FaultScore

Mercedes Benz C280 fuel system problems

30 of the 235 complaints filed about the Mercedes Benz C280 are about the fuel system — 13% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2007.

30

Complaints

13%

Share of all complaints

1

Crashes

2

Fires

Fuel & Propulsion complaints by model year

1995 C280 1 3.3%

Median failure at 150,000 miles

1996 C280 1 3.3%
1998 C280 2 6.7%
1999 C280 4 13.3%

Median failure at 67,000 miles

2006 C280 1 3.3%

Median failure at 76,000 miles

2007 C280 21 70.0%

Median failure at 59,000 miles

What owners said

2007 Mercedes Benz C280 Warwick, RI

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Everytime I fill the gas tank I smell gas strongly I paid out of pocket to have the fuel pump done the gas cap the purge valve and I’m still getting a check engine light for a evap leak and still smelling gas from inside and outside the car I also have a rattle noise comeing from inside the gas tank u can take the gas cap off and heat it inside the gas tank from outside and inside the car it’s a constant knocking noise inside the gas tank I replaced everything and their is still a knock noise and fuel smell I have proof receipts from Merceds dealer of all work I did and I have videos of the noise I can’t afford a new gas tank I bought the car in Connecticut with a 2 year extended warranty the warranty place won’t cover a new gas tank I saw their were recalls for gas smells on other models same year as mine but not the c class a lot of other people I noticed on google have had this same knocking noise and fuel smell the car only has 70 thousand miles on it I can’t afford 5 grand for a new gas tank and labor espically after I already paid for all this stuff and already had this problem diagnosed but yet everytime I get my car back it’s never fixed but they tell me it’s fixed they have my car for months at a time and never give it back to me fixed I’m always paying for rental cars because of this they won’t supply me with a loaner please put a recall in for these fuel tanks 2007 c280 4 matic only has 70 thousand miles I bought it 4 months ago and no one will fix this properly for me when they have diagnosed this problem multiple times the rattle is the baffles in the fuel tank they keep working their way around it and keep telling me it’s other things just to get my money instead of properly diagnosing it I’m just sick of geting my car back saying it’s fixed when it’s not out of the 4 months I’ve had this car it has Ben in my possession for maybe one of them the other 3 months it’s Ben in and out the shop for the same problem please recall these tanks car has low miles

NHTSA complaint #11558138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mercedes Benz C280 at 156,500 miles Westfield, MA

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

SEVERAL TIMES I'VE FILLED MY GAS TANK I GOT A STRONG SMELL OF GAS BEFORE ENTERING MY VEHICLE. I HAD THEN MADE SURE NOT TO FILL THE TANK UP DUE TO THIS LEAKAGE. I BELIEVE ITS VERY DANGEROUS. THE SMELL DOESN'T GO AWAY UNTIL I DRIVE THE CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS.

NHTSA complaint #11408210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 Mercedes Benz C280 Lomita, CA Fire

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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.

2007 Mercedes Benz C280 Eagle Bridge, NY

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

WHEN RESEARCHING MY PROBLEM I FOUND THIS TK HE A COMMON PROBLEM. IF I FILL MY GAS TANK IT LEAKS GAS. THE CABIN OF CAR IS FLOODED WITH FUMES. SO MANY WITH SAME CAR HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS.

NHTSA complaint #11315703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mercedes Benz C280 at 191,034 miles Homestead, FL

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FILLED THERE IS A STRONG GAS ORDER COMING FROM THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #11280883 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mercedes Benz C280 Woodstock, GA

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

WE JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR. AFTER I FILLED IT UP, THERE IS STRONG GASOLINE SMELL IN THE GARAGE. PARKED THE CAR OUTSIDE AND IT STILL HAS SMELL. IS THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES BENZ C280? UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, THERE WAS EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM MERCEDES TO COVER E CLASS AND CLS CLASS FUEL ODOR ONLY. WHAT ABOUT THE C CLASS CARS? DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS THE WAY THE CAR SHOULD BE PERFORMING. BY THE WAY, THE CAR IS 2007 WITH 102K MILES. I BELIEVE MERCEDES SHOULD ALSO COVER C CLASS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM,

NHTSA complaint #11207992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mercedes Benz C280 at 78,250 miles Camillus, NY

