RoadVitals

1985 Mercedes-Benz 190

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest May 17, 2011
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Aug 20, 1991
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
4
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0
3 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 10 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1985 Mercedes-Benz 190, most frequently naming the driver assistance, engine and visibility categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 4 NHTSA investigations name it; and 1 manufacturer communication is on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Driver assistance327.3%
  • Engine218.2%
  • Visibility218.2%
  • Airbags19.1%
  • Suspension19.1%
  • Transmission19.1%
  • Body & structure19.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
91V137000

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL

Aug 20, 1991
96,541 units potentially affected
The defect: THE DESIGN OF THE PARKING BRAKE GRIP MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO DISTORT THE GRIP AND PINCH THE BRAKE RELEASE KNOB. IF THE RELEASE KNOB STICKS IN A PARTIAL ENGAGE/RELEASE POSITION BECAUSE OF THE PINCHED GRIP, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE LEVER TO RELEASE UNINTENTIONALLY WITH A CORRESPONDING REDUCTION IN PARKING BRAKE FORCE.
The risk: IF THE VEHICLE IS NOT PROPERLY PARKED WITH THETRANSMISSION IN THE CORRECT POSITION, AND IF THE VEHICLE IS PARKED ON A GRADE,REDUCTION IN PARKING BRAKE FORCE COULD LEAD TO UNINTENTIONAL ROLLAWAY AND ANACCIDENT.
The remedy: REPLACE THE PARKING BRAKE GRIP WITH A NEW GRIP TYPE.
MERCEDES-BENZ USA, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
87V104000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

Jul 13, 1987
65,196 units potentially affected
The defect: IN CASE OF ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHICH BLOWS FUSE NO. 9, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT OPERATE.
The risk: TOUCHING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROLWOULD NOT FUNCTION AS INTENDED.
The remedy: USE TWO FUSES IN COMBINATION SO THAT IN CASE OF A FUSE FAILURE, THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM WILL NOT OPERATE.
MERCEDES-BENZ USA, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA90040ClosedEngineering Analysis

PARKING BRAKE LEVERS

Opened Aug 29, 1990
Closed Aug 30, 1991

There is no summary currently available

PARKING BRAKELed to recall 91V137000
EA88034ClosedEngineering Analysis

SUDDEN ACCELERATION

Opened Jul 15, 1988
Closed Jul 31, 1990

THE CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY PETITIONED NHTSA TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION INTOSUDDEN ACCELERATION ON VARIOUS MERCEDES-BENZ MODELS.THE PETITION WASGRANTED WITH RESPECT TO THE 1986-1987 300E MODEL AND ENGINEERING ANALYSISEA88-003 WAS OPENED COVERING JUST THE 1986 AND 1987 300 E VEHICLES.SUBSEQUENTLY, CFAS REPETITIONED NHTSA TO EXPAND ITS INVESTIGATION TO COVERALL 1984 THROUGH 1987 MERCEDES GASOLINE POWERED VEHICLES.DEFECT PETITIONNUMBER DP88-013 WAS THEN ASSIGNED.ON JULY 14, 1988, THE CFAS WAS ADVISEDTHAT PETITION DP88-013 HAD BEEN GRANTED AND THAT A NEW ENGINEERING ANALYSIS(EA88-034) HAD BEEN OPENED.THE PRECEDING PETITIONS AND THE ENGINEERING ANALYSIS HAVE BEEN MERGED INTOEA88-034.===

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
PE88032ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

ABS FAILURES

Opened Mar 10, 1988
Closed May 2, 1988

There is no summary currently available

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DP87019ClosedDefect Petition

SUDDEN ACCELERATION

Opened May 22, 1987
Closed Oct 29, 1987

There is no summary currently available

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 10
Engine
Filed May 17, 2011
1 injury reported

