Model year record
1996 Mercedes-Benz 300 recalls & problems
The 1996 Mercedes-Benz 300 has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 8 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (5 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 1996 Mercedes-Benz 300.
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.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemAlternator/generator/regulator; Wiring › Fuses and circuit breakers | 5 | 159,600 mi |
| Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Engine › Diesel | 4 | 159,600 mi |
| Exterior lightingHeadlights | 3 | — |
| SuspensionFront › Springs › Coil springs | 2 | — |
| Power trainAutomatic transmission | 2 | — |
| StructureBody › Door | 1 | — |
| Vehicle speed controlLinkages | 1 | — |
| EquipmentAppliance › Air conditioner | 1 | — |
| Tires | 1 | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | — |
| Fuel system, diesel | 1 | — |
| Seats | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Power train › Automatic transmission
CAR LOOSING POWER WHEN DRIVING. *TR
- Electrical system › Wiring
CAR STALLS AT 40+ MPH IN TRAFFIC APPARENTLY CHOKED FOR FUEL. AFTER 5 TO 10 MINUTES AT REST - THE CAR CAN BE STARTED ALTHOUGH THE KEY MUST BE HELD IN THE START POSITION FOR 30 TO 40 SECONDS. THIS IS A 1996 300D MERCEDES BENZ 4-DOOR SEDAN. IT WAS DIAGNOSED BY A CERTIFIED MERCEDES BENZE REPAIR CENTER, CUMMINS AUTOMOTIVE, WHICH VERIFIED THRU FAULT CODES THAT HE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IS BAD. UPON INSPECTION THEY HAVE FOUND INSULATION WEAR THAT HAS CAUSED THE FAULT (WIRES TOUCHING EACH OTHER) THAT HAS CAUSED THE STALLS.*CN
- Electrical system
DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL AND ELECTRONICS ON FRONT DASH WENT BLANK, CAR DECELERATED, AND I HAD TO GET OFF THE ROAD BEFORE IT STOPPED. CAR WOULD NOT START FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES. WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND DRIVE TO SAFETY. DROVE CAR HOME AFTER A FEW DAYS - IN AREA AWAY FROM HOME AND HAD TO USE RENTAL. ON RETURN HOME WITH VEHICLE, IT AGAIN STALLED OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH ON A DRAWBRIDGE AT NIGHT! AGAIN, CAR WAS ABLE TO EVENTUALLY GET RESTARTED AND DRIVEN TO SAFETY. I HAVE HAD CAR AT MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AND TWO OTHER CAR REPAIR CENTERS THAT WERE ENDORSED. NO ONE CAN FIX THE DEFECT. I HAVE SPENT OVER $12,000 OVER LESS THAN 2 YEARS TO NO AVAIL. WE JUST CONTINUE TO GET MILKED FOR…
- Suspension
THE WELDED BRACKET RUSTED, AND IN APRIL 2003, THE LEFT HAND COIL SPRING BRACKET FAILED. ALSO, IN FEBUARY 2004, THE RIGHT HAND COIL SPRING BRACKET FAILED. *AK THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE JUMPED INTO THE AIR, MADE NOISES, AND A BLACK OBJECT HAD FLOWN OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. EVERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH AND THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED. THE "EARS" OF THE BRACKET THAT WERE WELDED ALONG THE BODY CAPTURED WATER WHICH CAUSED THE BRACKET TO SHEAR OFF AND THE SPRING(S) TO FAIL. *SC *JB
- Tires
PROBLEMS WITH WRONG SIZE TIRE ON VEHICLE.*MR CONSUMER RETURNED VEHICLE TO PURCHASING DEALER WHO REPLACED THE TIRES WITH THE CORRECT SIZE AT NO CHARGE. *PH
- Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil springs
WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING NOISE, THEN A BANG, THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING UPPER CRADLE FAILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK
- Exterior lighting › Headlights
HEADLIGHT BULBS CONTINUE TO FAIL.
- Structure › Body › Door
RATTLE IN ONE OF THE DOORS.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.