U.S. public vehicle records

1995 Mercedes Benz 280 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

47 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

125,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1995 model year. Data updated: 2026-10-01 (October 1, 2026). 33 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 47 complaints (23.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Electrical and battery issues	25	53.2%
Engine operation	10	21.3%
Braking behavior	4	8.5%
Steering behavior	1	2.1%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood

Electrical System

Electrical System:Wiring

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Engine And Engine Cooling

Electrical System:Ignition

Engine

Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	11
Electrical System	10
Electrical System:Wiring	8
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	4
Engine And Engine Cooling	3
Electrical System:Ignition	2
Engine	2
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System	2

Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 11; Electrical System: 10; Electrical System:Wiring: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Electrical System:Ignition: 2; Engine: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 8

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 14 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995

1996

1998

1999

2000

2002

2003

2004

2006

2007

2008

2011

2012

2014

1995: 5; 1996: 1; 1998: 1; 1999: 2; 2000: 2; 2002: 1; 2003: 2; 2004: 5; 2006: 8; 2007: 10; 2008: 4; 2011: 1; 2012: 4; 2014: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 25 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 10 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10005610 · 2003-02-10 (February 10, 2003)

FAULTY WIRING HARNESS. RUBBER COATING HAS DETERIORATED EXPOSING COPPER WIRE, CAUSING ERRONEOUS SIGNALS OF SYSTEMS FAILURES ON DASH PANEL AND REPORTED DURING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING.

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005610 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10087041 · 2004-08-17 (August 17, 2004)

MY SON'S CAR QUIT RUNNING. THE MECHANIC AT THE GARAGE DISCOVERED THAT THE UNDERHOOD WIRING HARNESS HAD COMPLETELY DETERIORATED. HE SPOKE WITH A MERCEDES MECHANIC WHO TOLD HIM THIS WAS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS ERA CAR WITH THIS ENGINE. I SPOKE WITH A MERCEDES CUSTOMER SERVICE REP WHO SAID THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF AN ISSUE. I POINTED OUT THAT I WAS SEEING COMPLAINTS ON THE NHSTA SITE. HE DENIED THEIR EXISTENCE. HERE ARE THE ODI ID NUMBERS I FOUND IN A QUICK SEARCH. THEY ALL DESCRIBE THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM: 769109 10059002 10005610 8…

Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10087041 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10154946 · 2006-04-10 (April 10, 2006)

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY MERCEDES BENZ C-280 FROM A PRIVATE PARTY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE LOCAL MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP STATED IT WAS THE WIRING HARNESS AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY DID NOT STATE THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL OR YEAR. THE ESTIMATE TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS WAS $1600. GIVEN THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM FROM THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS HERE, MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM IS A SAFETY HAZARD NOT ONLY TO THE DRIVER OF AN AFFECTED VEHICLE, BUT TO A…

Owner-reported narrative. 128,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10154946 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10164197 · 2006-08-02 (August 2, 2006)

1995 MERCEDES C280 DISINTEGRATING ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEFECT. MANY PROBLEMS FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS WITH TRYING TO REPAIR BUT TO NO AVAIL.. FOUND OUT NOW AFTER OPENING THE WIRING COVER THAT ALL OF IT WAS DUE TO DISINTEGRATING WIRING THAT EXPLAINS WHY SOMETIMES STALLING AND ROUGH RUNNING OR FAULT CODES NEED RESET! *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10164197 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10068188 · 2004-05-03 (May 3, 2004)

8182225555: MERCEDES C 280 LEMON RETURNED TO THE DEALER ON 3/26/03/. I WALKED INTO ACURA AFTER TEST DRIVING THIS CAR W/ ERIK ON 3/27. I DROVE IT FOR 3 WEEKS. THE SRS LIGHT (AIRBAGS ) KEPT COMING ON W/ BUZZ NOISE. ON THE 5TH DAY, THE VEHICLE DID NOT START. THE HEAD RESTRAINTS AND REAR BUTTONS DID NOT WORK. THE RADIO FREQUENTLY GOES IN AND OUT ON SEVERAL STATIONS. THE 3RD WEEK, THERE WAS A HEAVY OIL LEAK, LEAKING FROM THE OIL PAN AND HEAD GASKET. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND DOES NOT MEET USED CAR SAFETY STANDARDS. THE POWER STEERING HAD A LEAK. TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 127,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068188 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10208228 · 2007-11-08 (November 8, 2007)

