70 of the 150 complaints filed about the Mercedes Benz C220 are about the electrical system — 47% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1995.
70
Complaints
47%
Share of all complaints
1
Crashes
4
Fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WIRING THROUGHOUT VEHICLE IS INSULATED WITH A BIO-DEGRADABLE PLASTIC. SHORTING OUT OF IGNITION AND EMISSION LOOMS KILL MANY WHO STALL ON FREEWAYS AND 'INCONVENIENT SPOTS'. THE INSULATION FLAKES OFF LIKE CORN FLAKES AND ELECTRICAL LOSS IN MANY LOOMS DISABLE AND IMPERAL OCCUPANTS.
NHTSA complaint #11130704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AT START UP AND ALSO DURING DRIVING IN MOTION. THIS HAPPENS AT VARIOUS TIMES DURING THE DAY WHILE STATIONARY, ON A CITY STREET, OR TURNING WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. MY MECHANIC SAYS THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. I'VE OWNED THIS MERCEDES FOR YEARS AND HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW SERIOUS THIS PROBLEM WAS UNTIL I SPOKE WITH MY MECHANIC RECENTLY.
NHTSA complaint #11114321 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HIGH VOLTAGE WIRING HARNESS SHEATHING GONE. CAR WILL NOT START. IN GARAGE FOUND THE DEFECTIVE HARNESS.
NHTSA complaint #10960172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WAS DRIVING ALL GAGES WENT CRAZY STARTED TO BACK FIRE AND DIED ON THE HIGHWAY SO I HAD A FRIEND PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY BACK TO THE SHOP THE SHOP SAID THE WIRING HARESS WAS DEGRADED AND IT COST 2,700 DOLLAR TO FIX THE SAD THING IS THIS CAR ONLY HAS 30,000 MILE'S
NHTSA complaint #10780157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I STARTED MY CAR AND BEGAN DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. I WAS GOING ABOUT 55 MPH WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SHUT DOWN; LIKE THE POWER WAS SUDDENLY TURNED OFF. THEN, LIKE A CHILD FLIPPING THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF, THE CAR BEGAN TO JERK FORWARD AND BACK AS THE POWER AND ENGINE WENT ON AND OFF AGAIN. WHEN I CAME TO A STOP THE CAR DIED. I WAS ABLE TO START IT AND GET HOME BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO SHUT DOWN WHILE I DROVE HOME AND DIE WHEN I STOPPED. THE NEXT DAY I GOT IT OVER TO THE SHOP. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS THE WIRING HARNESS. HE SAID THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES. I LOOKED IT UP AND SURE ENOUGH, MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATERIALS. I ASKED THE MECHANIC TO SEE THE WIRING HARNESS HE REMOVED. IT LOOKED JUST LIKE THE ON IN THIS WEBSITE HTTP://WWW.MERCEDESDEFECTS.COM/2008/04/WIRE-HARNESS-DEFECT.HTML?M=1 THERE WAS CRACKED INSULATION AND EXPOSED WIRES THROUGHOUT THE HARNESS.
NHTSA complaint #10779764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS CHANGING MY OIL AND CHECKING MY LEVEL AND SUDDENLY THERE WAS A SPARK AND THEN FIRE BUT I TOOK IT OUT FAST WITH SAND.IT WAS THE WIRING HARNESS THEY WERE ALL CRACKED AND SOME OF IT ARE DISINTEGRATING.
NHTSA complaint #10777701 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 1996 MERCEDES C220 HAS A DEFECTIVE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC. HE TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS DUE TO THE TYPE OF INSULATION THAT MERCEDES USED FOR THE WIRING AND THE ENGINE HARNESS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ASAP. MERCEDES USED A BIO-DEGRADABLE WIRE COVER THAT WITH HIGH TEMPS CRACKS AND FALLS OFF. THIS HAS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO RUN ROUGH, STALL AND LOOSE POWER AND IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IN TRAFFIC. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF WITH A RECALL BY MERCEDES. MERCEDES HAS BEEN OF NO HELP EXCEPT FOR ME TO PAY TO HAVE IT REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #10682786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ENGINE 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.
NHTSA complaint #10664150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ENGINE HARNESS CRUMBLING/FALLING APART CAUSING CAR TO STALL ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS.
NHTSA complaint #10660399 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY VEHICLE HAS THE FAULTY WIRING HARNESS PREVALENT IN ALL THESE CARS DURING THE MID TO LATE NINETIES. IT HAS EXHIBITED MANY OF THE SIGNS MENTIONED BY NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS OVER THE YEARS SUCH AS: ENGINE LIGHT ON CONSTANTLY, SURGING OF THE THROTTLE, DASH INSTRUMENTS THAT WON'T WORK, STUMBLING AND STALLING IN TRAFFIC, ETC. THE ONLY THING I HAVEN'T HAD YET IS A FIRE. I WAS COMPLETELY UNAWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR BACK IN FEB. THIS IS MY FIRST MERCEDES AND WILL BE MY LAST.....NEXT CAR WILL BE A HONDA. WHY MERCEDES IS ALLOWED TO IGNORE THIS IS BEYOND ME. I THOUGHT THE REASON WE HAVE GOVERNMENT REGULATION IS TO FORCE CAR MAKERS TO CLEAN UP MESSES LIKE THIS. THERE ARE STILL A NUMBER OF THESE CARS ON THE ROAD AND THIS PROBLEM WILL EVENTUALLY GET SOMEONE KILLED IF IT HASN'T ALREADY. MERCEDES SHOULD BE MADE TO RECALL AND REPLACE THIS WIRING WITH GOOD REMANUFACTURED PARTS FOR FREE IF YOU STILL OWN ONE OF THESE CARS.
