1989 Mercedes Benz 190: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
8 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
205,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1989 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 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 | 2 | 25.0% |
| Braking 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:Frontal | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 1 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 1 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Electrical System: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal: 1; Visibility/Wiper: 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). 6 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 |
| 1996 | 2 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
1995: 2; 1996: 2; 2001: 1; 2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2012: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. 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 10068339 · 2004-05-05 (May 5, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10068339 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10117645 · 2005-05-06 (May 6, 2005)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 122,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10117645 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10459004 · 2012-05-19 (May 19, 2012)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 288,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10459004 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 488480 · 1995-09-19 (September 19, 1995)
NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 488480 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 741548 · 2001-02-26 (February 26, 2001)
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 BEN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 741548 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 801057 · 1996-08-19 (August 19, 1996)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 801057 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 958856 · 1995-01-18 (January 18, 1995)
WHEN SHIFTING TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE, VEHICLE ACCELERATED BY ITSELF, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 958856 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 982595 · 1996-04-10 (April 10, 1996)
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND CAR ACCELERATED AND DROVE THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR. PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 982595 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.