47 of the
235 complaints filed about the Mercedes Benz C280
are about the electrical system —
20% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1995.
Our car was recalled on 07/03/2008, recall #08V303000, for problems relating to a number of types of mechanical and electrical malfunctions. One was the "(3) OBD SYSTEM MAY CAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE INCORRECTLY; AND (4) THE SPEEDODOMETER MAY BE OUT OF TOLERANCE" This vehicle has had a malfunctioning "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT", that needs to be corrected. It prevents the car from being properly registered, and the warning being on is a distraction to drivers. It has been unresolved by Mercedes and by other mechanics who could not make the proper repair of the "Check Engine Light" issue that was listed in the recall. Mercedes has failed to make the repair, associated with this recall and states that the recall #08V303000 of 07/03/2008 is expired. The car had had recent additional recall work done, and this problem was brought up, but not addressed nor corrected by Mercedes. There has been difficulty in our obtaining Connecticut vehicle emissions approval, and Connecticut registration renewal due to the unaddressed problem by Mercedes. We cannot re-register the vehicle out of Connecticut until this issue is resolved. If we chose the sale of the vehicle, we would have to provide the purchaser a clear and registerable vehicle. Without your assistance in the resolution of this matter that would be impossible to do.
NHTSA complaint #11559915 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PURCHASED MY CAR IN 2018. THE BALANCE SHAFT GEAR HAS A RECALL AND THE MANUFACTURER IS NOT HONORING THE RECALL WITHOUT AN EXTENSION FROM THE MERECEDES BENZ COMPANY. AS WELL MY MOON ROOF NEED THE BONDING REPAIR AND IT IS SHOWING A RECALL IN THE SYSTEM
NHTSA complaint #11479370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MERCEDES WITH FULL KNOWLEDGE INSTALLED DISINTEGRATING WIRING INSULATION IN MANY CARS KNOWING FULL WELL THE INSULATION WOULD FAIL RENDERING ANY AND ALL CARS UNRELIABLE DANGEROUS AND ULTIMATELY USELESS
NHTSA complaint #11354639 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY NEIGHBOR WOKE ME UP TELLING ME MY CAR WAS ON FIRE SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE TRUNK AND SO I GOT THE WATERHOSE AND STARTED SPRAYING WATER IN THE TRUNK BUT IT WOULDN'T STOP OR PUT OUT THE FIRE SO I CALLED 911 AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND HAD TO SPRAY SOME CHEMICALS ALL OVER IN THE CAR TO PUT THE FIRE OUT AND CUT THE WIRE TO THE BATTERY CAUSE THE WHOLE CAR WAS ON FIRE THEY SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE THAT'S WHY I COULDN'T PUT IT OUT WITH WATER. MY CAR WAS IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE MOBILE HOME ESTATE PARKING LOT OVER NIGHT AND IN THE MORNING I WOKE UP TO MY CAR BURNED ALL INSIDE BY THE TIME IT WAS ALL DONE MY CAR IS TOTALY RUINED AND SO IS EVERYTHING INSIDE OF IT. THE WINDOW SHATTERED FROM GETTING SO HOT AND THE TIRE WENT FLAT . WHY WASN'T THIS CAR RECALLED AND FIXED IF THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THEM CATCHING ON FIRE? THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE THE CAR SHOULD OF BEEN RECALLED THERE MUST BE SOME DEFECT WITH THE WIRING OR WIRE HARNESS. HOW DOES A PARKED CAR CATCH ON FIRE LIKE THIS WHEN ITS NOT EVEN RUNNING. THAT'S DEFINETLY DANGEROUS AND I FEEL I SHOULD BE COMPENSATED BY MERCEDES FOR A CAR THE SAME OR BETTER FOR THEIR FAILURE TO NOTIFY ME OF ANY SAFETY RECALL ON THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #11344101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I JUST BOUGHT THIS W202 94' C280 WITH 150K IN THE SPRING TIME WHICH SURPRISINGLY RAN FINE WITH NO ISSUES, CONSIDERING SOME OF THE LOOM ON THE ELECTRICAL WIRES GOING TO THE CONNECTORS AND SENSORS IS ENTIRELY DISINTEGRATED AND INSULATION IS BREAKING APART LEAVING BARE COPPER WIRES NEAR EACH OTHER OR NEAR METAL BRACKETS. NOW ENTERING THE WINTER TIME WITH INCREASED MOISTURE AND RAIN IT SEEMS TO BE AFFECTING THE VEHICLE MORE SUCH AS CAUSING UNWANTED OPERATION OF COMPONENTS AT FREEWAY SPEEDS LIKE THE EGR WHICH IS ONE OF THE AFFECTED COMPONENTS ON THE DEGRADING LOOM, JUST AS THE SAI AND THE ALTERNATOR POWER WIRES. THE SAI NO LONGER WORKS TO WARM UP MY CAR QUICKER AND THEREFORE THERE IS AN INCREASE OF EMISSIONS AT STARTUP. SOMETIMES THE CAR CHARGING SYSTEM FUNCTIONS VERY POORLY TO WHERE THE BATTERY IS NEARLY DISCHARGED AND EVERYTHING BARELY WORKS, OTHER DAYS WORKS FINE. MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL THE IGNITION COIL AND WIRE CABLES ARE JUST NOW BEING AFFECTED AS WELL TO WHICH AT IDLE I HAVE INTERMITTENT MISFIRES SUCH AS AT A STOPLIGHT SOMETIMES TO WHERE THE CAR SEEMS IT WANTS TO STALL. I'M CONCERNED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR FREEWAY MERGING SPEEDS MY CAR WILL ENTIRELY FAIL. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT.
