AI Damage1987 Mercedes-Benz 420: common problems
Owners of the 1987 Mercedes-Benz 420 filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and service brakes. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 3
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 67% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 33% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (67% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (33% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 4.2 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: RWD
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Consumer was driving trying to turn a curb the abs anti-lock brake fail lost control was in a single car accident car was totaled. Tt
Driving through downtwn at 5 mph, car was filled with steam becausethe hose broke.consumer notified dealer and manufactur.
Due to defective design of the radiator, it cracked and caused water to leak. This may have caused the engine to lock up. Common problem. Mercedes benz came with a new design of radiator, and claims that there was not a defect in the old one.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 17,150 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 47% most complained about).
On average one model year of the 420 has 7 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 3, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1987 Mercedes-Benz 420?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, service brakes. Total complaints: 3. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: brake failure (33%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1987 Mercedes-Benz 420?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 420 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1987 models
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 2026-11-05.