Total Complaints
15 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ E300 · model year
15 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1999MERCEDES-BENZE300 carries 15 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 1999 E300 is suspension with 3 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (2) and vehicle speed control (1). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause.
NHTSA currently has 15 investigation files overlapping the 1999 E300. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
Total Complaints
15 filings
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SUSPENSION | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OTHER FUEL TYPES:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
THE FRONT RIGHT COIL SPRING PERCH FAILED DUE TO RUST WHICH CAUSED THE SUSPENSION TO DROP TO THE GROUND ON THAT SIDE. THE COIL SPRING FELL OUT AND ROLLED DOWN THE STREET. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A WELDER AND FIXED THE PERCH. THIS LUCKILY HAPPENED ON A LOW SPEED ROAD, WHERE I COULD SAFELY PULL OVER WITH A BOTTOMED OUT SUSPENSION. THE CAR WAS TRAVELLING STRAIT DURING THE INCIDENT.
Mileage: 135,000
MY FRONT LEFT CONTROL ARM SHEARED OFF JUST AFTER PULLING OFF THE HIGHWAY. LUCKILY, I WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT RIPPED OFF. I WAS TRAVELLING AT 65 MPH MINUTES BEFORE COMPLETE FAILURE. THE STEERING DID FEEL STRANGE ON THE HIGHWAY BEFORE. THIS EVEN RESULTED IN THE FRONT WHEEL DISCONNECTING FROM THE CAR COMPLETELY. A QUICK EXAMINATION OF THE SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY REVEALED THAT THE CONTROL ARM SHEARED COMPLETELY OFF AT THE WELD OF THE LOWER BALL JOINT. THE CONTROL ARM SHEARED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN REVERSE, BACKING INTO A PARKING SPACE. THE VEHICLE HAD 129,273 MILES ON IT WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ E300 TURBODIESEL.
Mileage: 129,273
THE WIRING INSULATION INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT HAS DEGRADED AND CRUMBLED LEAVING ONLY THE BARE COPPER WIRE SHOWING. THESE WIRES HAVE SHORTED GOING OVER BUMPS CAUSING A LOSS OF LIGHT TO OCCUR. *TR
THE WIRING INSULATION INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT HAS DEGRADED AND CRUMBLED LEAVING ONLY THE BARE COPPER WIRE SHOWING. THESE WIRES HAVE SHORTED GOING OVER BUMPS CAUSING A LOSS OF LIGHT TO OCCUR. *TR
1999 MERCEDES BENZ E-300. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SUSPENSION COLLAPSE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE SUSPENSION COLLAPSED AFTER HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD. HE AND HIS WIFE HEARD A FEW LOUD THUDS, A FEW SECONDS APART AS SOME THINGS STRUCK THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONSUMER REMOVED THE TIRE AND EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, HE COULD SEE THE LEFT FRONT SPRING PERCH WAS RIPPED LOOSE WHERE THE SPOT WELDING WAS WEAKENED BY RUST. HE COULD ALSO SEE THAT THE SPRING, TOGETHER WITH ANY RELATED HARDWARE, WAS MISSING. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE SEALING MATERIAL WAS NOT CAPABLE OF KEEPING WATER OUT OF THE SPOT WELD AREA. INSTEAD, MOISTURE WAS RETAINED IN THE SPOT WELD AREA, ALLOWING RUST TO FORM. THE RUST EVENTUALLY BROKE THE SPOT WELD. WHEN THE SPOT WELD FAILED, THE SPRING NO LONGER SUPPORTED THE VEHICLE AND THE SUSPENSION COLLAPSED. JB
1999 MERCEDES BENZ E300TD FAULTY UPPER COIL SPRING SUPPORT DESIGN. MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT WHEN THE LEFT UPPER SPRING MOUNT SIMPLY COLLAPSED. THE CAR DROPPED DOWN AND THE COIL SPRING FELL OFF.IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY AS IT WAS RENDERED INOPERABLE. MOMENTS EARLIER I HAD BEEN AT 70 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY.I FEEL EXTREMELY LUCKY TO BE ALIVE! HAD THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS TRAVELING AN ACCIDENT INVESTIGATOR WOULD BE FILING THIS REPORT. I DID NOTHING UNUSUAL TO CAUSE THIS EVENT.THE VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 151,000 MILES ON IT AND THESE VEHICLES ARE CLAIMED TO BE ABLE TO LAST FOR 400-500,000 MILES. I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VINTAGE OF MERCEDES VEHICLES. LOOKING AT THE DESIGN, THE MATERIAL HAS NO CORROSION ALLOWANCE FOR A PART THAT IS LOCATED IN AN AREA THAT IS SUBJECT TO A DAMP ENVIRONMENT. IT IS EXTREMELY THIN AND THE METHOD OF ATTACHMENT ENCOURAGES RUSTING, EXACERBATING THE PROBLEM. FOR ME, THE CONSEQUENCES WERE INCO
