Mercedes Benz 190E problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
17 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
120,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1985 to 1993 model years. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 17 complaints (17.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 3 | 17.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 11.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 5.9% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 5.9% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 5.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 5.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 1 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables | 1 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 |
Air Bags: 3; Electrical System: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 1; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables: 1; Electrical System:Ignition: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 12 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 5 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2000: 5; 2001: 4; 2004: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2010: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 739214 · 2001-01-11 (January 11, 2001)
MECEDES BENZ 190E PRESENTS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD TO THE OCCUPANTS AND OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. ENGINE STALLS. STALLING OCCURS OUT IN TRAFFIC. THE AUTO IS EITHER MAKING A TURN AT AN INTERSECTION OR STALLS WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. WHEN FIRST THE PROBLEM WAS ENCOUNTERED, WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED COMPONENTS, BUT TO NO AVAIL.(WE PAID FOR THESE) WHEN WE RETURNED TO THE DEALER WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO JUST KEEP REPLACING PARTS UNTIL IT WAS REPAIRED ( THE COST OF THESE EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENTS LABOR IN & OUT, IF…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 739214 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 898574 · 2001-10-31 (October 31, 2001)
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING VEHICLE CUTS OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND HAS REPLACED THREE HEAD GASKETS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 898574 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10164050 · 2006-07-31 (July 31, 2006)
WIRING HARNESS IS NO GOOD CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES LOOKS BURNED. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10164050 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10216390 · 2008-01-29 (January 29, 2008)
MY MERCEDES BENZ 1992 190E IS HAVING COLD START ISSUES AND IN GENERAL STALLING ISSUES. I JUST RECEIVED A JUMP BY MERCEDES AND MINUTES LATER THE BATTERY DIED AFTER ONLY PARKING IT ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE STREET. I HEAR THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHER USERS OF MERCEDES BENZ WHO ARE HAVING HARNESS WIRING ISSUES AND THIS HAS TO DEFINITELY BE MY PROBLEM AS I CAN SEE OTHER ELECTRICAL FAULTS OCCURING SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH MY AIR AND HEATING, WARNING LIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS, WINDOWS, ETC. MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD HELP EVERYONE WITH THE PROBLEM GET IT RES…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10216390 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 728762 · 2000-08-23 (August 23, 2000)
WHILE TRANSPORTING FOUR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, I HEARD A LONG BANGING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE CAR. THE CAR TRAVELED ABOUT 6 FEET AND STOPPED. AFTER THE CAR STOPPED, THE DRIVERSIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED CAUSING SEVERE BRUSING, ABRASIONS, AND BURNS TO MY LEFT ARM. CLIFFORD BLAKEMORE, SERVICE MANAGER AT LONG OF CHATTANOOGA CONFIRMED THAT THE AIRBAG COULD DEPLOY UNDER THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED AND AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD STOPPED. HE STATED THAT THE FLEXDISK WHICH CONNECTS THE DRIVE SHAFT TO THE TRANSMISSION PROBABLY CAME LOOSE AND RESULTED IN THE DRIVE SHAF…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 728762 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10231442 · 2008-06-18 (June 18, 2008)
1991 MERCEDES 190E IDLED OUT OF CONTROL. CANT FIND ANYONE WHO KNOWS WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS CAR OR HOW TO FIX IT. ITS A HAZARD AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. WHEN IT IDLES UP SO HIGH, THE CAR ACTUALLY PEELS OUT IF YOU LET YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO BRING IT TO A FULL STOP. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10231442 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10354847 · 2010-09-10 (September 10, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MERCEDES BENZ 190E. WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CONTACT COULD SMELL WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS A BURNING ODOR. HE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AND WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH HE WAS STRUCK BY A STRONG FORCE OF AIR COMING FROM THE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT BUT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 55,000. UPDATED 09/23/10 *BF UPDATED 09/30/10 THE CONSUMER STATED THE INCIDENT IS IN R…
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10354847 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10194701 · 2007-06-26 (June 26, 2007)
ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE AFTER OVERNIGHT PARKING. WHEN I ACTIVATED IGNITION THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD WHICH BLEW OFF MOST OF THE INSULATION LINING AND IGNITED A FIRE AROUND THE AIR INTAKE COVER. *AK I WAS TOLD THAT THE FUEL PUMP RELAY SWITCH FAILED. THIS AND THE FULE PUM WERE REPLACED BUT NOW VEHICLE WILL INTERMITENTLY ACCELERATE WHEN IDLING AND OR MOVING AT AROUND 25MPH.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10194701 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1985 | 0 |
| 1991 | 0 |
| 1992 | 0 |
| 1993 | 0 |
1985: 0; 1991: 0; 1992: 0; 1993: 0