DEGRADING WIRE HARNESS CAUSES MY 95 MERCEDES C280 TO CUT OUT IN TRAFFIC CAUSING SEVERE SAFETY ISSUES {FUEL,BRAKES,FIRES, ACCIDENTS] I NOW OWN A PIECE OF WORTHLESS JUNK THAT MERCEDES WILL NOT ADMIT HAS THIS VERY COMMON VERY SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE 96,000 MILES ,ASR SYS FAIL ,COMPUTER MOD FAIL ,CHECK ENG CODES WILL COST 2000-3000 TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT,,PLEASE TELL MERCEDES THANKS FOR APIECE OF JUNK. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 96,404 miles reported. Look up ODI 10208228 at NHTSA ↗

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

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

Data completeness

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

70.2%Usable mileage33 / 47 records

91.5%Valid incident date43 / 47 records

100.0%Valid filing date47 / 47 records

91.5%Ordered incident and filing dates43 / 47 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	1997	1998	1999	2000
Electrical System	422.2% ODI 10237366 · 123,000 mi 1994 C280 MERCEDES HAS ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEFECT DUE TO WIRES SHEARING AND BEING EXPOSED. FROM INTERNET RESEARCH IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT AND THAT THE INSULATION IS NOT HEAT RESISTANT. THE CAR STARTED TO SMOKE DUE TO EXPOSED WIRES TOUCHING AND SHORTED OUT A.C. THE CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN NOW UNTIL WIRING HARNESS IS REPLACED DUE TO RISK OF FIRE. THIS CAR IS A DEATH TRAP - JUST GLAD I CAUGHT IT WHEN I DID. *TR Look up ODI 10237366 at NHTSA ↗	1021.3% ODI 10176538 · 82,578 mi THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS FOR THE ENGINE, FUEL INJECTION AND REST OF CRITICAL FUNCTIONS OF THE VEHICLE (1995 C280) HAS DISINTEGRATED DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER SEEMED TO HAVE USED AN INFERIOR AN UNSUITABLE INSULATION FOR THE WIRES, WHICH, FOR NO REASON OTHER THAN TIME, DETERIORATE ALLOWING THE WIRES TO SHORT AND PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM FUNCTIONING AS WELL AS CREATING A HAZARDOUS SITUATION (STALLING IN FREEWAY, FIRE IN ENGINE, ETC). THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE DEFECT BUT REFUSES TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION OR TO ASSIST IN ANY … Look up ODI 10176538 at NHTSA ↗	17.7% ODI 603983 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS HAS NUMEROUS FAILURES SINCE OWNER PURCHASED VEHICLE. Look up ODI 603983 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.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	316.7% ODI 10059002 WIRE HARNESS ON CAR FACTORY INSTALLED BY MERECEDES BECOMES BRITTLE AND CRACKS EXPOSING WIRING CREATING PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *AK Look up ODI 10059002 at NHTSA ↗	1123.4% ODI 10005610 · 80,000 mi FAULTY WIRING HARNESS. RUBBER COATING HAS DETERIORATED EXPOSING COPPER WIRE, CAUSING ERRONEOUS SIGNALS OF SYSTEMS FAILURES ON DASH PANEL AND REPORTED DURING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. Look up ODI 10005610 at NHTSA ↗	17.7% ODI 10195095 · 90,000 mi DURING A RECENT SERVICE OF MY VEHICLE AT AN AUTHORIZED MERCEDES BENZ SERVICE CENTER, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE INSULATION COVERING MY WIRES WERE DECOMPOSING AND THE WIRES WERE EXPOSED TO THE ENGINE, HENCE CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM, AND THE POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES IF THE WIRES CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A MATERIAL DEFECT. HE REVEALED THAT THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME HE HAD OBSERVED THIS PROBLEM WITH 1996 280C- CLASS. SINCE THIS APPEARED TO BE A HABITUAL DEFECT WITH THIS MAKE AND M… Look up ODI 10195095 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.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Wiring	316.7% ODI 10045725 WIRING HARNESS IS BAD ON MY C280 MERCEDES. THEY KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND WILL NOT ADMIT IT. MY CAR STALLED GOING DOWN A HILL ON THE WAY TO PARK CITY. I ALMOST WRECKED IT. THIS INFORMATION IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET, BUT MERCEDES WILL NOT DO A RECALL. *LA Look up ODI 10045725 at NHTSA ↗	817.0% ODI 10154946 · 128,000 mi SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY MERCEDES BENZ C-280 FROM A PRIVATE PARTY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE LOCAL MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP STATED IT WAS THE WIRING HARNESS AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY DID NOT STATE THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL OR YEAR. THE ESTIMATE TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS WAS $1600. GIVEN THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM FROM THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS HERE, MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM IS A SAFETY HAZARD NOT ONLY TO THE DRIVER OF AN AFFECTED VEHICLE, BUT TO A… Look up ODI 10154946 at NHTSA ↗	17.7% ODI 10203462 EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THIS MERCEDES C280 1996 THREE YEARS AGO (2004) IT HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING HARNESS AND IT IS JUST TOO EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE IT. *JB Look up ODI 10203462 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.