1988 Mercedes Benz 420
Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict.
This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.
Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict. The data below is complete but unranked.
- Complaints
- 1
- Recalls
- 0
- Investigations
- 1
- Top problem
- —
Too few to rank
None on file
Opened by NHTSA
Not enough data
Complaints per year
1988: 1 complaint
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1984 | 0 |
| 1985 | 0 |
| 1986 | 6 |
| 1987 | 3 |
| 1988 | 1 |
| 1989 | 2 |
| 1990 | 3 |
| 1991 | 4 |
| 1994 | 16 |
| 1995 | 15 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 1997 | 22 |
| 1999 | 5 |
Known problem areas
Only 1 complaint on file for this model year — too few to rank by share. Raw counts only, below.
Vehicle speed control
1 of 1 total report mentions: vehicle speed control, most commonly citing linkages.
Show complaint excerpts
Sudden acceleration caused accident.
NHTSA ODI report, 1997-12-04
Safety timeline
No recalls on file for this model year.
0 recalls · 1 investigation · oldest first
To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →
-
I
1988-07-15Engineering analysisClosed 1990-07-31 Sudden acceleration
Buy-smart checklist
1988 Mercedes Benz 420 — pre-purchase inspection
Inspect
- Vehicle speed control: 1 report on file for this year.
FAQ
- Is the 1988 Mercedes Benz 420 reliable?
- There isn't enough NHTSA complaint data on file yet to give this model year a verdict.
- What are the most common problems with the 1988 Mercedes Benz 420?
- The most-reported component is vehicle speed control, accounting for 100% of complaints on file.
- How many recalls does the 1988 Mercedes Benz 420 have?
- No recalls are on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-10-31 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.