Mercedes-Benz E300 complaints by model year
236 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Red numbers above the columns are recall campaigns for that model year.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 29 | 3 | 0 | 8 |
| 2018 | 32 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| 2017 | 132 | 2 | 3 | 16 |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2002 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Among the last 15 model years at least five years old; newer years are left out because owners are still filing reports. Every year compared →
Problem areas by model year
Complaints that name each component, 1997–2019. Darker cells mean more reports. One complaint can name several components.
| Component | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2001 | 2002 | 2009 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 9 | 3 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 7 | 3 |
| Unknown or other | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 6 | 9 |
| Power train | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 5 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 2 |
| Steering | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 4 | 1 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 1 |
| Air bags | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Mercedes-Benz E300 recalls (24)
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for at least one E300 model year, newest first.
| Campaign | Filed | What | Model years | Repaired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22V365000 | May 20, 2022 | Disabled Emergency Call System | 2019 | 90.6% |
| 22V232000 | Apr 8, 2022 | Inoperable Rearview Camera Display/FMVSS 111 | 2019 | 92.4% |
| 21V961000 | Dec 13, 2021 | Fuel Leak Between Fuel Rail and Injectors | 2019 | 88.5% |
| 21V072000 | Feb 12, 2021 | Emergency Call (eCall) Function May be Disabled | 2017, 2018, 2019 | 86.6% |
| 21V058000 | Feb 5, 2021 | Inaccurate Vehicle Location for Emergency Services | 2017, 2018, 2019 | 95.3% |
| 20V449000 | Jul 31, 2020 | Seat Belt Warning System Not Operating Properly | 2017, 2018, 2019 | 62.5% |
| 19V788000 | Nov 1, 2019 | System Interprets Seat Belts as being Unlatched | 2018, 2019 | 90.8% |
| 19V540000 | Jul 19, 2019 | Active Brake Assist May Not Engage | 2019 | 95.9% |
| 18V850000 | Nov 29, 2018 | Steering Rack Locknut May Fail, Affecting Steering | 2018 | 91.9% |
| 18V725000 | Oct 15, 2018 | Starter Battery has Exposed Positive Cable | 2018 | 92.4% |
| 18V515000 | Aug 3, 2018 | Child Seat may not Deactivate Passenger Air Bag | 2018 | 80% |
| 18V271000 | Apr 27, 2018 | Headlight Adjustment not Sealed/FMVSS 108 | 2017 | 73.8% |
| 18V151000 | Mar 6, 2018 | Incorrect Adjustment of LED Headlights/FMVSS 108 | 2017 | 92.9% |
| 17V714000 | Nov 14, 2017 | Power Steering may Malfunction and be Disabled | 2017 | 86.1% |
| 17V574000 | Sep 19, 2017 | Loss of Power Steering Assist | 2017 | 75% |
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. Open a model-year page for each campaign's official text, or check your VIN on NHTSA.
Check on NHTSA ↗Fuel economy by model year
EPA combined mpg range across engine and transmission configurations. Your mileage will vary. Source: EPA, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Where to next
Mercedes-Benz E300 FAQ
How many recalls has the Mercedes-Benz E300 had?
NHTSA lists 24 recall campaigns that cover at least one Mercedes-Benz E300 model year from 1995 to 2019. Each campaign card on the model-year pages has NHTSA's official text and the repair completion rate. Only NHTSA's VIN lookup can tell you whether a specific car was repaired.
Which Mercedes-Benz E300 year has the most complaints?
Among the last 12 model years with settled counts, the 2017 drew the most owner complaints filed with NHTSA (132) and the 1996 the fewest (1). Counts are owner reports, not failure rates, and sales volume affects them.
What are the most common Mercedes-Benz E300 problems?
Across the 1997–2019 model years, owners most often name the engine, electrical system, unknown or other in complaints filed with NHTSA.
What mpg does the Mercedes-Benz E300 get?
EPA rates the 2019 Mercedes-Benz E300 at 25 mpg combined, depending on engine and transmission.
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.