Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 1991.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 3 | 0 |
| 1999 | 6 | 0 |
| 1998 | 2 | 0 |
| 1997 | 5 | 0 |
| 1996 | 8 | 0 |
| 1995 | 16 | 0 |
| 1994 | 4 | 0 |
| 1993 300 | 39 | 1 |
| 1992 300 | 22 | 1 |
| 1991 300 | 19 | 2 |
| 1990 300 | 5 | 4 |
| 1989 300 | 5 | 1 |
| 1988 300 | 7 | 1 |
| 1987 300 | 29 | 1 |
| 1986 300 | 13 | 0 |
| 1985 300 | 5 | 0 |
| 1984 300 | 4 | 0 |
| 1983 300 | 6 | 0 |
| 1982 300 | 1 | 0 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Electrical system50
- Engine and engine cooling44
- Air bags26
- Vehicle speed control20
- Power train17
- Tires15
- Service brakes, hydraulic13
- Fuel system, gasoline11
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 19 300 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died, and 16 people died inside them. These are counts, not crash rates: a model with more cars on the road shows up more often, and people killed outside the vehicle are not counted here.
| Model year | Vehicles in fatal crashes | Deaths in the vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 | 1 |
| 1993 | 2 | 2 |
| 1992 | 1 | 1 |
| 1991 | 3 | 2 |
| 1990 | 2 | 2 |
| 1989 | 2 | 1 |
| 1988 | 1 | 1 |
| 1987 | 1 | 1 |
| 1986 | 1 | 1 |
| 1984 | 1 | 1 |
| 1983 | 4 | 3 |
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain) · how we count
In New Zealand
325 300 cars are on the New Zealand register; 77% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 2007 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 1999 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1998 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1994 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 1993 | 28 | 0 | 27 |
| 1992 | 47 | 8 | 36 |
| 1991 | 53 | 9 | 41 |
| 1990 | 42 | 10 | 30 |
| 1989 | 41 | 2 | 36 |
| 1988 | 43 | 2 | 37 |
| 1987 | 14 | 2 | 11 |
| 1986 | 10 | 3 | 7 |
| 1985 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1983 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 1982 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1980 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 1978 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 1974 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1973 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1972 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1971 | 5 | 1 | 2 |
| 1970 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1969 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 1968 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1967 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 1957 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1956 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1955 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
In the Netherlands
2,960 300 cars are on Dutch roads; 79% arrived later as imports. Open a year for APK defects, odometer checks and colours.
| First registered | On the road | Median list price |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 23 | — |
| 1993 | 198 | — |
| 1992 | 350 | €93,856 |
| 1991 | 222 | — |
| 1990 | 223 | — |
| 1989 | 141 | — |
| 1988 | 138 | — |
| 1987 | 196 | — |
| 1986 | 298 | — |
| 1985 | 162 | — |
| 1984 | 113 | — |
| 1983 | 139 | — |
| 1982 | 142 | — |
| 1981 | 131 | — |
| 1980 | 157 | — |
| 1979 | 77 | — |
| 1978 | 24 | — |
| 1972 | 42 | — |
| 1971 | 47 | — |
| 1970 | 48 | — |
| 1969 | 23 | — |
| 1958 | 20 | — |
| 1955 | 20 | — |
| 1953 | 26 | — |
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles (CC0) · list price is the manufacturer's catalogue price when new
In Finland
150 300 cars were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026: 79% petrol, 21% diesel. Mileage is the odometer reading at the last inspection.
| First registered | In use | Average mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 6 | 309,000 km |
| 1992 | 23 | 270,000 km |
| 1991 | 18 | 278,000 km |
| 1990 | 33 | 216,000 km |
| 1989 | 26 | 298,000 km |
| 1988 | 19 | 314,000 km |
| 1987 | 10 | 223,000 km |
| 1986 | 9 | 225,000 km |
| 1952 | 6 | 53,000 km |
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use, 30 Jun 2026 · CC BY 4.0
In the United Kingdom
3,782 300 cars were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, by year of manufacture.
| Built | Licensed | Off the road (SORN) |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1 | — |
| 2018 | 1 | — |
| 2013 | 0 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 | — |
| 2010 | 1 | — |
| 2009 | 1 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 | — |
| 2007 | 2 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 | 1 |
| 2005 | 5 | 8 |
| 2004 | 30 | 21 |
| 2003 | 21 | 22 |
| 2002 | 3 | 9 |
| 2001 | 3 | 9 |
| 2000 | 6 | 12 |
| 1999 | 2 | 16 |
| 1998 | 2 | 28 |
| 1997 | 3 | 7 |
| 1996 | 5 | 15 |
| 1995 | 7 | 12 |
| 1994 | 26 | 54 |
| 1993 | 239 | 584 |
| 1992 | 310 | 849 |
| 1991 | 295 | 891 |
| 1990 | 230 | 818 |
| 1989 | 466 | 854 |
| 1988 | 310 | 691 |
| 1987 | 225 | 482 |
| 1986 | 171 | 315 |
| 1985 | 95 | 240 |
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
2,715 300 cars took their annual MOT test in 2023; 76% passed first time, against 70% for all cars of the same ages. Older cars fail more often, so compare a year with the same year of other cars.
| First registered | Tests | Passed first time |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 219 | 72% |
| 1992 | 420 | 74% |
| 1991 | 403 | 73% |
| 1990 | 305 | 76% |
| 1989 | 535 | 80% |
| 1988 | 386 | 77% |
| 1987 | 279 | 77% |
| 1986 | 168 | 81% |
Why they fail
Share of all first tests that ended in a fail because of each part of the car (one test can fail on several).
| Area | 300 | All cars, same ages |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 12.1% | 16.1% |
| Suspension | 7.0% | 8.8% |
| Brakes | 6.8% | 10.0% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 5.6% | 8.2% |
| Visibility | 4.3% | 6.6% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 3.6% | 5.3% |
| Steering | 2.4% | 3.7% |
| Tyres | 1.8% | 2.2% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests of cars only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
New registrations in Europe
4 new Mercedes-Benz 300 cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2011 and 2021, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2021 the largest markets were Spain (1).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1 | — |
| 2016 | 1 | — |
| 2011 | 2 | — |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Recalls
5 campaigns cover the 300.
IF ONE OF THE HEADLAMP WIPER ARMS BECOMES MISALIGNED, THE WIPER BALDE CAN LODGE IN THE GROOVE UNDER THE HEADLAMP. IF THE WASHERS ARE ACTIVATED WITH THE WIPER BLADE IN THE MISALIGNED AND LODGED POSITION, THE WASHER PUMP WILL RUN CONTINUOUSLY EXPELLING ALL AVAILABLE FLUID.
DUE TO HEAT EFFECTS, THE THROTTLE BUSHING LOCATED ON THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE, CAN FATIGUE AND BREAK, CAUSING THE THROTTLE LINKAGE TO SEPARATE.
UNDER CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS, THE PLASTIC COVER OF THE PRERESISTOR FOR THE AUXILIARY FAN MAY MELT, POSSIBLY IGNITING THE PRERESISTOR.
LEFT FRONT AND LEFT REAR TIRES MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BY A WORN CHAIN DRIVE OF THE CONVEYOR SYSTEM.
BOLTS USED FOR THE BRAKE STRUT SUPPORT DO NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS AND MAY BREAK.
NHTSA recalls