Total Complaints
6 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ 300 · model year
1999 MERCEDES-BENZ 300
6 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1999MERCEDES-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 1999 300 is electrical system with 2 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:cooling system:hoses/lines/piping/fittings (1) and power train:automatic transmission (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 1999 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 |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20140324ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ 300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND TRIED TO LOCK THE DOORS BUT NOTICED THAT THE KEY WAS NOT WORKING. THE CONTACT USED THE SPARE KEY AND DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE MAIN KEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE KEY WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
Mileage: 74,000
20060604FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
ON MAY 26, 2006, MY MERCEDES BENZ 1999 300D LOST ALL POWER DURING ROUTINE OPERATION. THE CAR STALLED WHILE IN MOTION IN REGULAR TRAFFIC, AND WAS REQUIRED TO BE TOWED TO A MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP. I WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE WAS A DEFECTIVE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. PART NUMBER 003-153-74-28. THE PART WAS REPLACED. WHEN THE CAR WAS RETURNED, IT WAS DRIVEN NO MORE THAN 12 MILES WHEN THE EXACT SAME CONDITION RE-OCCURRED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION IN TRAFFIC. THE CAR WAS TOWED AGAIN AND REPAIRED ON JUNE 2, 2006 AT A MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP, AND THIS TIME THE REASON GIVEN FOR THE FAILURE WAS A BROKEN PRE-FILTER AND MAIN FUEL FILTER. PARTS NUMBER 601-092-01-05, 601-090-16-52, AND 601 997-01-48. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER PROMPTLY, AS THERE APPEARS TO BE A CONDITION WHICH CAN CAUSE THE LOSS OF ALL POWER WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. *NM
Mileage: 72,791
20030114POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED.*JB *TS
20030114ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WITHOUT WARNING THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE DUE TO A FAULTY BASE CIRCUIT. *JB *TS
20030114AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE CONSOLE, CONSUMER CONTACTED MERCEDES AND THEY INFORMED HIM THAT AN AIR BAG SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*JB *TS
Mileage: 94,246
20000614ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
ENGINE FUEL LINE LEAKING, CAUSING FUEL TO FUME INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH MAY RESULT IN A FIRE. DEALER CANNOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML
Compare 1999MERCEDES-BENZ300 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 have?▼
The 1999 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 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ 300?▼
The most-complained component for the 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 1999 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.