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Vehicle Speed Control	316.7% ODI 515359 CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. Look up ODI 515359 at NHTSA ↗	24.3% ODI 10042362 CONSUMER STATED WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED SPEEDOMETER JUMPING UP AND DOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK Look up ODI 10042362 at NHTSA ↗	17.7% ODI 512075 AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD OR ROCKS BACKWARD, PROBLEM STILL EXIST. Look up ODI 512075 at NHTSA ↗	120.0% ODI 815232 WHILE IN REVERSE POSITION, THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF IN REVERSE ABOUT 20 MPH, CAUSING $3200 DAMAGES ON THE VEHICLE. *AK Look up ODI 815232 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.
Engine And Engine Cooling	15.6% ODI 10226079 · 70,000 mi MY 1994 MERCEDES BENZ WOULD STOP IN TRAFFIC FOR NO REASON. *TR Look up ODI 10226079 at NHTSA ↗	36.4% ODI 10068188 · 127,100 mi 8182225555: MERCEDES C 280 LEMON RETURNED TO THE DEALER ON 3/26/03/. I WALKED INTO ACURA AFTER TEST DRIVING THIS CAR W/ ERIK ON 3/27. I DROVE IT FOR 3 WEEKS. THE SRS LIGHT (AIRBAGS ) KEPT COMING ON W/ BUZZ NOISE. ON THE 5TH DAY, THE VEHICLE DID NOT START. THE HEAD RESTRAINTS AND REAR BUTTONS DID NOT WORK. THE RADIO FREQUENTLY GOES IN AND OUT ON SEVERAL STATIONS. THE 3RD WEEK, THERE WAS A HEAVY OIL LEAK, LEAKING FROM THE OIL PAN AND HEAD GASKET. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND DOES NOT MEET USED CAR SAFETY STANDARDS. THE POWER STEERING HAD A LEAK. TH… Look up ODI 10068188 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.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	116.7% ODI 10199130 MERCEDES C280 ENGINE STALLING DUE TO CRANK SENSOR FAILURE CUSTOMER WANTS FULL REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRSNARCC THE CONSUMER STATED ON 6/18/07 THE ENGINE STALLED SHORTLY AFTER LEAVING HWY 91, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE DEFECT WAS THE CRANK SENSOR AND CHARGED THE CONSUMER $428.60 FOR REPAIRS. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WOULD LIKE THE DEALER TO REIMBURSE THE AMOUNT FOR THE REPAIRS, HOWEVER THE DEALER DECLINED REIMBURSEMENT. *TR Look up ODI 10199130 at NHTSA ↗
Air Bags	15.6% ODI 822480 WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE WITH FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SURGED FOWARD, HIT A WALL IN GARAGE, CAUSING PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY, WHILE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK Look up ODI 822480 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	17.7% ODI 515177 NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG IN ACCIDENT. Look up ODI 515177 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	133.3% ODI 10053082 · 35,200 mi NON DEPLOYMENT OF ALL AIRBAGS ON A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ C280 Look up ODI 10053082 at NHTSA ↗	116.7% ODI 10587758 · 5,000 mi SRS LIGHT COMES ON. CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES FOR VARIOUS REPAIRS TO AIR BAG SYSTEM, AT TIMES CAR STAYED AT DEALER FOR AS LONG AS A WEEK. THIS HAS OCCURRED FROM TIME OF PURCHASE TO PRESENT. *TR Look up ODI 10587758 at NHTSA ↗
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	48.5% ODI 10089014 · 71,000 mi IN FOR OIL CHANGE HEAD GASKET BAD NEED $1500 KNOW MONEY FOR WORK . *AK Look up ODI 10089014 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.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Air Bags:Frontal	15.6% ODI 822480 WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE WITH FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SURGED FOWARD, HIT A WALL IN GARAGE, CAUSING PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY, WHILE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK Look up ODI 822480 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	17.7% ODI 812335 DRIVING VEHICLE; AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. HAD THE SEAT BELTS AND AIR BAGS REPLACED; TOOK TO DEALER WHO HAD REPAIRED PROBLEM TEMPORARILY, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK Look up ODI 812335 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.	116.7% ODI 749232 I WAS REAR-ENDED BY A BUS AND ALSO SEVERELY STRUCK ON MY DRIVER SIDE - NO AIRBAG ACTIVATION, I WAS INJURED AND CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *AK Look up ODI 749232 at NHTSA ↗

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:Wiring:Front Underhood	83,000–145,500 mi	100,202 mi	10	ODI 10005610 · 80,000 mi FAULTY WIRING HARNESS. RUBBER COATING HAS DETERIORATED EXPOSING COPPER WIRE, CAUSING ERRONEOUS SIGNALS OF SYSTEMS FAILURES ON DASH PANEL AND REPORTED DURING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. Look up ODI 10005610 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10087041 · 150,000 mi MY SON'S CAR QUIT RUNNING. THE MECHANIC AT THE GARAGE DISCOVERED THAT THE UNDERHOOD WIRING HARNESS HAD COMPLETELY DETERIORATED. HE SPOKE WITH A MERCEDES MECHANIC WHO TOLD HIM THIS WAS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS ERA CAR WITH THIS ENGINE. I SPOKE WITH A MERCEDES CUSTOMER SERVICE REP WHO SAID THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF AN ISSUE. I POINTED OUT THAT I WAS SEEING COMPLAINTS ON THE NHSTA SITE. HE DENIED THEIR EXISTENCE. HERE ARE THE ODI ID NUMBERS I FOUND IN A QUICK SEARCH. THEY ALL DESCRIBE THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM: 769109 10059002 10005610 8… Look up ODI 10087041 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10172363 · 78,330 mi (1) WHILE DRIVING MY 95 MERCEDES C280 ON I-44 HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION I HIT A SMALL BUMP. IMMEDIATELY THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON, BUT THE ENGINE SEEMED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. I WAS ON MY WAY TO THE DEALER FOR ANOTHER PROBLEM, SO THEY CHECKED THE WARNING LIGHT AND FOUND THE WIRING HARNESS TO BE DETERIORATED, WHICH THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE SAID WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE ORIGINAL HARNESS. AT $1745 TO REPLACE AND WITH IT OPERATING NORMALLY AND WITH THEIR ASSURANCE IT SHOULD NOT CAUSE A FIRE OR ANY OTHER PARTS TO FAIL, I HAVE NOT HAD IT RE… Look up ODI 10172363 at NHTSA ↗
Electrical System	82,934–148,750 mi	118,050 mi	10	ODI 10176538 · 82,578 mi THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS FOR THE ENGINE, FUEL INJECTION AND REST OF CRITICAL FUNCTIONS OF THE VEHICLE (1995 C280) HAS DISINTEGRATED DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER SEEMED TO HAVE USED AN INFERIOR AN UNSUITABLE INSULATION FOR THE WIRES, WHICH, FOR NO REASON OTHER THAN TIME, DETERIORATE ALLOWING THE WIRES TO SHORT AND PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM FUNCTIONING AS WELL AS CREATING A HAZARDOUS SITUATION (STALLING IN FREEWAY, FIRE IN ENGINE, ETC). THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE DEFECT BUT REFUSES TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION OR TO ASSIST IN ANY … Look up ODI 10176538 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10187544 · 145,000 mi THE WIRING HARNESS WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE I WAS BACKING THE CAR OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. I CALLED THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE HARNESS,THEY SEEMED TO THINK IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE WIRING TO CATCH ON FIRE. IF ANYONE THERE WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT THIS CAR IT IS IN MY DRIVEWAY. I DON'T THINK AM GOING TO SPEND $2,000 TO FIX IT.AK Look up ODI 10187544 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10226124 · 84,000 mi ENGINE WIRE HARNESS ALL WIRE INSULATIONS IN THE HARNESS ARE IN A SERIOUS DISINTEGRATED AND ARE SHORTING OUT ON EACH OTHER IN A WRAPPED UP HARNESS CONFIGURATION MY GOD IS ANYONE GOING TO LOOK AT THIS . TR Look up ODI 10226124 at NHTSA ↗
Electrical System:Wiring	82,297–129,750 mi	125,500 mi	8	ODI 10154946 · 128,000 mi SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY MERCEDES BENZ C-280 FROM A PRIVATE PARTY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE LOCAL MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP STATED IT WAS THE WIRING HARNESS AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY DID NOT STATE THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL OR YEAR. THE ESTIMATE TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS WAS $1600. GIVEN THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM FROM THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS HERE, MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM IS A SAFETY HAZARD NOT ONLY TO THE DRIVER OF AN AFFECTED VEHICLE, BUT TO A… Look up ODI 10154946 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10164197 · 90,000 mi 1995 MERCEDES C280 DISINTEGRATING ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEFECT. MANY PROBLEMS FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS WITH TRYING TO REPAIR BUT TO NO AVAIL.. FOUND OUT NOW AFTER OPENING THE WIRING COVER THAT ALL OF IT WAS DUE TO DISINTEGRATING WIRING THAT EXPLAINS WHY SOMETIMES STALLING AND ROUGH RUNNING OR FAULT CODES NEED RESET! *JB Look up ODI 10164197 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10170426 · 185,420 mi MULTIPLE ENGINE FAILURE EVENTS WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE CAR WOULD COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN. LOCAL MERCEDES REPAIR SHOP INVESTIGATED AND INFORMED ME OF THE MAIN ENGINE HARNESS WIRING DETERIOATING AND THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THIS MODEL YEAR CAR (WIRES ARE BIODEGRADABLE). MY WIRES HAD FELL APART AND WAS SHORTENING OUT DUE TO BARE WIRES TOUCHING AND EXPOSURE TO THE ELEMENTS. THUS, THIS REQUIRED RE-WIRING THE CAR WITH A NEW HARNESS. CHECKED WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE WIRING ISSUE WAS DUE TO WEAR/TEAR AND THEY WOULD REPLACE THE W… Look up ODI 10170426 at NHTSA ↗
