Total Complaints
16 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ 560 · model year
1988 MERCEDES-BENZ 560
16 NHTSA complaints, 9 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988MERCEDES-BENZ560 carries 16 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 9 crashes, 0 fires, 8 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 1988 560 is vehicle speed control with 8 filings, followed by air bags:frontal:sensor/control module (2) and air bags (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 1988 560. 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.
16
Complaints
9
Crashes
0
Fires
8
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
9 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 | 8 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE | 2 |
| AIR BAGS | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL | 1 |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION:WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20060919CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY INTO THE STREET WHERE IT COLLIDED WITH A HOUSE ON THE OTHER SIDE AT 25 MPH. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL TEAM RESPONDED. A POLICE REPORT AND PHOTOS WERE TAKEN. THE CONTACT AVOIDED SERIOUS INJURY DUE TO THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAG, ALTHOUGH TREATMENT WAS RECEIVED FOR MINOR ABRASIONS AND BRUISING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO RUST AND POOR MAINTENANCE, ALTHOUGH THE CONTACT CLAIMED THE VEHICLE WAS MAINTAINED IN SHOW ROOM CONDITION. THE MODEL WAS 1988 MERCEDES BENZ 560 SEL. UPDATED 10/18/2006 - *NM UPDATED 11/30/2006 - *NM UPDATED 05/21/07 *TR
Mileage: 170,000
20040116AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT IS FAULTY. COULD RESULT IN NON-DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG DURING VEHICLE ACCIDENT. *CB
Mileage: 32,000
20040116VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL NOT WORKING PROPERLY. COULD RESULT IN RUNAWAY VEHICLE AND ACCIDENT. *CB
Mileage: 32,000
20040116BACK OVER PREVENTION:WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT
FAILURE OF ALARM SYSTEM. ALARM GOES OFF DURING MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. *CB
Mileage: 32,000
20000717VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE IN REVERSE GEAR RESULTING IN COLLISION WITH STORE AND INJURY TO CONSUMER. *MJS
20000713VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE IN REVERSE GEAR RESULTING IN COLLISION WITH STORE AND INJURY TO CONSUMER. *MJS
19991118CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN PUT IN REVERSE, RESULTING IN VEHICLE HITTING A CURB, GOING AIRBORNE INTO A STORE WINDOW. DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES, BUT BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. *AK
19991118CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN PUT IN REVERSE, RESULTING IN VEHICLE HITTING A CURB, GOING AIRBORNE INTO A STORE WINDOW. DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES, BUT BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. *AK
19991015CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED FROM PARK TO REVERSE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, RESULTING IN A COLLISION WHICH CAUSED MINOR INJURIES. *AK
19990624CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THROTTLE GOT STUCK, CAUSING THE VENICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE, RESULTING IN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK
19981230CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHICH RESULTED IN A FRONT END COLLISION, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG.
19981230CrashAIR BAGS
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHICH RESULTED IN A FRONT END COLLISION, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG.
19981020AIR BAGS
AIR BAG FAILED (UNSPECIFIED REASON).
19970115CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
UPON SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, FOOT APPLIED TO BRAKE PEDAL, ENGINE ROARED, THEN LURCHED FORWARD, OVERPOWERING BRAKES, HIT ROCK WALL, THEN ROLLED OVER, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK
19960520CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TURNED ON IGNITION, SHIFTED FROM PARK TO REVERSE, ENGINE ACCELERATED, VEHICLE WENT BACKWARDS AT HIGH SPEED; BROADSIDED PARKED VEHICLE. *AK
19951005AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
FAULTY SENSOR IN AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT. COULD RESULT IN NON DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING VEHICEL ACCIDENT. TT
Compare 1988MERCEDES-BENZ560 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1988 MERCEDES-BENZ 560 have?▼
The 1988 MERCEDES-BENZ 560 has 16 NHTSA complaints, 9 crashes, 0 fires, 8 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 MERCEDES-BENZ 560?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 MERCEDES-BENZ 560 is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 8 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE and AIR BAGS.
Is the 1988 MERCEDES-BENZ 560 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.