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1987 Mercedes Benz 300

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
29Owner complaints

Model-year median: 5

1Recall campaigns

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2Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
4
19845
198513
198629
19877
19885
19895
1990
Compare all 300 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
7Air Bags
6Power Train
4Tires
3Vehicle Speed Control
3
All reported categories
Child Seat
1Electrical System
1Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Seat Belts
1Seats
1Service Brakes
1Structure
1Suspension
1Unknown Or Other
1Visibility
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 6 of 29 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports3 fire reports6 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

7 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 9, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingSeats

ENGINE SUDDENLY STARTED "BURNING" OIL, THEN LOST POWER AND THEN STARTED SMOKING; MECHANIC CLAIMS VALVE GASKET, VALVE SLEEVES, WATER PUMP AND TIMING CHAIN MUST BE REPLACED AT COST OF $3,000, DESPITE COMPANY'S CLAIM THAT THE MOTORS LAST 250,000 TO 300,000 MILES; CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. REBUILT ENGINE WILL C…

Read full complaint

ENGINE SUDDENLY STARTED "BURNING" OIL, THEN LOST POWER AND THEN STARTED SMOKING; MECHANIC CLAIMS VALVE GASKET, VALVE SLEEVES, WATER PUMP AND TIMING CHAIN MUST BE REPLACED AT COST OF $3,000, DESPITE COMPANY'S CLAIM THAT THE MOTORS LAST 250,000 TO 300,000 MILES; CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. REBUILT ENGINE WILL COST $10,000. ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IS SHORT IN DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW THAT CAUSES FUSES TO BURN OUT. MECHANIC CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, TRIP ODOMETER STOPPED WORKING.

NHTSA ODI #707386

Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

DEALER REFUSED RECALL REPAIRS ON THE TRAP OXIDIZER BECAUSE THE COMPONENT HAS NOT YET FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #603356

Mileage unknown · May 27, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

TRAP OXIDIZER FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL, AFTER REPLACEMENT THE HEAD GASKET BLEW, RECALL WORK PERFORMED WITH (2ND) NEW TRAP OXIDIZER AND THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED REPLACEMENT AGAIN, POSSIBLE REMEDY PROBLEM WITH UNIT WHICH MAY BE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE HEAD GASKETS AFTER RECALL REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI #513477

Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 1997
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

HEAD CYLINDER CRACKED TWICE.

NHTSA ODI #516678

Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE OXIDIZER, HOWEVER HE WAS INSTRUCTED BY TWO DEALERSHIPS TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE OXIDIZER FAILS.

NHTSA ODI #521390

Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 1996
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

WHILE DRIVING ON THE STREET,THE CAR EXPERINCED AN ENGINE COMPARMENT FIRE.PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #979848

Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 1995
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE SEALS/GASKETS FAIL PREMATURELY. *AW

NHTSA ODI #481268

Official recalls

1

93V095000 · Vehicle Speed Control

May 27, 1993

DUE TO HEAT EFFECTS, THE THROTTLE BUSHING LOCATED ON THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE, CAN FATIGUE AND BREAK, CAUSING THE THROTTLE LINKAGE TO SEPARATE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE THROTTLE LINKAGE SEPARATES, THE ENGINE WILL RETURNTO IDLE SPEED, AND REMAIN AT IDLE, WITH NO ACCELERATION ABILITY. LOSS OF ENGINESPEED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND ANACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPLACE THE THROTTLE BUSHING WITH A NEW BUSHING MADE FROM MORE HEAT-RESISTANT MATERIALS.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

PE88032 · Abs Failures

Opened Mar 10, 1988 · Closed May 2, 1988

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

There is no summary currently available

EA88003 · Sudden Acceleration

Opened Oct 29, 1987 · Closed Jul 31, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

STATUS:THIS INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.===