NHTSA Data Explorer

Mercedes-Benz 300SEL

Data refreshed June 26, 2026

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

Complaints

183

Active records

Recalls

9

Active records

TSBs

8

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

8

Fires

11

Top reported issues — Mercedes-Benz 300SEL

Click a category to expand its values.

Condition issue

141

Operating state

103

Reporting mechanism

71

Engine behavior

60

Electrical issue

43

Safety restraint issue

42

Ride/handling behavior

31

Thermal issue

29

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

HVAC behavior

10

Powering on/off behavior

10

Steering behavior

10

Vibration/harshness

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.

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…

1994 MERCEDES BENZ 300

Filed Mar 31, 2012


ENGINE STOP RUNNING WHILE DRIVING. CAR WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC WHO FOUND THAT ENGINE HARNESS WAS COMPLETELY DEGRADED AND WIRES WERE TOUCHING EACH OTHER THANK GOD IT DID NOT CATCH FIRE INSTEAD IT SHUT OFF. MY MECHANIC SAYS THAT HE SEES THIS ALOT AND THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A VEHICLE LIKE THIS. *JS

1993 MERCEDES BENZ 300

Filed Nov 28, 2011


MY WIRING HARNESS HAS FAILED ON MY 1993 300E MERCEDES BENZ THE INSULATION COME OFF WIRING. *KB

1995 MERCEDES BENZ 300 SERIES

Filed Sep 14, 2011


ENGINE OF 1995 MERCEDES BENZ E320 STATION WAGON MISFIRED AND STALLED. INVESTIGATING THE PLUGS AND WIRING HARNESS FOUND THE HARNESS HAD DISINTEGRATED AND SHORTED OUT. *KB

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

Updated June 26, 2026. Refreshed nightly.