AI DamageMercedes-Benz 190E: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Mercedes-Benz 190E across 5 model years: 20 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 30% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 20% of all complaints
- 3 Engine and cooling 10% of all complaints
- 4 Visibility 10% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel system 5% of all complaints
- 6 Seat belts 5% of all complaints
- 7 Structure 5% of all complaints
- 8 Tires 5% of all complaints
- Air bags: 6 complaints (30% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 4 complaints (20% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (10% of all).
- Visibility: 2 complaints (10% of all).
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (5% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 20 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 2 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Upon impact, driver's sid air bag did not deploy. Contacted dealer, and dealer was just aware that airs bag did not deploy.
Tl* the contact owns a 1987 (na) mercedes-benz 190. The contact stated that she was able to remove the key from the ignition while the vehicle was still in drive or reverse. The contact stated that the shift interlock failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were notified.
He began to accelerate and while driving approximately 5 mph he was struck by a strong force of air coming from the air bag compartment but the air bag did not deploy. The consumer pulled over and parked. The vehicle was examined for the cause of failure and was not repaired.
1991 mercedes 190e idled out of control. Cant find anyone who knows what is wrong with this car or how to fix it. Its a hazard and dangerous to drive. When it idles up so high, the car actually peels out if you let your foot off the brake. It is almost impossible to bring it to a full stop.
My mercedes benz 1992 190e is having cold start issues and in general stalling issues. I just received a jump by mercedes and minutes later the battery died after only parking it on the opposite side of the street.
When I activated ignition there was a loud explosion under the hood which blew off most of the insulation lining and ignited a fire around the air intake cover. I was told that the fuel pump relay switch failed.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.