Total Complaints
12 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ 190E · model year
1991 MERCEDES-BENZ 190E
12 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1991MERCEDES-BENZ190E carries 12 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 2 fires, 4 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 1991 190E is seat belts:front with 1 filings, followed by tires:tread/belt (1) and air bags (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 1991 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.
12
Complaints
1
Crashes
2
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 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 |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT | 1 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20080618VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1991 MERCEDES 190E IDLED OUT OF CONTROL. CANT FIND ANYONE WHO KNOWS WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS CAR OR HOW TO FIX IT. ITS A HAZARD AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. WHEN IT IDLES UP SO HIGH, THE CAR ACTUALLY PEELS OUT IF YOU LET YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO BRING IT TO A FULL STOP. *TR
Mileage: 100,000
20070626FireFUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE AFTER OVERNIGHT PARKING. WHEN I ACTIVATED IGNITION THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD WHICH BLEW OFF MOST OF THE INSULATION LINING AND IGNITED A FIRE AROUND THE AIR INTAKE COVER. *AK I WAS TOLD THAT THE FUEL PUMP RELAY SWITCH FAILED. THIS AND THE FULE PUM WERE REPLACED BUT NOW VEHICLE WILL INTERMITENTLY ACCELERATE WHEN IDLING AND OR MOVING AT AROUND 25MPH.
20070626FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE AFTER OVERNIGHT PARKING. WHEN I ACTIVATED IGNITION THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD WHICH BLEW OFF MOST OF THE INSULATION LINING AND IGNITED A FIRE AROUND THE AIR INTAKE COVER. *AK I WAS TOLD THAT THE FUEL PUMP RELAY SWITCH FAILED. THIS AND THE FULE PUM WERE REPLACED BUT NOW VEHICLE WILL INTERMITENTLY ACCELERATE WHEN IDLING AND OR MOVING AT AROUND 25MPH.
20011031ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING VEHICLE CUTS OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND HAS REPLACED THREE HEAD GASKETS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
20011031ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING VEHICLE CUTS OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND HAS REPLACED THREE HEAD GASKETS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
20010508ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
PLASTIC NECK FOR UPPER RADIATOR HOSE FRACTURED WITH COMPLETE LOSS OF COOLANT. *AK
20010131CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 45-50 MPH CONSUMER HAD A HIGH IMPACT HEAD-ON COLLISON. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SID AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS JUST AWARE THAT AIRS BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
20010118ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MECEDES BENZ 190E PRESENTS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD TO THE OCCUPANTS AND OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. ENGINE STALLS. STALLING OCCURS OUT IN TRAFFIC. THE AUTO IS EITHER MAKING A TURN AT AN INTERSECTION OR STALLS WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. WHEN FIRST THE PROBLEM WAS ENCOUNTERED, WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED COMPONENTS, BUT TO NO AVAIL.(WE PAID FOR THESE) WHEN WE RETURNED TO THE DEALER WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO JUST KEEP REPLACING PARTS UNTIL IT WAS REPAIRED ( THE COST OF THESE EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENTS LABOR IN & OUT, IF THE PART DID NOT WORK, WOULD FALL ON US). WE HAVE REPLACED PARTS WITH STILL NO CURE FOR THE STALLING PROBLEM.WE HAVE FOLLOWED ALL THE MANUFACTURE'S OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE PROCEEDURES.THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED TWICE BY ME. ONCE THEY SAID THAT THE SAN DIEGO REP. WOULD CONTACT THE DEALER ON ANOTHER OCASSION I LEFT MESSAGES THAT WERE NOT RETURNED. I AM A RETIRED TEACHER AND CANNOT AFFORD TO PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE AND LOOSE ALL THAT HAS BE
20001023VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
THE HEATER CORE IN THE VEHICLE RUPTURED, CAUSING BOILING HOT COOLANT TO POUR ONTO THE DRIVER'S FEET. THE BOILING COOLANT CAUSED BURNS TO THE DRIVER'S FOOT ANKLE AND LEG.*AK
20000905AIR BAGS
WHILE TRANSPORTING FOUR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, I HEARD A LONG BANGING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE CAR. THE CAR TRAVELED ABOUT 6 FEET AND STOPPED. AFTER THE CAR STOPPED, THE DRIVERSIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED CAUSING SEVERE BRUSING, ABRASIONS, AND BURNS TO MY LEFT ARM. CLIFFORD BLAKEMORE, SERVICE MANAGER AT LONG OF CHATTANOOGA CONFIRMED THAT THE AIRBAG COULD DEPLOY UNDER THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED AND AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD STOPPED. HE STATED THAT THE FLEXDISK WHICH CONNECTS THE DRIVE SHAFT TO THE TRANSMISSION PROBABLY CAME LOOSE AND RESULTED IN THE DRIVE SHAFT HITTING THE TRANSMISSION TUNNEL. THIS WOULD HAVE EXPLAINED THE LOUD, BANGING NOISE. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED FROM ANOTHER SOURCE THAT THE CONTROL UNIT FOR THE AIRBAG RESIDES ON TOP OF THE TRANSMISSION TUNNEL. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE AIRBAG COULD HAVE DEPLOYED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION RESULTING IN MUCH MORE SEVERE INJURIES OR EVEN FATALITIES. I QUESTION WHETHER THE AIRBAG COULD ACCIDDENTLY BE DEPLOYED BY THE CAR STRIKING AN OBJECT ON THE ROAD O
20000808TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD A TREAD SEPARATION. HOWEVER, CONSUMER KEPT CONTROL OF VEHICLE.TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE AFINITY. *AK
19980105SEAT BELTS:FRONT
SEAT BELT LATCH FAILURE.
Compare 1991MERCEDES-BENZ190E to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1991 MERCEDES-BENZ 190E have?▼
The 1991 MERCEDES-BENZ 190E has 12 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 2 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1991 MERCEDES-BENZ 190E?▼
The most-complained component for the 1991 MERCEDES-BENZ 190E is SEAT BELTS:FRONT with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES:TREAD/BELT and AIR BAGS.
Is the 1991 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.