1989 Mercedes-Benz 300E Problems
- Complaints
- 11filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 152,378miles, 2 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns 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
- 18 mpgcombined, 3.0L 6-cyl RWD · 16 city / 20 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300E (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 11 consumer complaints for the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300E. The part named most often is air bags, with 4 complaints (36% of the total), followed by engine cooling (2) and vehicle speed control (2). 2 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 152,378 miles. Of all complaints, 1 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year.
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.
- Air bags4 36%
- Engine cooling2 18%
- Engine1 9.1%
- Fuel system1 9.1%
- Seat belts1 9.1%
- Wheels1 9.1%
Example complaints
Air bags: “Until I read about others who have the same problem with the airbag indicator light, I assumed this was normal. I have talked to the dealer about it, and was told I would have to pay over $2500 to repair/replace the airbag. The airbag did not deploy -- I intended for the date shown to indicate when the dashboard light first came on.”
NHTSA complaint #742102, filed 2001-03Engine cooling: “Vehicle intermittently stalled while driving down an incline or slowing down to a stop position. Vehicle had been to the repair shop on five separate occasions, and at the dealer once, however, and neither of them could resolve this problem. When turning on the headlights the srs and ABS light illuminate. The tachometer performed erratically. The alternator assembly was replaced. The vehicle's engine noise was caused by a bolt in the water pump which was too long and hit against the pump.”
NHTSA complaint #10101215, filed 2004-12Vehicle speed control: “Sudden acceleration . A 1989 mercedes benz 300E with around 158,900 miles. Since the past 6 weeks has been exhibiting the apparently hard to proof case of sudden acceleration. The first occurrence was while driving to work on highway 101. There was a construction going on so the traveling speed on that stretch of the highway was reduced to around 50mph. After driving for some minutes with my speed around 50mph, the car suddenly surged with the speedometer rising. I wasn't in anyway accelerating. …”
NHTSA complaint #10263812, filed 2009-03, 158,900 milesEngine: “Car cuts off after a long drive when coasting to a stop or when turning. When engine cuts off power steering no longer functions (very upsetting while turning which is usually when it cuts off). Have taken it to private shop and mercedes dealer but nothing resolved the issue. Car is driven rarely now due to this issue and issue is still active in car. I have five receipts from private auto repair shop and mercedes benz dealer documenting each time car was taken for this issue dating back to 2003.”
NHTSA complaint #10572854, filed 2014-03, 145,856 milesMileage when problems were reported
0% of the 2 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 145,856 and 158,900 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300E version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300E RWD | 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 16 | 20 | 18 | $4,550 |
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
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300E in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300E.
Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz 300E
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 8 | 134,344 | 0 | — | 19 | — | Not enough data |
| 1991 | 7 | 188,000 | 0 | — | 18 | — | Not enough data |
| 1989 | 11 | 152,378 | 0 | — | 18 | — | Not enough data |
| 1986 | 11 | 140,000 | 0 | — | 19 | — | Not enough data |
All Mercedes-Benz 300E model years
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300E have?
NHTSA recorded 11 consumer complaints for the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300E as of Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300E is reported most often?
Air bags is named most often, in 4 complaints (36% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 2.
Has the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300E been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300E get?
The EPA rates the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300E (300E, 3.0L 6-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 16 city and 20 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300E reported?
Among the 2 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 152,378 miles and the middle half falls between 145,856 and 158,900 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 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.