NHTSA complaint #11282279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE WIRE HARNESS INSULATION WITHIN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLE IS DISINTEGRATING LEAVING THE WIRE, IT'S DESIGNED TO PROTECT, BARE AND EXPOSED TO CONTACT WITH ADAJACENT WIRE ALSO MISSING INSULATION AND NOW BARE. THIS HAS CREATED AN UNSAFE CONDITION WHICH WILL RESULT IN SHORT CIRCUITING, LOSS OF HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION, POSSIBLE FIRE AND CIRCUITS DAMAGE.
NHTSA complaint #11166445 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL HARNESS DISINTEGRATED, AND UPPER OLD SEAL IS INFERIOR AND HAS LEAKED SINCE 1995 VIN NUMBER [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #11096592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCEDES-BENZ C280. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 259,000.
NHTSA complaint #10936178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WELL, I HAVE A 1996 MECEDES BENZ C280 HAVIMG A VERY DIFFICULT TIME GET IT STARTING SO I'LL PUT IT IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIR,AND THE MECHANIC SAID YOU'RE HAVE A VERY BAD IGNITION WIRING HARNESS,HE SAID CHECK AND SEE IF THEY HAVE RECALL ON THAT YEAR OF MECEDES BENZ OF THE YEARS,AND THEY DOSE,1994-1996 C280-E320 AND OTHERS.THE MECHANIC SAID IF YOU DRIVE THIS THIS VECHICLE IT MAY CAUGHT OF FIRE, IT MUST BE REPLACE.
NHTSA complaint #10934585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE A "BUZZSAW" GRINDING SOUND THAT WAS NOT INITIALLY NOTICED WHILE DRIVING ALONG ON AN 85 MILE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY TRIP. WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH ON A 6 LANE HIGHWAY, ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTING BEGAN TO DIM AND MALFUNCTION, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THEN COMPLETELY FAILED AND SHUT DOWN CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL OUT, STEERING AND BRAKE FUNCTION BECAME SIGNIFICANTLY DEGRADED DUE TO ENGINE FAILURE (INCLUDING COMPLETE STOPPAGE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DURING A HEAVY RAIN DOWNPOUR) SAFELY EXITED ROADWAY BY MANEUVERING AROUND TRAFFIC AND COASTING TO ROAD SIDE SHOULDER AT WHICH POINT SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT FROM UNDER HOOD AND FILLING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. CAR WAS SUBSEQUENTLY TOWED TO A MERCEDES DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY IDENTIFIED THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND FIRE AS A SEVERELY DEGRADED ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. THE HARNESS WIRING INSULATION WAS FOUND TO BE BRITTLE, CRACKING AND FALLING APART, LEAVING INDIVIDUAL BARE COPPER WIRES TO MAKE CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER. THIS CONDITION CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT WHICH STARTED THE WIRES BURNING, FORCED THE ENGINE STARTER TO BE CONTINUALLY ENGAGED WHICH IN TURN, AFTER 80+ MILES OF DRIVING, CAUSED THE BATTERY TO COMPLETELY DRAIN ULTIMATELY RESULTING IN FAILURE OF ENGINE AND ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS.
NHTSA complaint #10701852 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INSULATION ON THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE HEADLIGHTS IS FAILING TO WHERE BARE WIRES SHOW AND ARE CONTACTING OTHER BARE WIRES SHORTING OUT THE SYSTEM. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE I SEE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10691286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CAR WAS BARELY USED IN ABOUT 2 YEARS. BEFORE IT HAD NEVER HAD A PROBLEM, NOW IT CAN'T BE TAKEN TO EMISSIONS BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS BECAUSE THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WAS DETERIORATING. THROUGH INTERNET RESEARCH, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT MERCEDES-BENZ KNOWS ABOUT THIS COMMON PROBLEM VERY WELL EVEN THOUGH THEY BLATANTLY DISREGARD THEIR CUSTOMERS' SAFETY, CLAIMING THEY HAVE NO SUCH KNOWLEDGE AND REQUIRING CUSTOMERS TO PAY FOR IT THEMSELVES OR CONTINUE DRIVING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. THERE IS NO REASON OTHER THAN IRRESPONSIBLE GREED THAT MERCEDES-BENZ IGNORES THIS PROBLEM, AND THIS PUTS UNKNOWING CONSUMERS AT SERIOUS RISK. I AM APPALLED THAT MERCEDES-BENZ HAS NOT OWNED UP TO THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AND I WOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO SEE ACTION TAKEN TO FORCE MERCEDES-BENZ TO ACTUALLY VALUE PROTECTING THEIR CUSTOMERS' SAFETY ABOVE KEEPING THEIR POCKETS LINED WITH MONEY.
