RoadVitals

1986 Mercedes-Benz 420

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.
6
Latest Jun 13, 2001
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.
1
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

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1986 Mercedes-Benz 420, most frequently naming the driver assistance, brakes and electrical categories. 1 NHTSA investigation names it.

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 assistance222.2%
  • Brakes111.1%
  • Electrical111.1%
  • Fuel system111.1%
  • Exterior lighting111.1%
  • Suspension111.1%
  • Body & structure111.1%
  • Tires & wheels111.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

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.

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

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

Recent owner complaints

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

Body & structure
Filed Jun 13, 2001

MECHANIC WAS GOING TO SERVICE ENGINE WHEN HE PUSHED HOOD OFF. HOOD FLEW OFF AND BROKE WINDSHIELD, AND CHIPPED THE PAINT. HINGE SPRING WAS DETACHED FROM RIGHT SIDE OF HOOD. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
890359
Incident
Jun 1, 2001
Tires & wheels
Filed Dec 6, 2000

BRIDGESTONE TIRES (P205 65 R15) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FAULTY TIRES. *SLC

NHTSA ID
557912
Incident
Apr 3, 2000
BrakesElectricalFuel system+1 more
Filed Sep 24, 1999

THE CONSUMER STATE'S WHEN DRIVING THEIR IS A GASOLINE SMELL WITHIN THE VEHICLE, THE ANTENNA IS BROKEN, BRAKE LIGHTAND THE TAIL LIGHT FAILED AND THEIR IS A HOLE WITHIN THE GAS TANK. MJS

NHTSA ID
848704
Incident
Sep 13, 1999
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 17, 1999
Crash reported

GOT IN THE VEHICLE, STARTED THE IGNITION, AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED DURING 80 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT. VEHICLE KEPT SPINNING AROUND AND AROUND AND SLAMMED AGAINST THE CURB AND BOUNCED BACK AND FORTH AGAINST THE CURB. ALSO, WHEEL CAME OFF AND VEHICLE ENDED UP IN CONSUMER'S YARD BETWEEN AN OAK TREE AND A TELEPHONE POLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
835924
Incident
Mar 13, 1999
Suspension
Filed Jul 7, 1998

RIGHT REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM RUSTED THROUGH. NO OTHER SUBFRAME CORROSION VISIBLE.

NHTSA ID
537781
Incident
May 15, 1998
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 18, 1995
Crash reported

THE CAR ACCELERATED WHEN TRYING TO STOP AT A LIGHT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ID
969010
Incident
Jul 17, 1995

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mercedes-Benz 420 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1999500—
1997220036.0
1996100—
1995150040.2
1994160037.2
1991400—
1990310—
1989200—
1988101—
1987301—
1986Viewing601—
1985001—
1984001—

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.