Total Complaints
4 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ M166 · model year
2010 MERCEDES-BENZ M166
4 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2010MERCEDES-BENZM166 carries 4 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 1 injury, 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 2010 M166 is steering with 2 filings, followed by air bags (1) and unknown or other (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 2010 M166. 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
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
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 |
|---|---|
| STEERING | 2 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20200310UNKNOWN OR OTHER
AFTER A FUEL FILL UP THERE IS A SERIOUS GAS SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. AFTER USING A QUARTER OF THE TANK THE SMELL GOES AWAY. THE VEHICLE IS PARKED MOTOR OFF. THE GARAGE IS SO FILLED WITH GAS FUMES I HAVE TO RUN A FAN. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER 2 YEARS.
Mileage: 75,000
20200220AIR BAGS
I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE
20200127STEERING
AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO WORK (APPROX. 35 MILES) AND THEN RETURNING AFTER THE WORK DAY WAS COMPLETE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. WE SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURERS ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AS WELL AS THE TECHNICIAN THEY DISPATCHED TO OUR LOCATION. WE TRIED MULTIPLE SOLUTIONS TO OUR PROBLEM WITH NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND UPON INVESTIGATION, THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK MECHANISM HAD GONE BAD RESULTING IN A NEED TO REPLACE THIS PART. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ONLINE AS WELL AS SPOKEN TO SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP WHO INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS A GROWING ISSUE. THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ONLINE OF SIMILAR ISSUES AND THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY ARE SERVICING 1-2 VEHICLES WITH THIS ISSUE EVERY DAY. WITH THAT TYPE OF VOLUME, THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE SOURCING OR MANUFACTURING OF THIS PRODUCT. THIS IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR THAT SEEMS AS IF IT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED.
Mileage: 136,000
20191203CrashSTEERING
WHILE COMMUTING ON A HIGHLY CONGESTED HIGHWAY THE CAR LOST POWER CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME LOCKED THIS LOST OF POWER AND DISABLING CAUSED MY CAR TO VEER INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND TAKING MY VEHICLE UNCONTROLLABLY OFF THE ROAD
Mileage: 93,000
Compare 2010MERCEDES-BENZM166 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2010 MERCEDES-BENZ M166 have?▼
The 2010 MERCEDES-BENZ M166 has 4 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 MERCEDES-BENZ M166?▼
The most-complained component for the 2010 MERCEDES-BENZ M166 is STEERING with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS and UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Is the 2010 MERCEDES-BENZ M166 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.