NHTSA complaint #10689886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I RECENTLY BOUGHT THIS USED 1995 C280 MERCEDES BENZ,ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER I BOUGHT IT -ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STARTED MALFUNCTIONING,GAUGES GO ON AND OFF CONTINUOUSLY, CAR REFUSED TO START -THEN STARTS AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED.WINDOWS WORK-AND THEN THEY DON'T. OBDII SYSTEM READS DIFFERENT CODES-OBVIOUSLY UNRELIABLE. AFTER HAVING A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT -HE STATED THAT WIRING HARNESS IS FAILING. AFTER COMING HERE TO LOOK FOR RECALLS-I SEE THAT OVER 90% COMPLAINTS ON THIS CAR ARE FOR A DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS-A FACT THAT MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD BE WELL AWARE OF BY NOW. THIS COULD CREATE A FIRE HAZARD AND SERIOUS DRIVING HAZARD. WHY HAVEN'T THEY DEALT WITH THIS POSSIBLY DISASTROUS DEFECT? I'M TOTALLY DISAPPOINTED THAT A CAR COMPANY THAT STRESSES SAFETY,AND DEPENDABILITY PUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN THE MARKET AND HASN'T MADE ANY ATTEMPT TO HELP OUT THE OWNERS OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DEFECTIVE CARS THEY PRODUCED. ANOTHER MYTH FALLS BY THE WAYSIDE-MERCEDES BENZ UBER ALLES? WHAT A BAD JOKE-PEOPLE THAT OWN CHEAP NISSANS GET 200,000 MILES-A HIGH DOLLAR LEMON? SHAME ON YOU MERCEDES BENZ-BTW IF YOU GO TO MERCEDES RECALL PAGE,THEY DON'T EVEN MENTION THIS PROBLEM..HAS MERCEDES DROPPED THEIR STANDARDS TO SCREWING THEIR CUSTOMERS? APPARENTLY SO-.ANOTHER LEGEND TURNS OUT TO BE NOTHING MORE THAN A LIE.
NHTSA complaint #10682045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CAR SHOOK AND DIED. I WAS ON I-75 IN ATLANTA, GA. THE SHOP SAID THAT IT WAS DUE TO A FAULTY ENGINE WIRING HARNESS, SOMETHING THAT MERCEDES IS AWARE OF. I WAS ALMOST KILLED.
NHTSA complaint #10668920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAR STARTED RUNNING FUNNY. HAD IT LOOKED AT AND THE WIRING HARNESS WAS FOUND TO BE BRITTLE AND FALLING APART. CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL A NEW HARNESS IS INSTALLED.
NHTSA complaint #10618052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEVERAL INTERMITTENT ISSUES RECENTLY BEGAN TO OCCUR WITH MY C280. INSTRUMENT PANEL STARTED TO INTERMITTENTLY NOT WORK AND AS A RESULT I RAN OUT OF GAS IN SEVERAL OCCASIONS IN AREAS WHERE MY PERSONAL SAFETY WAS AT QUESTION. CAR ALSO BEGAN TO INTERMITTENTLY CEASE FROM STARTING LEAVING ME STRANDED UNTIL THE CAR WAS ABLE TO START. AFTER AN INVESTIGATION BY A CERTIFIED MERCEDES MECHANIC, THEY HAD DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT THE WIRING INSULATION WAS SERIOUSLY DEGRADING. DURING THE EVALUATION THE WIRING WAS STARTING TO SMOKE AND SYSTEM SHUT DOWN DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. IT IS VERY POSSIBLE THAT CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE CAUSED SAFETY ISSUES TO DRIVER, PASSENGERS AND OTHERS AS UNPREDICTABLE AND SERIOUS ACTIONS COULD HAVE RESULTED FROM ENGINE WIRE HARNESS ELECTRICAL SHORTS. I AM VERY SURPRISED AND DISAPPOINTED THAT MERCEDES BENZ HAD NOT PROVIDED ANY WARNING OR RECALL FOR THIS CONDITION, WHICH THEY APPARENTLY ALREADY KNEW IS A COMMON DEFECT FOR THIS MODEL AND YEAR.
NHTSA complaint #10608255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ C280. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EMITTING SMOKE AND THE WIRING HARNESS WAS MELTING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ECM AND THE WIRE HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 142,000. UPDATED 11/12/14*LJ UPDATED 4/29/2015
NHTSA complaint #10606455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.