Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 5 | 0 |
| 1997 | 1 | 0 |
| 1995 | 3 | 0 |
| 1993 | 7 | 0 |
| 1992 | 3 | 0 |
| 1991 | 6 | 0 |
| 1990 190 | 4 | 0 |
| 1989 190 | 11 | 0 |
| 1988 190 | 5 | 1 |
| 1987 190 | 14 | 1 |
| 1986 190 | 8 | 2 |
| 1985 190 | 10 | 2 |
| 1984 190 | 4 | 3 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Engine and engine cooling14
- Visibility13
- Vehicle speed control13
- Power train13
- Electrical system11
- Air bags10
- Service brakes, hydraulic9
- Suspension4
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
In New Zealand
121 190 cars are on the New Zealand register; 77% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1993 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1992 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 1991 | 14 | 0 | 13 |
| 1990 | 22 | 1 | 20 |
| 1989 | 22 | 0 | 21 |
| 1988 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1987 | 9 | 0 | 7 |
| 1986 | 6 | 0 | 4 |
| 1965 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 1964 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 1963 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1962 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1961 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1960 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 1958 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 1957 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 1956 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
In the Netherlands
2,827 190 cars are on Dutch roads; 68% arrived later as imports. Open a year for APK defects, odometer checks and colours.
| First registered | On the road | Median list price |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 39 | — |
| 1992 | 92 | — |
| 1991 | 83 | — |
| 1990 | 104 | — |
| 1989 | 147 | — |
| 1988 | 121 | — |
| 1987 | 167 | — |
| 1986 | 491 | €24,003 |
| 1985 | 339 | — |
| 1984 | 314 | — |
| 1983 | 140 | — |
| 1965 | 78 | — |
| 1964 | 50 | — |
| 1963 | 47 | — |
| 1962 | 60 | — |
| 1961 | 115 | — |
| 1960 | 94 | — |
| 1959 | 102 | — |
| 1958 | 77 | — |
| 1957 | 67 | — |
| 1956 | 100 | — |
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles (CC0) · list price is the manufacturer's catalogue price when new
In Finland
184 190 cars were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026: 86% petrol, 14% diesel. Mileage is the odometer reading at the last inspection.
| First registered | In use | Average mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 6 | 264,000 km |
| 1990 | 35 | 316,000 km |
| 1989 | 57 | 320,000 km |
| 1988 | 32 | 285,000 km |
| 1987 | 20 | 262,000 km |
| 1986 | 11 | 306,000 km |
| 1983 | 5 | 278,000 km |
| 1965 | 5 | 75,000 km |
| 1964 | 8 | 42,000 km |
| 1958 | 5 | — |
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use, 30 Jun 2026 · CC BY 4.0
In the United Kingdom
2,020 190 cars were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, by year of manufacture.
| Built | Licensed | Off the road (SORN) |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 0 | 1 |
| 2003 | 0 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 | 1 |
| 2001 | 0 | 1 |
| 1999 | 0 | 1 |
| 1998 | 1 | 1 |
| 1997 | 0 | 1 |
| 1996 | 1 | 1 |
| 1994 | 16 | 27 |
| 1993 | 321 | 665 |
| 1992 | 424 | 966 |
| 1991 | 306 | 725 |
| 1990 | 323 | 854 |
| 1989 | 237 | 828 |
| 1988 | 88 | 386 |
| 1987 | 61 | 282 |
| 1986 | 34 | 288 |
| 1985 | 15 | 146 |
| 1984 | 32 | 66 |
| 1983 | 2 | 12 |
| 1965 | 6 | 2 |
| 1964 | 4 | 2 |
| 1963 | 6 | 4 |
| 1962 | 11 | 5 |
| 1961 | 21 | 6 |
| 1960 | 32 | 13 |
| 1959 | 28 | 7 |
| 1958 | 23 | 5 |
| 1957 | 12 | 6 |
| 1956 | 13 | 7 |
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
352 190 cars took their annual MOT test in 2023; 73% passed first time, against 70% for all cars of the same ages. Older cars fail more often, so compare a year with the same year of other cars.
| First registered | Tests | Passed first time |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 107 | 72% |
| 1990 | 101 | 78% |
| 1989 | 144 | 70% |
Why they fail
Share of all first tests that ended in a fail because of each part of the car (one test can fail on several).
| Area | 190 | All cars, same ages |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 52.8% | 15.9% |
| Suspension | 36.9% | 8.7% |
| Brakes | 34.9% | 9.9% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 31.0% | 8.4% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 21.3% | 5.3% |
| Visibility | 17.3% | 6.6% |
| Tyres | 10.5% | 2.2% |
| Steering | 9.1% | 3.6% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests of cars only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
New registrations in Europe
11 new Mercedes-Benz 190 cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2010 and 2013, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2013 the largest markets were Spain (1).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 1 | — |
| 2011 | 2 | — |
| 2010 | 8 | — |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Recalls
3 campaigns cover the 190.
THE DESIGN OF THE PARKING BRAKE GRIP MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO DISTORT THE GRIP AND PINCH THE BRAKE RELEASE KNOB. IF THE RELEASE KNOB STICKS IN A PARTIAL ENGAGE/RELEASE POSITION BECAUSE OF THE PINCHED GRIP, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE LEVER TO RELEASE UNINTENTIONALLY WITH A CORRESPONDING REDUCTION IN PARKING BRAKE FORCE.
IN CASE OF ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHICH BLOWS FUSE NO. 9, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT OPERATE.
WHEELS MAY DEVELOP HAIRLINE CRACKS IN THE AREA OF THE VENTILATION HOLES. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: RIMS MAY EVENTUALLY BREAK AND COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA recalls