Total Complaints
4 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ 190E · model year
1985 MERCEDES-BENZ 190E
4 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1985MERCEDES-BENZ190E carries 4 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 2 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 1985 190E is unknown or other with 2 filings, followed by structure:body:door (1) and visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system:heater core (1). 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 1985 190E. 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.
4
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 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 |
|---|---|
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20041103VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
THE HEATER CORE BLEW OUT, CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK ONTO CONSUMER'S LEG AND FOOTTHAT CAUSED BURNING INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Mileage: 148,000
20001023UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE HEATER CORE IN THE VEHICLE RUPTURED, CAUSING BOILING HOT COOLANT TO POUR ONTO THE DRIVER'S FEET. THE BOILING COLLANT CAUSED SEVERE BURNS TO THE DRIVER'S FOOT, ANKLE AND LEG. THE ESCAPING COOLANT ALSO CAUSED THE CAR TO FULL UP WITH STEAM AND ELLIMINATED VISIBILITY.
20000911STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
PART OF THE DOOR PANEL CAME OFF SEVERAL TIMES. NLM
20000911UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DASHBOARD FAILED. NLM
Compare 1985MERCEDES-BENZ190E to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1985 MERCEDES-BENZ 190E have?▼
The 1985 MERCEDES-BENZ 190E has 4 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1985 MERCEDES-BENZ 190E?▼
The most-complained component for the 1985 MERCEDES-BENZ 190E is UNKNOWN OR OTHER with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR and VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE.
Is the 1985 MERCEDES-BENZ 190E 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.