Total Complaints
23 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ 300 · model year
1995 MERCEDES-BENZ 300
23 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1995MERCEDES-BENZ300 carries 23 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 2 fires, 1 injury, 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 1995 300 is electrical system:wiring:front underhood with 5 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (3) and exterior lighting:headlights (2). 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 1995 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.
23
Complaints
1
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 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 |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 5 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 3 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST | 1 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20090103ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1995 MERCEDES BENZ E300 DIESEL, WIRING HARNESS IS DEFECTIVE. INSULATION IS FAILING AND WIRES ARE EXPOSED. I AM CONCERNED THIS COULD BE A FIRE HAZARD. *TR
Mileage: 155,000
20060828ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
1995 E300D WIRING HARNESS IS DISINTEGRATING WITH RESPECT TO THE WIRE INSULATION. WHEN THE WIRE IS FLEXED DURING NORMAL MAINTENANCE THE INSULATION FLAKES OFF LEAVING EXPOSED COPPER WIRE THE CAN SHORT OUT CRITICAL COMPONENT'S AND CAUSE A FIRE. *JB
Mileage: 163,756
20051209ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WIRING HARNESS FAILURE. *JB
Mileage: 168,491
20010330FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
THE ENGINE RAN VERY ROUGH AND RAW GAS WAS GOING OUT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE "CHECK ENGINE" WARNING LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAD MELTED THE INSULATION AND CAUSE THE WIRES TO TOUCH. THIS CAUSED THE #6 INJECTOR TO SPRAY TO MUCH FUEL. THE WIRES THAT TOUCHED ALSO BURNED OUT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. THE CRANK CASE AND THE EXHAUST WERE FILLED WITH GAS, AND STILL NO "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON. MERCEDES-BENZ HAS A DIAGNOSTIC DIRECTORY # AF07.00-U-3400A ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT THE WILL NOT PAY FOR THIS REPAIR. THEY SAY THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING. I FELL THAT MERCEDES-BENZ SHOULD BE RESPONSABLE AND THEY SHOULD BE MADE TO RECALL THIS CARS BECAUSE OF THE OBVIOUS FIRE HAZARD.*AK
20010330ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
THE ENGINE RAN VERY ROUGH AND RAW GAS WAS GOING OUT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE "CHECK ENGINE" WARNING LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAD MELTED THE INSULATION AND CAUSE THE WIRES TO TOUCH. THIS CAUSED THE #6 INJECTOR TO SPRAY TO MUCH FUEL. THE WIRES THAT TOUCHED ALSO BURNED OUT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. THE CRANK CASE AND THE EXHAUST WERE FILLED WITH GAS, AND STILL NO "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON. MERCEDES-BENZ HAS A DIAGNOSTIC DIRECTORY # AF07.00-U-3400A ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT THE WILL NOT PAY FOR THIS REPAIR. THEY SAY THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING. I FELL THAT MERCEDES-BENZ SHOULD BE RESPONSABLE AND THEY SHOULD BE MADE TO RECALL THIS CARS BECAUSE OF THE OBVIOUS FIRE HAZARD.*AK
20010330UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE ENGINE RAN VERY ROUGH AND RAW GAS WAS GOING OUT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE "CHECK ENGINE" WARNING LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAD MELTED THE INSULATION AND CAUSE THE WIRES TO TOUCH. THIS CAUSED THE #6 INJECTOR TO SPRAY TO MUCH FUEL. THE WIRES THAT TOUCHED ALSO BURNED OUT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. THE CRANK CASE AND THE EXHAUST WERE FILLED WITH GAS, AND STILL NO "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON. MERCEDES-BENZ HAS A DIAGNOSTIC DIRECTORY # AF07.00-U-3400A ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT THE WILL NOT PAY FOR THIS REPAIR. THEY SAY THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING. I FELL THAT MERCEDES-BENZ SHOULD BE RESPONSABLE AND THEY SHOULD BE MADE TO RECALL THIS CARS BECAUSE OF THE OBVIOUS FIRE HAZARD.*AK
20001213FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
THE ENGINE ELECTRICAL HARNESS ON 1995 E320 MERCEDES ARE FLAWED BEYOND BELIEF. THE ENTIRE HARNESS BUNDLE WHICH INCLUDES HIGH VOLTAGE LINES FOR IGNITION COILS AND THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM HAS A SEVERE FIRE PROBLEM DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE WIRE INSULATION IS INFERIOR IN MATERIAL QUALITY. THE INSULATION ALONG THESE WIRE IS CRACKING AT A RATE OF EVERY 1/4 INCH, THROUGOUT THE ENTIRE HARNESS. HIGH VOLTAGE COPPER WIRE ARE MAKING CONTACT, THESE WIRE RUN ON TOP OF THE FUEL CONTROL SYSTEM. ALL AUSTIN BASED MERCEDES SHOPS INFORM ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL, BUT MERCEDES WILL NOT ADMIT TO IT. THIS PROBLEM IS AS DANGEROUS AS ANY FACING THE CURRENT BOARD AND TO HAVE MERCEDES BENZ ACT LIKE IT IS NOT A PROBLEM IS JUST A BUNCH OF FUEY. PLEASE SEND AN INVESTIGATOR TO LOOK AT THIS WIRING HARNESS AND I WILL ASSURE YOU THAT THIS WILL BE A RECALL EVENT ONCE YOU SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THESE HARNESS'S. THANKS.*AK
19990102FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
CONSUMER WAS TURNING A CORNER WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED , TOTAL VEHICLE FAILURE.SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE HOOD BURSTING INTO FLAMES . NO DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE, BUT TO THE RIGHT HAND SIDE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, INCLUDING THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE MELTED. *AK
19980917SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
BRAKE ROTORS AND CALIPERS FAILED. QCAW
19980917SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
BRAKE ROTORS AND CALIPERS FAILED. QCAW
19980420VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING ACCIDENT
19970203SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
NOISES COME FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE WHEN SLOWING DOWN ON AN INCLINE WHEN REVERSIN BECAUSE THE CONTROL ARM BOLTS ARE LOOSE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
19961206SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS BRAKES SQUEAL DUE TO DEBRIS/DIRT. *AK
19960722ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
PASSENGER SIDE WIRING UNDER DASH FAILED AFTER RECALL. *DH
19960307POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS. *TT
19960307POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS. *TT
19960229EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS CAST DARK SHADOWS. *SD
19960229CrashVISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED TO KEEP GLASS CLEAN, CAUSING ACCIDENT. *SD
19960229EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS CAST DARK SHADOWS. *SD
19960118SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST
VACUUM LOCK SYSTEM. *AK
Compare 1995MERCEDES-BENZ300 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 have?▼
The 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 has 23 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ 300?▼
The most-complained component for the 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS.
Is the 1995 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.