Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1987 Mercedes-Benz 300, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling7
- Air bags6
- Power train4
- Tires3
- Vehicle speed control3
- Seat belts1
- Exterior lighting1
- Suspension1
- Visibility1
- Fuel system, gasoline1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 6 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1987 Mercedes-Benz 300 failed the safety check 2.16% of the time — 178% more often than the average 1987 passenger car (0.78%). Median odometer at inspection: 151,799 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 1987 Mercedes-Benz 300 cars on Dutch roads are the 3.0 petrol (132 kW, 177 hp), 3.0 petrol (138 kW, 185 hp) and 2.9 petrol (132 kW, 177 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 3.0 petrol | 132 kW 177 hp | 73 |
| 3.0 petrol | 138 kW 185 hp | 50 |
| 2.9 petrol | 132 kW 177 hp | 28 |
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
196 first registered in 1987 are on Dutch roads; 81% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen30
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde27
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm23
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld11
- Stofhoes fuseekogel beschadigd en dicht niet af10
- Schijf-, trommelrem loopt niet vrij9
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse9
- CO meer dan wettelijk toegestaan8
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
225 cars built in 1987 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 482 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
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 279 of these cars first registered in 1987 took their annual MOT test. 77% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1987 the figure was 72%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1987 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 12.2% | 16.0% |
| Brakes | 6.5% | 9.5% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 5.7% | 7.5% |
| Suspension | 5.7% | 8.3% |
| Visibility | 3.6% | 6.2% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 2.5% | 5.3% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
10 of these cars first registered in 1987 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 223,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
14 1987 cars are on the New Zealand register; 79% arrived as used imports, 14% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 1987 Mercedes-Benz 300.
| 1993076 31 May 1993 | Engine THE THROTTLE BUSHING ON THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL BOWDEN CABLE COULD FATIGUE AND BREAK DUE TO HEAT EFFECTS. IF THIS OCCURS, THE ENGINE WILL RETURN TO IDLE AND A… |
| 1987056 28 May 1987 | Seats And Restraints ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM, AN ELECTRICAL PLUG ON THE AIR BAG MODULE MAY HAVE AN INSUFFICIENT PUSH/PULL FORCE. IF THIS IS THE C… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
DUE TO HEAT EFFECTS, THE THROTTLE BUSHING LOCATED ON THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE, CAN FATIGUE AND BREAK, CAUSING THE THROTTLE LINKAGE TO SEPARATE.
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
Service bulletins
What Mercedes-Benz told its dealers about the 1987 Mercedes-Benz 300: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 52431 | MODELS WITH DIESEL ENGINES EQUIPPED WITH TRAP OXIDIZERS REPLACEMENT OF THE TRAP OXIDIZER WITH AN OXIDATION CATALYST. *TW |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
ABS FAILURES
SUDDEN ACCELERATION
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation