RoadVitals

1989 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.
11
Latest May 19, 2012
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.
0
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.
0
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.
4
3 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 11 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 190, most frequently naming the visibility, driver assistance and airbags categories. 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

  • Visibility430.8%
  • Driver assistance323.1%
  • Airbags215.4%
  • Transmission17.7%
  • Fuel system17.7%
  • Electrical17.7%
  • Exterior lighting17.7%

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

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 11
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed May 19, 2012
Fire reported

UPON STARTING THE CAR, FIRST SMOKE AND THEN QUICKLY FIRE EMERGED INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FROM THE CENTER OF THE DASH BOARD WITH FLAMES COMING THROUGH THE GLOVE BOX COMPARTMENT. THE CAR WAS NOT MOVING. A FIRE EXTINGUISHER WAS OBTAINED FROM THE PUBLIC PARKING GARAGE WHERE THE CAR WAS LOCATED AND THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED. THE LOS ANGELES FIRE DEPT RESPONDED TO VERIFY THE FIRE WAS OUT. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. PHOTOS OF THE CAR SHOWING THE DAMAGE ARE AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10459004
Incident
May 14, 2012
Mileage
288,000 mi
Visibility
Filed May 6, 2005
1 injury reported

HOT COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD ONTO THE DRIVER'S RIGHT LEG WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER SUSTAINED SECOND DEGREE BURN. VEHICLE WAS TOW TO THE DEALER, AND THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT DETERMINED. *AK THE HEAT WAS ON WHEN THE INSIDE OF THE WINDOWS BEGAN TO STEAM UP. THE HEATER CORE FAILED CAUSING HOT ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND ONTO THE CONSUMER'S RIGHT LEG. *BF *NM

NHTSA ID
10117645
Incident
Nov 16, 2004
Mileage
122,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed May 5, 2004

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL (3+) OCCASIONS THAT MY CAR HAS ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. I HAVE BEEN FORNTUNATE THAT WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES IT RELEASED THE ACCELERATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
10068339
Incident
Mar 25, 2003
Visibility
Filed Feb 26, 2001
1 injury reported

ON OCTOBER 03,1999 THE HEATHER CORE WITHOUT ANY NOTICE OR WARNING EXPLODED CAUSIG 3RD AND 4TH DEGREE BURNS IN BOTH LEGS CAUSING TO LOSSE CONTROL OF THE AUTOMOBILE AND GOING INTO THE DITCH. THI ACCIDENT CAUSE ME TO LOSE ALMOST MY LIFE FOR WICH I AM VERY ENGRY. I HAVE DONE SOME RESERCH AND FOUND THAT MERCEDES KNEW ALL ALONG OF THIS DEFECT A YEAR PRIOR IF NO MORE AND FAIL TO RECALL OR ADVICE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM MORE THAN 6,000 AUTOMOBILES HAD REPORTED ACCIDENT WORLDWIDE AND SOME HAD BEEN REPORTED CRASHES AND LOSS OF LIFE. INCLUDING THE MERCEDES BENZ THAT DIANA PRINCES OF WALES WAS KILL WHICH IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION BUT COINSIDENTIALLY IT WAS FOUND THAT THE HEATHER CORE EXPLODED AS WELL.*AK

NHTSA ID
741548
Incident
Oct 3, 1999
Fuel system
Filed Feb 11, 1998

THE FUEL PRESSURE ACTUATOR IS LEAKING. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
820126
Incident
Dec 10, 1997
Airbags
Filed Dec 10, 1997

SRS LIGHT COMES ON DURING START UP AND STAYS ON. AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED. *AK

NHTSA ID
526312
Visibility
Filed Dec 23, 1996

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT CLEAN THE WINDOW OFF FUMES REMAIN ON THE WINDSHEILD, CAUSING A VISION PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
806678
Incident
Nov 1, 1996
Transmission
Filed Aug 19, 1996

WHEN CAR IS IN ANY POSITION YOU CAN TAKE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH , THERE IS NO LOCK ON THE TRANSMISSION WHEN IT IS IN PARK . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK

NHTSA ID
801057

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—
1989Viewing110047.8
1988511—
1987141361.0
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.