Skip to content
Mercedes-Benz 300Model year report

1989 Mercedes-Benz 300 Problems

Complaints
5filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
170,000miles, 1 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
16 mpgcombined, 3.0L 6-cyl RWD · 15 city / 17 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 5 consumer complaints for the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300. The part named most often is vehicle speed control, with 2 complaints (40% of the total), followed by air bags (1) and brakes (1). 1 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 170,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year. Vehicle speed control complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Vehicle speed control: “The contact owns a 1989 mercedes benz 300se. The contact stated when driving 45 MPH he depressed the accelerator pedal and the vehicle stalled. The engine returned to idle speed and remained idle with the RPM's increasing. The contact stated NHTSA recall campaign id number: 93v095000, vehicle speed control. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified and stated that the recall does not include his VIN. The failure mileage was 170,000 and the current mileage was 180,000.”

NHTSA complaint #10458536, filed 2012-05, 170,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

0% of the 1 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 170,000 and 170,000 miles.

0%0–100%10–250%25–500%50–750%75–1000%100–150100%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (1 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 170,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

19952199620012012
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
300CE RWD3.0L 6-cyl4-speed automatic162018$4,550
300SE RWD3.0L 6-cyl4-speed automatic151716$5,150
300SEL RWD3.0L 6-cyl4-speed automatic151716$5,150
300SEL RWD3.0L 6-cyl4-speed automatic151615$4,450
300TE RWD3.0L 6-cyl4-speed automatic152017$4,850

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300.

Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz 300

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
1999674,0000———Not enough data
19975—0———Not enough data
19968160,0000———Not enough data
199516163,7560———Stable
199339103,7561—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199222118,1521—17—Stable
199119119,0002—17—Stable
19905—4—16—Not enough data
19895170,0001—16—Not enough data
19887—1—18—Not enough data
198729167,1101—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
198613—0—22—Not enough data
19855140,0000—21—Not enough data
19836—0———Not enough data

All Mercedes-Benz 300 model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300 have?

NHTSA recorded 5 consumer complaints for the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300 is reported most often?

Vehicle speed control is named most often, in 2 complaints (40% of the total), followed by air bags with 1.

Has the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300 get?

The EPA rates the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300 (300SE, 3.0L 6-cyl) at 16 mpg combined, 15 city and 17 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $5,150 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300 reported?

Among the 1 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 170,000 miles and the middle half falls between 170,000 and 170,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.