U.S. public vehicle records

1988 Mercedes Benz 560 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

13 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

32,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1988 model year. Data updated: 2026-10-01 (October 1, 2026). 4 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 13 complaints (53.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Transmission and shifting	2	15.4%
Braking behavior	2	15.4%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Vehicle Speed Control

Air Bags

Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module

Back Over Prevention:Warnings:External/Pedestrian Alert

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control

Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Vehicle Speed Control	7
Air Bags	2
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module	2
Back Over Prevention:Warnings:External/Pedestrian Alert	1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	1
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control	1
Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages	1

Vehicle Speed Control: 7; Air Bags: 2; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 2; Back Over Prevention:Warnings:External/Pedestrian Alert: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 1; Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control: 1; Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 9 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2004

2006

1995: 1; 1996: 2; 1997: 1; 1998: 1; 1999: 3; 2000: 1; 2004: 3; 2006: 1

Pattern summary

Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10168658 · 2006-09-19 (September 19, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY INTO THE STREET WHERE IT COLLIDED WITH A HOUSE ON THE OTHER SIDE AT 25 MPH. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL TEAM RESPONDED. A POLICE REPORT AND PHOTOS WERE TAKEN. THE CONTACT AVOIDED SERIOUS INJURY DUE TO THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAG, ALTHOUGH TREATMENT WAS RECEIVED FOR MINOR ABRASIONS AND BRUISING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO RUST AND POOR MAINTENANCE, ALTHOUGH THE CONTACT CLAI…

Owner-reported narrative. 170,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168658 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 807718 · 1997-01-15 (January 15, 1997)

UPON SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, FOOT APPLIED TO BRAKE PEDAL, ENGINE ROARED, THEN LURCHED FORWARD, OVERPOWERING BRAKES, HIT ROCK WALL, THEN ROLLED OVER, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 807718 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 852403 · 1999-11-18 (November 18, 1999)

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN PUT IN REVERSE, RESULTING IN VEHICLE HITTING A CURB, GOING AIRBORNE INTO A STORE WINDOW. DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES, BUT BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 852403 at NHTSA ↗

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

13 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

30.8%Usable mileage4 / 13 records

76.9%Valid incident date10 / 13 records

100.0%Valid filing date13 / 13 records

76.9%Ordered incident and filing dates10 / 13 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1994
Vehicle Speed Control	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	337.5% ODI 840679 EA88034; WHILE IN REVERSE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT HIGH SPEED. OCCUPANT APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THEY DID NOT WORK, CAUSING A CRASH AND INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. Look up ODI 840679 at NHTSA ↗	125.0% ODI 967339 VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD, RESULTING IN IMPACT WITH THE HOUSE. TT Look up ODI 967339 at NHTSA ↗	753.8% ODI 10168658 · 170,000 mi DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY INTO THE STREET WHERE IT COLLIDED WITH A HOUSE ON THE OTHER SIDE AT 25 MPH. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL TEAM RESPONDED. A POLICE REPORT AND PHOTOS WERE TAKEN. THE CONTACT AVOIDED SERIOUS INJURY DUE TO THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAG, ALTHOUGH TREATMENT WAS RECEIVED FOR MINOR ABRASIONS AND BRUISING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO RUST AND POOR MAINTENANCE, ALTHOUGH THE CONTACT CLAI… Look up ODI 10168658 at NHTSA ↗	342.9% ODI 8001708 THROTTLE IS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE, CONSUMER STATED THAT THAT THREE COLLISIONS HAVE OCCURRED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE SOURCE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK Look up ODI 8001708 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	215.4% ODI 10054287 · 32,000 mi AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT IS FAULTY. COULD RESULT IN NON-DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG DURING VEHICLE ACCIDENT. *CB Look up ODI 10054287 at NHTSA ↗	114.3% ODI 959414 WARNING LIGHT ON DASH (SRS) WOULD LIGHT UP AND STAYED LID A FEW MINUTES. CURRENTLY ON PERMANENTLY. DEALER SOLD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT INSISTS CONSUMER USE OLD PARTS. Look up ODI 959414 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	112.5% ODI 810124 CONSUMER HAS NOTICED LEAKING OIL FROM THE LEFT HEAD GASKET, CAUSING FUMES/ ODOR TO ENTER INSDIE THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, CONSUMER THERE IS TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK. *AK Look up ODI 810124 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	228.6% ODI 504077 VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKS, CAUSING OIL FUMES TO ENTER INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *DSH Look up ODI 504077 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Air Bags	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	215.4% ODI 513027 AIR BAG FAILED (UNSPECIFIED REASON). Look up ODI 513027 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Air Bags:Frontal	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	125.0% ODI 962740 FRONTAL COLLISION IMPACT 12:00 POSITION, SPEED 65MPH, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TT Look up ODI 962740 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	120.0% ODI 10034417 · 110,000 mi WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH BOTH OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER WAS INJURED BY THE DEPLOYED AIR BAG ON DRIVER'S SIDE. INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED ON THE LEFT ARM/STOMACH AND THE PENIS.*AK Look up ODI 10034417 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	112.5% ODI 10117787 · 62,400 mi CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE, PLACED IT INTO DRIVE AND VEHICLE WENT FORWARD. CONSUMER COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES, AND IT CRASHED INTO A POLE AND ANOTHER VEHICLE. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. Look up ODI 10117787 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	17.7% ODI 852403 VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN PUT IN REVERSE, RESULTING IN VEHICLE HITTING A CURB, GOING AIRBORNE INTO A STORE WINDOW. DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES, BUT BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. *AK Look up ODI 852403 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	112.5% ODI 840679 EA88034; WHILE IN REVERSE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT HIGH SPEED. OCCUPANT APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THEY DID NOT WORK, CAUSING A CRASH AND INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. Look up ODI 840679 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	114.3% ODI 958140 BRAKES FAILED DURING SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *AK Look up ODI 958140 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Visibility	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	112.5% ODI 10372402 1986 MERCEDES BENZ 560SL. THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR BROKE AND FAIL TO MY FACE WHILE I WAS DRIVING, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM TO 560SL OWNER. THIS IS DUE TO THE WORN OUT / DEFECT OF THE PLASTIC HOLDER THAT HOLD THE VISOR. *TR Look up ODI 10372402 at NHTSA ↗	125.0% ODI 10364177 · 127,000 mi TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1987 MERCEDES BENZ 560SL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR BROKE AND FELL; THE PLASTIC THAT HELD THE VISOR BROKE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR COSTS. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 127,000. Look up ODI 10364177 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
Vehicle Speed Control	Too few reports for a range	170,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10168658 · 170,000 mi DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY INTO THE STREET WHERE IT COLLIDED WITH A HOUSE ON THE OTHER SIDE AT 25 MPH. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL TEAM RESPONDED. A POLICE REPORT AND PHOTOS WERE TAKEN. THE CONTACT AVOIDED SERIOUS INJURY DUE TO THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAG, ALTHOUGH TREATMENT WAS RECEIVED FOR MINOR ABRASIONS AND BRUISING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO RUST AND POOR MAINTENANCE, ALTHOUGH THE CONTACT CLAI… Look up ODI 10168658 at NHTSA ↗
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module	Too few reports for a range	32,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10054287 · 32,000 mi AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT IS FAULTY. COULD RESULT IN NON-DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG DURING VEHICLE ACCIDENT. *CB Look up ODI 10054287 at NHTSA ↗
Back Over Prevention:Warnings:External/Pedestrian Alert	Too few reports for a range	32,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10054290 · 32,000 mi FAILURE OF ALARM SYSTEM. ALARM GOES OFF DURING MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. *CB Look up ODI 10054290 at NHTSA ↗
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control	Too few reports for a range	32,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10054289 · 32,000 mi CRUISE CONTROL NOT WORKING PROPERLY. COULD RESULT IN RUNAWAY VEHICLE AND ACCIDENT. *CB Look up ODI 10054289 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)	None	No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

