RoadVitals

1986 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.
8
Latest Jan 4, 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.
5
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.
2
3 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 8 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1986 Mercedes-Benz 190, most frequently naming the airbags, brakes and suspension categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 5 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

  • Airbags330.0%
  • Brakes220.0%
  • Suspension110.0%
  • Transmission110.0%
  • Visibility110.0%
  • Engine110.0%
  • Body & structure110.0%

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
DP90009ClosedDefect Petition

PARKING BRAKE

Opened May 9, 1990
Closed Aug 30, 1990

PARKING BRAKE

PARKING BRAKE
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

Recent owner complaints

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

Airbags
Filed Jan 4, 2011
1 injury reported

WAS IN A SHOPPING CENTER AND WENT OVER A SPEED BUMP AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON AT ALL. SOMEONE HAD JUST GONE OVER THE BUMP BEFORE ME.HAND WAS HURT IN THE PROCESS AND HAD TO GET SURGERY ON THE HAND. CAR HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET. *TR

NHTSA ID
10374700
Incident
Dec 24, 2010
Body & structureBrakesSuspension
Filed Aug 12, 2002

LEFT BALL JOINT SPLIT AS CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER WAS LEAVING DRIVEWAY. ALSO, CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS, SWAY BAR BUSHINGS AND A WHEEL ALIGNMENT NEEDED TO BE PERFORMED. *TT

NHTSA ID
567069
Incident
Jul 30, 2002
Visibility
Filed Oct 9, 2000
1 injury reported

THE HEATER CORE IN THE VEHICLE RUPTURED, CAUSING BOILING HOT COOLANT TO POUR ONTO THE DRIVER'S FEET. THE BOILING COOLANT CAUSED SEVERE BURNS TO THE DRIVER'S FOOT, ANKLE AND LEG. THE ESCAPING COOLANT ALSO CAUSED THE CAR TO FILL UP WITH STEAM AND ELLIMINATED VISIBILITY.

NHTSA ID
733839
Incident
Apr 19, 1999
Transmission
Filed Sep 27, 1999
Crash reported

VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION WITH THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED. VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR, RESULTING IN VEHICLE ROLLING INTO A WALL. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
848795
Incident
Sep 19, 1999
Engine
Filed Sep 12, 1997

WHILE DRIVING AT HWY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK

NHTSA ID
816320
Airbags
Filed May 5, 1997

AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ID
811994
Incident
Apr 27, 1997
Airbags
Filed Mar 1, 1995
Crash reported1 injury reported

CUSTOMER HAD OPTIONAL AIR BAG INSTALLED BY MFG, AND IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TT

NHTSA ID
960843
Incident
Feb 26, 1995
Brakes
Filed Feb 6, 1995

PULLED UP HAND BRAKE; LET HANDLE GO; DROPS OUT OF EMERGENCY BRAKE SET ON IT OWN. TT

NHTSA ID
959599
Incident
Aug 15, 1994

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
1986Viewing825—
1985102466.3
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.