1990 Mercedes-Benz 300 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
4 safety recalls list the 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300, and owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
4 safety recalls for the 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Vehicle speed control
Due to heat effects, the throttle bushing located on the accelerator control cable, can fatigue and break, causing the throttle linkage to separate.
Remedy: Replace the throttle bushing with a new bushing made from more heat-resistant materials.
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Tires: sidewall
Left front and left rear tires may have been damaged by a worn chain drive of the conveyor system.
Remedy: Replace damaged tires with tires of the same brand name.
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Air conditioner (equipment)
Under certain operating conditions, the plastic cover of the preresistor for the auxiliary fan may melt, possibly igniting the preresistor.
Remedy: Replace the preresistor with version having a metal cover.
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Foundation components (service brakes)
Bolts used for the brake strut support do not meet specifications and may break.
Remedy: Replace hex nut bolts with bolts that meet specifications.
5 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300 have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA. Complaints peaked in 2002 with 2 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“300 se, vehicle stalls at any speed, check engine light comes on intermittantly. Dealer unable to find problem. Mr”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 11, 2002 · Engine and engine cooling
“I drop my car to the service station for smog check, next day i called mechanic,to see if my car is done. He said no it still have a high reading on hydro emission. He said he will try to inject water”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 28, 2002 · Engine and engine cooling
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300 (300CE, 300D 2.5 Turbo, 300E, 300E 2.6, …). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 16–26 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 14–23 / 17–30 |
| Fuel | Diesel, Premium |
| EPA class | Compact Cars, Midsize Cars, Midsize-Large Station Wagons, Subcompact Cars, Two Seaters |
| Engine | 5/6 cyl, 2.5/2.6/3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Automatic 5-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Mercedes-Benz 300 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Mercedes-Benz 300 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 Mercedes-Benz 300 | 3 | 0 |
| 1972 Mercedes-Benz 300 | 1 | 0 |
| 1978 Mercedes-Benz 300 | 0 | 1 |
| 1980 Mercedes-Benz 300 | 0 | 2 |
| 1982 Mercedes-Benz 300 | 0 | 1 |
| 1983 Mercedes-Benz 300 | 0 | 6 |
| 1984 Mercedes-Benz 300 | 0 | 4 |
| 1985 Mercedes-Benz 300 | 0 | 5 |
| 1986 Mercedes-Benz 300 | 0 | 13 |
| 1987 Mercedes-Benz 300 | 1 | 29 |
| 1988 Mercedes-Benz 300 | 1 | 7 |
| 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300 | 1 | 5 |
| 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300 | 4 | 5 |
| 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300 | 2 | 19 |
| 1992 Mercedes-Benz 300 | 1 | 22 |
| 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300 | 1 | 39 |
| 1994 Mercedes-Benz 300 | 0 | 4 |
| 1995 Mercedes-Benz 300 | 0 | 16 |
| 1996 Mercedes-Benz 300 | 0 | 8 |
| 1997 Mercedes-Benz 300 | 0 | 5 |
| 1998 Mercedes-Benz 300 | 0 | 2 |
| 1999 Mercedes-Benz 300 | 0 | 6 |
| 2002 Mercedes-Benz 300 | 0 | 3 |
Checking a specific 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300
How do I know if my 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Mercedes-Benz dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 90V033000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Mercedes-Benz models
- C3003,469 complaints
- E3502,170 complaints
- E3201,164 complaints
- ML350952 complaints
- GLK350904 complaints
- ML320742 complaints
- C250726 complaints
- C230657 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.