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	Too few reports for a range	101,500 mi	2 (sparse)	ODI 10089014 · 71,000 mi IN FOR OIL CHANGE HEAD GASKET BAD NEED $1500 KNOW MONEY FOR WORK . AK Look up ODI 10089014 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10172882 · 132,000 mi MY CAR ACTS HAZARDOUS. FROM TIME TO TIME INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS OCCUR LIKE ENGINE STALLS,ENGINE ERRATICALLY INCREASE RPM, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FOR NO REASON, GAUGES NOT WORKING FROM TIME TO TIME, WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINES SEEMS TO STALL BUT RUNS ON 3 CYLINDERS I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND SHUT IT OFF TO RESTART. MY CAR WENT OFF AND TOOK 6 TRIES TO GET THE CAR STARTED. REPLACED HEAD GASKET AT 130K ANOTHER MERCEDES BENZ PROBLEM. JB Look up ODI 10172882 at NHTSA ↗
Engine And Engine Cooling	Too few reports for a range	106,100 mi	3 (sparse)	ODI 10068188 · 127,100 mi 8182225555: MERCEDES C 280 LEMON RETURNED TO THE DEALER ON 3/26/03/. I WALKED INTO ACURA AFTER TEST DRIVING THIS CAR W/ ERIK ON 3/27. I DROVE IT FOR 3 WEEKS. THE SRS LIGHT (AIRBAGS ) KEPT COMING ON W/ BUZZ NOISE. ON THE 5TH DAY, THE VEHICLE DID NOT START. THE HEAD RESTRAINTS AND REAR BUTTONS DID NOT WORK. THE RADIO FREQUENTLY GOES IN AND OUT ON SEVERAL STATIONS. THE 3RD WEEK, THERE WAS A HEAVY OIL LEAK, LEAKING FROM THE OIL PAN AND HEAD GASKET. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND DOES NOT MEET USED CAR SAFETY STANDARDS. THE POWER STEERING HAD A LEAK. TH… Look up ODI 10068188 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10208159 · 104,000 mi MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSED ENGINE TO OVERHEAT/BLOWN HEAD GASKET. BAD O2 SENSOR. EVENTUALLY TRACED TO DEFECTIVE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. MAYBE THIS IS WHY THE MERCEDES 280C IS SINGLED OUT FOR SMOG ONLY CHECK IN CA. TR Look up ODI 10208159 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10244954 · 106,100 mi 1.TEMPERATURE AND FUEL GAUGE HAS INTERMITTENT ISSUES. ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ONE COLD MORNING. 2. ENGINE STALLS / STUTTERS WHEN COLD. LOST POWER TO CAR AND ALMOST HIT A WALL TRYING TO STOP THE CAR. 3 3. NO MONEY TO CORRECT THE ISSUE YET. I DRIVE A DIFFERENT CAR DAILY AND TRY TO AVOID USING THIS ONE. TR Look up ODI 10244954 at NHTSA ↗
Electrical System:Ignition	Too few reports for a range	95,600 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10162071 · 95,600 mi MY HUSBAND WAS CHANGING THE IGNITION WIRES AN WHEN DOING SO NOTICED THAT ALL THE WIRES UNDER THE HOOD ARE CRACKING DETERIORATING. WE ARE WORRIED THAT THIS WILL CAUSE A FIRE SOON. THE IGNITION WIRES ARE SEALED IN THICK RUBBER HE CUT IT APART AND FOUND THAT ALL THE WIRES INSIDE WERE ROTTED CRACKED BARE WIRE RUNNING TOGETHER. WHICH IS WHY THE CAR WOULDN'T START. WHAT'S NEXT? *NM Look up ODI 10162071 at NHTSA ↗
Engine	Too few reports for a range	166,061 mi	2 (sparse)	ODI 10458447 · 130,000 mi TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ C280. WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING . THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. Look up ODI 10458447 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10471970 · 202,122 mi CAR HAS BEEN A GOOD RUNNING CAR FRO SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES, HOWEVER TODAY IT STARTED, WHAT SEEM TO BE A MISFIRE. I CHECKED THE SPARK PLUGS, WIRES, IGNITERS AND THEY WERE ALL IN GOOD CONDITION SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED RECENTLY. AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT 35 MILES AN HOUR THE CAR SUDDENLY JERKED AND SMOKE FILED THE INSIDE AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ON A BUSY CROSS ROAD, SO INSTANT PANIC SET IN, BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF VISION AND UNABLE TO BREATH FROM THE FUMES. I SUFFER FROM MIGRAINES AND HAD TO GO TO THE DOCTOR FOR A CHECK UP BECAUSE MY HEALT… Look up ODI 10471970 at NHTSA ↗
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System	Too few reports for a range	82,578 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10176538 · 82,578 mi THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS FOR THE ENGINE, FUEL INJECTION AND REST OF CRITICAL FUNCTIONS OF THE VEHICLE (1995 C280) HAS DISINTEGRATED DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER SEEMED TO HAVE USED AN INFERIOR AN UNSUITABLE INSULATION FOR THE WIRES, WHICH, FOR NO REASON OTHER THAN TIME, DETERIORATE ALLOWING THE WIRES TO SHORT AND PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM FUNCTIONING AS WELL AS CREATING A HAZARDOUS SITUATION (STALLING IN FREEWAY, FIRE IN ENGINE, ETC). THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE DEFECT BUT REFUSES TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION OR TO ASSIST IN ANY … Look up ODI 10176538 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

1999: 1 complaints · 2000: 3 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
1999	1	1	1
2000	1	3	3

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
1999	2	1	0
2000	6	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:Wiring:Front Underhood	Electrical System	Electrical System:Wiring	Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	Engine And Engine Cooling	Electrical System:Ignition	Engine	Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	—	0	1 ODI 10209811 · 59,187 mi 1995 MERCEDES C280 SEDAN. MILEAGE 59,187. ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEFECTIVE DUE TO POOR SUBSTANDARD OEM QUALITY HAS DETERIORATED INTERNALLY AND VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONS IN MANNER WHICH MAY CAUSE ACCIDENT OR FIRE. VEHICLE IS UNUSABLE. MERCEDES BENZ USA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS FAULT INVOLVING THIS VEHICLE MODEL AND RELATED VEHICLE MODELS. COST TO REPLACE IS OVER $1700. REPAIR DONE OUT OF POCKET TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS AND FIRE. *TR Look up ODI 10209811 at NHTSA ↗	1 ODI 10172882 · 132,000 mi MY CAR ACTS HAZARDOUS. FROM TIME TO TIME INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS OCCUR LIKE ENGINE STALLS,ENGINE ERRATICALLY INCREASE RPM, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FOR NO REASON, GAUGES NOT WORKING FROM TIME TO TIME, WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINES SEEMS TO STALL BUT RUNS ON 3 CYLINDERS I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND SHUT IT OFF TO RESTART. MY CAR WENT OFF AND TOOK 6 TRIES TO GET THE CAR STARTED. REPLACED HEAD GASKET AT 130K ANOTHER MERCEDES BENZ PROBLEM. *JB Look up ODI 10172882 at NHTSA ↗	1 ODI 10208159 · 104,000 mi MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSED ENGINE TO OVERHEAT/BLOWN HEAD GASKET. BAD O2 SENSOR. EVENTUALLY TRACED TO DEFECTIVE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. MAYBE THIS IS WHY THE MERCEDES 280C IS SINGLED OUT FOR SMOG ONLY CHECK IN CA. *TR Look up ODI 10208159 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	0
Electrical System	0	—	0	0	1 ODI 10244954 · 106,100 mi 1.TEMPERATURE AND FUEL GAUGE HAS INTERMITTENT ISSUES. ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ONE COLD MORNING. 2. ENGINE STALLS / STUTTERS WHEN COLD. LOST POWER TO CAR AND ALMOST HIT A WALL TRYING TO STOP THE CAR. 3 3. NO MONEY TO CORRECT THE ISSUE YET. I DRIVE A DIFFERENT CAR DAILY AND TRY TO AVOID USING THIS ONE. *TR Look up ODI 10244954 at NHTSA ↗	0	1 ODI 10471970 · 202,122 mi CAR HAS BEEN A GOOD RUNNING CAR FRO SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES, HOWEVER TODAY IT STARTED, WHAT SEEM TO BE A MISFIRE. I CHECKED THE SPARK PLUGS, WIRES, IGNITERS AND THEY WERE ALL IN GOOD CONDITION SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED RECENTLY. AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT 35 MILES AN HOUR THE CAR SUDDENLY JERKED AND SMOKE FILED THE INSIDE AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ON A BUSY CROSS ROAD, SO INSTANT PANIC SET IN, BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF VISION AND UNABLE TO BREATH FROM THE FUMES. I SUFFER FROM MIGRAINES AND HAD TO GO TO THE DOCTOR FOR A CHECK UP BECAUSE MY HEALT… Look up ODI 10471970 at NHTSA ↗	1 ODI 10176538 · 82,578 mi THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS FOR THE ENGINE, FUEL INJECTION AND REST OF CRITICAL FUNCTIONS OF THE VEHICLE (1995 C280) HAS DISINTEGRATED DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER SEEMED TO HAVE USED AN INFERIOR AN UNSUITABLE INSULATION FOR THE WIRES, WHICH, FOR NO REASON OTHER THAN TIME, DETERIORATE ALLOWING THE WIRES TO SHORT AND PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM FUNCTIONING AS WELL AS CREATING A HAZARDOUS SITUATION (STALLING IN FREEWAY, FIRE IN ENGINE, ETC). THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE DEFECT BUT REFUSES TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION OR TO ASSIST IN ANY … Look up ODI 10176538 at NHTSA ↗
Electrical System:Wiring	1 ODI 10209811 · 59,187 mi 1995 MERCEDES C280 SEDAN. MILEAGE 59,187. ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEFECTIVE DUE TO POOR SUBSTANDARD OEM QUALITY HAS DETERIORATED INTERNALLY AND VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONS IN MANNER WHICH MAY CAUSE ACCIDENT OR FIRE. VEHICLE IS UNUSABLE. MERCEDES BENZ USA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS FAULT INVOLVING THIS VEHICLE MODEL AND RELATED VEHICLE MODELS. COST TO REPLACE IS OVER $1700. REPAIR DONE OUT OF POCKET TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS AND FIRE. *TR Look up ODI 10209811 at NHTSA ↗	0	—	0	0	0	0	0
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	1 ODI 10172882 · 132,000 mi MY CAR ACTS HAZARDOUS. FROM TIME TO TIME INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS OCCUR LIKE ENGINE STALLS,ENGINE ERRATICALLY INCREASE RPM, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FOR NO REASON, GAUGES NOT WORKING FROM TIME TO TIME, WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINES SEEMS TO STALL BUT RUNS ON 3 CYLINDERS I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND SHUT IT OFF TO RESTART. MY CAR WENT OFF AND TOOK 6 TRIES TO GET THE CAR STARTED. REPLACED HEAD GASKET AT 130K ANOTHER MERCEDES BENZ PROBLEM. *JB Look up ODI 10172882 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	—	0	0	0	0
Engine And Engine Cooling	1 ODI 10208159 · 104,000 mi MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSED ENGINE TO OVERHEAT/BLOWN HEAD GASKET. BAD O2 SENSOR. EVENTUALLY TRACED TO DEFECTIVE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. MAYBE THIS IS WHY THE MERCEDES 280C IS SINGLED OUT FOR SMOG ONLY CHECK IN CA. *TR Look up ODI 10208159 at NHTSA ↗	1 ODI 10244954 · 106,100 mi 1.TEMPERATURE AND FUEL GAUGE HAS INTERMITTENT ISSUES. ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ONE COLD MORNING. 2. ENGINE STALLS / STUTTERS WHEN COLD. LOST POWER TO CAR AND ALMOST HIT A WALL TRYING TO STOP THE CAR. 3 3. NO MONEY TO CORRECT THE ISSUE YET. I DRIVE A DIFFERENT CAR DAILY AND TRY TO AVOID USING THIS ONE. *TR Look up ODI 10244954 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	—	0	0	0
Electrical System:Ignition	0	0	0	0	0	—	0	1 ODI 724557 THE PROBLEMS I HAVE CITED ARE REPETTIVE....BENZ FIXES A PART, THEN IT GOES AGAIN....THE CRA CANNOT BE PROPERLY BALANCED I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY YWO INDEPENDENT CAR REPAIR SHOPS.....THE ELECTRICAL PROBELSM STARTED 3 DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR AND ARE ONGOING.........I BELIEVE THE CAR IS UNSAFE AT ANY SPEED AND BENZ HAS BEEN LYING TO ME........NG. *AK Look up ODI 724557 at NHTSA ↗
Engine	0	1 ODI 10471970 · 202,122 mi CAR HAS BEEN A GOOD RUNNING CAR FRO SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES, HOWEVER TODAY IT STARTED, WHAT SEEM TO BE A MISFIRE. I CHECKED THE SPARK PLUGS, WIRES, IGNITERS AND THEY WERE ALL IN GOOD CONDITION SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED RECENTLY. AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT 35 MILES AN HOUR THE CAR SUDDENLY JERKED AND SMOKE FILED THE INSIDE AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ON A BUSY CROSS ROAD, SO INSTANT PANIC SET IN, BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF VISION AND UNABLE TO BREATH FROM THE FUMES. I SUFFER FROM MIGRAINES AND HAD TO GO TO THE DOCTOR FOR A CHECK UP BECAUSE MY HEALT… Look up ODI 10471970 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	0	0	—	0
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System	0	1 ODI 10176538 · 82,578 mi THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS FOR THE ENGINE, FUEL INJECTION AND REST OF CRITICAL FUNCTIONS OF THE VEHICLE (1995 C280) HAS DISINTEGRATED DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER SEEMED TO HAVE USED AN INFERIOR AN UNSUITABLE INSULATION FOR THE WIRES, WHICH, FOR NO REASON OTHER THAN TIME, DETERIORATE ALLOWING THE WIRES TO SHORT AND PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM FUNCTIONING AS WELL AS CREATING A HAZARDOUS SITUATION (STALLING IN FREEWAY, FIRE IN ENGINE, ETC). THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE DEFECT BUT REFUSES TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION OR TO ASSIST IN ANY … Look up ODI 10176538 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	0	1 ODI 724557 THE PROBLEMS I HAVE CITED ARE REPETTIVE....BENZ FIXES A PART, THEN IT GOES AGAIN....THE CRA CANNOT BE PROPERLY BALANCED I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY YWO INDEPENDENT CAR REPAIR SHOPS.....THE ELECTRICAL PROBELSM STARTED 3 DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR AND ARE ONGOING.........I BELIEVE THE CAR IS UNSAFE AT ANY SPEED AND BENZ HAS BEEN LYING TO ME........NG. *AK Look up ODI 724557 at NHTSA ↗	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

