Model year record
1994 Mercedes-Benz C-Class recalls & problems
The 1994 Mercedes-Benz C-Class has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 15 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (10 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 1994 Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemWiring › Front underhood; Wiring | 10 | 121,000 mi |
| Service brakes, hydraulicFluid; Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | 3 | 83,000 mi |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | — |
| Fuel system, gasolineFuel injection system | 1 | — |
| Service brakes, air | 1 | — |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | — |
| Fuel system, other | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Engine and engine coolingFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCEDES BENZ C280. THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING 20 MPH WHEN SMOKE FILLED THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 221,000.
- Engine and engine coolingFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCEDES BENZ C280. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT DETECTED EXTREMELY SMALL FLAMES AND SPARKS COMING FROM THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
- Electrical systemFire
FIRE AND SPARKS CAUSED BY MERCEDES ENGINE WIRE HARNESS! THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS WAS POORLY MADE, AND WAS INSULATED BELOW STANDARD. I JUST FOUND OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES .THEY SHOULD RECALL ALL THEIR VEHICLES FOR SAFETY! MERCEDES VEHICLE NOT SAFE IF THEY DO NOT CORRECT THIS HUGE PROBLEM! *TR
- Electrical system
I RECENTLY ACQUIRED THIS 1994 C-CLASS 4 CYL FROM MY FATHER WHO DROVE IT VERY LITTLE AROUND TOWN. IT ONLY HAD 108,000 MILES ON WHEN I GOT IT IN FEB., 2008. ON MARCH 24, 2008 I HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN THE SHOP BECAUSE IT WAS RUNNING VERY ROUGH. I PAID $1,400.00 FOR A NEW LOWER ENGINE WIRING HARNESS TO BE INSTALLED. TODAY AUG. 12,2008 I WILL BE PICKING UP MY CAR AT THE SHOP FOR THE UPPER WIRING HARNESS TO BE REPLACED FOR THE COST OF $450.00. THESE REPLACEMENTS ARE BOTH DUE TO THE HARNESSES CRACKING, AND SPLITTING THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE WIRING HARNESSES. THIS ALLOWS FOR THE VEHICLE TO SHORT AND CAUSE FIRES UNDER THE HOOD OR ELSEWHERE. THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS OF…
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
WIRING HARNESS ON 1994 MERCEDES C280. *TR
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhoodFire
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAS BRITTLE INSULATION; HAS HUNDREDS OF CRACKS; INSULATION IS FALLING OFF OF WIRES; IS SHORT CIRCUITING, MOTOR IS RUNNING ROUGH; MISSING SOME; SOUNDS LIKE ITS NOT RUNNING ON ALL CYLINDERS. WIRING HARNESS IS HEATING WHERE IT IS SHORT CIRCUITING. I HAVE SEEN SOME SMOKING; WAS ON FIRE ONCE SO FAR. *TR
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
I WAS PULLING INTO A GAS STATION TO FILL UP, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN A FEW WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT OF MY HEATER VENTS. OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW A MELTED WIRING HARNESS, AND FURTHER INSPECTION SHOWED ME THAT THE RUBBER WAS FALLING OFF OF THE WIRES, DISINTEGRATED. *JB
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
THE WIRE HARNESS IS DETERIORATING, MAKING THE ENGINE SHAKING AND ROUGH IDLING. SOME OF INSTRUMENT LIGHTS ARE NO WORKING DUE TO THE WIRE SHORTED OUT. UNDER THE HOOD INSPECTION BY A QUALIFIED MB MECHANIC REVEALED SOME WIRE CONNECTORS ARE CRACKING WITH NAKE COPPER WIRES EXPOSED. MB IS AWARE OF THE WIRE HARNESS PROBLEM AS THEY ADMIT TO USING AN EXPERIMENTAL PLASTIC TO INSULATE THESE WIRES WHICH BREAKS DOWN WHEN THE WIRES GET HOT. MB SHOULD INITIATE A RECALL ON THESE AFFECTED MODEL YEARS AND REPLACE THE HARNESS FEE OF CHARGE. *NM
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.