1987 Mercedes Benz 190: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
8 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
49,115 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1987 model year. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 8 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 12.5% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 12.5% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 12.5% |
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 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft:Seal | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
| Suspension | 1 |
| Tires | 1 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core: 2; Air Bags:Side/Window: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft:Seal: 1; Steering: 1; Suspension: 1; Tires: 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 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 7 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 | 1 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
1995: 1; 2000: 2; 2001: 1; 2002: 2; 2004: 1; 2008: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering 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 10065112 · 2004-03-14 (March 14, 2004)
WHILE MAKING A U-TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOCKED IN THE LEFT TURN POSITION. *PH UPON START UP, IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER TOWARDS THE RIGHT AND THERE WAS A STRONG TENDENCY FOR THE VEHICLE TO VEER TOWARDS THE LEFT. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10065112 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10251028 · 2008-12-08 (December 8, 2008)
ON OUR WAY TO THE MAYO CLINIC IN ROCHESTER, MN. WHEN THE LEFT FRONT TIRE SUDDENLY STARTED TO DISINTEGRATE. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE TOLL ROAD TRUCK CAME AND CHANGED TIRE....ILLINOIS STATE TROOPER STOPPED AND FILED A ACCIDENT REPORT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 49,115 miles reported. Look up ODI 10251028 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 733844 · 2000-10-09 (October 9, 2000)
THE HEATER CORE IN THE VEHICLE RUPTURED, CAUSING BOILING HOT COOLANT TO POUR ONTO THE DRIVER'S FEET. THE BOILING COOLANT CAUSED SEVERE BURNS TO DRIVER'S FOOT, ANKLE AND LEG. THE ESCAPING COOLANT ALSO CAUSED THE CAR TO FILL UP WITH STEAM AND ELLIMINATED VISIBILITY.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 733844 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8000995 · 2001-12-20 (December 20, 2001)
WHILE DRIVING HEATER HOSE CAME OUT. BRACKET HOLDING HEATER PIPE BROKE. CONSUMER'S FEET WERE BURNED. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND JUMP OUT OF VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8000995 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8001456 · 2002-01-03 (January 3, 2002)
WHILE IN REVERSE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED TO EXTREMELY HIGH RPMS WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8001456 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8001459 · 2002-01-03 (January 3, 2002)
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION DUE TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8001459 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 869259 · 2000-08-31 (August 31, 2000)
VEHICLE WOULD JERK/ HAD LEAKING SEALS, AND DID NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. CONSUMER HAS TO ADD TRANSMISSION FLUID EVERY OTHER DAY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 869259 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 967075 · 1995-06-16 (June 16, 1995)
WATER HEATER DEFROSTER EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING, HEATER CORE RUPTURE, CAUSING HOT WATER INSIDE VEHICLE SCALDING LEGS WHILE DRIVING. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 967075 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
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 ↗