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

VERY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE FILLS THE GARAGE AND HOUSE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED INSIDE AFTER FUELING TO FULL TANK. THE GASOLINE ODOR IS SO STRONG THAT I FEEL IT IS UNSAFE TO PARK THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE BECAUSE OF THE FUMES, AND THE POTENTIAL FOR FIRE

NHTSA complaint #11092403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mercedes Benz C280 at 50,000 miles Arlington, VA

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

STRONG GASOLINE ORDOR COMING FROM LEFT REAR WHEEL WELL EVERY TIME THE CAR IS REFUELED. THE STRONG ORDOR LINGERS ON FOR 2-3DAYS FILLING THE GARAGE AND HOUSE WITH FULE ORDOR. SEEMS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM AS E CLASS, WHICH IS UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE FUEL ORDOR ISSUE. MB SERVICE REP SAID THAT C CLASS VEHICLES ARE NOT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND OWNERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #11029913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mercedes Benz C280 at 104,000 miles Greenacres, FL

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

WITH FULL TANK, GAS SMELLS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE.

NHTSA complaint #10949960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mercedes Benz C280 at 76,000 miles Willow Grove, PA

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

76000 ML NICE AND CLEAN BUT, ALL OF THE SUDDEN STRONG SMELL OF THE GASOLINE INSIDE. WHEN DID MY RESEARCH ONLINE FOUND A LOT OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH SAME SYMPTOMS AS WHAT WAS INVESTIGATED ON REPORT# VRTC-DCD-3206 BY NHTSA. UPON FILLING UP THE GAS TANK TO FULL, GAS LEAKS FROM SANDING UNIT UNDER REAR PASSENGER SEAT. CAN NOT UNDERSTAND WHY SAME RECALL IS NOT APPLICABLE TO THE C-CLASS MB, MAKES NO SENSE TO ME AS TO THE OTHERS UNHAPPY MB OWNERS. MY NEXT CAR IS LEXUS, DONE WITH MB

NHTSA complaint #10928087 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mercedes Benz C280 at 54,606 miles Rockville, MD

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

MILEAGE 54,606 1 OWNER CAR STRONG GAS ODOR WHEN THE TANK IS FILLED, AND MOVING. TOOK TO DEALER. DEALER STATED WE NEED TO DRAIN TANK AND REPLACE LEAKING L/H FUEL SENSOR MODULE. L/H FUEL UNIT FUEL SENDER O RINGS FUEL SENDER LOCK RINGS ALL FOR THE LOW COST OF $1,095.84 FOR NOW WE ARE NOT FILLING TANK. I'VE READ ON LINE THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MB A RECALL SHOULD BE DONE.

NHTSA complaint #10873240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mercedes Benz C280 Schaumburg, IL

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THIS VEHICLE SHOWS SAME SYMPTOMS AS WHAT WAS INVESTIGATED ON REPORT# VRTC-DCD-3206 BY NHTSA. UPON FILLING UP THE GAS TANK TO FULL, GAS LEAKS FROM SANDING UNIT UNDER REAR PASSENGER SEAT. FEW TIMES THE GAS HAS MADE ITS WAY OUT AND DRIPPED FROM REAR LEFT WHEEL WELL. REACHED OUT TO MB USA AND WAS TOLD THE RECALL WAS ONLY IN E-CLASS AND THEY WILL NOT EXTEND IT TO C-CLASS. I SEE THIS AS A POOR PRODUCT DESIGN AS THE CAR ONLY HAS UNDER 14,000 MILES. IT'S BOTH HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD.

NHTSA complaint #10849745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mercedes Benz C280 at 80,000 miles Greenville, SC

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

STRONG GAS ODOR IN GARAGE & HOUSE. THIS OCCURS AFTER FILLING UP CAR AND PARKING CAR IN GARAGE OVERNIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #10845931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mercedes Benz C280 at 110,000 miles Spring Hill, TN

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

GAS SMELL IN GARAGE - GAS CAP TIGHT JUST FILLED TANK

NHTSA complaint #10825724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Mercedes Benz C280 at 76,000 miles Upper Marlboro, MD

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I WAS APPROACHING AN EXIT AND THE VEHICLE ENGINE WAS REVVING WITH RPM'S HIGH HOWEVER THERE WAS LITTLE POWER TO MOVE FORWARD. I PULLED THE CAR(COASTING) TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TURNED IT OFF AND RESTARTED IT UNABLE TO THINK WHAT ELSE TO DO. ON ANOTHER OCCASION THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH THE SAME RESULT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 4 TIMES.. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IF I HAD BEEN ON A CONGESTED HIGHWAY WITH NO ACCELERATION AND NOWHERE TO PULL OFF THE RESULT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. THE ENGINE SHAKES UPON STARTING IT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. CAUSING ME TO BE UNAWARE OF A REAL PROBLEM. I CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP TAKING THIS CAR TO CHECK OUT WHY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING OFF AND ON TO BE INFORMED ITS ANNOYING BUT TO DEAL WITH IT.

