Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1983 Mercedes-Benz 300, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling3
- Tires2
- Equipment1
- Power train1
- Steering1
- Suspension1
- Vehicle speed control1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 4 1983 300 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 3 people died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1983 Mercedes-Benz 300 failed the safety check 2.03% of the time — 139% more often than the average 1983 passenger car (0.85%). Median odometer at inspection: 167,740 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 1983 Mercedes-Benz 300 cars on Dutch roads are the 3.0 diesel (65 kW, 87 hp) and 2.9 diesel (65 kW, 87 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 3.0 diesel | 65 kW 87 hp | 42 |
| 2.9 diesel | 65 kW 87 hp | 23 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
139 first registered in 1983 are on Dutch roads; 90% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde18
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen15
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm13
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld9
- Stuurkogel te veel speling9
- Wiellager te veel speling6
- Schijf-, trommelrem loopt niet vrij6
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt5
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
170 cars built in 1983 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 183 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In New Zealand
2 1983 cars are on the New Zealand register; 50% arrived as used imports, 50% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 1983 Mercedes-Benz 300.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words