Auto Recall Watch
U.S. public vehicle records

1989 Mercedes Benz 560 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

7 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

178,013 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1989 model year. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 7 complaints (42.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior228.6%
Transmission and shifting114.3%
Electrical and battery issues114.3%

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
3
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
2
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module
1
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Vehicle Speed Control3
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine2
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module1
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components1

Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above1

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

150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 6 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
2
1996
2
2002
2
2007
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
19952
19962
20022
20071

1995: 2; 1996: 2; 2002: 2; 2007: 1

Pattern summary

Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 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 8001788 · 2002-01-08 (January 8, 2002)

WHILE BACKING OUT OF GARGE IN REVERSE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING ACCELERATED OUT INTO STREET. DRIVER HAD BOTH FEET ON BRAKE PEDAL TO GET VEHICLE TO STOP. THIS PROBLEM HAD OCCURRED ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS. VEHICLE WAS IN DEALER SHOP ON ONE OCCASION, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8001788 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 958140 · 1995-01-03 (January 3, 1995)

BRAKES FAILED DURING SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 958140 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10193868 · 2007-06-20 (June 20, 2007)

MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ ARE ABOUT EARLY 1990 W124, W126,W140,W201 AND W202 MODELS. MY COMPLAINT WAS REGARDING AN ELECTRICAL MELTDOWN THAT OCCURRED ON THE 1989 560 SEL W126 LAST FRIDAY. I RECENTLY BOUGHT A SECOND CAR AND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE HAD A LUMP OR A SURGE AT IDLE AND AT OPERATING SPEED. I THOUGHT SINCE THE CAR SAT FOR A WHILE BEFORE I BOUGHT IT THE PROBLEM WAS FUEL RELATED. I TOOK THE CAR TO REPAIR SHOP FOR A NEW FUEL FILTER. TWO DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT IT THE CAR WAS RETURNED AND IT WAS RUNNING FINE UNTIL I STARTED GETTIN…

Owner-reported narrative. 178,013 miles reported. Look up ODI 10193868 at NHTSA ↗

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

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

Data completeness

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

14.3%Usable mileage1 / 7 records
100.0%Valid incident date7 / 7 records
100.0%Valid filing date7 / 7 records
100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates7 / 7 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.

Component complaint heatmap
Component19851986198719881989199019911994
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
ComponentMileage range (25th–75th percentile)MedianUsable recordsExamples
Electrical System:Wiring:Front UnderhoodToo few reports for a range178,013 mi1 (sparse)
ODI 10193868 · 178,013 mi

MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ ARE ABOUT EARLY 1990 W124, W126,W140,W201 AND W202 MODELS. MY COMPLAINT WAS REGARDING AN ELECTRICAL MELTDOWN THAT OCCURRED ON THE 1989 560 SEL W126 LAST FRIDAY. I RECENTLY BOUGHT A SECOND CAR AND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE HAD A LUMP OR A SURGE AT IDLE AND AT OPERATING SPEED. I THOUGHT SINCE THE CAR SAT FOR A WHILE BEFORE I BOUGHT IT THE PROBLEM WAS FUEL RELATED. I TOOK THE CAR TO REPAIR SHOP FOR A NEW FUEL FILTER. TWO DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT IT THE CAR WAS RETURNED AND IT WAS RUNNING FINE UNTIL I STARTED GETTIN…

Look up ODI 10193868 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

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

1 reports2024-112026-10

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
MonthComplaintsCampaigns announcedExamples
2024-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2024-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-100None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-10 (partial)0None

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.

Age 0Age 1Age 21 reports

1991: 0 complaints · 1994: 1 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model yearThrough age 0Through age 1Through age 2
1991000
1994011
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
YearIncident dates usedFiling date fallbacksExcluded dates
1991210
1994010

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
ComponentVehicle Speed ControlEngine And Engine Cooling:EngineAir Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control ModuleElectrical System:Wiring:Front UnderhoodService Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
Vehicle Speed Control—000
1
ODI 958140

BRAKES FAILED DURING SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *AK

Look up ODI 958140 at NHTSA ↗

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine0—000
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module00—00
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood000—0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
1
ODI 958140

BRAKES FAILED DURING SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *AK

Look up ODI 958140 at NHTSA ↗

000—

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.

2 patterns with matching reports.

Brake response concerns

2 mentions · 28.6% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 8001788

WHILE BACKING OUT OF GARGE IN REVERSE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING ACCELERATED OUT INTO STREET. DRIVER HAD BOTH FEET ON BRAKE PEDAL TO GET VEHICLE TO STOP. THIS PROBLEM HAD OCCURRED ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS. VEHICLE WAS IN DEALER SHOP ON ONE OCCASION, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Look up ODI 8001788 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 958140

BRAKES FAILED DURING SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *AK

Look up ODI 958140 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule\b(brake fail\w*|brakes fail\w*|brake pedal|braking distance|unintended braking|phantom braking)\b

Warning lights and dashboard alerts

1 mentions · 14.3% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

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 ↗

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