Mileage: 151,000
THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON THAT SAID BRAKE FLUID IS BELOW MINIMAL CHECK . I CHECKED AND ADDED BRAKE FLUID. THE NEXT DAY WHILE DRIVING THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I CONTACTED ATLANTA CLASSIC CARS, HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE ABS/ASR HYDRAULIC UNIT WAS LEAKING. UPON RESEARCHING I CAME UPON SOME INFORMATION THAT IS RELATED TO MY SITUATION. THE COST TO REPLACE THE SYSTEM WAS 2048.30, THERE WAS A RECALL OF THE E-CLASS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES WHERE THE VEHICLE IS USED AS A TAXI CAB. THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT THIS SITUATION HAD NEVER OCCURRED. MY VEHICLE IS A 1999 -E 300 DW WITH 167,755 MILES I HAVE HAD ALL SERVICES DONE BY AUTHORIZED MERCEDES-BENZ DEALERS. I AM REGISTERING THIS COMPLAINT BASED ON A LETTER DATED APRIL 30, 2004 FROM MERCEDES-BENZ USA. PART 579 FOREIGN DEFECT REPORT . *TR
Mileage: 167,755
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ 300E. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR, SHE HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. SHE PULLED OVER AND TRIED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF SHE WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE; HOWEVER, THE GRINDING NOISE CONTINUED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE MECHANIC AND THEN TO DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FULL OF SHAVINGS AND TO INSTALL A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. THE OWNER'S MANUAL INDICATED THAT FLUID CHECKS AND CHANGES FOR TRANSMISSION WERE NOT REQUIRED AS THE DIPSTICK WAS OMITTED. IN 2005 THE DEALER GAVE HER DOCUMENT S100.20-P-0022A WHICH INDICATED THAT FLUID CHECKS AND CHANGES WERE REQUIRED. HER CONCERN WAS THAT SHE WAS NOT UPDATED WITH THE NEW DOCUMENT WHICH MAY HAVE PREVENTED THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 115,000.
Mileage: 115,000
ENGINE FAILURE DURING NORMAL DRIVING IN TRAFFIC IN MY 1999 MERCEDES E300 TURBO DIESEL. BOTH IN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND DEALER IN FT. MYERS CAN NOT FIND AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM AND TRAFFIC HAZARD. *TR
Mileage: 109,315
FUEL LINE LEAKS X4. 1999 MERCEDES 300 TD. STARTING IN FEB. 03 FIRST FUEL LINE LEAK. CAR WOULD NOT START TOWED TO DEALER. FUEL LINE REPLACED. TWICE AGAIN IN MARCH OF 03, FUEL LINE LEAKS. REPAIRED BY DEALER. NOV.23 05, CAR CAME TO A STOP WHILE DRIVING. CAR TOWED TO DEALER. FUEL LINE LEAK DIAGNOSED. ALL FUEL LINES AND CUT OFF SWITCH REPLACED. PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *JB
Mileage: 40,470
WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET TO 72 MPH CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL AND VEHICLE TOOK OFF LIKE A JET. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE JUMPED THE MEDIAN ON THE HIGHWAY, DAMAGING THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
Mileage: 23,000
PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AFTER CONSUMER GOT OUT OF VEHICLE AND SHUT THE DOOR.*AK
Mileage: 45,000
EXITING THE FREEWAY, VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE WITH BRAKES APPLIED, ABS SYSTEM WAS LOCKING & UNLOCKING, AND TIRES WERE SPINNING ON WET PAVEMENT. CRUISE CONTROL HAD NOT BEEN ENGAGED. WITH COLLISION IMMINENT, DRIVER MOVED GEAR SELECTOR TO NEUTRAL, ENGINE THEN RACED TO TACHOMETER RED-LINE, AND STAYED THERE. DRIVER TURNED ENGINE OFF, WAITED SEVERAL SECONDS AND RESTARTED ENGINE. VEHICLE HAS PERFORMED NORMALLY SINCE.*AK
EXITING THE FREEWAY, VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE WITH BRAKES APPLIED, ABS SYSTEM WAS LOCKING & UNLOCKING, AND TIRES WERE SPINNING ON WET PAVEMENT. CRUISE CONTROL HAD NOT BEEN ENGAGED. WITH COLLISION IMMINENT, DRIVER MOVED GEAR SELECTOR TO NEUTRAL, ENGINE THEN RACED TO TACHOMETER RED-LINE, AND STAYED THERE. DRIVER TURNED ENGINE OFF, WAITED SEVERAL SECONDS AND RESTARTED ENGINE. VEHICLE HAS PERFORMED NORMALLY SINCE.*AK
THE CAR VIBRATES IN DECELARATION AT ABOUT 40MPH, MANUFACTURER IS AWARE BUT DOES NOT REPAIR DO TO LOW NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS.
Data vintage: August 2026. 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.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ E300; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.