4 patterns with matching reports.

Stalling or loss of power

11 mentions · 23.4% of complaints

Median mileage: 129,000 mi (10 usable records).

ODI 10154946 · 128,000 mi

Look up ODI 10154946 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 10164197 · 90,000 mi

Look up ODI 10164197 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 10172837 · 125,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE WIRING HARNESS WITHIN THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

Look up ODI 10172837 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

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

Warning lights and dashboard alerts

4 mentions · 8.5% of complaints

Median mileage: 130,000 mi (4 usable records).

ODI 10154946 · 128,000 mi

Look up ODI 10154946 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 10172363 · 78,330 mi

(1) WHILE DRIVING MY 95 MERCEDES C280 ON I-44 HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION I HIT A SMALL BUMP. IMMEDIATELY THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON, BUT THE ENGINE SEEMED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. I WAS ON MY WAY TO THE DEALER FOR ANOTHER PROBLEM, SO THEY CHECKED THE WARNING LIGHT AND FOUND THE WIRING HARNESS TO BE DETERIORATED, WHICH THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE SAID WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE ORIGINAL HARNESS. AT $1745 TO REPLACE AND WITH IT OPERATING NORMALLY AND WITH THEIR ASSURANCE IT SHOULD NOT CAUSE A FIRE OR ANY OTHER PARTS TO FAIL, I HAVE NOT HAD IT RE…

Look up ODI 10172363 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 10172882 · 132,000 mi

MY CAR ACTS HAZARDOUS. FROM TIME TO TIME INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS OCCUR LIKE ENGINE STALLS,ENGINE ERRATICALLY INCREASE RPM, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FOR NO REASON, GAUGES NOT WORKING FROM TIME TO TIME, WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINES SEEMS TO STALL BUT RUNS ON 3 CYLINDERS I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND SHUT IT OFF TO RESTART. MY CAR WENT OFF AND TOOK 6 TRIES TO GET THE CAR STARTED. REPLACED HEAD GASKET AT 130K ANOTHER MERCEDES BENZ PROBLEM. *JB

Look up ODI 10172882 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

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

Hard or delayed shifting

1 mentions · 2.1% of complaints

Median mileage: 202,122 mi (1 usable records).

ODI 10471970 · 202,122 mi

CAR HAS BEEN A GOOD RUNNING CAR FRO SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES, HOWEVER TODAY IT STARTED, WHAT SEEM TO BE A MISFIRE. I CHECKED THE SPARK PLUGS, WIRES, IGNITERS AND THEY WERE ALL IN GOOD CONDITION SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED RECENTLY. AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT 35 MILES AN HOUR THE CAR SUDDENLY JERKED AND SMOKE FILED THE INSIDE AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ON A BUSY CROSS ROAD, SO INSTANT PANIC SET IN, BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF VISION AND UNABLE TO BREATH FROM THE FUMES. I SUFFER FROM MIGRAINES AND HAD TO GO TO THE DOCTOR FOR A CHECK UP BECAUSE MY HEALT…

Look up ODI 10471970 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

Steering assistance concerns

1 mentions · 2.1% of complaints

Median mileage: 127,100 mi (1 usable records).

ODI 10068188 · 127,100 mi

Look up ODI 10068188 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(power steer\w*|steering assist\w*|steering lock\w*|steering wheel lock\w*)\b