Total Complaints
10 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ 300 · model year
1997 MERCEDES-BENZ 300
10 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997MERCEDES-BENZ300 carries 10 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 1997 300 is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline with 2 filings, followed by visibility:windshield wiper/washer (1) and power train (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 1997 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.
10
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 |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 1 |
| INTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
Recent Complaints
19991202ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
REPEATED SERVICE CALLS TO CORRECT PROBLEM SINCE CAR HAD APPROXIMATEKLY 6,000 MILES. ONE SERVICE REPAIR COST $1,674. WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. NW ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED CAR BACK TO DEALER FOR SIXTH TIME CAR HAS 17, 450 MILES AT THIS TIME.
19990422INTERIOR LIGHTING
INSTRUMENT GAUGE CLUSTER DOES NOT ILLUMINATE ALL THE GAUGES, SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS, HOWEVER CONTINUES TO FAIL, BULBS BURNING OUT.
19990409ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
19990405EXTERIOR LIGHTING
RIGHT FRONT RUNNING LIGHT FAILED SEVERAL TIMES, AFTER LAST REPAIR THE "LIGHT DEFECTIVE" DASHBOARD SIGNAL STILL WARNING OF DEFECTIVE LIGHT.
19990405ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY BUCKS AT 2,250 RPM AT 55 MPH, UNABLE TO RECTIFY.
19990405SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
ELECTRONIC SEAT MEMORY FAILS INTERMITTENTLY.
19990405SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES LOCKED UP CAUSING VEHICLE TO SKID, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.
19990105POWER TRAIN
THE TACHOMETER SKIPPS OVER 2,000 RPM FOR A FEEW SECONDS WHILE THE CAR CONTINUED MOVING WITHOUT ANY NOTICEABLE SURGING.
19990105UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SINCE REPAIRED WHEN USING THE MEMORY SETTINGS, THE STEERING WHEEL NO LONGER IS INCLUDED AS PART OF ANY OF THE MEMORY ADJUSTMENTS.
19980626VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
VEHICLE HAS ONE WINDSHIELD WIPER WHICH DOES NOT SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Compare 1997MERCEDES-BENZ300 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1997 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 have?▼
The 1997 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 has 10 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 MERCEDES-BENZ 300?▼
The most-complained component for the 1997 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER and POWER TRAIN.
Is the 1997 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.