Recalls (4)
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗FUEL:THROTTLE LINKAGES AND CONTROL
- Summary
- DUE TO HEAT EFFECTS, THE THROTTLE BUSHING LOCATED ON THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE, CAN FATIGUE AND BREAK, CAUSING THE THROTTLE LINKAGE TO SEPARATE.
- Consequence
- IF THE THROTTLE LINKAGE SEPARATES, THE ENGINE WILL RETURNTO IDLE SPEED, AND REMAIN AT IDLE, WITH NO ACCELERATION ABILITY. LOSS OF ENGINESPEED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND ANACCIDENT.
- Remedy
- REPLACE THE THROTTLE BUSHING WITH A NEW BUSHING MADE FROM MORE HEAT-RESISTANT MATERIALS.
TIRES:SIDEWALL
- Summary
- LEFT FRONT AND LEFT REAR TIRES MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BY A WORN CHAIN DRIVE OF THE CONVEYOR SYSTEM.
- Consequence
- DAMAGED OR CUT TIRES COULD FAIL DURING USE AND RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT WITH POSSIBLE INJURIES.
- Remedy
- REPLACE DAMAGED TIRES WITH TIRES OF THE SAME BRAND NAME.
AIR CONDITIONER
- Summary
- UNDER CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS, THE PLASTIC COVER OF THE PRERESISTOR FOR THE AUXILIARY FAN MAY MELT, POSSIBLY IGNITING THE PRERESISTOR.
- Consequence
- THIS RESULTS IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE THAT WOULD BE HAZARDOUS TO OCCUPANTS.
- Remedy
- REPLACE THE PRERESISTOR WITH VERSION HAVING A METAL COVER.
BRAKES:HYDRAULIC SYSTEM
- Summary
- BOLTS USED FOR THE BRAKE STRUT SUPPORT DO NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS AND MAY BREAK.
- Consequence
- THE FAILURE OF THE BOLTS MAY RESULT IN A DETERIORATION OF VEHICLE STEERING AND BRAKING WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
- Remedy
- REPLACE HEX NUT BOLTS WITH BOLTS THAT MEET SPECIFICATIONS.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (5)
5 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine and engine cooling is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 60% |
| Air bags | 1 | 20% |
| Visibility | 1 | 20% |
How 1990 compares with other 300 years
Best and worst 300 years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 13 | 0 |
| 1987 | 29 | 1 |
| 1988 | 7 | 1 |
| 1989 | 5 | 1 |
| 1990 | 5 | 4 |
| 1991 | 19 | 2 |
| 1992 | 22 | 1 |
| 1993 | 39 | 1 |
| 1994 | 4 | 0 |
| 1995 | 16 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 26 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,700
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 392 g/mi
- EPA class
- Compact Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 26 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L 5-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 23 / 30 / 26 | $3,700 | 392 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 / 21 / 18 | $4,550 | 494 |
| 2.6 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 / 21 / 18 | $4,550 | 494 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 5-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 / 20 / 17 | $4,850 | 523 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 / 20 / 17 | $4,850 | 523 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 / 20 / 17 | $4,850 | 523 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 / 20 / 16 | $5,150 | 555 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 / 17 / 16 | $5,150 | 555 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 / 17 / 16 | $5,150 | 555 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 / 19 / 16 | $5,150 | 555 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 / 18 / 16 | $5,150 | 555 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1990 300 for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1990 Mercedes-Benz 300 FAQ
How many recalls does the 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300 have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns: 93V095000 (vehicle speed control), 90V062000 (tire), 90V068000 (equipment), 90V033000 (brake). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300 problems?
Owners filed 5 complaints with NHTSA. Engine and engine cooling (3), Air bags (1), Visibility (1) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300 get?
EPA rates the 2.5 L 5-cyl · 4-speed automatic version at 23 city, 30 highway and 26 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1990 300 compare with other years?
Among the 1986–1995 Mercedes-Benz 300 model years at least five years old, the 1994 drew the fewest complaints (4) and the 1993 the most (39). The 1990 drew 5. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.