RoadVitals

1987 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.
14
Latest Dec 8, 2008
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.
1
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.
3
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 14 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1987 Mercedes-Benz 190, most frequently naming the driver assistance, engine and visibility categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 3 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 assistance525.0%
  • Engine315.0%
  • Visibility315.0%
  • Powertrain (other)210.0%
  • Transmission210.0%
  • Steering15.0%
  • Fuel system15.0%
  • Airbags15.0%

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

1 campaign 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

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

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 14
Tires & wheels
Filed Dec 8, 2008

ON OUR WAY TO THE MAYO CLINIC IN ROCHESTER, MN. WHEN THE LEFT FRONT TIRE SUDDENLY STARTED TO DISINTEGRATE. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE TOLL ROAD TRUCK CAME AND CHANGED TIRE....ILLINOIS STATE TROOPER STOPPED AND FILED A ACCIDENT REPORT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10251028
Incident
Nov 3, 2008
Mileage
49,115 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Mar 14, 2004

WHILE MAKING A U-TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOCKED IN THE LEFT TURN POSITION. *PH UPON START UP, IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER TOWARDS THE RIGHT AND THERE WAS A STRONG TENDENCY FOR THE VEHICLE TO VEER TOWARDS THE LEFT. *SC

NHTSA ID
10065112
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Jan 3, 2002
Crash reported

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION DUE TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID
8001459
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 3, 2002
Crash reported

WHILE IN REVERSE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED TO EXTREMELY HIGH RPMS WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID
8001456
Visibility
Filed Dec 20, 2001
1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING HEATER HOSE CAME OUT. BRACKET HOLDING HEATER PIPE BROKE. CONSUMER'S FEET WERE BURNED. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND JUMP OUT OF VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD.*AK

NHTSA ID
8000995
Incident
Jun 5, 2001
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 DRIVER'S FOOT, ANKLE AND LEG. THE ESCAPING COOLANT ALSO CAUSED THE CAR TO FILL UP WITH STEAM AND ELLIMINATED VISIBILITY.

NHTSA ID
733844
Incident
Dec 9, 1998
Powertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Aug 31, 2000

VEHICLE WOULD JERK/ HAD LEAKING SEALS, AND DID NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. CONSUMER HAS TO ADD TRANSMISSION FLUID EVERY OTHER DAY. *AK

NHTSA ID
869259
Incident
Aug 31, 1999
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 22, 1998

CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS AND WILL NOT SHUT OFF, ONLY WAY IS TO TURN IGNITION SWITCH OFF.

NHTSA ID
541011

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—
1987Viewing141361.0
1986825—
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.