Model year record
1995 Mercedes-Benz C220 recalls & problems
The 1995 Mercedes-Benz C220 has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 53 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (30 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 1995 Mercedes-Benz C220.
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.
Crash test ratings
1995 Mercedes-Benz C-Class (C220) 4-DR.
| Frontal crash | Not Rated |
|---|---|
| Side crash | Not Rated |
| Rollover | Not Rated |
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
C220
| City / highway | 20 / 26 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
2.2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,750/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemWiring; Wiring › Front underhood | 30 | 144,000 mi |
| Vehicle speed controlCruise control | 6 | 155,242 mi |
| Engine and engine cooling | 5 | 157,000 mi |
| Air bagsFrontal | 4 | — |
| VisibilityWindshield wiper/washer › Motor; Windshield wiper/washer | 3 | — |
| SuspensionFront › Control arm › Lower ball joint; Front › Control arm › Lower arm | 3 | 160,000 mi |
| Engine | 3 | — |
| StructureBody; Frame and members › Underbody shields | 2 | — |
| Fuel system, gasolineDelivery | 2 | — |
| TiresTread/belt | 2 | — |
| Latches/locks/linkagesHood › Latch | 2 | — |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Electrical system
MY VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AT START UP AND ALSO DURING DRIVING IN MOTION. THIS HAPPENS AT VARIOUS TIMES DURING THE DAY WHILE STATIONARY, ON A CITY STREET, OR TURNING WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. MY MECHANIC SAYS THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. I'VE OWNED THIS MERCEDES FOR YEARS AND HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW SERIOUS THIS PROBLEM WAS UNTIL I SPOKE WITH MY MECHANIC RECENTLY.
- Electrical system
HIGH VOLTAGE WIRING HARNESS SHEATHING GONE. CAR WILL NOT START. IN GARAGE FOUND THE DEFECTIVE HARNESS.
- Air bagsCrash1 injury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ C220. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STRUCK HER HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO PROPERLY SECURE HER. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT OF MINOR INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE FUEL LINE DUE TO A LEAK. THERE WERE ALSO REPAIRS MADE TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT MEET THE CRITERIA TO WARRANT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE…
- Electrical system
I STARTED MY CAR AND BEGAN DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. I WAS GOING ABOUT 55 MPH WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SHUT DOWN; LIKE THE POWER WAS SUDDENLY TURNED OFF. THEN, LIKE A CHILD FLIPPING THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF, THE CAR BEGAN TO JERK FORWARD AND BACK AS THE POWER AND ENGINE WENT ON AND OFF AGAIN. WHEN I CAME TO A STOP THE CAR DIED. I WAS ABLE TO START IT AND GET HOME BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO SHUT DOWN WHILE I DROVE HOME AND DIE WHEN I STOPPED. THE NEXT DAY I GOT IT OVER TO THE SHOP. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS THE WIRING HARNESS. HE SAID THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES. I LOOKED IT UP AND SURE ENOUGH, MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATERIALS. I ASKED THE MECHANIC TO…
- Electrical system
I WAS CHANGING MY OIL AND CHECKING MY LEVEL AND SUDDENLY THERE WAS A SPARK AND THEN FIRE BUT I TOOK IT OUT FAST WITH SAND.IT WAS THE WIRING HARNESS THEY WERE ALL CRACKED AND SOME OF IT ARE DISINTEGRATING.
- Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ C220. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
- Electrical system
MY VEHICLE HAS THE FAULTY WIRING HARNESS PREVALENT IN ALL THESE CARS DURING THE MID TO LATE NINETIES. IT HAS EXHIBITED MANY OF THE SIGNS MENTIONED BY NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS OVER THE YEARS SUCH AS: ENGINE LIGHT ON CONSTANTLY, SURGING OF THE THROTTLE, DASH INSTRUMENTS THAT WON'T WORK, STUMBLING AND STALLING IN TRAFFIC, ETC. THE ONLY THING I HAVEN'T HAD YET IS A FIRE. I WAS COMPLETELY UNAWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR BACK IN FEB. THIS IS MY FIRST MERCEDES AND WILL BE MY LAST.....NEXT CAR WILL BE A HONDA. WHY MERCEDES IS ALLOWED TO IGNORE THIS IS BEYOND ME. I THOUGHT THE REASON WE HAVE GOVERNMENT REGULATION IS TO FORCE CAR MAKERS TO CLEAN UP MESSES LIKE THIS. THERE ARE STILL A…
- Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES C-220. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.