Owners have filed 16 complaints
about the 1988 Mercedes Benz 560 with NHTSA between 1995 and 2006.
The largest single group is the acceleration & cruise control.
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Oct 1995peak 3Sep 2006
NHTSA investigations into the 1988 Mercedes Benz 560
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
THE CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY PETITIONED NHTSA TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION INTOSUDDEN ACCELERATION ON VARIOUS MERCEDES-BENZ MODELS.THE PETITION WASGRANTED WITH RESPECT TO THE 1986-1987 300E MODEL AND ENGINEERING ANALYSISEA88-003 WAS OPENED COVERING JUST THE 1986 AND 1987 300 E VEHICLES.SUBSEQUENTLY, CFAS REPETITIONED NHTSA TO EXPAND ITS INVESTIGATION TO COVERALL 1984 THROUGH 1987 MERCEDES GASOLINE POWERED VEHICLES.DEFECT PETITIONNUMBER DP88-013 WAS THEN ASSIGNED.ON JULY 14, 1988, THE CFAS WAS ADVISEDTHAT PETITION DP88-013 HAD BEEN GRANTED AND THAT A NEW ENGINEERING ANALYSIS(EA88-034) HAD BEEN OPENED...
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 170,000 milesSanta Clarita, CACrash1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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 CLAIMED THE VEHICLE WAS MAINTAINED IN SHOW ROOM CONDITION. THE MODEL WAS 1988 MERCEDES BENZ 560 SEL. UPDATED 10/18/2006 - *NM UPDATED 11/30/2006 - *NM UPDATED 05/21/07
NHTSA complaint #10168658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Woodside, NY1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE IN REVERSE GEAR RESULTING IN COLLISION WITH STORE AND INJURY TO CONSUMER. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #552529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Woodside, NY1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE IN REVERSE GEAR RESULTING IN COLLISION WITH STORE AND INJURY TO CONSUMER. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #552529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Woodside, NYCrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
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.
NHTSA complaint #852403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Woodside, NYCrash1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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.
NHTSA complaint #852403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Woodside, NYCrash1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED FROM PARK TO REVERSE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, RESULTING IN A COLLISION WHICH CAUSED MINOR INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #850868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 170,000 milesSanta Clarita, CACrash1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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 CLAIMED THE VEHICLE WAS MAINTAINED IN SHOW ROOM CONDITION. THE MODEL WAS 1988 MERCEDES BENZ 560 SEL. UPDATED 10/18/2006 - *NM UPDATED 11/30/2006 - *NM UPDATED 05/21/07
NHTSA complaint #10168658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 32,000 milesArlington, VA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL NOT WORKING PROPERLY. COULD RESULT IN RUNAWAY VEHICLE AND ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10054289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 32,000 milesArlington, VA
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT IS FAULTY. COULD RESULT IN NON-DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG DURING VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10054287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 32,000 milesArlington, VA
BACK OVER PREVENTION:WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT
FAILURE OF ALARM SYSTEM. ALARM GOES OFF DURING MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #10054290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Woodside, NY1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE IN REVERSE GEAR RESULTING IN COLLISION WITH STORE AND INJURY TO CONSUMER. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #552529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Woodside, NY1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE IN REVERSE GEAR RESULTING IN COLLISION WITH STORE AND INJURY TO CONSUMER. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #552529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Woodside, NYCrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
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.
NHTSA complaint #852403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Woodside, NYCrash1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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.
NHTSA complaint #852403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Woodside, NYCrash1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED FROM PARK TO REVERSE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, RESULTING IN A COLLISION WHICH CAUSED MINOR INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #850868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Virginia Beach, VACrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THROTTLE GOT STUCK, CAUSING THE VENICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE, RESULTING IN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#.
NHTSA complaint #841128 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bangor, PACrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHICH RESULTED IN A FRONT END COLLISION, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG.
NHTSA complaint #533528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bangor, PACrash1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHICH RESULTED IN A FRONT END COLLISION, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG.
NHTSA complaint #533528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angele, CA
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG FAILED (UNSPECIFIED REASON).
NHTSA complaint #513027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Honolulu, HICrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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.
NHTSA complaint #807718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tampa, FLCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TURNED ON IGNITION, SHIFTED FROM PARK TO REVERSE, ENGINE ACCELERATED, VEHICLE WENT BACKWARDS AT HIGH SPEED; BROADSIDED PARKED VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #984650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Arnold, MD
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
FAULTY SENSOR IN AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT. COULD RESULT IN NON DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING VEHICEL ACCIDENT. TT
NHTSA complaint #972958 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.