IllustrationMECHANIC WAS GOING TO SERVICE ENGINE WHEN HE PUSHED HOOD OFF. HOOD FLEW OFF AND BROKE WINDSHIELD, AND CHIPPED THE PAINT. HINGE SPRING WAS DETACHED FROM RIGHT SIDE OF HOOD. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
1986 Mercedes Benz 420
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 420 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 6 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Equipment. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
6 reportsBRIDGESTONE TIRES (P205 65 R15) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FAULTY TIRES. *SLC
THE CONSUMER STATE'S WHEN DRIVING THEIR IS A GASOLINE SMELL WITHIN THE VEHICLE, THE ANTENNA IS BROKEN, BRAKE LIGHTAND THE TAIL LIGHT FAILED AND THEIR IS A HOLE WITHIN THE GAS TANK. MJS
GOT IN THE VEHICLE, STARTED THE IGNITION, AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED DURING 80 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT. VEHICLE KEPT SPINNING AROUND AND AROUND AND SLAMMED AGAINST THE CURB AND BOUNCED BACK AND FORTH AGAINST THE CURB. ALSO, WHEEL CAME OFF AND VEHICLE ENDED UP IN CONSUMER'S YARD BETWEEN AN OAK TREE AND A TELEPHONE POLE. *AK
RIGHT REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM RUSTED THROUGH. NO OTHER SUBFRAME CORROSION VISIBLE.
THE CAR ACCELERATED WHEN TRYING TO STOP AT A LIGHT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1EA88034 · Sudden Acceleration
Opened Jul 15, 1988 · Closed Jul 31, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
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.THE PRECEDING PETITIONS AND THE ENGINEERING ANALYSIS HAVE BEEN MERGED INTOEA88-034.===