1988 Mercedes-Benz 190 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1988 Mercedes-Benz 190, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical222.2%
- Engine222.2%
- Fuel system222.2%
- Brakes111.1%
- Transmission111.1%
- Visibility111.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE WIRING HARNESS. FIRST, THE WINDOWS WOULDN'T ROLL UP OR DOWN, THEN THE RADIO BEGAN SHORTING OUT WHEN I DROVE OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD OR OPENED THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. NEXT THE A/C, HEATER & ECONOMY EVENT ALL CEASED WORKING AND THE RADIO WOULD TURN ON ONLY 1-2 PER WEEK RANDOMLY. NEXT ALL MY GAUGES ON MY CONSOLE WENT OUT (GAS GAUGE, RPM GAUGE, OIL PRESSURE GAUGE, TEMPERATURE GAUGE). THE SUNROOF STOPPED WORKING AS WELL AND I WAS STUCK IN THE SUMMER TIME WITH NO WAY TO ROLL THE WINDOWS DOWN, NO AIR SOURCE OF ANY SORT WHATSOEVER & A SUNROOF THAT WOULDN'T OPEN IN THE SWELTERING HEAT. *TR
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING ON-GOING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE STALLING WHILE DRIVING, DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. NLM
WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR FOR NO APPARENT REASON, THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COMES ON AT ANY GIVEN SPEEDS. WHILE THE LIGHT COMES ON, THE CAR STARTS TO CHOKE OR BUCK, LIKE NO GAS IS GETTING THRU. THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED IN NUMEROUS DRIVING SITUATIONS, FROM STOPPING FOR A LIGHT, TO DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS ON A HIGHWAY. AFTER CAR BUCKS, OR "CHOKES" THE VEHICLE STALLS. IT STARTS RIGHT UP AGAIN, WITH NO PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD TO PULL OF A HIGHWAY NUMEROUS TIMES, TO AVOID STALLING, WITH CONTINUOUS TRAFFIC COMING BEHIND ME. LIKE I STATED PREVIOUSLY, THERE IS NO REASON, NOR DO I GET ANY WARNINGS THAT THIS EPISODE IS ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE. I HAVE TRIED DIFFERENT BRANDS OF GAS, SO I DON'T THINK THAT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO TAKEN THE CAR TO NUMEROUS MECHANICS AMD DEALERS, AND NOBODY SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM ACCURATELY.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
1988 190E MERCEDES BENZ--NO WARNING WHILE DRIVING CAR WILL TURN COMPLETELY OFF OR ACCELERATION WILL STOP AND CAR WILL ACCELERATE AFTER BRIEF PAUSE (ALL WHILE DRIVING AT VERY LOW SPEED). NOT ACCELERATOR CABLE OR FUEL INJECTION PROBLEM. VERY DANGEROUS AS THERE IS NO WARNING & NO LIGHTS ILLUMINATE. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .