Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1990 Mercedes-Benz 500, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Steering1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 1 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 1990 Mercedes-Benz 500 failed the safety check 1.53% of the time — 32% more often than the average 1990 passenger car (1.16%). Median odometer at inspection: 85,995 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
116 cars built in 1990 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 373 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
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 110 of these cars first registered in 1990 took their annual MOT test. 80% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1990 the figure was 71%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1990 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 10.0% | 15.6% |
| Suspension | 6.4% | 8.4% |
| Brakes | 5.5% | 9.7% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 3.6% | 4.7% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 1.8% | 7.8% |
| Steering | 1.8% | 3.5% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In New Zealand
36 1990 cars are on the New Zealand register; 56% arrived as used imports, 36% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 1990 Mercedes-Benz 500.
| 1993060 28 Apr 1993 | Brakes DURING THE REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION OF THE AIR FILTER HOUSING WHILE PERFORMING SERVICE, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE VACUUM HOSE COULD BE MISROUTED AND DAMAGE TO T… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
IF ONE OF THE HEADLAMP WIPER ARMS BECOMES MISALIGNED, THE WIPER BALDE CAN LODGE IN THE GROOVE UNDER THE HEADLAMP. IF THE WASHERS ARE ACTIVATED WITH THE WIPER BLADE IN THE MISALIGNED AND LODGED POSITION, THE WASHER PUMP WILL RUN CONTINUOUSLY EXPELLING ALL AVAILABLE FLUID.
LEFT FRONT AND LEFT REAR TIRES MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BY A WORN CHAIN DRIVE OF THE CONVEYOR SYSTEM.
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