NHTSA complaint #10748209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mercedes Benz C280 at 43,000 miles Clinton, MA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

THE SMELL OF GASOLINE FUMES IS EXTREMELY STRONG AFTER FILLING THE TANK. THE INTENSE SMELL OF GASOLINE FILLS THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR AS WELL. I FEEL THAT THIS CONDITION IS UNSAFE AND PROVIDES THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE HAZARD. THIS CONDITION ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS FILLED AND LAST A DAY OR TWO. MY CAR IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION BUT I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PINPOINT THE CAUSE.

NHTSA complaint #10576067 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mercedes Benz C280 at 85,000 miles Aberdeen, MD

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

AFTER FILLING THE VEHICLE WITH FUEL, A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE FILLS THE GARAGE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED INSIDE AFTER FUELING. THE ODOR OF GASOLINE IS SO STRONG THAT I FEEL IT IS UNSAFE TO PARK THE VEHICLE INSIDE THE GARAGE BECAUSE OF THE FUMES, AND THE POTENTIAL FOR FIRE OR EXPLOSION.

NHTSA complaint #10544070 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mercedes Benz C280 at 36,800 miles Burke, VA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

EVERY TIME I FILL UP THE GAS TANK, I GET A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE FOR A DAY OR TWO.

NHTSA complaint #10533229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mercedes Benz C280 at 59,000 miles Macomb TWP, MI

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

NOTICED STRONG FUEL SMELL. FUEL TANK BEHIND DRIVER SIDE HAD CRACK-HAD IT REPLACED. 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND NOTICED I COULD NOT FILL UP TANK BEYOND 1/2 TANK TOOK IT BACK INTO SERVICE DEFECT WAS LOCATED IN PASSENGER SIDE TANK. ON 7/15 CAR STALLED ON FREEWAY---SHOWED 1/2 TANK OF GAS-ASSUMED IT WAS THE BATTERY. TOOK IT INTO SERVICE AGAIN AND IT WAS THE FLOAT IN THE TANK THAT NEEDED TO BE CHECKED---PROBLEM SOLVED-----SO FAR. WAS TOLD BY DEALER MY YEAR/MODEL DID NOT QUALIFY FOR RECALL. RECALLS ARE DETERMINED BY FACTORY WHERE IT WAS BUILT AND EXCESSIVE COMPLAINTS FOR SAID PROBLEM FROM THAT FACTORY. IF THE SAME FUEL PUMP WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE FOR OTHER MODEL YEARS WHY WAIT FOR CONSUMER TO COMPLAIN AND PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR REPAIR.. MERCEDES SHOULD RECALL PUMPS GRATIS ----SOUNDS LIKE GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE TO ME.

NHTSA complaint #10525190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mercedes Benz C280 at 39,699 miles Sherman Oaks, CA

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

AFTER MY CAR WAS SERVICED ON JANUARY 11, 2013, I NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE EVERY TIME I FILLED MY GAS TANK. THE SMELL WAS EVIDENT INSIDE MY CAR AND IN THE GARAGE AND EVEN IN MY HOUSE. AFTER THE THIRD FILLING OF MY GAS TANK AND AN EVER-WORSENING SMELL, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER TO ASCERTAIN AND FIX THE PROBLEM (MARCH 15, 2013). THEY FOUND FUEL LEAKING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR AND REPLACED IT FOR $1200. I SAW AN ARTICLE IN THE LOS ANGELES TIMES ON MARCH 20, 2013, THAT FEDERAL SAFETY REGULATORS ARE INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM IN THE E-CLASS, AND YOU SHOULD KNOW IT IS OCCURRING IN THE 2007 C-CLASS, ALSO. I CAN STILL DETECT AN ODOR, THOUGH NOT AS STRONG, AFTER I FILL THE GAS TANK.

NHTSA complaint #10508865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Mercedes Benz C280 problems