Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1988 Mercedes-Benz 560, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Vehicle speed control9
- Air bags4
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
- Back over prevention1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 5 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 3 1988 560 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 2 people died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1988 Mercedes-Benz 560 failed the safety check 0.88% of the time — 14% less often than the average 1988 passenger car (1.01%). Median odometer at inspection: 86,289 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 1988 Mercedes-Benz 560 cars on Dutch roads are the 5.5 petrol (169 kW, 227 hp) and 5.5 petrol (220 kW, 295 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 5.5 petrol | 169 kW 227 hp | 27 |
| 5.5 petrol | 220 kW 295 hp | 26 |
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
134 first registered in 1988 are on Dutch roads; 90% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen7
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm6
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde6
- Accu ondeugdelijk bevestigd5
- Brandstoflekkage5
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect5
- Stofhoes fuseekogel beschadigd en dicht niet af5
- Schijf-, trommelrem loopt niet vrij5
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In Finland
12 of these cars first registered in 1988 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 158,000 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
21 1988 cars are on the New Zealand register; 71% arrived as used imports, 14% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: STRETCH LIMOUSINES ALTERED BY KELLY/COACHWORKS. LIMOUSINES MAY NOT CONTAIN ALTERERS CERTIFICATION LABEL IN VIOLATION OF 49 CFR PART 567.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: STRETCH LIMOUSINES ALTERED BY KELLY/COACHWORKS, INC. LIMOUSINE MAY NOT HAVE ALTERERS TIRE PLACARD WITH CORRECT TIRE SIZE AND LOAD INFORMATION, AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 110.
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
NHTSA investigations
SUDDEN ACCELERATION
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation