Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1992 Mercedes-Benz 500, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system13
- Engine and engine cooling2
- Equipment1
- Seats1
- Visibility1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1992 Mercedes-Benz 500 failed the safety check 0.75% of the time — 39% less often than the average 1992 passenger car (1.22%). Median odometer at inspection: 99,603 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
64 first registered in 1992 are on Dutch roads; 89% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen7
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld4
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde4
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm3
- Brandstoflekkage2
- Richtingaanwijzers kleur wijkt af/niet toegestaan2
- Roestschade van 1,5 t/m 2,0E of meer dan 15% dikteafname2
- Stofhoes fuseekogel beschadigd en dicht niet af2
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
88 cars built in 1992 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 239 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
8 of these cars first registered in 1992 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 216,000 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
86 1992 cars are on the New Zealand register; 76% arrived as used imports, 13% 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 1992 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