Total Complaints
6 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ 300 · model year
1985 MERCEDES-BENZ 300
6 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1985MERCEDES-BENZ300 carries 6 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1985 300 is tires with 3 filings, followed by structure:frame and members (1) and power train:automatic transmission:park/neutral start interlock switch (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 15 investigation files overlapping the 1985 300. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
6
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| TIRES | 3 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH | 1 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20091214TIRES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1985 MERCEDES BENZ 300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO REAR TIRES AND ONE ON THE DRIVER SIDE FAILED. ONE TIRE BLEW OUT AND THE OTHER TWO EXPERIENCED TREAD FAILURE. THEY ARE REPLACEMENT TIRES AND THE TIRE SIZE IS 195/70R14. THE TIRE COMPANY IS TBC CORPORATION AND THE BRAND NAME IS CENTERED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT HAS OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 18 MONTHS. THE TIRE MILEAGE AND THE VIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000. *TR
Mileage: 140,000
20010717TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THE LEFT FRONT PIRELLI P400 TOURING TIRE HAD FAILED INTERNALLY, THE STEEL BELT HAD SEPARATED, A SECTION OF THE TREAD WAS GONE, AND THE BELT WAS SHOWING THROUGH, TIRE MILEAGE AT TIME OF FAILURE WAS 27628, CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE PIRELLIS FELT MUSHY. *YH
20000613POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
CAR WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, UNLOCKED THE DOOR AND NOTICED THAT VEHICLE WAS ROLLING BACKWARDS WHILE GEAR SHIFT LEVER WAS IN PARK.*AK
19990328STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
RUST THROUGH OF STRUCTURAL MEMBER- DESCRIBED AS COMMON FAULT ON LEFT SIDE ONLY DUE TO MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. *AK
19960307TIRES
MICHELIN TIRE BLEWOUT. *SD
19960307TIRES
MICHELIN TIRE BLEWOUT. *SD
Compare 1985MERCEDES-BENZ300 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1985 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 have?▼
The 1985 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 has 6 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1985 MERCEDES-BENZ 300?▼
The most-complained component for the 1985 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 is TIRES with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH.
Is the 1985 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.