1991: 0 complaints · 1994: 1 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
1991	0	0	0
1994	0	1	1

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
1991	2	1	0
1994	0	1	0

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
Component	Vehicle Speed Control	Air Bags	Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module	Back Over Prevention:Warnings:External/Pedestrian Alert	Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control	Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages
Vehicle Speed Control	—	1 ODI 533528 VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHICH RESULTED IN A FRONT END COLLISION, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG. Look up ODI 533528 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	1 ODI 852403 VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN PUT IN REVERSE, RESULTING IN VEHICLE HITTING A CURB, GOING AIRBORNE INTO A STORE WINDOW. DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES, BUT BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. *AK Look up ODI 852403 at NHTSA ↗	0	0
Air Bags	1 ODI 533528 VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHICH RESULTED IN A FRONT END COLLISION, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG. Look up ODI 533528 at NHTSA ↗	—	0	0	0	0	0
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module	0	0	—	0	0	0	0
Back Over Prevention:Warnings:External/Pedestrian Alert	0	0	0	—	0	0	0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	1 ODI 852403 VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN PUT IN REVERSE, RESULTING IN VEHICLE HITTING A CURB, GOING AIRBORNE INTO A STORE WINDOW. DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES, BUT BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. *AK Look up ODI 852403 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	0	—	0	0
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control	0	0	0	0	0	—	0
Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages	0	0	0	0	0	0	—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

Search patterns

3 patterns with matching reports.

Brake response concerns

2 mentions · 15.4% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 807718

UPON SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, FOOT APPLIED TO BRAKE PEDAL, ENGINE ROARED, THEN LURCHED FORWARD, OVERPOWERING BRAKES, HIT ROCK WALL, THEN ROLLED OVER, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK

Look up ODI 807718 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 852403

Look up ODI 852403 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

Hard or delayed shifting

1 mentions · 7.7% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 807718

UPON SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, FOOT APPLIED TO BRAKE PEDAL, ENGINE ROARED, THEN LURCHED FORWARD, OVERPOWERING BRAKES, HIT ROCK WALL, THEN ROLLED OVER, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK

Look up ODI 807718 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

Warning lights and dashboard alerts

1 mentions · 7.7% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 972958

FAULTY SENSOR IN AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT. COULD RESULT IN NON DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING VEHICEL ACCIDENT. TT

Look up ODI 972958 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(warning light\w*|check engine|dashboard warning\w*|malfunction indicator)\b