The defect
THE DESIGN OF THE PARKING BRAKE GRIP MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO DISTORT THE GRIP AND PINCH THE BRAKE RELEASE KNOB. IF THE RELEASE KNOB STICKS IN A PARTIAL ENGAGE/RELEASE POSITION BECAUSE OF THE PINCHED GRIP, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE LEVER TO RELEASE UNINTENTIONALLY WITH A CORRESPONDING REDUCTION IN PARKING BRAKE FORCE.
The risk
IF THE VEHICLE IS NOT PROPERLY PARKED WITH THETRANSMISSION IN THE CORRECT POSITION, AND IF THE VEHICLE IS PARKED ON A GRADE,REDUCTION IN PARKING BRAKE FORCE COULD LEAD TO UNINTENTIONAL ROLLAWAY AND ANACCIDENT.
The remedy
REPLACE THE PARKING BRAKE GRIP WITH A NEW GRIP TYPE.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz 190 | 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 |
Components: PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz 190 | 1984 | 4 | 3 |
| Mercedes-Benz 190 | 1985 | 10 | 2 |
| Mercedes-Benz 190 | 1986 | 8 | 2 |
| Mercedes-Benz 190 | 1987 | 14 | 1 |
| Mercedes-Benz 190 | 1988 | 5 | 1 |
Other parking brake recalls in 1991
8 of the 220 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1991 concerned the parking brake; MERCEDES-BENZ USA, INC. filed 61 campaigns in all.
| 91V167000 23 Sept 1991 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 91V133000 5 Aug 1991 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 91V078000 14 May 1991 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 91V081000 26 Apr 1991 | VOLVO GM HEAVY TRUCK CORP |
| 91V055000 11 Apr 1991 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 91V033000 20 Feb 1991 | VOLVO GM HEAVY TRUCK CORP |
| 91V032000 19 Feb 1991 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1991