Model year record

1991 Mercedes-Benz 190E recalls & problems

The 1991 Mercedes-Benz 190E has 2 safety recalls and 10 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (3 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints10filed by owners

Crashes · fires1 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths4 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Exterior lightingApr 7, 2009

Exterior lighting

Recall 09E01200016,270 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (OVSC)

Problem: SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Exterior lightingMar 23, 2006

Exterior lighting

Recall 06E02600061,944 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (OVSC)

Problem: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

1991 Mercedes-Benz 190E 4-DR.

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

190E 2.3

21mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.3 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,900/year to fuel

190E 2.3

21mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.3 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,900/year to fuel

190E

20mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,100/year to fuel

190E 2.6

20mpg combined

City / highway	17 / 25 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.6 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,100/year to fuel

190E 2.6

19mpg combined

City / highway	17 / 22 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.6 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel

190E

17mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 18 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,950/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Engine and engine coolingCooling system › Radiator assembly; Engine › Gasoline	3	0	0	0	—
Air bagsFrontal	2	1	0	3	—
Seat beltsFront	1	0	0	0	—
TiresTread/belt	1	0	0	0	—
VisibilityDefroster/defogger/hvac system › Heater core	1	0	0	1	—
Electrical systemIgnition	1	0	0	0	—
Fuel system, otherDelivery › Fuel pump	1	0	1	0	—
Fuel system, gasolineDelivery	1	0	1	0	—
Vehicle speed control	1	0	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Vehicle speed control
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. *TR
Apr 28, 2007 · 100,000 miles
Fuel system, other › Delivery › Fuel pumpFire
ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE AFTER OVERNIGHT PARKING. 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. *AK I WAS TOLD THAT THE FUEL PUMP RELAY SWITCH FAILED. THIS AND THE FULE PUM WERE REPLACED BUT NOW VEHICLE WILL INTERMITENTLY ACCELERATE WHEN IDLING AND OR MOVING AT AROUND 25MPH.
Dec 15, 2006
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING VEHICLE CUTS OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND HAS REPLACED THREE HEAD GASKETS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Oct 1, 2001
Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Radiator assembly
PLASTIC NECK FOR UPPER RADIATOR HOSE FRACTURED WITH COMPLETE LOSS OF COOLANT. *AK
May 2, 2001
Air bags › FrontalCrash2 injuries
WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 45-50 MPH CONSUMER HAD A HIGH IMPACT HEAD-ON COLLISON. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SID AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS JUST AWARE THAT AIRS BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Oct 19, 2000
Electrical system › Ignition
MECEDES BENZ 190E PRESENTS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD TO THE OCCUPANTS AND OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. ENGINE STALLS. STALLING OCCURS OUT IN TRAFFIC. THE AUTO IS EITHER MAKING A TURN AT AN INTERSECTION OR STALLS WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. WHEN FIRST THE PROBLEM WAS ENCOUNTERED, WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED COMPONENTS, BUT TO NO AVAIL.(WE PAID FOR THESE) WHEN WE RETURNED TO THE DEALER WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO JUST KEEP REPLACING PARTS UNTIL IT WAS REPAIRED ( THE COST OF THESE EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENTS LABOR IN & OUT, IF THE PART DID NOT WORK, WOULD FALL ON US). WE HAVE REPLACED PARTS WITH STILL NO CURE FOR THE STALLING PROBLEM.WE HAVE FOLLOWED ALL THE MANUFACTURE'S…
Jul 25, 2000
Visibility › Defroster/defogger/hvac system › Heater core1 injury
THE HEATER CORE IN THE VEHICLE RUPTURED, CAUSING BOILING HOT COOLANT TO POUR ONTO THE DRIVER'S FEET. THE BOILING COOLANT CAUSED BURNS TO THE DRIVER'S FOOT ANKLE AND LEG.*AK
May 15, 2000
Air bags1 injury
WHILE TRANSPORTING FOUR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, I HEARD A LONG BANGING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE CAR. THE CAR TRAVELED ABOUT 6 FEET AND STOPPED. AFTER THE CAR STOPPED, THE DRIVERSIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED CAUSING SEVERE BRUSING, ABRASIONS, AND BURNS TO MY LEFT ARM. CLIFFORD BLAKEMORE, SERVICE MANAGER AT LONG OF CHATTANOOGA CONFIRMED THAT THE AIRBAG COULD DEPLOY UNDER THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED AND AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD STOPPED. HE STATED THAT THE FLEXDISK WHICH CONNECTS THE DRIVE SHAFT TO THE TRANSMISSION PROBABLY CAME LOOSE AND RESULTED IN THE DRIVE SHAFT HITTING THE TRANSMISSION TUNNEL. THIS WOULD HAVE EXPLAINED THE LOUD, BANGING NOISE. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED FROM ANOTHER SOURCE THAT THE CONTROL UNIT FOR…
Aug 21, 2000

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.