED ME A TEMPORARY FIX AT BEST. THE ESTIMATE I WAS GIVEN TODAY WAS FOR $1,400 FOR THE…
VEHICLE IS 1993 MERCEDES 300E SEDAN. 1. STRANGE THINGS GO ON WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2. WHEN UNLOCKING KEY, SOMETIMES THE ALARM WILL GO ON. 3. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF EVEN AFTER REPAIR WAS DONE. 4. SOMETIMES AIR BLOWER WILL WORK, SOMETIMES NOT. 5. SOMETIMES ANTENNA WILL COME UP, SOMETIMES NOT. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE WIRING HARNESS MIGHT BE AFFECTING THE CAR'S ELECTRICAL PERFORMANCE. I WOULD HATE TO STRIP THE HARNESS TO FIND OUT. BUT THERE ARE PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS NOW ON THIS WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM. I WISH THAT MERCEDES WILL DO A RECALL AND REPAIR THESE CARS. *TR
1993 300E 3.2 M104 ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DISINTERGRATING, WIRE INSULATION FALLS APART ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS WIRES EVEN NOT EXPOSED TO HEAT DAMAGED. CHRONIC PROBLEM ALL 3 OF OUR MERCEDES HAVE THIS PROBLEM THE 300E THE WORST. I WORKED AT MERCEDES AND REPLACED THESE HARNESS EVERY WEEK. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE CAN RESULT IN FIRES, ECM FAILURE, DRIVABLE ISSUES, NO START, AND MANY MORE PROBLEMS. *TR
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.