1998 Mercedes Benz C220: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
2 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data updated: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 2 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 1 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 1 |
Suspension: 1; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 2 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 2 |
1999: 2
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 607706 · 1999-02-01 (February 1, 1999)
WINDSHIELD WIPERS INOPERATIVE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 607706 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 704407 · 1999-03-14 (March 14, 1999)
THE CAR IS EXTREMELY UNSTEADY ON THE FREEWAYS WHEN DRIVING ABOUT 70-78 OR MORE MILES PER HOUR. THIS HAPPENS WHEN A BREEZE HITS THE CAR OR WHEN PASSING BIG TRUCKS. THE CAR WILL SOMETIMES VEAR OVER TO THE WARNING BUMPS EVEN WITH BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL.IT HAS BEEN IN FOR ATTEMPTED (ABOUT 8) REPAIRS SINCE IT WAS ONE MONTH "OLD". DEALER DRIVES HAVE BEEN NEGATIVE.HUSBAND AND WIFE BOTH EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS.THIS HAPPENS TOO OFTEN TO BE SAFE ON THE FREEWAY DESPITE DEALERS NEGATIVE DRIVE . I KEEP MY HANDS AT 10/2 BUT IT WILL SWERVE BY ITSELF TO THE WA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 704407 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
2 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
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.
| Component | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1998 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 729.2%ODI 10151271MY CAR BEGAN TO SUFFER ELECTRICAL AND OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS. OVER THE COURSE OF A MONTH, MY CAR WAS AT THE MECHANIC ALMOST EVERY DAY WITH ODD NEW PROBLEMS. MY WORST FEAR HAD COME TRUE, AS MY MECHANIC HAD WARNED ME. MY CAR'S WIRE HARNESS HAD BEGAN TO FALL APART, EVEN SIMPLY TOUCHING IS WOULD CAUSE IT TO DISINTERGRATED WHICH CAUSED MANY PROBLEMS FOR MY CAR. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME FOR THE EARLY 90S TO 95 MODEL YEARS THEY HAVE CHANGED MANY OF THE WIRE HARNESS ON THESE CAR'S. I CONTACTED MERCEDES WANTING TO WORK OUT A DEAL FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE WIRE HARNE… | 1732.1%ODI 10205279 · 58,000 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ C220. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED, LUNGED, THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED, AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED TWICE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE. THE MERCEDES MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS DISINTEGRATING. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. | 1032.3%ODI 10237559 · 138,000 miCAR SURGES, STALLS, IDLES ROUGH, AND ALSO REVS AT ABOUT 4000 RPM. TOOK TO REPAIR SHOP, WAS TOLD ELECTRICAL HARNESS WAS DETERIORATING CAUSING THESE PROBLEMS AND ALSO OTHER PROBLEMS. MECHANIC STATED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR EARLY 90S MERCEDES. WIRING HARNESS COST $1,198.75. HAVE NOT REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 625.0%ODI 10058951 · 14,760 miBRITTLE, DEFECTIVE UNDERHOOD WIRING HARNESS CAUSING STALLING/LOSING POWER AT SPEED, HIGH EMISSIONS AND ENGINE FIRES. *AK | 713.2%ODI 10026838 · 50,000 miTHE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. INSULATION ON THE WIRES IN THE WIRING HARNESS PEELED OFF WHICH CAUSED A SHORTAGE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS. *AK *NM | 516.1%ODI 10049352 · 74,250 miWIRING HARNESS ON A 1996 MERCEDES C220 WITH 74,000 MILES INTERMITTENTLY FAILING, AND CAUSING CAR TO STALL ON FREEWAY AND SURFACE STREETS. THIS IS PUTTING ME AND MY FAMILY IN DANGER, AS WELL AS OTHER DRIVERS. MERCEDES DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THIS AS A PROBLEM, THERE ARE NUMEROUS WEBSITES DEDICATED TO THIS ISSUE, HUNDREDS OF CASES, AND NO RESPONSE. THIS PART WHICH SHOULD OUTLAST THE CAR, IS FAILING ON CARS WITH LESS THAN 100,000. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR! I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS GOING TO COMPLETELY STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY... AND GET ME INT… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 416.7%ODI 10173517 · 148,000 miENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAS ALMOST COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED WHICH HAS CAUSED CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH THROTTLE CONTROL. ALMOST CAUSED A HIGHWAY ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF LOSS OF COMMUNICATION FROM THROTTLE SENSOR. *JB | 611.3% | 26.5%ODI 10188473 · 169,000 mi1996 MERCEDES C220 - WIRING HAS DETERIORATED TO THE POINT OF THE CAR NO LONGER RUNNING, BUT THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $1080 JUST FOR THE 30 FEET OF WIRING HARNESS TO REPLACE IT - NOT TO MENTION LABOR CHARGES. DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR JUST FLOODED OUT, STARTED SMOKING, AND QUIT. NOW IT WILL START THEN IMMEDIATELY DIE. MECHANIC SHOWED ME THE INSIDE OF NUMEROUS ENGINE WIRING CHANNELS WHERE EXPOSED COPPER WIRES LAY NEXT TO EACH OTHER WITH CRUMBLY DRY-ROT LOOKING RUBBER MATERIAL WHICH USED TO BE INSULATION. THIS CAR HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY TA… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 520.8%ODI 10203668 · 150,000 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCEDES BENZ C220. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE THROTTLE WAS STICKING WHEN RELEASED AND DOES NOT CLOSE ENTIRELY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. HE WAS UNABLE TO PROPERLY CONTROL HIS SPEED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE THROTTLE WAS NOT BEING PROPERLY LUBRICATED. SPEED WAS NOT A FACTOR. