FaultScore report
Owners have filed 15 complaints about the 1996 Mercedes Benz 280 with NHTSA between 1996 and 2007. The largest single group is the electrical system. Across this model's run it ranks 2 of 3 worst.
FaultScore 51/100
Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Mercedes Benz 280.
How this is worked out15
Complaints
2
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Median failure at 90,000 miles
1 crashes, 0 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires
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.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
ON SLIGHT INCLINE, AFTER GEAR SHIFT WAS PUT INTO PARK, KEY REMOVED AND SHUT DOOR WHILE WALKING TOWARD HOUSE, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN THE HILL, HITTING TWO TREES. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK *NLM
NHTSA complaint #817824 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG IN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #515177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
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.
NHTSA complaint #10203462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
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 MODEL; I ASKED IF A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED TO REPLACE THIS DECOMPOSING WIRE HARNESS. HE REPLIED "NO." I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE HARNESS REPLACED. IT IS A DEFECT AND SHOULD BE PAID BY THE MANUFACTURER. I HAVE SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND MANY OTHER OWNERS, @ MERCEDESHOP.COM SITE, HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR 280C CLASS. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME?
NHTSA complaint #10195095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID SENSOR FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #605203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD OR ROCKS BACKWARD, PROBLEM STILL EXIST.
NHTSA complaint #512075 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS HAS NUMEROUS FAILURES SINCE OWNER PURCHASED VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #603983 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
ON SLIGHT INCLINE, AFTER GEAR SHIFT WAS PUT INTO PARK, KEY REMOVED AND SHUT DOOR WHILE WALKING TOWARD HOUSE, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN THE HILL, HITTING TWO TREES. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK *NLM
NHTSA complaint #817824 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE VEHICLE WILL START TO VIBRATE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #814343 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE VEHICLE WILL START TO VIBRATE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #814343 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITIONER FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #603263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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.
NHTSA complaint #812335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
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.
NHTSA complaint #812335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
MICHELIN TIRE FAILED. (SIZE P195/65R15)
NHTSA complaint #603190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG IN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #515177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
FAN BELT FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #602536 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THEY MAKE A LOUD NOISE AND CAR CONTINUES TO MOVE.
NHTSA complaint #981194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.