1998 Mercedes Benz C280: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
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.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 36.4% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 9.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 9.1% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10139740 · 2005-10-14 (October 14, 2005)
ON MAY 22, 2005, THE RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING POPPED OUT OF VEHICLE FROM DRIVING OVER ROUGH ROAD. INFORMATION ENTERED BY STATE FARM. ON JULY 20, 2005, THE LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING WAS DAMAGED FROM DRIVING OVER ROUGH ROADS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10139740 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10198603 · 2007-08-06 (August 6, 2007)
THE FOLLOWING IS A LETTER SENT TO MERCEDES WHIDH DESCRIBES THE ISSUE. DEAR MERCEDES: I RECENTLY HAD AN ALMOST TRAGIC INCIDENT IN MY MERCEDES. I WAS WITH MY DAUGHTER WHO WAS DRIVING MY CAR, UNDER HER LEARNERS PERMIT, ALONG THE HIGHWAY ON A CLEAR, SMOOTH, AND DRY PAVEMENT AT 55 MPH, THE SPEED LIMIT. THE RIGHT FRONT SPRING FELL OFF THE CAR. I AM SURE YOU CAN IMAGINE THE NOISE AS THE SPRING RUMBLED UNDER OUR CAR. IT SCARRED HER, THOUGH SHE WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. OBVIOUSLY, WITHOUT THE SPRING IN PLACE, THE CONTROL OF TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 144,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10198603 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10558970 · 2014-01-07 (January 7, 2014)
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH, THE SPRING PERCH SUPPORTING THE LEFT, FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE. INSTANTLY, THE LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION TOTALLY COLLAPSED LEAVING THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WITHOUT ANY SUSPENSION OR WHEEL CLEARANCE INSIDE THE FENDER. THIS IN TURN CAUSED THE LEFT FRONT BUMPER TO NEARLY DRAG ON THE PAVEMENT. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT IN MERCEDES AUTOMOBILES THAT USE THIS SAME OR SIMILAR SPRING PERCH. THIS TYPE OF PART IS ONE THAT SHOULD NEVER FAIL UNLESS DUE TO AN ACCIDENT. FORTUNATELY, THE DRIVER IN THIS CASE KEPT H…
Owner-reported narrative. 221,746 miles reported. Look up ODI 10558970 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10808202 · 2015-12-03 (December 3, 2015)
WITHOUT ANY WARNING ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN AROUND THE CORNER CAR JUST MADE A VERY LOUD SOUND COMING FROM UNDER DRIVER'S SIDE IN THE FRONT. CAR CAME DOWN ON DRIVER SIDE VERY CLOSE TO TIRE. WHEN I EXISTED THE VEHICLE IS WHEN I REALIZED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL SUSPENSION WAS ON THE GROUND COMPLETELY OFF. HAD IT TOWED AND LOOKED AT BY A MEINIKE THEY STATED THE THE FRAME WHERE THIS CAME OFF HAD SOME RUST. I HAVE MY VEHICLE SERVICED REGULARLY OIL CHANGE WITH TIRE ROTATION NO MECHANIC EVER NOTICED IT WHILE SERVICING. I HAVE A TODDLER DRIVING IN …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10808202 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 556888 · 2000-10-26 (October 26, 2000)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHILCE, DRIVER NOTICED A SHIMMY OR VIBRATION. THE PROBLEM GREW WORSE WITH FURTHER TRAVEL AND ESCALATED WITH INCREASED SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A DEALERSHIP, THEIR TECHNICIAN IDENTIFED THE PROBLEM WAS THE TIRES, ALL FOUR TIRES WERE WORN DOWN TO THE METAL AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 26,000 MILES. THE TIRE WERE MANUFACTURED BY CONTINENTAL.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 556888 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 758720 · 2002-02-27 (February 27, 2002)
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 758720 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 ↗
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 ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.