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1999 Mercedes Benz W163

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →
1Owner complaints

Model-year median: 1

0Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
1
19991
2000
Compare all W163 years →

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

What owners reported most

Fuel/propulsion System
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: 1 of 1 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.

  • Fuel/propulsion 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 reports0 injury reports

Fuel/propulsion System complaints

1 reports
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120,000 miles · Jan 26, 2013
Fuel/propulsion System

THE FUEL PUMP IS LEAKING FUEL ON TO THE GROUND WHEN CAR IS RUNNING I WAS READING SOME FORUMS AND MULTIPLE PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND MERCEDES ISN'T HAVING THE PROBLEM FIXED AS IT IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS TO HAVE ANY FUTURE FUEL LEAKS DUE TO AGE I HAVE A 1990 MERCEDES R129 THAT HAS MORE MILES AND OLDER AND NEVER HAD A…

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THE FUEL PUMP IS LEAKING FUEL ON TO THE GROUND WHEN CAR IS RUNNING I WAS READING SOME FORUMS AND MULTIPLE PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND MERCEDES ISN'T HAVING THE PROBLEM FIXED AS IT IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS TO HAVE ANY FUTURE FUEL LEAKS DUE TO AGE I HAVE A 1990 MERCEDES R129 THAT HAS MORE MILES AND OLDER AND NEVER HAD A FUEL LEAK WHAT SO EVER... SO IM POINTING THE FINGER AT MERCEDES DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS CAR WAS POORLY DESIGNED FUEL FILTER PLACEMENT AND FUEL PUMP SECURING AND SEALS.. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10494778

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

PE03058 · Engine Crankshaft Pulley Failure

Opened Dec 17, 2003 · Closed Apr 22, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:belts And Associated Pulleys

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE THAT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER-STEERING ASSIST.ODI HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 546 NON-DUPLICATIVE REPORTS THAT ALLEGE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE ON ALL MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLES USING THE SUBJECT COMPONENT.THE SUBJECT COMPONENT FAILURES ARE PROGRESSIVE IN NATURE AND ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINTS AND WARRANT CLAIMS INVOLVED A FAILURE THAT HAD PROGRESSED FAR ENOUGH TO EFFECT POWER STEERING PERFORMANCE (6 OF 55 ODI COMPLAINTS REFERENCE INCREASED STEERING EFFORT).THERE HAVE BEEN NO CRASHES OR INJURIES RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE SUMMARY REPORT ATTACHED FOR FURTHER DETAIL.