1989 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 1989 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
- 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.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND CAR ACCELERATED AND DROVE THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR. PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
SRS LIGHT COMES ON DURING START UP AND STAYS ON. AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED. *AK
NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG. TT
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
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
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
THE FUEL PRESSURE ACTUATOR IS LEAKING. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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 .