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: 16 of 39 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.
Electrical System. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 3 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 reports2 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
39 reports
103,756 miles · Jan 27, 2003
Electrical System
MERCEDES 1993 300E WIRE HARNESS ENGINE WIRING HARNESS.(300E MERCEDES) CRACKED AND BRITTLE. MADE WITH VERY POOR MATERIALSMADE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND MAKE OF MERCEDES. IF YOU OWN ONE OF THESE CARS IT IS WELL KNOWN YOU WILL NEED TO REPLACE YOUR HARNESS. MERCEDES KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND DOES NOTHING TO H…
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MERCEDES 1993 300E WIRE HARNESS ENGINE WIRING HARNESS.(300E MERCEDES) CRACKED AND BRITTLE. MADE WITH VERY POOR MATERIALSMADE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND MAKE OF MERCEDES. IF YOU OWN ONE OF THESE CARS IT IS WELL KNOWN YOU WILL NEED TO REPLACE YOUR HARNESS. MERCEDES KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND DOES NOTHING TO HELP. I HAVE A PROBLEM WHEN MY CAR WILL NOT PASS SMOG UNTIL I REPLACE MINE. I THINK MERCEDES SHOULD A THE LEAST REPLACE THE PART AT NO CHARGE. THOUSANDS OF THESE CARS WERE MADE AND AT A COST OF OVER $500.00 PER HARNESS THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY FROM CONSUMERS. IF YOU CAN HELP GREAT. THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP. DAVE MYERS
NHTSA ODI #10003489
Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2002
Electrical SystemFireInjury
I TALKED TO SEVERAL MACHANICS AND TO DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS VEHICLE I AM VERY SUPRISED THAT IT HAS NEVER BEEN RECALLED. IT ALSO CAUSES THE CAR TO STALL DURING TAKE OFF AND ON THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT WILL STALL.SOMETHING MUST BE DONE BEFORE PERSONS ARE KILLED OR INJURED. …
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I TALKED TO SEVERAL MACHANICS AND TO DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS VEHICLE I AM VERY SUPRISED THAT IT HAS NEVER BEEN RECALLED. IT ALSO CAUSES THE CAR TO STALL DURING TAKE OFF AND ON THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT WILL STALL.SOMETHING MUST BE DONE BEFORE PERSONS ARE KILLED OR INJURED. TS
NHTSA ODI #767819
Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 2002
Electrical System
MY RESEARCH INDICATE THAT THIS ENGINE WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM IS AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR MANY MERCEDES BENZ, 300 E, AND 300SE CARS WITH THE TWIN CAM ENGINES MADE BETWEEN THE YEARS OF 1993-1995. NOT ONLY I AM UNABLE TO HAVE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE DONE, BUT I AM TOLD BY THE REPAIR FACILITY THAT THIS PRESENTS A SAFETY PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE…
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MY RESEARCH INDICATE THAT THIS ENGINE WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM IS AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR MANY MERCEDES BENZ, 300 E, AND 300SE CARS WITH THE TWIN CAM ENGINES MADE BETWEEN THE YEARS OF 1993-1995. NOT ONLY I AM UNABLE TO HAVE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE DONE, BUT I AM TOLD BY THE REPAIR FACILITY THAT THIS PRESENTS A SAFETY PROBLEM, BECAUSE THERE IS A RISK OF FIRE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS DEFECT.
NHTSA ODI #759679
Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 2001
Equipment
A/C EVAPORATOR LEAKS WHICH PREVENTS COOLING OF THE VEHICLE. R134A STOP LEAK APPLIED HOWEVER IT DID NOT SEAL LEAK.*AK
NHTSA ODI #752048
Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
TIMING CHAIN BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK
NHTSA ODI #895235
Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2001
SteeringStructure
VEHICLE WAS IN ACCIDENT 9-2-00. DEALER TOLD INSURANCE COMPANY (CHUBB) THAT THERE WAS $5000 DAMAGE. AFTER CONTACTING RALPH KOOS AT MERCEDES USA, HE FOUND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. CONCOURS WAS REIMBURSED FOR MORE THAN THE CAR WAS WORTH. HOWEVER MERCEDES ASSURED US THAT THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY FIXED AND SAFE …
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VEHICLE WAS IN ACCIDENT 9-2-00. DEALER TOLD INSURANCE COMPANY (CHUBB) THAT THERE WAS $5000 DAMAGE. AFTER CONTACTING RALPH KOOS AT MERCEDES USA, HE FOUND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. CONCOURS WAS REIMBURSED FOR MORE THAN THE CAR WAS WORTH. HOWEVER MERCEDES ASSURED US THAT THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY FIXED AND SAFE TO DRIVE. A FEW WEEKS LATER, THE RIGHT SIDE COLLAPSED, MADE NOISES AND SWAYED SIDE TO SIDE SO MUCH THE VECHILE FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO FLIP OVER. THE VEHICLE HAS EITHER A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT OR THE REPAIRS WERE NOT COMPLETE FROM THE ACCIDENT.
NHTSA ODI #738708
Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingSeat Belts
DRIVER'S RESTRAINT DOES NOT RETRACT WHEN DRIVER LEANS FORWARD AND BACK. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK WHEN MAKING A U-TURN, THE ENGINE DIES WITHOUT ANY APPARENT REASON. *YH
IF ONE OF THE HEADLAMP WIPER ARMS BECOMES MISALIGNED, THE WIPER BALDE CAN LODGE IN THE GROOVE UNDER THE HEADLAMP. IF THE WASHERS ARE ACTIVATED WITH THE WIPER BLADE IN THE MISALIGNED AND LODGED POSITION, THE WASHER PUMP WILL RUN CONTINUOUSLY EXPELLING ALL AVAILABLE FLUID.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: PUMP OPERATION IN THE ABSENCE OF FLUID CAN CAUSE THE PUMP TO OVERHEAT AND CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLAMP WASHER PUMP ON THESE VEHICLES.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1993 Mercedes Benz 300 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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