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U.S. public vehicle records

1998 Mercedes Benz C280 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

11 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

182,873 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 11 complaints (27.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues436.4%
Braking behavior19.1%
Fuel system concerns19.1%

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.

Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
3
Suspension
2
Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers
1
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
1
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
1
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
1
Suspension:Front:Springs:Air Suspension System
1
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery3
Suspension2
Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers1
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash1
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner1
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings1
Suspension:Front:Springs:Air Suspension System1
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs1

Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 3; Suspension: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 1; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 1; Suspension:Front:Springs:Air Suspension System: 1; Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
1
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9991
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 9 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.

2000
2
2001
2
2002
3
2005
1
2007
1
2014
1
2015
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20002
20012
20023
20051
20071
20141
20151

2000: 2; 2001: 2; 2002: 3; 2005: 1; 2007: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 1 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 8006091 · 2002-03-21 (March 21, 2002)

WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND FLASHED, AND EVENTUALLY BATTERY WENT DEAD. VERY NEXT DAY A RECALL NOTIFICATION WAS RECEIVED. BATTERY WAS REPLACED AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8006091 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 855911 · 2000-02-01 (February 1, 2000)

WHILE DRIVING AN ELECTRICAL LIGHT WILL COME ON AT THE DASHBOARD, AND THE LIGHT HAS A DESIGN LIKE A BULB, STARTING TO CHECK ELECTRIC ON THE BRAKES. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 855911 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 763346 · 2002-06-22 (June 22, 2002)

FUEL HOSE (PART NO.A2084761526) ABRUPTLY BURST WHEN CAR WAS STARTED, RESULTING IN HUGE FUEL LEAK (LIKE A SPIGOT), WITH FUEL IMMEDIATELY POOLING UNDER THE CAR AND STREAKING AWAY. IF THERE HAD BEEN A LIT CIGARETTE BUTT ON THE PARKING LOT PAVEMENT WE WOULD HAVE EXPLODED, KILLING ALL 4 OCCUPANTS AS WE WERE GETTING INTO THE CAR. IT WOULD HAVE WIPED OUT THREE GENERATIONS: TWO PARENTS, ONE CHILD AND ONE SURVIVING GRANDPARENT. THIS PART HAS TO BE FAILSAFE DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF LIFE. I HAVE A 13-YR-OLD CAR THAT HAS NEVER HAD BREA…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 763346 at NHTSA ↗