1990 Mercedes Benz 560: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
5 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
103,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1990 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 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:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 5 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 1 | 20.0% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 20.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 20.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 20.0% |
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:Frontal | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
| Tires | 1 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Electrical System: 1; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 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 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 1 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 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2012 | 3 |
2000: 1; 2003: 1; 2012: 3
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10034417 · 2003-08-22 (August 22, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH BOTH OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER WAS INJURED BY THE DEPLOYED AIR BAG ON DRIVER'S SIDE. INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED ON THE LEFT ARM/STOMACH AND THE PENIS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10034417 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10446921 · 2012-02-06 (February 6, 2012)
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET WHEN SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM BENEATH THE HOOD AND INTO THE VEHICLE. THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM DEVELOPED SEVERE SHORTS, STALLED THE ENGINE, DISABLED THE ABS AND THE OTHER ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEMS. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER, OPENED THE HOOD, AND SAW FLAMES COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT. AFTER EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE, THE CAR NO LONGER STARTED. UPON INSPECTION, MOST OF THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HAD MELTED, WHILE THE SHORT HAS IRREVERSIBLY DAMAGED THE CAR'S COMPUTER, WHICH DOE…
Owner-reported narrative. 118,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10446921 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10452151 · 2012-03-19 (March 19, 2012)
CAR WAS IDLING AT A STOP SIGN, I NOTICED WHITE SMOKE AND THOUGHT IT WAS EXHAUST FROM THE CARS IN FRONT OF AND BEHIND ME. I SUDDENLY BECAME ENGULFED IN SMOKE AND SAW IT SPEWING FROM THE FRONT OF MY CAR. AS I REACHED TO TURN OFF MY ENGINE, FLAMES SOARED FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF MY CAR, HIGHER THAN I COULD SEE, FROM SITTING INSIDE. I IMMEDIATELY GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND RAN AWAY FROM IT, AS I HAD A FULL TANK OF GAS AND WAS AFRAID OF AN EXPLOSION. FROM A SAFE DISTANCE I COULD SEE THE FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE THE ENGINE AND SHOOTING ABOUT 15 FEET I…
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10452151 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10467188 · 2012-07-24 (July 24, 2012)
2001 MERCEDES BENZ S600 - OIL LEAK AND CAR FIRE - THAT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. DOES THERE HAVE TO BE A DEATH OR INJURY BEFORE MERCEDES IS HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROBLEM. JUST BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT AS MANY OF THESE CARS ON THE ROAD, IS THAT THE REASON THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL? I WAS SITTING IN THE CAR WHILE PARKED, WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, PICKING UP MY GRANDSON FROM SCHOOL. WITHIN MINUTES I NOTICED WHITE SMOKE AROUND THE CAR. I THOUGHT IT WAS EXHAUST FROM THE CAR EITHER IN FRONT OR IN BACK OF ME, AS THEY WERE BOTH WAITING FOR…
Owner-reported narrative. 97,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10467188 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 551946 · 2000-05-10 (May 10, 2000)
THE VEHICLE'S ORIGINAL TIRES (PIRELLI P6-205/65/R15) WERE ALL REPLACED AFTER A TIRE BLOWOUT, CONSUMER REPLACED TIRE TO AVOID FURTHER PROBLEMS, TIRES HAVE PERFORMED POORLY AND EXPERIENCED PREMATURE WEAR. *MJS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 551946 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.
90V033000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
Reported: 1990-01-26 (January 26, 1990)
BOLTS USED FOR THE BRAKE STRUT SUPPORT DO NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS AND MAY BREAK.
Consequence: THE FAILURE OF THE BOLTS MAY RESULT IN A DETERIORATION OF VEHICLE STEERING AND BRAKING WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE HEX NUT BOLTS WITH BOLTS THAT MEET SPECIFICATIONS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