ON 05-03-2011 WHILE DRIVEING MY MERCEDES BENZ190 SERIES /1985- THE HEATING COIL BURST POURING &SPRAYING HOT RADIATOR COOLANT FROM UNDER THE DASH/OVER THE FIRE WALL ONTO MY LEGS AND FEET. BURNING AND BLISTERING 2ND DEGREE BURNS OVER MY LEGS AND FEET. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING OF ANY PROBLEM ,THIS JUST HAPPENED OUT OF THE BLUE. THE CAR HAS NEVER GIVEN ME ANY PROBLEM WITH OVER HEATING OR GAUGES. FIRST TIME. I HEARD A HISSIING LIKE SOUND 3 OR 4 SECOUNDS BEFORE MY LEGGS STARTED BURNING. THANKFULLY MY KIDS AND GRANDCHILD WHERE NOT INJURED OR ANY OTHER DRIVER ON THE ROAD -THIS HAS BEEN A HORRIBLE EXPERIANCE AND NOT ABLE TO WORK-MEDICAL BILLS-NO CAR-AND THE PAIN-HOW COULD SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN. WHAT I'VE LEARNED SINCE THIS IS ,APARENTLY THIS YEAR CAR AND MAKE 1985 THE HEATING COIL SITS UP AGAINST THE DASH WALL-SO ANYONE ELSE BETTER BE PAPAIRED FOR THE WORST ,I HOPE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN TO ANY ONE ELSE-ITS HORRABLE *WAITING ON RESPONSE FROM MERCEDES BENZ TO SEE IF THEY WILL FIX PROBLEM. AND IF THERE WILL BE A RECALL.* THE DOCTOR AT THE HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM SAID ANOTHER MAN CAME INTO EMERGENCY ROOM THE MONTH BEFORE ,HIS MERCEDES DID THE SAME THING AND THE MAN WAS BURNT SEVERLY LIKE ME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10401372
Incident
May 3, 2011
Mileage
105,496 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 16, 2004
1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING HEATER CORE BLEW, CAUSING HOT COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE VEHICLE ON DRIVER'S LEGS, CAUSING THIRD DEGREE BURNS. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
10082141
Incident
Jul 8, 2004
Mileage
180,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 19, 2002

THE VEHICLE SURGED INTO A BRICK WALL. WHILE IN PARK, CONSUMER WENT TO PUT THE VEHILCE INTO TEH DRIVE GEAR FROM PARK. WIHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THIS TYPE OF SURGING ACTION WOULD HAPPEN WHILE IN MOTION ALSO. CONSUMER FEELS SOME RETRIBUTION IS OWED. *JG

NHTSA ID
8012140
Incident
Aug 30, 2000
Visibility
Filed Oct 4, 2000
1 injury reported

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN HOT ANTI-FREEZE & WATER LEAKED ONTO GAS PEDAL AND DRIVER'S FOOT, BURNING IT. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC, MECHANIC INDICATED THAT HEATER CORE CRACKED & WAS LEAKING. WAS INFORMED TO TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. WENT TO EMERGENCY ROOM FOR TREATMENT OF FOOT.*AK

NHTSA ID
872246
Airbags
Filed Apr 16, 1999

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND WITHOUT A COLLISION OCCURRING, AIR BAG SENSOR WHICH IS LOCATED UNDER THE VEHICLE EXPLODED, CAUSING THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
836812
Suspension
Filed Feb 4, 1999

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
702925
Incident
Feb 3, 1999
EngineTransmission
Filed Mar 29, 1998

TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
533394
Incident
Mar 1, 1998
Body & structure
Filed Oct 15, 1996

THE REAR SUBFRAME IS CRACKED IN THE MIDDLE. WHEN SHIFTING GEARS, A METAL TO METAL SOUND IS EXPERIENCED. *AK

NHTSA ID
803564
Incident
Oct 5, 1996

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

PSIMBNA4020M

TIRES

UPDATED INFORMATION TO REFLECT ADDITON OF APPROVED TIRES. *YC

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mercedes-Benz 190 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1999500—
1997100—
1995300—
1993700—
1992300—
1991600—
1990400—
1989110047.8
1988511—
1987141361.0
1986825—
1985Viewing102466.3
1984433—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.