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 94V091000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) WAS REFERENCED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 171,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. | 47.5%ODI 10023624 · 168,131 miSUDDEN ACCELERATION. VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. *JB | 26.5%ODI 10490640 · 146,000 miWHILE ACCELERATING THE MERCEDES C220 WILL SURGE, STALL AND CUT ENGINE POWER OR "CUT OUT". IDLE IS UNSTABLE. WIRING HARNESS INSULATION IS CRUMBLING. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 14.2%ODI 10187623 · 300,000 miWIRING HARNESS DISINTEGRATED, SAID TO BE MADE OF CORNSTARCH IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH GERMAN GOVERNMENT MANDATE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE THERMOSTAT IN HIS VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION AND THE ENGINE WAS NOT GETTING WARM ENOUGH WHICH THEN INCREASED THE VEHICLES ACCELERATION. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WOULD ONLY HAPPEN IN THE WINTER. UPDATED 02/22/11 | 59.4%ODI 10055336WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED VEHICLE STALLED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC. *AK | 39.7%ODI 10246033THE CAR IS VERY HARD TO START (DOESN'T FIRE IMMEDIATELY), THE IDLE SPEED RACES HIGHER AND LOWER WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT. THE CAR LOOSES POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 14.2%ODI 10510009 · 150,000 miTHE WIRING INSULATION PREMATURELY DISINTEGRATED UNDER NORMAL USE CAUSING THE WIRES IT IS DESIGNED TO PROTECT AND INSULATE, TO SHORT CAUSING MANY PROBLEMS. *TR | 23.8%ODI 10795183 · 160,000 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ C220. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STRUCK HER HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO PROPERLY SECURE HER. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT OF MINOR INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE FUEL LINE DUE TO A LEAK. THERE WERE ALSO REPAIRS MADE TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE C… | 412.9%ODI 10664150 · 94,655 miENGINE WIRING HARNESS, AND THE TRANSMISSION WIRING HARNESS, AND THE IGNITION COIL HARNESS, DEGRADED TO THE POINT THERE ARE INCHES AND INCHES OF BARE WIRES TOUCHING AND SHORTING WHICH CAUSES THE ENGINE TO QUIT. ALL THREE SEPARATE HARNESS WHICH RESIDE WITH OTHER HARNESS WHICH HAVE NOT DEGRADED. THE ENGINE QUIT ON THE FREEWAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND NEARLY CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS AT 65 MILES PER HOUR. REPAIR SHOP WANT $3500 TO CHANGE OUT THE THREE HARNESS WITH NO ASSURANCE THAT THE PROBLEM WILL NOT COME BACK. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine | 14.2%ODI 10760234 · 166,000 miDRIVING IN TRAFFIC EACH TIME THE CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER. CUT OFF SHORTLY WHILE DRIVING. HAD 2 USE FOOT ON GAS,BRAKE TO GIVE CAR A WAY TO MOVE ON. FORCE MOVE. PUTTING AWFUL, JERK LIKE ALSO, DOG HIT DASH BOARD CUT RIGHT SIDE OF TONGUE.WHEN PARK AFTER INCIDENTS 3 TIMES. CAR WOULD SET, START ABOUT 15-30 MINS START ALL OVER AGAIN. HAD TO TOW HOME. BATTERY GO DEAD AFTER SET, THEN AT TIMES START WITHOUT CHARGE AT TIMES. AFRAID TO DRIVE TO SHOP AND PAY TOO MUCH FOR MECHANIC. HAD IT IN TRANNY SHOP SEVERAL TIMES. SAID NOTHING FOUND.WITHOUT TRANSPORTAT… | 35.7%ODI 10572721 · 191,000 miMERCEDES BENZ KNOWS ABOUT THESE FAULTY WIRING HARNESSES AND REFUSES TO OWN UP TO THEIR FAULTS. THESE FAULTS PLACE THE OWNER AND OTHERS AT RISK AS THEY CAN CAUSE SHORTS, A POOR RUNNING CAR WITH SHORTING ISSUES, OR EVEN CAUSE A FIRE. I WOULD BE HAPPY IF MERCEDES WOULD JUST GIVE US A NEW WIRING HARNESS, I WOULD INSTALL IT MYSELF AND THEY WOULD NOT HAVE LOST ANYTHING. *TR | 26.5%ODI 10490640 · 146,000 miWHILE ACCELERATING THE MERCEDES C220 WILL SURGE, STALL AND CUT ENGINE POWER OR "CUT OUT". IDLE IS UNSTABLE. WIRING HARNESS INSULATION IS CRUMBLING. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 35.7%ODI 747726C220 WAS PROCEEDING NORTH WHEN STRUCK IN THE CENTER FRONT AND DRIVER SIDE FRONT BY A SECOND VEHICLE MOVING SOUTH. SECOND VEHICLE WAS PROCEEDING EAST WHEN STRUCK BY THIRD VEHICLE WHICH PROPELLED SECOND VEHICLE INTO C220. ESTIMATED SPEEDS OF OTHER VEHICLES WERE: 2ND = 40 MPH AND 3RD = 50 MPH. IN THE C220 THE DRIVER AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DID DEPLOY. THE AIRBAGS ON THE OTHER VEHICLES DEPLOYED. IS THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT FOR THE C220 CORRECT?*AK | 13.2%ODI 558518DURING VEHICLE FRONT END COLLISION THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS WHICH RESULTED IN INJURY TO THE CONSUMER (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER). *MJS | 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 | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No usable records for this analysis. | ||||
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
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
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | 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.
1996: 5 complaints · 1998: 2 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| 1998 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 27 | 4 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 | 2 | 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 | Suspension | Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | — | 0 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 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.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.