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1989 Mercedes Benz 190

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
11Owner complaints

Model-year median: 5

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
8
198614
19875
198811
19894
19906
19913
1992
Compare all 190 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Vehicle Speed Control
3Visibility
3Air Bags
2Electrical System
1Exterior Lighting
1
All reported categories
Fuel System, Gasoline
1Power Train
1Visibility/wiper
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 2 of 11 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

11 reports
288,000 miles · May 19, 2012
Electrical SystemExterior LightingVisibility/wiperFire

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 …

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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 ODI #10459004

122,000 miles · May 6, 2005
VisibilityInjury

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 ANT…

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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 ODI #10117645

Mileage unknown · May 5, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control

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 ODI #10068339

Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 2001
VisibilityInjury

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 THI…

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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 ODI #741548

Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 1998
Fuel System, Gasoline

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

NHTSA ODI #820126

Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 1997
Air Bags

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

NHTSA ODI #526312

Mileage unknown · Dec 23, 1996
Visibility

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

NHTSA ODI #806678

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 1996
Power Train

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 ODI #801057

Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 1996
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND CAR ACCELERATED AND DROVE THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR. PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

NHTSA ODI #982595

Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 1995
Air BagsCrashInjury

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG. TT

NHTSA ODI #488480

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.