Mercedes-Benz 300 recalls

Whether your car is affected and still needs the repair depends on its VIN or registration. Check it on the official site for your country:

• United States: nhtsa.gov/recalls
• United Kingdom: check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk

1. Headlamp washer pump may overheat

   Reported September 19, 1996Model years 1991–1993NHTSA campaign 96V17500028,874 vehicles affected

   A misaligned wiper blade can lodge under a headlamp. If the washers are activated, the pump may run continuously after the fluid is expelled, overheat and cause a vehicle fire. Dealers will replace the headlamp washer pump.

   Official NHTSA recall text

   Component

   VISIBILITY

   Defect

   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.

   Consequence

   PUMP OPERATION IN THE ABSENCE OF FLUID CAN CAUSE THE PUMP TO OVERHEAT AND CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE.

   Remedy

   DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLAMP WASHER PUMP ON THESE VEHICLES.

   Notes

   OWNER NOTIFICATION:OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 18, 1996. NOTE:OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.

2. Throttle bushing may break

   Reported May 27, 1993Model years 1987–1991NHTSA campaign 93V095000128,000 vehicles affected

   Heat may cause the accelerator cable throttle bushing to break and the linkage to separate, leaving the engine at idle with no acceleration. The bushing will be replaced with one made from more heat-resistant material.

   Official NHTSA recall text

   Component

   VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

   Defect

   DUE TO HEAT EFFECTS, THE THROTTLE BUSHING LOCATED ON THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE, CAN FATIGUE AND BREAK, CAUSING THE THROTTLE LINKAGE TO SEPARATE.

   Consequence

   IF THE THROTTLE LINKAGE SEPARATES, THE ENGINE WILL RETURNTO IDLE SPEED, AND REMAIN AT IDLE, WITH NO ACCELERATION ABILITY. LOSS OF ENGINESPEED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND ANACCIDENT.

   Remedy

   REPLACE THE THROTTLE BUSHING WITH A NEW BUSHING MADE FROM MORE HEAT-RESISTANT MATERIALS.

   Notes

   SYSTEM: FUEL SYSTEM; THROTTLE LINKAGES.VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS.

3. Auxiliary fan resistor cover may melt

   Reported May 1, 1990Model years 1990NHTSA campaign 90V0680001,584 vehicles affected

   Under certain conditions, the plastic cover on the auxiliary fan pre-resistor may melt and ignite, causing a hazardous underhood fire. Replace the pre-resistor with a version that has a metal cover.

   Official NHTSA recall text

   Component

   EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

   Defect

   UNDER CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS, THE PLASTIC COVER OF THE PRERESISTOR FOR THE AUXILIARY FAN MAY MELT, POSSIBLY IGNITING THE PRERESISTOR.

   Consequence

   THIS RESULTS IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE THAT WOULD BE HAZARDOUS TO OCCUPANTS.

   Remedy

   REPLACE THE PRERESISTOR WITH VERSION HAVING A METAL COVER.

   Notes

   SYSTEM: AIR CONDITIONING -PRERESISTOR FOR AUXILIARY FAN.VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS; 300E, CE, TE, D , E4M, TE4M.WARNING: THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM SHOULD BE OPERATED IN THE EC (ECONOMY) MODE UNTIL THE PRERESISTOR IS CHANGED.

4. Tires may be damaged and fail

   Reported May 1, 1990Model years 1990NHTSA campaign 90V062000278 vehicles affected

   The left front and left rear tires may have been damaged by a worn conveyor chain. Damaged tires could fail during use and cause an accident with possible injuries. Replace damaged tires with tires of the same brand.

   Official NHTSA recall text

   Component

   TIRES:SIDEWALL

   Defect

   LEFT FRONT AND LEFT REAR TIRES MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BY A WORN CHAIN DRIVE OF THE CONVEYOR SYSTEM.

   Consequence

   DAMAGED OR CUT TIRES COULD FAIL DURING USE AND RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT WITH POSSIBLE INJURIES.

   Remedy

   REPLACE DAMAGED TIRES WITH TIRES OF THE SAME BRAND NAME.

   Notes

   SYSTEM: TIRES.VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS; 300SL, 500SL.

5. Brake strut support bolts may break

   Reported January 26, 1990Model years 1990NHTSA campaign 90V033000594 vehicles affected

   Brake strut support bolts that do not meet specifications may break, worsening steering and braking and potentially causing loss of control and a crash. The bolts will be replaced with ones that meet specifications.

   Official NHTSA recall text

   Component

   SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

   Defect

   BOLTS USED FOR THE BRAKE STRUT SUPPORT DO NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS AND MAY BREAK.

   Consequence

   THE FAILURE OF THE BOLTS MAY RESULT IN A DETERIORATION OF VEHICLE STEERING AND BRAKING WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.

   Remedy

   REPLACE HEX NUT BOLTS WITH BOLTS THAT MEET SPECIFICATIONS.

   Notes

   SYSTEM: BRAKE STRUT SUPPORT HEX NUT BOLTS.VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS.

6. Exhaust and crankcase emission controls may fail

   Reported June 19, 1967NHTSA campaign 67V054000253 vehicles affected

   The supplied recall text does not describe what can fail, the consequence, or the remedy.

   Official NHTSA recall text

   Component

   ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

   Notes

   POSSIBLE BREATHER LINE FREEZING.IF THIS CONDITION SHOULD OCCUR, THE THROTTLE IN THE AIR INTAKE HOUSING WILL FREEZE AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WILL NOT RETURN TO IDLE POSITION.(MODIFY CRANK CASE VENTILA- TION SYSTEM TO PREVENT THIS OCCURRENCE.)

Sources: NHTSA (US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), DVSA (UK Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) and the EU Safety Gate (European Commission) recall data. Each recall covers vehicles sold in that market; models sold elsewhere may differ.