NHTSA Data Explorer

Mercedes-Benz 300SD

Data refreshed June 26, 2026

Select a model year to filter results to that year of the Mercedes-Benz 300SD.

Complaints

191

Active records

Recalls

9

Active records

TSBs

11

Active records

Filing history

Monthly totals over the last 20 years. Click a legend item to show or hide that series.

Reported severity

Based on consumer complaints filed since 2000. Recalls and TSBs do not include severity data.

Deaths

0

Injuries

10

Crashes

9

Fires

11

Top reported issues — Mercedes-Benz 300SD

Click a category to expand its values.

Condition issue

146

Operating state

103

Reporting mechanism

71

Engine behavior

60

Electrical issue

44

Safety restraint issue

42

Ride/handling behavior

31

Thermal issue

30

Performance issue

26

Fluid issue

23

Safety restraint behavior

22

Starting behavior

18

Transmission/drivetrain behavior

16

Noise

15

Access/entry issue

13

Braking behavior

13

Lighting behavior

13

Vibration/harshness

13

HVAC behavior

10

Powering on/off behavior

10

Steering behavior

10

Driver assistance issue

8

Smell

8

Recent change

4

Infotainment behavior

3

Wiper/washer behavior

3

Recent filings

The 10 most recent filings for each type.

1993 MERCEDES BENZ 300SD

Filed Aug 22, 2019


TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MERCEDES-BENZ 300SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSULATION HAD EXPOSED AND BURNT WIRES. THE CONTACT CALLED ARLINGTON MERCEDES-BENZ (585 N GLEBE RD, ARLINGTON, VA 22203, (703) 525-2100) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY NO LONGER HAD PARTS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,172.

1993 MERCEDES BENZ 300SD

Filed Sep 10, 2016


THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS OF MY 1993 MERCEDES-BENZ 300SD HAS CRACKED INSULATION THROUGHOUT AND IS BEGINNING TO SHORT-CIRCUIT WITH THE RISK OF CAUSING DANGEROUS ENGINE MALFUNCTION AND FIRE. I HAVE READ MANY REPORTS OF OTHER MERCEDES-BENZ CARS OF THE SAME AGE RANGE 1992-1997 HAVING THE EXACT SAME DEFECT ECO WIRING. JUST LOOK AT ANY ONLINE FORUM OR TALK TO ANY MERCEDES TECHNICIAN. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MERCEDES THAT THEY REFUSE TO RECALL.

1992 MERCEDES BENZ 300SD

Filed Jun 17, 2014


ENGINE WIRING HARNESS PART# 140 540 2005. THIS HARNESS HAS COMPLETELY DETERIORATED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BE INOPERABLE. AFTER MONTHS OF RESEARCH ONLINE AND PHONE CALLS TO MB I HAVE NO PARTS AND NO ANSWERS TO THE PROBLEM. SO MANY OF THESE CARS HAVE HAD THESE PROBLEMS AND YET NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. WHY? IT IS A FIRE WAITING TO HAPPEN. THERE ARE MANY HARNESS AVAILABLE FOR VARIOUS MODELS WITH THE INFAMOUS BIODEGRADABLE WIRING PROBLEM. THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT PRICE RANGES ALSO, BUT THEY…

1999 MERCEDES BENZ 300

Filed Mar 24, 2014


TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ 300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND TRIED TO LOCK THE DOORS BUT NOTICED THAT THE KEY WAS NOT WORKING. THE CONTACT USED THE SPARE KEY AND DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE MAIN KEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE KEY WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

1993 MERCEDES BENZ 300 SERIES

Filed Sep 29, 2013


BATTERY GOES DEAD, REPLACED BATTERY, IT GOES DEAD. CHARGED BATTERY , IT GOES DEAD. *TR

1993 MERCEDES BENZ 300

Filed Apr 10, 2013


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…

1992 MERCEDES BENZ 300 SERIES

Filed Dec 11, 2012


THE GUY SOLD TO ME WITH IT NOT RUNNING HE SAID HE HAD THE WIRING HARNESS REPLACED AND IT STILL DON'T RUN 700 WAS SPENT I HAVE RECITE ITS A 1992 300SE THIS IS SICK THIS IS WHAT [XXX] TOLD HIM AND IT STILL DON'T RUN SO NOW WHAT? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

1995 MERCEDES BENZ 300 SERIES

Filed Oct 24, 2012


VEHICLE WIRING HARNESS BURNS AND SHORTS DUE TO INSULATION ON WIRING DEGRADING CAUSING FAILURE OF NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

1992 MERCEDES BENZ 300 SERIES

Filed Aug 3, 2012


2 injured
Crash

I WAS GOING WEST ON VINEYARD AND 10TH ST, A CAR TRAVELING (65MPH) SOUTH ON 10TH ST HIT THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR PUSHING THE CAR INTO A POLE DAMAGING THE LEFT FRONT END. *TR

1992 MERCEDES BENZ 300 SERIES

Filed Jul 29, 2012


WE DEPARTED FROM HOME AND DROVE AT THE LOCAL SPEED OF 45-55 MPH FOR APPROXIMATELY 4 MILES AND PROCEEDED TO ENTER THE FREEWAY. WE DROVE ON THE FREEWAY FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES AT 65 MPH WHEN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE SUDDENLY EXPLODED. THIS WAS WITHOUT WARNING AS THERE HAD BEEN NO SIGNS OR FEELING OF A FLAT TIRE. TIRES' PRESSURES ARE CHECKED PERIODICALLY, ABOUT ONCE EVERY MONTH. WE ALWAYS ENSURE TIRES ARE VISUALLY INSPECTED APPROPRIATELY PRIOR TO DEPARTING OUR HOME. THE TIRES WERE INTACT…

Data sourced from NHTSA's public datasets. Issue classifications are generated by Repair Surge. About this data.

Updated June 26, 2026. Refreshed nightly.