1989 Mercedes-Benz 190 Problems
- Complaints
- 11filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 205,000miles, 2 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 20 mpgcombined, 2.6L 6-cyl RWD · 17 city / 24 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 190 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 11 consumer complaints for the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 190. The part named most often is visibility, with 4 complaints (36% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control (3) and air bags (2). 2 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 205,000 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Air bags2 18%
- Electrical system1 9.1%
- Exterior lighting1 9.1%
- Fuel system1 9.1%
Example complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “Upon starting the car, first smoke and then quickly fire emerged into the passenger compartment from the center of the dash board with flames coming through the glove box compartment. The car was not moving. A fire extinguisher was obtained from the public parking garage where the car was located and the fire extinguished. The los angeles fire dept responded to verify the fire was out. The car was a total loss. Photos of the car showing the damage are available.”
NHTSA complaint #10459004, filed 2012-05, 288,000 milesVehicle speed control: “I have had several (3+) occasions that my car has accelerated on its own. I have been forntunate that when I applied my brakes it released the acceleration.”
NHTSA complaint #10068339, filed 2004-05Mileage when problems were reported
0% of the 2 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 122,000 and 288,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1989 Mercedes-Benz 190 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 190E 2.6 RWD | 2.6L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 17 | 24 | 20 | $4,100 |
| 190E 2.6 RWD | 2.6L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 18 | 22 | 19 | $4,350 |
| 190D 2.5 RWD | 2.5L 5-cyl · diesel | 4-speed automatic | 24 | 30 | 27 | $3,550 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 190 in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 190.
Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz 190
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 5 | — | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1993 | 7 | 150,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1991 | 6 | — | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1989 | 11 | 205,000 | 0 | — | 20 | — | Not enough data |
| 1988 | 5 | 193,000 | 1 | — | 20 | — | Not enough data |
| 1987 | 14 | 49,115 | 1 | — | 19 | — | Not enough data |
| 1986 | 8 | — | 2 | — | 20 | — | Not enough data |
| 1985 | 10 | 142,748 | 2 | — | 20 | — | Not enough data |
All Mercedes-Benz 190 model years
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 190 have?
NHTSA recorded 11 consumer complaints for the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 190 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 190 is reported most often?
Visibility is named most often, in 4 complaints (36% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control with 3.
Has the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 190 been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 190 get?
The EPA rates the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 190 (190E 2.6, 2.6L 6-cyl) at 20 mpg combined, 17 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,100 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1989 Mercedes-Benz 190 reported?
Among the 2 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 205,000 miles and the middle half falls between 122,000 and 288,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.