Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1988 Mercedes-Benz 230, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Visibility1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Engines
The most common engines in 1988 Mercedes-Benz 230 cars on Dutch roads are the 2.3 petrol (97 kW, 130 hp) and 2.3 petrol (100 kW, 134 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.3 petrol | 97 kW 130 hp | 50 |
| 2.3 petrol | 100 kW 134 hp | 40 |
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
101 first registered in 1988 are on Dutch roads; 58% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde16
- Band onvoldoende profiel8
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen8
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm7
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm6
- Stofhoes fuseekogel beschadigd en dicht niet af5
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse4
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld4
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In Finland
9 of these cars first registered in 1988 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 252,000 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
19 1988 cars are on the New Zealand register; 74% arrived as used imports, 26% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 1988 Mercedes-Benz 230.
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 1988 Mercedes-Benz 230: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10019990 | FLOW NOISES FROM AREA OF POWER STEERING PUMP AND/OR FOAMING OF POWER STEERING OIL IN RESERVOIR. *TT |
| 10011693 | PARKTRONIC TRIGGERS WITHOUT OBVIOUS CAUSE AT FRONT BUMPER IN MERCEDES MODEL NUMBERS 171/211/230. *TC |
| 10011629 | WINDSHIELD WASHER NOZZLES HEATING INOPERATIVE. *TC |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
SUDDEN ACCELERATION
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation