FaultScore

Worst years for a Mercedes Benz 420

Owners have filed 91 complaints about the Mercedes Benz 420 with NHTSA across model years 1986 to 1999. More of them are about the electrical system than anything else.

Avoid

1997 Mercedes Benz 420

24 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly suspension.

Cleanest on record

1999 Mercedes Benz 420

10 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Mercedes Benz 420 year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
1999 A 10 0 0 Electrical System
1997 C 24 1 1 123,000 Suspension
1996 2 0 0 Electrical System
1995 C 16 1 2 91,567 Electrical System
1994 C 17 2 0 110,125 Electrical System
1991 4 1 1 Airbags
1990 3 0 0 Equipment & Accessories
1989 2 1 0 Engine & Cooling
1988 1 0 0 Acceleration & Cruise Control
1987 3 1 0 Engine & Cooling
1986 9 2 0 Acceleration & Cruise Control

What breaks on a Mercedes Benz 420

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Electrical System 15 16.5%

Worst in 1995

Suspension 13 14.3%

Worst in 1997

Brakes 7 7.7%

Worst in 1994

Engine & Cooling 6 6.6%

Worst in 1987

Transmission & Drivetrain 6 6.6%

Worst in 1997

Acceleration & Cruise Control 6 6.6%

Worst in 1986

Fuel & Propulsion 5 5.5%

Worst in 1997

Equipment & Accessories 4 4.4%

Worst in 1990

Child Seats 4 4.4%

Worst in 1994

Airbags 3 3.3%

Worst in 1994

Body & Structure 3 3.3%

Worst in 1986

Lights 3 3.3%

Worst in 1986

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 3 3.3%

Worst in 1995

Seat Belts 3 3.3%

Worst in 1997

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Mercedes Benz 420, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Jan 1995 peak 5 Oct 2013

Compare the Mercedes Benz 420

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.