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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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
29Owner complaints

Model-year median: 5

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1987 Mercedes Benz 300

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 29 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 2 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 7 reports
  • Air Bags: 6 reports
  • Power Train: 4 reports
  • Tires: 3 reports
  • Vehicle Speed Control: 3 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

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, mileage exposure 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

Structure complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
211,750 miles · Mar 21, 2008
Structure

CRACKS IN THE REAR SUB-FRAME THE NECESSITATED A $3,000 REPAIR THAT MERCEDES-BENZ WOULD NOT COVER. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT I NOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THE REPAIR WAS MADE. THE PIECE IN QUESTION WAS ABOVE THE REAR AXLE AND SUPPORTED THE SUSPENSION AND REAR SPRINGS. FROM RESEARCH I HAVE DONE IT AFFECTED 1987-1988 MERCEDES STATION …

Read full complaint

CRACKS IN THE REAR SUB-FRAME THE NECESSITATED A $3,000 REPAIR THAT MERCEDES-BENZ WOULD NOT COVER. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT I NOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THE REPAIR WAS MADE. THE PIECE IN QUESTION WAS ABOVE THE REAR AXLE AND SUPPORTED THE SUSPENSION AND REAR SPRINGS. FROM RESEARCH I HAVE DONE IT AFFECTED 1987-1988 MERCEDES STATION WAGONS. I READ THAT MERCEDES COVERED THIS REPAIR FOR 10 YEARS, BUT NOT IN THE US. I THINK THIS REPAIR SHOULD BE A WARRANTY ITEM FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. THE REPLACEMENT PIECE WAS MUCH HEAVIER THAN THE ONE THAT ORIGINALLY CAME ON THE CAR. I KEPT THE OLD PIECE IF ANYONE NEEDS TO INSPECT THE FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10221920

Recall campaigns

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 ↗

Defect 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.===

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.