Model year record
1999 Mercedes-Benz E 300 recalls & problems
The 1999 Mercedes-Benz E 300 has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 13 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is suspension (4 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 1999 Mercedes-Benz E 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.
Fuel economy
E300 Turbodiesel Diesel
| City / highway | 23 / 32 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Diesel |
3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,700/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| SuspensionFront | 4 | 135,000 mi |
| Power trainAutomatic transmission | 2 | — |
| Vehicle speed controlCruise control | 2 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | 2 | — |
| Air bagsFrontal | 1 | — |
| Fuel system, otherDelivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 1 | — |
| Engine and engine coolingEngine › Other fuel types › Turbo/supercharger | 1 | — |
| Electrical system | 1 | — |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Suspension
MY FRONT LEFT CONTROL ARM SHEARED OFF JUST AFTER PULLING OFF THE HIGHWAY. LUCKILY, I WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT RIPPED OFF. I WAS TRAVELLING AT 65 MPH MINUTES BEFORE COMPLETE FAILURE. THE STEERING DID FEEL STRANGE ON THE HIGHWAY BEFORE. THIS EVEN RESULTED IN THE FRONT WHEEL DISCONNECTING FROM THE CAR COMPLETELY. A QUICK EXAMINATION OF THE SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY REVEALED THAT THE CONTROL ARM SHEARED COMPLETELY OFF AT THE WELD OF THE LOWER BALL JOINT. THE CONTROL ARM SHEARED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN REVERSE, BACKING INTO A PARKING SPACE. THE VEHICLE HAD 129,273 MILES ON IT WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ E300 TURBODIESEL.
- Suspension
THE FRONT RIGHT COIL SPRING PERCH FAILED DUE TO RUST WHICH CAUSED THE SUSPENSION TO DROP TO THE GROUND ON THAT SIDE. THE COIL SPRING FELL OUT AND ROLLED DOWN THE STREET. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A WELDER AND FIXED THE PERCH. THIS LUCKILY HAPPENED ON A LOW SPEED ROAD, WHERE I COULD SAFELY PULL OVER WITH A BOTTOMED OUT SUSPENSION. THE CAR WAS TRAVELLING STRAIT DURING THE INCIDENT.
- Electrical system
THE WIRING INSULATION INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT HAS DEGRADED AND CRUMBLED LEAVING ONLY THE BARE COPPER WIRE SHOWING. THESE WIRES HAVE SHORTED GOING OVER BUMPS CAUSING A LOSS OF LIGHT TO OCCUR. *TR
- Suspension
1999 MERCEDES BENZ E-300. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SUSPENSION COLLAPSE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE SUSPENSION COLLAPSED AFTER HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD. HE AND HIS WIFE HEARD A FEW LOUD THUDS, A FEW SECONDS APART AS SOME THINGS STRUCK THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONSUMER REMOVED THE TIRE AND EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, HE COULD SEE THE LEFT FRONT SPRING PERCH WAS RIPPED LOOSE WHERE THE SPOT WELDING WAS WEAKENED BY RUST. HE COULD ALSO SEE THAT THE SPRING, TOGETHER WITH ANY RELATED HARDWARE, WAS MISSING. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE SEALING MATERIAL WAS NOT CAPABLE OF KEEPING WATER OUT OF THE SPOT WELD AREA. INSTEAD, MOISTURE WAS RETAINED IN THE SPOT WELD AREA, ALLOWING RUST TO…
- Suspension › Front
1999 MERCEDES BENZ E300TD FAULTY UPPER COIL SPRING SUPPORT DESIGN. MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT WHEN THE LEFT UPPER SPRING MOUNT SIMPLY COLLAPSED. THE CAR DROPPED DOWN AND THE COIL SPRING FELL OFF.IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY AS IT WAS RENDERED INOPERABLE. MOMENTS EARLIER I HAD BEEN AT 70 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY.I FEEL EXTREMELY LUCKY TO BE ALIVE! HAD THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS TRAVELING AN ACCIDENT INVESTIGATOR WOULD BE FILING THIS REPORT. I DID NOTHING UNUSUAL TO CAUSE THIS EVENT.THE VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 151,000 MILES ON IT AND THESE VEHICLES ARE CLAIMED TO BE ABLE TO LAST FOR 400-500,000 MILES. I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS…
- Service brakes, hydraulic
THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON THAT SAID BRAKE FLUID IS BELOW MINIMAL CHECK . I CHECKED AND ADDED BRAKE FLUID. THE NEXT DAY WHILE DRIVING THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I CONTACTED ATLANTA CLASSIC CARS, HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE ABS/ASR HYDRAULIC UNIT WAS LEAKING. UPON RESEARCHING I CAME UPON SOME INFORMATION THAT IS RELATED TO MY SITUATION. THE COST TO REPLACE THE SYSTEM WAS 2048.30, THERE WAS A RECALL OF THE E-CLASS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES WHERE THE VEHICLE IS USED AS A TAXI CAB. THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT THIS SITUATION HAD NEVER OCCURRED. MY VEHICLE IS A 1999 -E 300 DW WITH 167,755 MILES I HAVE HAD ALL SERVICES DONE BY AUTHORIZED MERCEDES-BENZ DEALERS. I AM REGISTERING THIS…
- Power train › Automatic transmission
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ 300E. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR, SHE HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. SHE PULLED OVER AND TRIED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF SHE WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE; HOWEVER, THE GRINDING NOISE CONTINUED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE MECHANIC AND THEN TO DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FULL OF SHAVINGS AND TO INSTALL A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. THE OWNER'S MANUAL INDICATED THAT FLUID CHECKS AND CHANGES FOR TRANSMISSION WERE NOT REQUIRED AS THE DIPSTICK WAS OMITTED. IN 2005 THE DEALER GAVE HER DOCUMENT S100.20-P-0022A WHICH INDICATED THAT FLUID CHECKS AND CHANGES…
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Other fuel types › Turbo/supercharger
ENGINE FAILURE DURING NORMAL DRIVING IN TRAFFIC IN MY 1999 MERCEDES E300 TURBO DIESEL. BOTH IN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND DEALER IN FT. MYERS CAN NOT FIND AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM AND TRAFFIC HAZARD. *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.
NHTSA defect investigations
- FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING EJECTIONClosed
ODI HAS FOCUSED THIS INVESTIGATION ON ASSESSING THE RISKS POSED BY A SEPARATED SPRING AS (1) A ROAD HAZARD AND (2) THE POTENTIAL FOR VEHICLE CONTROL TO BE COMPROMISED AFTER THE FRONT COIL SPRING HAS BEEN EJECTED FROM ITS INTENDED POSITION IN THE VEHICLE.BOTH RISKS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH CORROSION, FLEXING, AND FRACTURE OF THE UPPER FRONT SUSPENSION MOUNTING BRACKET.TIME-IN-SERVICE FAILURE RATES ARE NOTABLY HIGHER IN SALT BELT STATES SINCE CORROSION IS A PRIMARY CONTRIBUTOR TO THE FAILURE MODE.SINCE A NUMBER OF INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED, ODI IS SKEPTICAL THAT OWNERS CAN ALWAYS DETECT THE SUBTLE SIDE TO SIDE DIFFERENCE IN RIDE HEIGHT AND/OR INSPECT OR NOTICE THAT THE UPPER SUSPENSION BRACKET HAS BEEN COMPROMISED BY CORROSION.(1) ROAD HAZARD - ALTHOUGH THE (APPROX. 7 LB.) FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING THAT MAY BE EJECTED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS COULD POSE A SERIOUS ROAD…