Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
10,000 – 24,999 miles
444.4%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
111.1%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
111.1%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
222.2%
150,000+ miles
111.1%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Nov 1995peak 3Mar 2014
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 89,000 milesTracy, CA1 injured
AIR BAGS
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.
NHTSA complaint #10567347 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Surrey, British Columbia V3W, WAFire
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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 LONG TIME AND NOW I HAD A NEW MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION INSTALLED AND FEEL I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY THIS ADDITIONAL AND VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #10551588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Surrey, British Columbia V3W, WAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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 LONG TIME AND NOW I HAD A NEW MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION INSTALLED AND FEEL I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY THIS ADDITIONAL AND VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #10551588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Surrey, British Columbia V3W, WAFire
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
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 LONG TIME AND NOW I HAD A NEW MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION INSTALLED AND FEEL I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY THIS ADDITIONAL AND VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #10551588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 107,000 milesPalm Harbor, FLFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE BECUASE OF FAULTY WIRING HARNESS.
NHTSA complaint #10234692 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Houston, TXFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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?
NHTSA complaint #10229972 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 89,000 milesTracy, CA1 injured
AIR BAGS
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.
NHTSA complaint #10567347 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 252,000 milesUnion, WV
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR REFUSED TO START. MECHANIC "JIGGLED" THE WIRING HARNESS. THE CAR STARTED, AND CONTINUES TO START. HOWEVER, THE HARNESS IS MADE OF BIODEGRADEABLE MATERIALS, AND IS CRACKED AND TURNING INTO DUST. NEEDS REPLACING. UNDERSTAND IT COULD CATCH FIRE. THIS IS AN ALL TOO COMMON PROBLEM WITH M-B, AND I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS HASN'T BEEN ADDRESSED YET.
NHTSA complaint #10560502 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Surrey, British Columbia V3W, WAFire
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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 LONG TIME AND NOW I HAD A NEW MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION INSTALLED AND FEEL I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY THIS ADDITIONAL AND VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #10551588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Surrey, British Columbia V3W, WAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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 LONG TIME AND NOW I HAD A NEW MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION INSTALLED AND FEEL I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY THIS ADDITIONAL AND VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #10551588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Surrey, British Columbia V3W, WAFire
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
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 LONG TIME AND NOW I HAD A NEW MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION INSTALLED AND FEEL I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY THIS ADDITIONAL AND VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #10551588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 10,000 milesElberton, GA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
NHTSA complaint #10386629 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 107,000 milesPalm Harbor, FLFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE BECUASE OF FAULTY WIRING HARNESS.
NHTSA complaint #10234692 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Houston, TXFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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?
NHTSA complaint #10229972 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Houston, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
1995 MERCEDES C220 ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEFECT. CAUSING FAILURE OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS OF AUTOMOBILE. AUTOMOBILE STOPPED ABRUPTLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.
NHTSA complaint #10209116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kensington, MD
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
I BOUGH MY MERCEDES C220 1995 FROM ANOTHER OWNER 3 YEARS AGO. ON MARCH OF THIS YEAR I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT THE WIRING HARNESS IS DETERIORATING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED OTHERWISE ISSUES ARE GOING TO START POPPING UP. ALREADY THE FIRST DID - FUELING SYSTEM ISSUES. I WAS TOLD THAT I COULD HAVE THE HARNESS REPLACED OR 1300$ ( US $ )
NHTSA complaint #10159763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 124,000 milesBridgeton, NJ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WIRING HARNESS FAILURE ON 1995 MERCEDES C220 CAUSING ERRATIC OPERATION AND STALLING OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10157503 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 45,000 milesNEW Canaan, CT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
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 GAS CONTINUALLY.... REPLACED WIRING HARNESS COUPLE OF YEARS AGO....FREQUENT BULB BURN OUTS, SRS LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED FOR FIRST 2 MINUTES CAR IS ON THEN GOES OUT... VARIOUS GAUGES ARE OUT....FUSES BLOW....I COULD GO ON FOREVER.
NHTSA complaint #10147769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 17,000 milesUpton, MA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
FUEL LINE LEAKS, PROBLEMS WITH MUFFLER, WATER PUMP AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS NOISY AND SMELLING. *MR *SC
NHTSA complaint #10076019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 17,000 milesUpton, MA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
FUEL LINE LEAKS, PROBLEMS WITH MUFFLER, WATER PUMP AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS NOISY AND SMELLING. *MR *SC
NHTSA complaint #10076019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 17,000 milesUpton, MA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL LINE LEAKS, PROBLEMS WITH MUFFLER, WATER PUMP AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS NOISY AND SMELLING. *MR *SC
NHTSA complaint #10076019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ryebrook, NYCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE, ENGINE WENT INTO HIGH IDLE AND ACCELERATED FORWARD, LOST CONTROL, WENT INTO INBANKMENT/GLAZE AND TREE, IMPACT 1:00.
NHTSA complaint #985104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oceanside, CA
STRUCTURE:BODY
PLASTIC RUNNING BOARD CRACKED 3 TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #601330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Heaven, CT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING, ALSO HEAT SYSTEM MAKES A NOISE. TT
NHTSA complaint #975148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Heaven, CT
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING, ALSO HEAT SYSTEM MAKES A NOISE. TT
NHTSA complaint #975148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.