2007 Mercedes Benz C280 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
56 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
61,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2007 model year. Data snapshot: . 36 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 56 complaints (28.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 13 | 23.2% |
| Braking behavior | 6 | 10.7% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 8.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 5.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.8% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 1.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 16 |
| Engine | 10 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
Fuel/Propulsion System: 16; Engine: 10; Fuel System, Gasoline: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Power Train: 4; Unknown Or Other: 4; Air Bags: 3; Electrical System: 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 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 3
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 20 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 |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2007: 2; 2008: 1; 2009: 2; 2010: 2; 2011: 2; 2012: 3; 2013: 5; 2014: 2; 2015: 4; 2016: 5; 2017: 3; 2018: 1; 2019: 4; 2020: 5; 2021: 3; 2022: 3; 2023: 2; 2024: 2; 2025: 4; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 13 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 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 10489060 · 2012-12-17 (December 17, 2012)
STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE MERCEDES C280 2007 WHEN IT'S FILLED UP, OR FILLED PAST THE SECOND NOTCH ON THE FUEL METER. INSPECTION OF THE FUEL TANK UNDERNEATH THE REAR SEATS REVEALS A VISIBLE FUEL LEAK ON THE LEFT SENDING UNIT A THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. GOOGLE SEARCH RESULTS SUGGEST THIS LEAKAGE MAY BE RELATED TO A MARCH, 2008 EMISSIONS RECALL CONDUCTED BY MERCEDES BENZ (EMISSIONS RECALL CAMPAIGN # 2008-020001) WHICH INVOLVED POTENTIAL CRACKING OF THE FUEL FILTER MODULE IN VEHICLES EXPOSED TO HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. …
Owner-reported narrative. 54,125 miles reported. Look up ODI 10489060 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10491629 · 2013-01-07 (January 7, 2013)
AFTER FILLING UP THE GAS TANK I NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE IN THE CABIN WHILE AT A STOPLIGHT. UPON RETURNING HOME, THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF AND COULD SMELL THE GASOLINE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE EXTERIOR. AFTER THE CAR WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR ROUGHLY 3 HOURS, WE NOTICED A "POOL" OF GASOLINE ON THE DRIVEWAY SURFACE. CONTACT WITH MERCEDES-BENZ OF WACO REVEALED THAT THE TECHNICIANS THERE HAVE DONE MANY TANK/SENDING UNIT REPLACEMENTS AS THESE ARE "KNOWN TO FAIL AND BEING OUT OF WARRANTY THESE REPAIRS WOULD COST NO LESS THAN $1800 OUT OF POCKET…
Owner-reported narrative. 56,243 miles reported. Look up ODI 10491629 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10230952 · 2008-06-13 (June 13, 2008)
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE BRAKE WAS ENGAGED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10230952 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10354940 · 2010-09-10 (September 10, 2010)
2007 MERCEDES BENZ CLASS WAS PARKED FOR 1 HOUR IN PARKING LOT AND IT SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE. DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY ABS SYSTEM ENGAGING WHILE PARKED AND NOT DISENGAGING, OR IT STARTED IN HARNESS OR MODULE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10354940 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10199121 · 2007-08-01 (August 1, 2007)
2007 C280 MERCEDES-BENZ LEASE WITH STALLING PROBLEMS**CC THE CONSUMER STATED 31 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING IN THE CAR WITH HER DAUGHTER THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STARTED TO INCREASE RAPIDLY. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO INFORMED HER OF THE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD IT WAS BAD GAS. THE CONSUMER STATED ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS ASSESSED THEY INFORMED HER THAT COIL #4 WAS THE PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10199121 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10259674 · 2009-02-23 (February 23, 2009)
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND STALLED WITH NO WARNING. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE NEAREST DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL SENSOR FAILED DESPITE THE FACT THAT THERE WAS STILL ALMOST ONE QUARTER OF A TANK OF GAS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL SENSOR. RESEARCH ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE REVEALED THAT THERE WAS A PART 573 DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT FILED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND A MANUFACTURER'S CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS ISSUED #2008070001. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BY THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER. THIS COU…
Owner-reported narrative. 28,639 miles reported. Look up ODI 10259674 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10289475 · 2009-10-23 (October 23, 2009)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ C280. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 19000.
Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10289475 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10525190 · 2013-07-16 (July 16, 2013)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10525190 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10781640 · 2015-10-13 (October 13, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ C280. WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THERE WAS A DRASTIC REDUCTION IN SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE RPMS RACED AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS NOT RESPONDING. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO COAST THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURN OFF, AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE TRANSMISSION SHAFT, SPRINGS, INTERNAL SPEED SENSOR, AND …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10781640 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11589331 · 2024-05-17 (May 17, 2024)
I am writing about this incident after finding out about the lawsuit filed against Mercedes concerning problems with the balance shaft, the soft metal they used in production, and the COMMON engine codes (P0016 & P0017). I am [XXX] and I was on the highway with my girlfriend going around 75mph and I smelled a burning smell and thought it might’ve been the truck/one of the cars in front of me. All of a sudden my power steering was gone and my car basically lost all power. Only the brakes worked. Thank god the other cars were far enough away fro…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11589331 at NHTSA ↗