Mercedes-Benz E 300
Owners filed 236 complaints across 12 model years of the Mercedes-Benz E 300. The 2017 drew the most (132); the 2016 the fewest (1).
Model years12
Complaints236
Recalls32
Fires4
Deaths0
Every Mercedes-Benz E 300 model year compared
Complaints per year| Year | Complaints | Relative volume | Recalls | Fires | Crashes | Most reported | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 29 | 8 | — | 3 | Unknown or Other | Routine | |
| 2018 | 32 | 7 | — | 1 | Engine | Routine | |
| 2017 | 132 | 16 | 3 | 2 | Engine | Routine | |
| 2016 | 1 | 1 | — | — | Visibility › Windshield › Critical Fasteners | Routine | |
| 2009 | 2 | 0 | 1 | — | Suspension | Routine | |
| 2002 | 1 | 0 | — | — | Steering › Rack and Pinion › Rack | Routine | |
| 2001 | 2 | 0 | — | — | Air Bags › Side/Window | Routine | |
| 1999 | 13 | 0 | — | 1 | Suspension | Routine | |
| 1998 | 9 | 0 | — | 2 | Exterior Lighting › Headlights | Routine | |
| 1997 | 8 | 0 | — | — | Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery | Routine | |
| 1996 | 1 | 0 | — | — | Electrical System | Routine | |
| 1995 | 6 | 0 | — | — | Electrical System | Routine |
Which Mercedes-Benz E 300 years should you avoid?
On raw complaint volume the 2017 is the weakest year on record, with 132 complaints concentrated in the engine. It carries 16 recalls.
Read these numbers with sales volume in mind. A model year that sold in huge numbers naturally accumulates more reports than a rare one, and older cars have had more years to fail. The stronger signal is the severity columns and whether the same component keeps coming up year after year.
Data: NHTSA complaint and recall files, September 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports.