U.S. public vehicle records

Mercedes Benz 220 electrical problems

13 complaint narratives mention electrical terms.

Key facts

27 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

98,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1968 to 2001 model years. Data updated: 2026-10-01 (October 1, 2026). 14 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Electrical and battery issues evidence

13 of 27 complaints match this topic (48.1%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.

Owner report 10184175 · 2007-03-04 (March 4, 2007)

MY 1994 C220 MERCEDES QUIT RUNNING IN THE MIDDLE OF TOWN AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS TOLD MY THE REPAIR SHOP THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS YEAR CAR. THIS CAR WAS ALWAYS SERVICED AT A MERCEDES DEALER SHIP. WHY COULD THIS HAVE NOT BEEN POINTED OUT BEFORE I GOT STRANDED? I AM ALSO TOLD THIS IS A VERY EXTREME FIRE HAZARD. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 113,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10184175 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10225002 · 2008-04-19 (April 19, 2008)

ENGINE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE HOOD HAS DETERIORATING INSULATION, CAUSING THE WIRES TO RUB TOGETHER SHORTING OUT WITH ONE ANOTHER. WIRING INSULATION BEGUN CRACKING WHEN CAR WAS ONE YEAR OLD. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10225002 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10232616 · 2008-06-29 (June 29, 2008)

MY 1994 C220 HAS HAD ITS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON FOR AWHILE AND THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE CAR EITHER NOT STARTING PROPERLY, STRANGE NOISES WHEN I TURN THE RADIO ON WHEN THE ANTENNA GOES UP, THE HEAT AUTOMATICALLY TURNS ON, THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT, THE CAR HESITATES WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO IN GEAR OR FROM NEUTRAL TO IN GEAR OR PARK OR REVERSE. I WAS TOLD BY A LICENSED MERCEDES SERVICE CENTER THAT THEY CAN NOT REPAIR ANY OTHER ITEMS UNDER MY HOOD UNTIL THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS IS TOTALLY REPLACED S…

Owner-reported narrative. 174,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10232616 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10147769 · 2006-01-14 (January 14, 2006)

1995 MERCEDES BENZ C220 - NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH A CAR THAT ONLY HAS ABOUT 80K MILES ON IT. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE. GAVE UP WITH USING MERCEDES FOR SERVICE EONS AGO....AFTER FEELING THAT WE WERE LIED TO. DEALER LED US TO BELIEVE THAT WE WERE HAVING PROBLEMS BECAUSE MICE NESTED IN THE CAR AND PROBABLY ATE THROUGH THE WIRING. 3 OTHER SERVICE PEOPLE HAVE THOUGHT THAT THEY SUCCESSFULLY 'FIXED' THE CAR... BUT PROBLEM RECURS (SOMETIMES WITHIN A HALF HOUR OF LEAVING REPAIR SHOP) CAR WILL NOT RUN UNLESS YOU KEEP YOU FOOT ON THE G…

Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10147769 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10157503 · 2006-05-13 (May 13, 2006)

WIRING HARNESS FAILURE ON 1995 MERCEDES C220 CAUSING ERRATIC OPERATION AND STALLING OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 124,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10157503 at NHTSA ↗

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

27 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

51.9%Usable mileage14 / 27 records

96.3%Valid incident date26 / 27 records

100.0%Valid filing date27 / 27 records

96.3%Ordered incident and filing dates26 / 27 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	1994	1995	1996	2000	2001
Electrical System	120.0% ODI 10232616 · 174,000 mi MY 1994 C220 HAS HAD ITS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON FOR AWHILE AND THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE CAR EITHER NOT STARTING PROPERLY, STRANGE NOISES WHEN I TURN THE RADIO ON WHEN THE ANTENNA GOES UP, THE HEAT AUTOMATICALLY TURNS ON, THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT, THE CAR HESITATES WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO IN GEAR OR FROM NEUTRAL TO IN GEAR OR PARK OR REVERSE. I WAS TOLD BY A LICENSED MERCEDES SERVICE CENTER THAT THEY CAN NOT REPAIR ANY OTHER ITEMS UNDER MY HOOD UNTIL THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS IS TOTALLY REPLACED S… Look up ODI 10232616 at NHTSA ↗	535.7% ODI 10229972 THE INSULATION ON THE WIRING HARNESS IN MY 1995 C220 HAS DETERIORATED SO MUCH THAT IT SPARKED FIRE ON SECTIONS OF THE HARNESS. I HAVE JUST LEARNED THAT MB USA IS NOT OWNING UP TO THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM. WHY IS THE COMPANY NOT PROVIDING SOME MEANS TO HAVE OWNERS REPLACE IT UNDER A SHARED COST PROGRAM? *TR Look up ODI 10229972 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 10536322 · 82,200 mi INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL WENT BLACK -- NO LIGHTING, NO INSTRUMENT INDICATIONS. SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, FUEL GAUGES, FUEL GAUGE, EVERYTHING INOPERATIVE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 06V028000 EXTENDED THIS RECALL FOR 10 YEARS, UNTIL 2016, BUT MY M/B DEALER TOLD ME THE RECALL EXPIRED IN 2009 AND REFUSED TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL. AM I CORRECT IN ASSUMING THE RECALL IS STILL IN EFFECT? *TR Look up ODI 10536322 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Wiring	120.0% ODI 10184175 · 113,000 mi MY 1994 C220 MERCEDES QUIT RUNNING IN THE MIDDLE OF TOWN AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS TOLD MY THE REPAIR SHOP THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS YEAR CAR. THIS CAR WAS ALWAYS SERVICED AT A MERCEDES DEALER SHIP. WHY COULD THIS HAVE NOT BEEN POINTED OUT BEFORE I GOT STRANDED? I AM ALSO TOLD THIS IS A VERY EXTREME FIRE HAZARD. *JB Look up ODI 10184175 at NHTSA ↗	214.3% ODI 10147769 · 45,000 mi 1995 MERCEDES BENZ C220 - NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH A CAR THAT ONLY HAS ABOUT 80K MILES ON IT. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE. GAVE UP WITH USING MERCEDES FOR SERVICE EONS AGO....AFTER FEELING THAT WE WERE LIED TO. DEALER LED US TO BELIEVE THAT WE WERE HAVING PROBLEMS BECAUSE MICE NESTED IN THE CAR AND PROBABLY ATE THROUGH THE WIRING. 3 OTHER SERVICE PEOPLE HAVE THOUGHT THAT THEY SUCCESSFULLY 'FIXED' THE CAR... BUT PROBLEM RECURS (SOMETIMES WITHIN A HALF HOUR OF LEAVING REPAIR SHOP) CAR WILL NOT RUN UNLESS YOU KEEP YOU FOOT ON THE G… Look up ODI 10147769 at NHTSA ↗	120.0% ODI 10168867 · 190,000 mi MY 1996 MERCEDES C220 HAS 190,000 MILES ON IT. THE WIRING HARNESS COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED AND I WAS TOLD BY MY REPAIR SHOP THAT THE FAULTY WIRING HARNESS SHORTED OUT THE COMPUTER. I CALLED MERCEDES CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SENT A LETTER TO PAUL HALATA. THEY WERE VERY SORRY, BUT THE CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THE CAR IS SITTING IN MY GARAGE - NOT RUNNING. *NM Look up ODI 10168867 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	120.0% ODI 10225002 · 12,000 mi ENGINE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE HOOD HAS DETERIORATING INSULATION, CAUSING THE WIRES TO RUB TOGETHER SHORTING OUT WITH ONE ANOTHER. WIRING INSULATION BEGUN CRACKING WHEN CAR WAS ONE YEAR OLD. *TR Look up ODI 10225002 at NHTSA ↗	214.3% ODI 10157503 · 124,000 mi WIRING HARNESS FAILURE ON 1995 MERCEDES C220 CAUSING ERRATIC OPERATION AND STALLING OF THE VEHICLE. *JB Look up ODI 10157503 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Vehicle Speed Control	120.0% ODI 885899 WHEN GETTING CLOSE TO A STOP VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. CONSUMER HAS TO PLACE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL TO CONTROL VEHICLE.*AK Look up ODI 885899 at NHTSA ↗	17.1% ODI 985104 WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE, ENGINE WENT INTO HIGH IDLE AND ACCELERATED FORWARD, LOST CONTROL, WENT INTO INBANKMENT/GLAZE AND TREE, IMPACT 1:00. *AK Look up ODI 985104 at NHTSA ↗	120.0% ODI 10554411 · 173,000 mi TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCEDES BENZ C220. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, HE ACTIVATED THE CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTION AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND ATTEMPTED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE M… Look up ODI 10554411 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Air Bags	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	17.1% ODI 10567347 · 89,000 mi MY MERCEDES BENZ WAS DRIVEN ON HIGHWAY 5 TOWARDS STOCKTON CA AT 65 MILES / HOUR. THE TRAFFIC SUDDENLY STOPPED!. THE DISTANCE TO FRONT VEHICLE WAS MUCH SHORTER TO RESPOND QUICKLY BY PRESSING THE BRAKE. THE MERCEDES REAR ENDED AND CRUSHED THE FRONT CHEVROLET, PUSHED IT INTO A COUPLE OF MORE CARS AHEAD IN THE SAME LANE. THE FRONT OF THE MERCEDES PART SIDE TOTALLY JAMMED AND WAS TOTALED AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO OPEN!, AND THE IMPACT RESULTED IN CHEST, NECK AND BACK INJURY TO MERCEDES BENZ DRIVER. Look up ODI 10567347 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Ignition	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	17.1% ODI 975148 VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING, ALSO HEAT SYSTEM MAKES A NOISE. TT Look up ODI 975148 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	120.0% ODI 605009 COMPUTER FAILED. Look up ODI 605009 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	17.1% ODI 10551588 DRIVING AND CAR STALLED IN INTERSECTION - SMELT SMOKE - WOULD NOT START, TOWED HOME THEN SURPRISINGLY STARTED NEXT DAY, THIS PROBLEM CONTINUED OVER AND OVER DESPITE REPLACING FUEL PUMP, TUNE-UP - MECHANIC RAN A OBD PROGRAM WHICH SHOWED MANY ERRORS, THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME (AND SHOWED ME) THE WIRING HARNESS AND TOLD ME TO "GET RID OF THE CAR" IT WAS DISINTEGRATING - EXPOSED WIRE AND INSULATION ON WIRES WAS CRACKED AND CRUMBLING AND IN SOME PLACES WIRES WERE COMPLETELY EXPOSED. I COULD NOT AFFORD THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND SO MY CAR SAT FOR A LO… Look up ODI 10551588 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
Electrical System	82,200–174,000 mi	107,000 mi	5	ODI 10232616 · 174,000 mi MY 1994 C220 HAS HAD ITS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON FOR AWHILE AND THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE CAR EITHER NOT STARTING PROPERLY, STRANGE NOISES WHEN I TURN THE RADIO ON WHEN THE ANTENNA GOES UP, THE HEAT AUTOMATICALLY TURNS ON, THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT, THE CAR HESITATES WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO IN GEAR OR FROM NEUTRAL TO IN GEAR OR PARK OR REVERSE. I WAS TOLD BY A LICENSED MERCEDES SERVICE CENTER THAT THEY CAN NOT REPAIR ANY OTHER ITEMS UNDER MY HOOD UNTIL THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS IS TOTALLY REPLACED S… Look up ODI 10232616 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10234692 · 107,000 mi CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE BECUASE OF FAULTY WIRING HARNESS. TR Look up ODI 10234692 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10386629 · 10,000 mi INSULATION CRACKING AND FALLING OFF THE WIRING HARNESS ON MY 1995 C-220 MERCEDES. CAR STALL AND WILL NOT RUN AFTER DRIVING THRU A CAR WASH.. MERCEDES IS RESPONSIBLE, AND A GREAT DANGER FOR A FIRE AND FATAL ACCIDENT. I RETIRED AFTER WORKING FOR FORD MOTOR COMPANY AS A SAFETY ENGINEER. I HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING. TR Look up ODI 10386629 at NHTSA ↗
Electrical System:Wiring	Too few reports for a range	113,000 mi	3 (sparse)	ODI 10184175 · 113,000 mi MY 1994 C220 MERCEDES QUIT RUNNING IN THE MIDDLE OF TOWN AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS TOLD MY THE REPAIR SHOP THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS YEAR CAR. THIS CAR WAS ALWAYS SERVICED AT A MERCEDES DEALER SHIP. WHY COULD THIS HAVE NOT BEEN POINTED OUT BEFORE I GOT STRANDED? I AM ALSO TOLD THIS IS A VERY EXTREME FIRE HAZARD. JB Look up ODI 10184175 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10147769 · 45,000 mi 1995 MERCEDES BENZ C220 - NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH A CAR THAT ONLY HAS ABOUT 80K MILES ON IT. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE. GAVE UP WITH USING MERCEDES FOR SERVICE EONS AGO....AFTER FEELING THAT WE WERE LIED TO. DEALER LED US TO BELIEVE THAT WE WERE HAVING PROBLEMS BECAUSE MICE NESTED IN THE CAR AND PROBABLY ATE THROUGH THE WIRING. 3 OTHER SERVICE PEOPLE HAVE THOUGHT THAT THEY SUCCESSFULLY 'FIXED' THE CAR... BUT PROBLEM RECURS (SOMETIMES WITHIN A HALF HOUR OF LEAVING REPAIR SHOP) CAR WILL NOT RUN UNLESS YOU KEEP YOU FOOT ON THE G… Look up ODI 10147769 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10168867 · 190,000 mi MY 1996 MERCEDES C220 HAS 190,000 MILES ON IT. THE WIRING HARNESS COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED AND I WAS TOLD BY MY REPAIR SHOP THAT THE FAULTY WIRING HARNESS SHORTED OUT THE COMPUTER. I CALLED MERCEDES CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SENT A LETTER TO PAUL HALATA. THEY WERE VERY SORRY, BUT THE CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THE CAR IS SITTING IN MY GARAGE - NOT RUNNING. NM Look up ODI 10168867 at NHTSA ↗
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	Too few reports for a range	68,000 mi	2 (sparse)	ODI 10225002 · 12,000 mi ENGINE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE HOOD HAS DETERIORATING INSULATION, CAUSING THE WIRES TO RUB TOGETHER SHORTING OUT WITH ONE ANOTHER. WIRING INSULATION BEGUN CRACKING WHEN CAR WAS ONE YEAR OLD. TR Look up ODI 10225002 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10157503 · 124,000 mi WIRING HARNESS FAILURE ON 1995 MERCEDES C220 CAUSING ERRATIC OPERATION AND STALLING OF THE VEHICLE. JB Look up ODI 10157503 at NHTSA ↗
Vehicle Speed Control	Too few reports for a range	173,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10554411 · 173,000 mi TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCEDES BENZ C220. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, HE ACTIVATED THE CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTION AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND ATTEMPTED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE M… Look up ODI 10554411 at NHTSA ↗
Air Bags	Too few reports for a range	89,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10567347 · 89,000 mi MY MERCEDES BENZ WAS DRIVEN ON HIGHWAY 5 TOWARDS STOCKTON CA AT 65 MILES / HOUR. THE TRAFFIC SUDDENLY STOPPED!. THE DISTANCE TO FRONT VEHICLE WAS MUCH SHORTER TO RESPOND QUICKLY BY PRESSING THE BRAKE. THE MERCEDES REAR ENDED AND CRUSHED THE FRONT CHEVROLET, PUSHED IT INTO A COUPLE OF MORE CARS AHEAD IN THE SAME LANE. THE FRONT OF THE MERCEDES PART SIDE TOTALLY JAMMED AND WAS TOTALED AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO OPEN!, AND THE IMPACT RESULTED IN CHEST, NECK AND BACK INJURY TO MERCEDES BENZ DRIVER. Look up ODI 10567347 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)	None	No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

2000: 1 complaints · 2001: 0 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
2000	0	0	1
2001	0	0	0

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
2000	2	0	0
2001	1	0	0

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
Component	Electrical System	Electrical System:Wiring	Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	Vehicle Speed Control	Air Bags	Electrical System:Ignition	Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash	Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
Electrical System	—	0	0	0	0	0	0	1 ODI 10551588 DRIVING AND CAR STALLED IN INTERSECTION - SMELT SMOKE - WOULD NOT START, TOWED HOME THEN SURPRISINGLY STARTED NEXT DAY, THIS PROBLEM CONTINUED OVER AND OVER DESPITE REPLACING FUEL PUMP, TUNE-UP - MECHANIC RAN A OBD PROGRAM WHICH SHOWED MANY ERRORS, THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME (AND SHOWED ME) THE WIRING HARNESS AND TOLD ME TO "GET RID OF THE CAR" IT WAS DISINTEGRATING - EXPOSED WIRE AND INSULATION ON WIRES WAS CRACKED AND CRUMBLING AND IN SOME PLACES WIRES WERE COMPLETELY EXPOSED. I COULD NOT AFFORD THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND SO MY CAR SAT FOR A LO… Look up ODI 10551588 at NHTSA ↗
Electrical System:Wiring	0	—	0	0	0	0	0	0
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	0	0	—	0	0	0	0	0
Vehicle Speed Control	0	0	0	—	0	0	0	0
Air Bags	0	0	0	0	—	0	0	0
Electrical System:Ignition	0	0	0	0	0	—	0	0
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	0
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)	1 ODI 10551588 DRIVING AND CAR STALLED IN INTERSECTION - SMELT SMOKE - WOULD NOT START, TOWED HOME THEN SURPRISINGLY STARTED NEXT DAY, THIS PROBLEM CONTINUED OVER AND OVER DESPITE REPLACING FUEL PUMP, TUNE-UP - MECHANIC RAN A OBD PROGRAM WHICH SHOWED MANY ERRORS, THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME (AND SHOWED ME) THE WIRING HARNESS AND TOLD ME TO "GET RID OF THE CAR" IT WAS DISINTEGRATING - EXPOSED WIRE AND INSULATION ON WIRES WAS CRACKED AND CRUMBLING AND IN SOME PLACES WIRES WERE COMPLETELY EXPOSED. I COULD NOT AFFORD THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND SO MY CAR SAT FOR A LO… Look up ODI 10551588 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	0	0	0	0	—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

Search patterns

3 patterns with matching reports.

Stalling or loss of power

4 mentions · 14.8% of complaints

Median mileage: 67,000 mi (2 usable records).

ODI 10157503 · 124,000 mi

WIRING HARNESS FAILURE ON 1995 MERCEDES C220 CAUSING ERRATIC OPERATION AND STALLING OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

Look up ODI 10157503 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 10386629 · 10,000 mi

INSULATION CRACKING AND FALLING OFF THE WIRING HARNESS ON MY 1995 C-220 MERCEDES. CAR STALL AND WILL NOT RUN AFTER DRIVING THRU A CAR WASH.. MERCEDES IS RESPONSIBLE, AND A GREAT DANGER FOR A FIRE AND FATAL ACCIDENT. I RETIRED AFTER WORKING FOR FORD MOTOR COMPANY AS A SAFETY ENGINEER. I HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING. *TR

Look up ODI 10386629 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 10551588

DRIVING AND CAR STALLED IN INTERSECTION - SMELT SMOKE - WOULD NOT START, TOWED HOME THEN SURPRISINGLY STARTED NEXT DAY, THIS PROBLEM CONTINUED OVER AND OVER DESPITE REPLACING FUEL PUMP, TUNE-UP - MECHANIC RAN A OBD PROGRAM WHICH SHOWED MANY ERRORS, THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME (AND SHOWED ME) THE WIRING HARNESS AND TOLD ME TO "GET RID OF THE CAR" IT WAS DISINTEGRATING - EXPOSED WIRE AND INSULATION ON WIRES WAS CRACKED AND CRUMBLING AND IN SOME PLACES WIRES WERE COMPLETELY EXPOSED. I COULD NOT AFFORD THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND SO MY CAR SAT FOR A LO…

Look up ODI 10551588 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b

Warning lights and dashboard alerts

2 mentions · 7.4% of complaints

Median mileage: 143,500 mi (2 usable records).

ODI 10184175 · 113,000 mi

Look up ODI 10184175 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 10232616 · 174,000 mi

Look up ODI 10232616 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(warning light\w*|check engine|dashboard warning\w*|malfunction indicator)\b

Battery drain and no-start mentions

1 mentions · 3.7% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 10551588

Look up ODI 10551588 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule