Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system24
- Engine and engine cooling7
- Fuel system, gasoline3
- Steering3
- Seat belts2
- Air bags2
- Vehicle speed control2
- Structure1
- Tires1
- Equipment1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 3 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300 failed the safety check 1.08% of the time — 10% less often than the average 1993 passenger car (1.20%). Median odometer at inspection: 138,554 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300 cars on Dutch roads are the 3.0 petrol (162 kW, 217 hp), 3.0 petrol (170 kW, 228 hp) and 3.0 petrol (140 kW, 188 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 3.0 petrol | 162 kW 217 hp | 68 |
| 3.0 petrol | 170 kW 228 hp | 52 |
| 3.0 petrol | 140 kW 188 hp | 37 |
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
198 first registered in 1993 are on Dutch roads; 76% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen19
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde12
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm10
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld9
- Stofhoes fuseekogel beschadigd en dicht niet af7
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm6
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)5
- Brandstoflekkage4
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
239 cars built in 1993 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 584 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, 219 of these cars first registered in 1993 took their annual MOT test. 72% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1993 the figure was 67%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1993 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 16.4% | 17.2% |
| Suspension | 9.1% | 10.0% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 6.4% | 9.7% |
| Brakes | 5.9% | 11.2% |
| Steering | 5.0% | 3.8% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 4.6% | 7.0% |
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
6 of these cars first registered in 1993 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 309,000 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
28 1993 cars are on the New Zealand register; 96% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
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.
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 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 39407 | MODIFIED STEERING LOCK. *TW |
| 39181 | BONDING HEADLAMP LENS TO HOUSING. *TW |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)