Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 13 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1988 Mercedes-Benz 560, most frequently naming the driver assistance, airbags and brakes categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 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.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 1995 | 1 | 1 |
| May 1996 | 1 | 2 |
| Dec 1996 | 1 | 3 |
| Jan 1997 | 1 | 4 |
| Apr 1998 | 1 | 5 |
| Jun 1999 | 1 | 6 |
| Oct 1999 | 1 | 7 |
| Nov 1999 | 1 | 8 |
| Jun 2000 | 1 | 9 |
| Jan 2004 | 3 | 12 |
| Sep 2006 | 1 | 13 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
2 campaigns 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.govEQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
SUDDEN ACCELERATION
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.===
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY INTO THE STREET WHERE IT COLLIDED WITH A HOUSE ON THE OTHER SIDE AT 25 MPH. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL TEAM RESPONDED. A POLICE REPORT AND PHOTOS WERE TAKEN. THE CONTACT AVOIDED SERIOUS INJURY DUE TO THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAG, ALTHOUGH TREATMENT WAS RECEIVED FOR MINOR ABRASIONS AND BRUISING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO RUST AND POOR MAINTENANCE, ALTHOUGH THE CONTACT CLAIMED THE VEHICLE WAS MAINTAINED IN SHOW ROOM CONDITION. THE MODEL WAS 1988 MERCEDES BENZ 560 SEL. UPDATED 10/18/2006 - *NM UPDATED 11/30/2006 - *NM UPDATED 05/21/07 *TR
FAILURE OF ALARM SYSTEM. ALARM GOES OFF DURING MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. *CB
CRUISE CONTROL NOT WORKING PROPERLY. COULD RESULT IN RUNAWAY VEHICLE AND ACCIDENT. *CB
AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT IS FAULTY. COULD RESULT IN NON-DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG DURING VEHICLE ACCIDENT. *CB
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE IN REVERSE GEAR RESULTING IN COLLISION WITH STORE AND INJURY TO CONSUMER. *MJS
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN PUT IN REVERSE, RESULTING IN VEHICLE HITTING A CURB, GOING AIRBORNE INTO A STORE WINDOW. DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES, BUT BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. *AK
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED FROM PARK TO REVERSE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, RESULTING IN A COLLISION WHICH CAUSED MINOR INJURIES. *AK
THROTTLE GOT STUCK, CAUSING THE VENICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE, RESULTING IN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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.