FaultScore

Worst years for a Mercedes Benz C280

Owners have filed 235 complaints about the Mercedes Benz C280 with NHTSA across model years 1994 to 2007. More of them are about the engine & cooling than anything else.

Avoid

2007 Mercedes Benz C280

69 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly fuel & propulsion.

Cleanest on record

1994 Mercedes Benz C280

14 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Mercedes Benz C280 year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2007 D 69 2 1 61,500 Fuel & Propulsion
2006 C 41 4 0 89,500 Engine & Cooling
2000 4 0 0 Suspension
1999 C 45 3 2 76,000 Engine & Cooling
1998 C 21 2 0 Electrical System
1997 8 0 0 100,450 Electrical System
1996 8 0 3 Electrical System
1995 C 25 3 6 143,000 Electrical System
1994 B 14 0 6 165,000 Electrical System

What breaks on a Mercedes Benz C280

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Engine & Cooling 49 20.9%

Worst in 2007

Worst in 1995

Worst in 2007

Suspension 15 6.4%

Worst in 1999

Other & Unspecified 15 6.4%

Worst in 2006

Transmission & Drivetrain 13 5.5%

Worst in 2006

Airbags 13 5.5%

Worst in 2006

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 12 5.1%

Worst in 2007

Acceleration & Cruise Control 7 3.0%

Worst in 2007

Steering 6 2.6%

Worst in 1999

Body & Structure 6 2.6%

Worst in 1999

Lights 6 2.6%

Worst in 1999

Brakes 3 1.3%

Worst in 1998

Tires 3 1.3%

Worst in 1998

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Mercedes Benz C280, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Oct 1999 peak 6 Aug 2026

Compare the Mercedes Benz C280

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.