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Mercedes-Benz 190Years to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 81 owner complaints and 3 safety recalls on record for the Mercedes-Benz 190.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints81Top: Engine and engine coolingSafety recalls31984–1999 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Mercedes-Benz 190 years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 190 median. Tap a year for its full report.

'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'95'97'99
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1999Not rated–/1005 complaints · 0 recalls1997Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1995Not rated–/1003 complaints · 0 recalls1993Not rated–/1007 complaints · 0 recalls1992Not rated–/1003 complaints · 0 recalls1991Not rated–/1006 complaints · 0 recalls1990Not rated–/1004 complaints · 0 recalls1989Not rated–/10011 complaints · 0 recalls1988Not rated–/1005 complaints · 1 recall1987Not rated–/10014 complaints · 1 recall1986Not rated–/1008 complaints · 2 recalls1985Not rated–/10010 complaints · 2 recalls1984Not rated–/1004 complaints · 3 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Mercedes-Benz 190 problems

All model years combined: 81 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling143
Vehicle speed control134
Power train132
Visibility139
Electrical system115
Air bags107
Service brakes, hydraulic93
Suspension40
Tires30
12 other systems203
3 recalls

Mercedes-Benz 190 recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Conventional: mechanical91V-137 · 1984–1988 · Aug 20, 1991 · 96,541 vehicles–Wiring: fuses and circuit breakers87V-104 · 1984–1986 · Jul 13, 1987 · 65,196 vehicles–Wheels: rim85V-072 · 1984 · May 28, 1985 · 6,384 vehicles
5 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the 190

  1. PARKING BRAKE LEVERSEA90040 · 1984–1987 · closed Aug 30, 1991
    Led to recall 91V-137
  2. PARKING BRAKEDP90009 · 1986 · closed Aug 30, 1990
    No recall
  3. SUDDEN ACCELERATIONEA88034 · 1984–1988 · closed Jul 31, 1990
    No recall
  4. ABS FAILURESPE88032 · 1985–1987 · closed May 2, 1988
    No recall
  5. SUDDEN ACCELERATIONDP87019 · 1984–1986 · closed Oct 29, 1987
    No recall