NHTSA complaint #10611149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES C-220. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
NHTSA complaint #10593348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MERCEDES 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.
NHTSA complaint #10572721 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE WIRING INSULATION PREMATURELY DISINTEGRATED UNDER NORMAL USE CAUSING THE WIRES IT IS DESIGNED TO PROTECT AND INSULATE, TO SHORT CAUSING MANY PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #10510009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE ACCELERATING THE MERCEDES C220 WILL SURGE, STALL AND CUT ENGINE POWER OR "CUT OUT". IDLE IS UNSTABLE. WIRING HARNESS INSULATION IS CRUMBLING.
NHTSA complaint #10490640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE STALLED IN INTERSECTION. CONTINUES TO DO SO, THOUGH IT WILL RESTART. CEL ON. MECHANIC CHANGED MAF AND WIRING FOR MAF, ADVISED REST OF UNDERHOOD WIRING INSULATION BAD, EXPOSING BARE WIRES.
NHTSA complaint #10478189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I TOOK MY CAR TO A MECHANIC WITH AN UNRELATED ENGINE PROBLEM WHICH WAS RESOLVED. AFTERWARDS THE MECHANIC POINTED OUT THE ENGINE MAIN WIRING HARNESS TO ME AND INFORMED ME IF I DON'T REPLACE IT, IT COULD HAVE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES LIKE THE CAR CATCHING OF FIRE, STOPPING AT ANY MOMENT AND MAIN COMPUTER DAMAGE. THEY SHOED ME THE WIRE INSULATIONS IN THE WIRING HARNESS AND I WAS APPALLED BY WHAT I SAW. THEY WERE ALL CRACKED, AT PLACES MISSING, AND VERY CLOSE TO ACTUALLY TOUCHING AND SHORTING OUT. ONE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE AN EXPERT IN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY OR ELECTRICAL REPAIR TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS. THE WIRING HARNESS COST IS ABOUT $1000 AND THE LABOR IS SEVERAL HOURS. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT WHICH SHOULD BE RECTIFIED BY MERCEDES-BENZ BY ISSUING A RECALL AND REPLACING THE HARNESS AT NO COST TO THE OWNER. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THIS WAS A SYSTEMIC DEFECT, AND MANY MERCEDES-BEND CARS OF THE SAME ERA AROUND 1995-1998 HAD TO BE REFIT WITH NEW WIRING HARNESSES. IT IS NOT CAUSED BY NORMAL WEAR ALTHOUGH MY CAR HAS HIGH MILEAGE, BUT POOR MATERIALS USED.
NHTSA complaint #10467718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
RECENTLY THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR. THE TEMPERATURE GAGE WAS SHOWING THE VEHICLE AS HEATING UP. THE TEMP WOULD REACH CLOSE TO 120 F. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION BY OUR MECHANIC, THE VEHICLE NEEDED THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL WIRING TO BE REPLACED. OUR MECHANIC SAID THAT IF NOT REPLACED, THE CAR WOULD EVENTUALLY CATCH ON FIRE. THE ELECTRICAL WIRING IS FAULTY NOT DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR ON THE CAR BUT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED BY MERCEDES FOR FAULTY WIRING. THE WIRING HAS COMPLETELY DETERIORATED AND THE WIRES ARE COMPLETELY EXPOSED AND IF THE WIRES HAPPEN TO TOUCH EACH OTHER, THAT IS WHAT WILL CAUSE THE FIRE. IN ORDER TO GET THESE WIRES REPLACED, IT WILL COST WELL OVER $1500.00 TO REPLACE ALL THE WIRING.
NHTSA complaint #10445895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WIRING HARNESS DAMAGED CAUSING DECREASED PERFORMANCE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND LOWER FUEL ECONOMY.
NHTSA complaint #10439208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCEDES BENZ C220. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE GAS PEDAL HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE DEALER DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WIRING HARNESS HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 214,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10433745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE POORLY DESIGNED WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO MANUFACTURES DEFECT OF BIODEGRADABLE SHIELDING ... IT IS THE HARNESS FROM THE E.C.M. TO THE ENGINE... IF THE CAR WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED DURING THIS FAILURE IT COULD HAVE CAUSED DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY TO EITHER THE DRIVER/PASSENGER OR OTHERS ON THE ROAD ... I HAVE OWNED OLDER M.B. AND NEVER SEEN THIS KIND OF WIRING IN MY 10+ YEARS OF DRIVING AND REPAIRING THESE KIND OF CARS... THIS ISSUE WAS REPORTED TO MBUSA AND THEY TRIED TO SAY IT IS DUE TO NON MAINTENANCE THROUGH M.B..... THIS PART SHOULD HAVE LASTED LONGER THAN THE LIFE OF THE CAR AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ROUTINE MAINTENANCE...WHAT DID I MISS ? HOW DO YOU DO MAINTENANCE ON A WIRE ? HOW?... THIS ISSUE WAS FOUND TO HAPPEN OFF THE LINE AND THEY PRODUCED THIS CRAP...RECALL/REPAIR THANK YOU PLEASE FIX OR RECALL THIS THERE ARE OTHERS WHO TRUSTED THEIR FAMILY'S TO THIS COMPANY AND SOME ARE STILL UNAWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND ARE IN DANGER...
NHTSA complaint #10433095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.