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1988 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 →
7Owner complaints

Model-year median: 5

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
5
198513
198629
19877
19885
19895
199019
1991
Compare all 300 years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
3Air Bags
2Electrical System
1Vehicle Speed Control
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: 0 of 7 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 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

What owners actually said

7 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2001
Vehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. DEALER CANNOT FIND CAUSE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #879380

Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 1998
Air BagsInjury

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 5-10 MPH THE AIR BAG ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE SITUATION. THE AIR BAG HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #825700

Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 1996
Electrical System

COMPUTER FAILED, CAUSING INTERMITTENT STALLING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #508817

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 1995
Engine And Engine Cooling

PLASTIC THERMOSTAT HOUSING BROKE, CAUSED LOSS OF COOLANT WHICH DAMAGED THE ENGINE. TT

NHTSA ODI #973438

Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 1995
Air BagsEngine And Engine Cooling

AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WAS FLASHING OFF/ON, REPLACED AIR BAG, STILL HAPPENS ON LONG TRIPS. *DSH

NHTSA ODI #484036

Mileage unknown · Apr 14, 1995
VisibilityInjury

SPRING ON DAY/NIGHT MECHANISM ON REAR-VIEW MIRROR CRACKED AND PLASTIC BOTTOM FLEW INTO DRIVER'S LAP, CAUSING INJURY. *SKD

NHTSA ODI #489239

Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 1995
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE OVERHAUL IN THE FIRST YEAR. TT

NHTSA ODI #962655

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

1

DP93002 · Accel Linkage Disconnection

Opened May 6, 1993 · Closed Jun 11, 1993

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

ACCEL LINKAGE DISCONNECTION