1985 Mercedes Benz 190: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
6 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
142,748 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1985 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 6 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 1 | 16.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cables | 1 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 1; Vehicle Speed Control:Cables: 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 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 4 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 2 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
1995: 2; 2000: 1; 2002: 1; 2004: 1; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10082141 · 2004-07-16 (July 16, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING HEATER CORE BLEW, CAUSING HOT COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE VEHICLE ON DRIVER'S LEGS, CAUSING THIRD DEGREE BURNS. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 180,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10082141 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10401372 · 2011-05-17 (May 17, 2011)
ON 05-03-2011 WHILE DRIVEING MY MERCEDES BENZ190 SERIES /1985- THE HEATING COIL BURST POURING &SPRAYING HOT RADIATOR COOLANT FROM UNDER THE DASH/OVER THE FIRE WALL ONTO MY LEGS AND FEET. BURNING AND BLISTERING 2ND DEGREE BURNS OVER MY LEGS AND FEET. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING OF ANY PROBLEM ,THIS JUST HAPPENED OUT OF THE BLUE. THE CAR HAS NEVER GIVEN ME ANY PROBLEM WITH OVER HEATING OR GAUGES. FIRST TIME. I HEARD A HISSIING LIKE SOUND 3 OR 4 SECOUNDS BEFORE MY LEGGS STARTED BURNING. THANKFULLY MY KIDS AND GRANDCHILD WHERE NOT INJURED OR ANY …
Owner-reported narrative. 105,496 miles reported. Look up ODI 10401372 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8012140 · 2002-06-19 (June 19, 2002)
THE VEHICLE SURGED INTO A BRICK WALL. WHILE IN PARK, CONSUMER WENT TO PUT THE VEHILCE INTO TEH DRIVE GEAR FROM PARK. WIHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THIS TYPE OF SURGING ACTION WOULD HAPPEN WHILE IN MOTION ALSO. CONSUMER FEELS SOME RETRIBUTION IS OWED. *JG
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8012140 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 872246 · 2000-10-04 (October 4, 2000)
WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN HOT ANTI-FREEZE & WATER LEAKED ONTO GAS PEDAL AND DRIVER'S FOOT, BURNING IT. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC, MECHANIC INDICATED THAT HEATER CORE CRACKED & WAS LEAKING. WAS INFORMED TO TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. WENT TO EMERGENCY ROOM FOR TREATMENT OF FOOT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 872246 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 972797 · 1995-10-02 (October 2, 1995)
PLASTIC CLIP ON ACCELERATOR CABLE WEARS OUT PREMATURELY, FALLS OUT ONTO GROUND; HAVE NO CONTROL OVER IDLING SPEED. TT DEALER REPLACED ENTIRE ACCELERATOR CABLE THE FIRST TIME THE INCIDENT OCCURRED, THE SEOND TIME, JUST THE CLIP WAS REPLACED. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 972797 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 974397 · 1995-11-02 (November 2, 1995)
WHEN CAR IS ON CRUISE CONTROL THE CAR ACCELERATES SOMETIMES . TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 974397 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
87V104000 · Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers
Reported: 1987-07-13 (July 13, 1987)
IN CASE OF ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHICH BLOWS FUSE NO. 9, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT OPERATE.
Consequence: TOUCHING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROLWOULD NOT FUNCTION AS INTENDED.
Remedy: USE TWO FUSES IN COMBINATION SO THAT IN CASE OF A FUSE FAILURE, THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM WILL NOT OPERATE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗91V137000 · Parking Brake:Conventional:Mechanical
Reported: 1991-08-20 (August 20, 1991)
THE DESIGN OF THE PARKING BRAKE GRIP MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO DISTORT THE GRIP AND PINCH THE BRAKE RELEASE KNOB. IF THE RELEASE KNOB STICKS IN A PARTIAL ENGAGE/RELEASE POSITION BECAUSE OF THE PINCHED GRIP, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE LEVER TO RELEASE UNINTENTIONALLY WITH A CORRESPONDING REDUCTION IN PARKING BRAKE FORCE.
Consequence: IF THE VEHICLE IS NOT PROPERLY PARKED WITH THETRANSMISSION IN THE CORRECT POSITION, AND IF THE VEHICLE IS PARKED ON A GRADE,REDUCTION IN PARKING BRAKE FORCE COULD LEAD TO UNINTENTIONAL ROLLAWAY AND ANACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE PARKING BRAKE GRIP WITH A NEW GRIP TYPE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