Mercedes Benz C220 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
96 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
144,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 to 1996 model years. Data snapshot: . 67 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 34 of 96 complaints (35.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 53 | 55.2% |
| Engine operation | 22 | 22.9% |
| Braking behavior | 10 | 10.4% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 3.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 2.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 34 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 18 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 12 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 9 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 7 |
| Engine | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | 3 |
Electrical System: 34; Electrical System:Wiring: 18; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling: 9; Vehicle Speed Control: 9; Fuel/Propulsion System: 7; Engine: 6; Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 16 |
| 150,000 and above | 31 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 31
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (31). 29 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 6 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 9 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 17 |
| 2008 | 13 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 3 |
2000: 6; 2001: 2; 2002: 2; 2003: 4; 2004: 9; 2005: 2; 2006: 6; 2007: 17; 2008: 13; 2010: 1; 2011: 9; 2012: 3; 2013: 2; 2014: 9; 2015: 6; 2017: 2; 2018: 3
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 53 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 22 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10058951 · 2004-02-25 (February 25, 2004)
BRITTLE, DEFECTIVE UNDERHOOD WIRING HARNESS CAUSING STALLING/LOSING POWER AT SPEED, HIGH EMISSIONS AND ENGINE FIRES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 14,760 miles reported. Look up ODI 10058951 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10100973 · 2004-12-02 (December 2, 2004)
WE ARE EXPERIENCING AN INTERMITTENT, PARASITIC DRAIN OF OUR NEW ( LESS THAN 6 MONTHS OLD) BATTERY WITHIN A 12 HOUR WINDOW. IF WE CATCH IT BEFORE THE 12 HOURS, WE _CAN_ START THE C220. IF WE WAIT LONGER THAN 12 HOURS, THE BATTERY IS UNABLE TO ENGAGE THE STARTER SELENOID. IT IS ALSO UNABLE TO POWER _ANY_ OF THE VEHICLE SYSTEMS - NO LIGHTS, NO DASH INSTRUMENTATION, NO RADIO, NOTHING WORKS. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 ( THREE) TIMES - EACH TIME REQUIRING A JUMP START. MB ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS INVOLVED IN THE FIRST 2 (TWO) EPISODES, AND REPLACED THE BA…
Owner-reported narrative. 77,496 miles reported. Look up ODI 10100973 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10229382 · 2008-05-31 (May 31, 2008)
AS I HAVE BEEN READING, THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, YET NO RECALL HAS HAPPENED. THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IS DISINTEGRATING FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN AGE. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE IS STARTING TO EXHIBIT STALLING ISSUES AND ROUGH RUNNING, ALSO FAULT CODES ARE PRODUCED ON THE CAR COMPUTER. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE AND FIRE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10229382 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10208568 · 2007-11-10 (November 10, 2007)
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS COMPLETELY DETERIORATED. ABS LIGHT IS ON. SPEEDOMETER IS NOT WORKING , CAR REVS AT HIGH RPM, FUEL GAUGE NOT PRECISE, CAR STARTS BY ITSELF, STARTER BURNED BECAUSE IT ENGAGED WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10208568 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10760234 · 2015-08-31 (August 31, 2015)
DRIVING IN TRAFFIC EACH TIME THE CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER. CUT OFF SHORTLY WHILE DRIVING. HAD 2 USE FOOT ON GAS,BRAKE TO GIVE CAR A WAY TO MOVE ON. FORCE MOVE. PUTTING AWFUL, JERK LIKE ALSO, DOG HIT DASH BOARD CUT RIGHT SIDE OF TONGUE.WHEN PARK AFTER INCIDENTS 3 TIMES. CAR WOULD SET, START ABOUT 15-30 MINS START ALL OVER AGAIN. HAD TO TOW HOME. BATTERY GO DEAD AFTER SET, THEN AT TIMES START WITHOUT CHARGE AT TIMES. AFRAID TO DRIVE TO SHOP AND PAY TOO MUCH FOR MECHANIC. HAD IT IN TRANNY SHOP SEVERAL TIMES. SAID NOTHING FOUND.WITHOUT TRANSPORTAT…
Owner-reported narrative. 166,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10760234 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10205279 · 2007-10-09 (October 9, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ C220. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED, LUNGED, THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED, AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED TWICE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE. THE MERCEDES MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS DISINTEGRATING. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10205279 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10232451 · 2008-06-26 (June 26, 2008)
FRACTURE OF FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM. DESIGN DEFECT RESULTING IN LATENT INTERIOR CORROSION THAT ULTIMATELY RESULTED IN THIS CRITICAL PART SEPARATING INTO TWO PIECES, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO PARTIALLY SEPARATE FROM THE CAR. HAD THIS OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEED IT WOULD DOUBTLESS HAVE CAUSED A SEVERE LOSS OF CONTROL AND STEERING. IT MAY WELL HAVE RESULTED IN FATALITIES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 218,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10232451 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10399870 · 2011-05-10 (May 10, 2011)
MY C-220 BEGAN TO BE HARD TO START. IT ALSO HAD A NOISE OF RUNNING HARD. THEN IT STARTED SHUTTING OFF ON ME. I HAD IT CHECK OUT AND THE WIRES OF THE FUEL INJECTOR HARNESS JUST BEGAN TO CRUMBLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 194,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10399870 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8009501 · 2002-05-09 (May 9, 2002)
VEHICLE STALLS MOSTLY WHILE USING CRUISE CONTROL AROUND 40 MPH. DEALER HAS REPLACED COMPUTER AND RELAY TO FUEL PUMP/ FUEL PUMP. AND VARIOUS OTHER PARTS. HAS NOT REMEDIED THE PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8009501 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10664150 · 2014-12-14 (December 14, 2014)
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. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 94,655 miles reported. Look up ODI 10664150 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 1 |
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1996 | 0 |
1994: 1; 1995: 0; 1996: 0