1998 Mercedes-Benz C280 recalls & problems

Safety recalls

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.

Fuel economy

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

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

• Suspension

  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 THE CAR WITH ME AND JUST CAME OFF THE HIGHWAY THIS COULD HAVE BEEN FAR WORSE OUT COME. IN THE MEANTIME MERCEDES DEALERS HAVE JUST BEEN GIVING ME THE…

  Nov 25, 2015
• Suspension

  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 HER CALM AND SAFELY GUIDED THE VEHICLE OFF THE INTERSTATE. AS A RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT, I HAD MY 1997 MERCEDES E420 INSPECTED AND IT WAS DISCOVERED…

  May 11, 2013 · 221,746 miles
• Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil springs

  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 THE CAR WAS SERIOUSLY JEOPARDIZED. ONCE SHE FOUND A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER, A MOTORCYCLIST PULLED UP ALONG SIDE TO LET ME KNOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED. TO THAT…

  Jul 30, 2007 · 144,000 miles
• Suspension › Front › Springs › Air suspension system

  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.

  May 22, 2005
• Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

  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 BREAKAGE OF A FUEL HOSE LIKE THIS. I URGE A RECALL OF THIS PART SO AS TO PREVENT FUTURE LOSS OF LIFE. THIS IS NOT A CASE OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THIS IS…

  May 26, 2002
• Electrical system › 12v/24v/48v battery

  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

  Mar 21, 2002
• Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

  Feb 18, 2002
• Electrical system › 12v/24v/48v battery1 injury

  WHILE HUSBAND WAS MOVING OBJECTS IN TRUNK. TOUCHED BATTERY AND EXPLODE AT HIS FACE, INJURING PARTS ON FACE AND BODY.*AK THE CONSUMER SUFFERED EYE DAMAGE, NASAL FRACTURE AND FACIAL LACERATIONS AS THE RESULT OF BATTEY EXPLOSION. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED AT THE CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *YH

  Apr 16, 2001

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

• ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FAILUREClosed

  THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE THAT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER-STEERING ASSIST.ODI HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 546 NON-DUPLICATIVE REPORTS THAT ALLEGE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE ON ALL MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLES USING THE SUBJECT COMPONENT.THE SUBJECT COMPONENT FAILURES ARE PROGRESSIVE IN NATURE AND ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINTS AND WARRANT CLAIMS INVOLVED A FAILURE THAT HAD PROGRESSED FAR ENOUGH TO EFFECT POWER STEERING PERFORMANCE (6 OF 55 ODI COMPLAINTS REFERENCE INCREASED STEERING EFFORT).THERE HAVE BEEN NO CRASHES OR INJURIES RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE…

  PE03058 · opened Dec 17, 2003 · closed Apr 22, 2004