Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1991 Mercedes-Benz 500 failed the safety check 1.27% of the time — 12% more often than the average 1991 passenger car (1.13%). Median odometer at inspection: 88,009 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
43 first registered in 1991 are on Dutch roads; 77% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld8
- Stofhoes fuseekogel beschadigd en dicht niet af5
- Brandstoflekkage3
- Mechanische delen van het remsysteem vertonen slijtage3
- Achterlicht werkt niet (goed)2
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht2
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen2
- Remleiding door corrosie aangetast2
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
115 cars built in 1991 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 340 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, 137 of these cars first registered in 1991 took their annual MOT test. 77% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1991 the figure was 70%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1991 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 10.9% | 16.2% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 6.6% | 4.3% |
| Brakes | 5.8% | 10.6% |
| Suspension | 4.4% | 8.7% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 3.6% | 8.7% |
| Tyres | 3.6% | 2.3% |
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
52 1991 cars are on the New Zealand register; 77% arrived as used imports, 12% 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 1991 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.
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