Mercedes Benz C280 electrical problems
37 complaint narratives mention electrical terms.
Key facts
170 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
96,957 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 to 2007 model years. Data snapshot: . 103 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Electrical and battery issues evidence
37 of 170 complaints match this topic (21.8%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 10487452 · 2012-12-05 (December 5, 2012)
CAR STARTED STALLING AND TRANSMISSION REFUSED TO UPSHIFT. WHEN CAR SLOWED IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AGAIN. TURNS OUT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS FAILED DUE TO A BIODEGRADABLE TYPE OF INSULATION USED AND IS SHORTING OUT IN MULTIPLE PLACES. CAR STARTED TO SMOKE AT ONE POINT. THIS CAUSED DANGEROUS ENGINE MALFUNCTION--AND A FIRE-COULD HAVE BEEN STARTED INSIDE MY ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 96,957 miles reported. Look up ODI 10487452 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10668920 · 2014-12-29 (December 29, 2014)
THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CAR SHOOK AND DIED. I WAS ON I-75 IN ATLANTA, GA. THE SHOP SAID THAT IT WAS DUE TO A FAULTY ENGINE WIRING HARNESS, SOMETHING THAT MERCEDES IS AWARE OF. I WAS ALMOST KILLED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 173,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10668920 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10701852 · 2015-03-26 (March 26, 2015)
ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE A "BUZZSAW" GRINDING SOUND THAT WAS NOT INITIALLY NOTICED WHILE DRIVING ALONG ON AN 85 MILE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY TRIP. WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH ON A 6 LANE HIGHWAY, ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTING BEGAN TO DIM AND MALFUNCTION, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THEN COMPLETELY FAILED AND SHUT DOWN CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL OUT, STEERING AND BRAKE FUNCTION BECAME SIGNIFICANTLY DEGRADED DUE TO ENGINE FAILURE (INCLUDING COMPLETE STOPPAGE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DURING A HEAVY RAIN DOWNPOUR) SAFELY EXITED ROADWAY BY MANEUVERING AROUND TRAFFIC…
Owner-reported narrative. 62,928 miles reported. Look up ODI 10701852 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10778991 · 2015-10-01 (October 1, 2015)
ENGIN WIRING HARNESS COUGHT FIRE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE ..
Owner-reported narrative. 193,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10778991 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10850426 · 2016-03-18 (March 18, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCEDES-BENZ C280. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING IN THE DRIVEWAY, SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WIRES AND INSTALLATION WERE ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A NEW WIRING HARNESS WAS INSTALLED AND A FEW SENSORS WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 165,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10850426 at NHTSA ↗