Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1987 Mercedes-Benz 190, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Vehicle speed control5
- Visibility3
- Engine and engine cooling3
- Power train2
- Steering1
- Suspension1
- Air bags1
- Tires1
- Fuel system, gasoline1
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 1987 Mercedes-Benz 190 failed the safety check 0.56% of the time — 29% less often than the average 1987 passenger car (0.78%). Median odometer at inspection: 119,976 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 1987 Mercedes-Benz 190 cars on Dutch roads are the 2.0 diesel (53 kW, 71 hp), 2.5 diesel (66 kW, 89 hp) and 2.0 petrol (77 kW, 103 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0 diesel | 53 kW 71 hp | 76 |
| 2.5 diesel | 66 kW 89 hp | 36 |
| 2.0 petrol | 77 kW 103 hp | 29 |
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
167 first registered in 1987 are on Dutch roads; 46% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Band onvoldoende profiel14
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm12
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen12
- Remslang beschadigd, wapeningsmateriaal zichtbaar11
- Stofhoes fuseekogel beschadigd en dicht niet af11
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld8
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde8
- Schijf-, trommelrem loopt niet vrij8
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
61 cars built in 1987 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 282 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
In Finland
20 of these cars first registered in 1987 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 262,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
9 1987 cars are on the New Zealand register; 78% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 1987 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 … |
| 1987056 28 May 1987 | Seats And Restraints ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM, AN ELECTRICAL PLUG ON THE AIR BAG MODULE MAY HAVE AN INSUFFICIENT PUSH/PULL FORCE. IF THIS IS THE C… |
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.
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 1987 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
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation