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
What owners actually said
29 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2001
Air BagsPower TrainInjury
AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH. VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. AFTER VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED IT WAS DETERMINED THAT FLEX DISC CAUSED DRIVESHAFT TO COME LOOSE,ACTIVATING THE AIR BAG SENSOR. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK THE DRIVETRAIN HAD SNAPPED AND THE SENSOR TO THE AIR BAG IS LOCATED THERE, CAUSING THE AI…
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AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH. VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. AFTER VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED IT WAS DETERMINED THAT FLEX DISC CAUSED DRIVESHAFT TO COME LOOSE,ACTIVATING THE AIR BAG SENSOR. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK THE DRIVETRAIN HAD SNAPPED AND THE SENSOR TO THE AIR BAG IS LOCATED THERE, CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #895836
Mileage unknown · Nov 28, 2000
Tires
TIRE FAILED ON EXPRESSWAY. AIR PRESSURE WAS CHECHED THE DAY BEFORE AND WAS 30PSI. WHEN TIRE FAILED A IT SOUNDED LIKE A TIRE GOING OVER THE DIRVER ALERT STRIPS OR GROOVES CUT INTO THE PAVEMENT ON THE SHOULDER OF SOME ROADS. NOTE THE EXPRESSWAY DID NOT HAVE THE GROOVES ON IT. AFTER NOISE IMMEDIATLY STARTED TO GET OVER TO RIGHT SHO…
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TIRE FAILED ON EXPRESSWAY. AIR PRESSURE WAS CHECHED THE DAY BEFORE AND WAS 30PSI. WHEN TIRE FAILED A IT SOUNDED LIKE A TIRE GOING OVER THE DIRVER ALERT STRIPS OR GROOVES CUT INTO THE PAVEMENT ON THE SHOULDER OF SOME ROADS. NOTE THE EXPRESSWAY DID NOT HAVE THE GROOVES ON IT. AFTER NOISE IMMEDIATLY STARTED TO GET OVER TO RIGHT SHOULDER. WHEN STEERING WHEEL TURNED A SMOKE LIKE DUST CLOUD APPEARED ARROUND TIRE. WHEN STOPPED ON SIDE OF ROAD THE TIRE WAS COMPLETLY OFF OF RIM ON THE OUTSIDE. A SMALL AMOUNT OF BLACK DUST WAS AROUND THE TIRE. SAMS CLUB CLAIRMONT ROAD DECATUR GA REPLACED TIRE AND CHECKED MANUFACTURES DEFECT. (DOT NUMBER: C6D311 TIRESIZE: P195/65R15)
NHTSA ODI #736971
Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 1999
Child Seat
MY SON (DOB 2 JULY 97) CAN UNHOOK BOTH THE TOP CLIP AND THE BUCKLES TO GET OUT OF THE CAR SEAT WHILE WE ARE DRIVING. WE PURCHASED THREE OF THESE SEATS BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE KISS OFFICE.
NHTSA ODI #713961
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…
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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 · Mar 3, 1998
Exterior Lighting
FRONT TURN SIGNAL FIXTURE FELL OFF OF VEHICLE ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS.
NHTSA ODI #531645
Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 1997
Air Bags
VEHCILE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO SUDDEN STOP WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID THAT THE FLEXIBLE DISC BROKE, THAT IS WHAT CAUSED THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. ANYWAY, THE OWNER STATES THAT IT WAS $6000 WORTH OF DAMAGE DONE TO THE VEHICLE.…
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VEHCILE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO SUDDEN STOP WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID THAT THE FLEXIBLE DISC BROKE, THAT IS WHAT CAUSED THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. ANYWAY, THE OWNER STATES THAT IT WAS $6000 WORTH OF DAMAGE DONE TO THE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #817165
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.
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.===
1987 Mercedes Benz 300 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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