Mercedes Benz C CLASS problems and owner complaints

THE WIRE HARNESS ON THIS CAR IS COMPLETELY STRIPPED OF INSULATION. THE BARE WIRES ARE HANGING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CAR RUNS POORLY AND SOMETIMES FEELS LIKE IT WILL STALL. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON IN THE DASH CONSTANTLY WHICH REQUIRES DIAGNOSIS. I HAVE DECIDES IT IS TOO COSTLY TO GET DIAGNOSIS DONE REGULARLY SO I JUST UNPLUG THE BATTERY TO RESET THE COMPUTER. IN ADDITION TO THE FIRE HAZARD, ACCIDENT HAZARD, NOW I AM COVERING UP OTHER POSSIBLE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS BY DISREGARDING CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ON THE DASH. MERCEDES WILL NOT D…

Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10129347 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 1994 MERCEDES BENZ C280 VIN#[XXX] WITH ABOUT 84000 MILES ON IT AND IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE MISFIRING, WARNING LIGHTS COMING ON RANDOMLY AND OTHER ELECTRICAL GREMLINS. I WAS CHECKING UNDER THE HOOD GETTING READY TO CHANGE THE SPARK PLUGS TO TRY TO MAKE IT RUN BETTER, WHEN I NOTICED SOME BARE WIRES COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS TO A CONNECTOR NEAR THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. I REACHED DOWN TO REMOVE THE CONNECTOR AND WHEN I DID THERE WAS A POP, AND A PUFF OF SMOKE FROM THAT AREA. THE HARNESS GOT …

Owner-reported narrative. 83,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10140668 at NHTSA ↗

1994 C280 WAS BEING DRIVEN ON AN INTERSTATE WHEN THERE WAS A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE CAR REQUIRED TOWING TO THE MB DEALERSHIP. THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAD COMPLETELY DETERIORATED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT TO THE TUNE OF $1500.00. MB IS NOT ONLY BRUSHING ASIDE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS WELL DOCUMENTED DEFECT, THEY ARE MAKING MONEY ON THE REPAIRS, WHAT A SCAM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 122,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10148813 at NHTSA ↗

MY 94 C-280 HAS A SOGGY BRAKE PEDAL. HAVE REPLACED 3 MASTERCYLINDERS, AND BLED LINES NUMEROUS TIMES. SEEMS THAT AIR IS GETTING INTO SYSTEM, BUT THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS LOSING NO FLUID.

Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007600 at NHTSA ↗

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH., THE ENGINE BEGAN REVVING ON ITS OWN AND ACCELERATING VEHICLE'S SPEED ON THE SPEEDOMETER. AS THE CONTACT TURNED INTO A DRIVEWAY, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE FASTER AND THE SPEED INDICATOR NEEDLE MOVED PASSED THE MAXIMUM SPEED INDICATED ON THE DASH. THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND SHOOK AS THE BRAKES FAILED TO HOLD THE PROGRESS OF THE RACING ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF STOPPING THE VEHICLE. ON THE FIRST VISIT, THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER. THE REPLACEMENT PART UNAVAILABLE, THEREFORE THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162552 at NHTSA ↗

MAIN ENGINE HARNESS CORROSION ON A 1995 C 280 MERCEDES BENZ. THIS TYPE OF DETERIORATION IS NOT FROM ABUSE OF THE CAR. IT IS CAUSED BY POOR QUALITY OF CRAFTSMANSHIP. SHOULDN'S WIRES IN A VEHICLE LAST A LIFETIME? I COULD SEE REPLACING TIRES, BRAKES A TRANSMISSION, BUT AN ENGINE HARNESS. THIS PART IS NOT EVEN READILY AVAILABLE, IT NEEDS TO BE ORDERED IN GERMANY. I AND MY FRIEND BOTH OWN THIS MODEL VEHICLE AND WE ARE BOTH EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. MY MECHANIC INFORMEND ME THAT HE REPAIRED A FEW OTHER CARS OF THE SAME MODEL WITHIN THE LA…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10038660 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABRUPTLY SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE ALL POWER. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE. TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP AFTER 80000 MILES. *AK *TS

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 8005050 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCEDES BENZ C280. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CHECK ENGINE AND BATTERY LIGHTS BEGAN ILLUMINATING MOMENTS BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V058000, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 1…

Owner-reported narrative. 119,293 miles reported. Look up ODI 10376256 at NHTSA ↗

MY MERCEDES 1997 C-280, PURCHASED FROM THE MERCEDES DEALER, HAS EXHIBITED SEVERAL INHERENT DESIGN ISSUES. THE ISSUE THAT IS THE GREATEST SAFETY ISSUE IS THE CONSTANT DETERIORATION/DESTRUCTION UNDER NORMAL USE OF THE UPPER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS, EVERY 50,000 MILES OR SO, WHICH IS NOT NORMAL FOR ANY MODERN CAR. IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN A CAR AT THAT FREQUENCY (AT $1000/ REPAIR), AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL FAIL. MOST PEOPLE EVENTUALLY GIVE UP. WHEN THESE BUSHINGS SUDDENLY FAIL, THE STEERING AND BRAKING ARE AFFECTED. IT IS ESPECI…

Owner-reported narrative. 144,431 miles reported. Look up ODI 10307908 at NHTSA ↗

MY CAR, 1995 MERCEDES C280, BACKFIRES, STUMBLES, LOSES POWER, AND SOMETIMES DIES WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE REPLACED THE PLUG WIRES, IGNITION COILS, SPARK PLUGS, FUEL PUMP, AND FILTER. I HAVE REPLACED THE OVERLOAD PROTECTION RELAY, THE FUEL PUMP RELAY, AND THE ENGINE COOLING FAN RELAY. THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR HAVE BEEN REPLACED. ALL OF THESE WERE DONE AFTER CONTACT WITH MERCEDES BENZ AND DEALERS IN BOTH FLORIDA AND TENNESSEE. THE WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND IS IN GOOD CONDITION. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10319649 at NHTSA ↗

I PURCHASED A 2002 C240 MERCEDES IN 2006. THE CAR HAS NEVER GIVEN ME ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS UNTIL HERE RECENTLY. THE CAR BEGAN TO NOT START AND COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED THREE TIMES TO THE MECHANICS (DON ALLEN SERVICE CENTER ON ALLENTOWN ROAD, FORT WASHINGTON, MD). WAS TOLD I NEEDED A FUEL PUMP. I PAID $1,500 TO HAVE A NEW FUEL PUMP INSTALLED. PROBLEM NOT SOLVED. WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR. IT HESITATES FOR ABOUT 10-15 SECONDS BEFORE IT TURNS OVER. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE MECHANICS AND WAS TOLD IT NEEDED TO FUEL FILTER CHAN…

Owner-reported narrative. 104,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10375150 at NHTSA ↗