NHTSA Data Explorer

Mercedes-Benz 300SL

Data refreshed June 26, 2026

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

Complaints

188

Active records

Recalls

13

Active records

TSBs

12

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 300SL

Click a category to expand its values.

Condition issue

110

Operating state

64

Engine behavior

58

Electrical issue

29

Reporting mechanism

25

Thermal issue

23

Noise

20

Performance issue

20

Safety restraint issue

20

Starting behavior

17

Safety restraint behavior

15

Fluid issue

12

Braking behavior

10

Transmission/drivetrain behavior

10

Vibration/harshness

8

Ride/handling behavior

7

Access/entry issue

6

HVAC behavior

6

Lighting behavior

6

Driver assistance issue

5

Smell

4

Wiper/washer behavior

3

Powering on/off behavior

2

Recent change

2

Steering behavior

2

Infotainment behavior

1

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

1991 MERCEDES BENZ 129

Filed Nov 7, 2012


PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS TURNED ON. THE CAR WAS PARKED AND THE ENGINE WAS OFF. THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AT THE TIME OF THE DEPLOYMENT. *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…

1995 MERCEDES BENZ 129

Filed Jul 10, 2012


ASR LIGHT CAME ON, CAME UP TO A RED LIGHT ON A HILL, STOPPED , LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE THE CAR HAD ALMOST NO POWER AND HAD A VERY HARD TIME GETTING THROUGH THE LIGHT. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE TESTER WAS UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE CONTROL MODULE. I FINALLY FOUND A REPAIR SHOP THAT KNEW ABOUT THIS CAR HAVING A KNOWN PROBLEM. WHEN HE SHOWED ME THE WIRING IT HAD CRACKED BROKEN MISSING INSULATION…

1994 MERCEDES BENZ 129

Filed May 23, 2012


THE WIRING HARNESS, OF WHICH THERE ARE THREE, WAS CONSTRUCTED OF AN INSULATION CASE THAT IS BY DESIGN BIODEGRADABLE. THIS WAS A MATERIAL SELECTION DEFECT AND IS CAUSING GREAT EXPENSE AND PAIN TO OWNERS OF THESE CARS. IT IS ALSO DRASTICALLY AFFECTING RESALE VALUE OF THE CARS. UNUSUAL FOR A CAR THAT COST OVER $100K NEW. THEREFORE, THE OUTER CASE OF THE THREE HARNESSES DISINTEGRATES OVER TIME, AND EXPOSES THE INDIVIDUAL WIRES TO EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM THE 12 CYLINER MOTOR - THIS CAUSES THE…

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

Updated June 26, 2026. Refreshed nightly.