Total Complaints
22 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ 190 · model year
1987 MERCEDES-BENZ 190
22 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1987MERCEDES-BENZ190 carries 22 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1987 190 is vehicle speed control with 4 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (3) and visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system:heater core (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 15 investigation files overlapping the 1987 190. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
22
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
3 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 3 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20081208TIRES
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
Mileage: 49,115
20040402STEERING
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
20040402SUSPENSION
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
20020103CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE IN REVERSE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED TO EXTREMELY HIGH RPMS WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
20020103CrashAIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
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
20020103CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
20011220VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
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
20001023VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
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.
20000831POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE WOULD JERK/ HAD LEAKING SEALS, AND DID NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. CONSUMER HAS TO ADD TRANSMISSION FLUID EVERY OTHER DAY. *AK
20000831POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL
VEHICLE WOULD JERK/ HAD LEAKING SEALS, AND DID NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. CONSUMER HAS TO ADD TRANSMISSION FLUID EVERY OTHER DAY. *AK
19990217ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
KNOCK NOISE IN ENGINE.
19990217FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
HARD START WHEN ENGINE WARM FUEL ACCUMULATOR LEAKING INTERNALLY, REPLACE FUEL ACCUMULATOR.
19990217ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE ACCELERATES IN DRIVE AT IDLE, CAN NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM.
19990217FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
ENGINE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY ON DECELARATION WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, REPLACE OVER-VOLT PROTECTION RELAY.
19981020ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FAILED.
19981005VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS AND WILL NOT SHUT OFF, ONLY WAY IS TO TURN IGNITION SWITCH OFF.
19980730ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CAMSHAFT IS KNOCKED AND THEN THE ENGINE FAILED. *AK
19980323POWER TRAIN
ODOMETER FAILED.
19980323VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL FAILED.
19980323POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
Compare 1987MERCEDES-BENZ190 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1987 MERCEDES-BENZ 190 have?▼
The 1987 MERCEDES-BENZ 190 has 22 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1987 MERCEDES-BENZ 190?▼
The most-complained component for the 1987 MERCEDES-BENZ 190 is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE and VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE.
Is the 1987 MERCEDES-BENZ 190 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.