Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1985 Mercedes-Benz 190, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Vehicle speed control3
- Engine and engine cooling2
- Visibility2
- Structure1
- Power train1
- Suspension1
- Air bags1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 3 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1985 Mercedes-Benz 190 failed the safety check 1.06% of the time — 40% more often than the average 1985 passenger car (0.76%). Median odometer at inspection: 102,552 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 1985 Mercedes-Benz 190 cars on Dutch roads are the 2.0 diesel (53 kW, 71 hp), 2.0 petrol (77 kW, 103 hp) and 2.5 diesel (66 kW, 89 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0 diesel | 53 kW 71 hp | 173 |
| 2.0 petrol | 77 kW 103 hp | 69 |
| 2.5 diesel | 66 kW 89 hp | 53 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
339 first registered in 1985 are on Dutch roads; 77% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm46
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen43
- Stofhoes fuseekogel beschadigd en dicht niet af36
- Band onvoldoende profiel28
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld20
- Remslang beschadigd, wapeningsmateriaal zichtbaar18
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm17
- Remleiding door corrosie aangetast16
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
15 cars built in 1985 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 146 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 1985 Mercedes-Benz 190.
| 1991118 27 Aug 1991 | Brakes THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER RELEASE KNOB COULD STICK, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR THE LEVER TO RELEASE UNINTENTIONALLY WITH A CORRESPONDING REDUCTION IN PARKING … |
| 1987050 15 May 1987 | Electrical AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE COULD BLOW A FUSE AND RESULT IN THE FAILURE OF THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS. ALSO, AN ENGAGED CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT BE DISENGAGED AUTOMATICALL… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mercedes-Benz told its dealers about the 1985 Mercedes-Benz 190: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 601449 | UPDATED INFORMATION TO REFLECT ADDITON OF APPROVED TIRES. *YC |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
PARKING BRAKE LEVERS
SUDDEN ACCELERATION
ABS FAILURES
SUDDEN ACCELERATION
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation