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: 4 of 13 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 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Back Over Prevention. 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.
7 crash reports0 fire reports5 injury reports
What owners actually said
13 reports
170,000 miles · Sep 19, 2006
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
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 T…
Read full complaint
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 *TR
NHTSA ODI #10168658
32,000 miles · Jan 16, 2004
Back Over Prevention
FAILURE OF ALARM SYSTEM. ALARM GOES OFF DURING MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. *CB
NHTSA ODI #10054290
32,000 miles · Jan 16, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control
CRUISE CONTROL NOT WORKING PROPERLY. COULD RESULT IN RUNAWAY VEHICLE AND ACCIDENT. *CB
NHTSA ODI #10054289
32,000 miles · Jan 16, 2004
Air Bags
AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT IS FAULTY. COULD RESULT IN NON-DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG DURING VEHICLE ACCIDENT. *CB
NHTSA ODI #10054287
Mileage unknown · Jun 8, 2000
Vehicle Speed ControlInjury
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE IN REVERSE GEAR RESULTING IN COLLISION WITH STORE AND INJURY TO CONSUMER. *MJS
NHTSA ODI #552529
Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 1999
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
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
NHTSA ODI #852403
Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 1999
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED FROM PARK TO REVERSE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, RESULTING IN A COLLISION WHICH CAUSED MINOR INJURIES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #850868
Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 1999
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
THROTTLE GOT STUCK, CAUSING THE VENICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE, RESULTING IN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK
NHTSA ODI #841128
Mileage unknown · Apr 2, 1998
Air BagsVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHICH RESULTED IN A FRONT END COLLISION, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG.
NHTSA ODI #533528
Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 1997
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
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. *AK
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: STRETCH LIMOUSINES ALTERED BY KELLY/COACHWORKS. LIMOUSINES MAY NOT CONTAIN ALTERERS CERTIFICATION LABEL IN VIOLATION OF 49 CFR PART 567.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: VEHICLES WOULD NOT BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERALREGULATIONS.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: STRETCH LIMOUSINES ALTERED BY KELLY/COACHWORKS, INC. LIMOUSINE MAY NOT HAVE ALTERERS TIRE PLACARD WITH CORRECT TIRE SIZE AND LOAD INFORMATION, AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 110.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: VEHICLES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH STANDARD AND CONSUMERRELYING ON THE WRONG INFORMATION MIGHT EXPERIENCE TRAUMATIC TIRE DAMAGE WITHLOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy: INSTALL CORRECT TIRE PLACARD.
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
1
EA88034 · 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.===
1988 Mercedes Benz 560 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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