1999 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

  ON JULY 30, 2015 AROUND 1900 HRS. I WAS LEAVING HOME GOING TO PICK UP MY KIDS FROM AROUND THE CORNER. I CAME TO A STOP LIGHT (RED). BEGIN TO MOVE FORWARD WHEN A LOUD BANG HAPPENED THEN SCRAPING. I GOT OUT THE CAR TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION AND OBSERVED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS SAGGING. I RETRACED MY TRACKS ON FOOT AND LOCATED MY COIL SPRING. ONCE I GOT BACK HOME, I JACKED UP THE CAR AND NOTICED MY UPPER SPRING HOUSING ON MY PASSENGER SIDE WAS BROKEN.

  Jul 30, 2015 · 150,000 miles
• Suspension

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ C280. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE UPPER SPRING PERCHES BECAME FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

  Nov 13, 2014 · 140,000 miles
• Structure › Body

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ C280. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH OVER A BUMP AND A LOUD POPPING NOISE EMITTED OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FALL TOWARDS THE GROUND AND TILT TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE WITH CAUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY DETECTED EXCESSIVE RUST CORROSION WITHIN THE FRAME. A NEW SPRING PERCH AND BUSHING WILL NEED TO BE WELDED TO THE FRAME; THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE VEHICLE NOT BE DRIVEN DUE TO A SAFETY HAZARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000.

  Dec 9, 2011 · 151,000 miles
• Exterior lightingFire

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES C280. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIGHTS CONSTANTLY BURN OUT AND HAD BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST TWENTY TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE LIGHTS WERE BURNING OUT AND CREATING A FIRE HAZARD. THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 155,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

  Jun 21, 2000
• Suspension › Front

  AFTER ARRIVING HOME AND DRIVING OVER A SPEED BUMP IN OUR APARTMENT COMPLEX AT A SLOW SPEED, WE HEARD A POPPING NOISE. THEN, AS WE WERE TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE, WE HEARD A GRINDING OR DRAGGING NOISE. WHILE LOOKING UNDER THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE TO SEE IF SOMETHING HAD COME LOOSE, THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR DROPPED SUDDENLY AFTER ANOTHER LOUD POPPING NOISE. AFTER LOOKING UNDER THE CAR SOME MORE I SAW THE SPRING WAS LAYING ON IT'S SIDE BEHIND THE WHEEL. I JACKED THE CAR UP AND REMOVED THE SPRING WHICH WAS JUST LYING THERE LOOSE AND SAW THE UPPER MOUNT/PERCH HAD A LOT OF RUST ON IT AND LOOKED LIKE IT HAD BENT UPWARD AND GAVE WAY, RELEASING THE SPRING. LUCKILY HAPPENED JUST OUTSIDE OUR APARTMENT…

  May 2, 2011 · 196,000 miles
• Engine and engine cooling

  ON NOVEMBER 24, 2010 OUR 1999 MERCEDES BENZ C280 SEDAN ENGINE STALLED/STOPPED RUNNING WITH NO WARNING. FORTUNATELY FOR US WE WERE NOT ON A FAST MOVING SURFACE STREET, A HIGHWAY OR A FREEWAY. THIS SITUATION, WHEN THE ENGINE STALLS/STOPS MAKES IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE CAR AND STOP IT SINCE THE BRAKES AND POWER STEERING ARE DIFFICULT TO USE EFFECTIVELY WITH THE ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING. AFTER REFUELING THE CAR WE TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 100FT WHEN, WITHOUT ANY DASH BOARD WARNING LIGHTS OR ANY OTHER INDICATIONS, THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. WE ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE SEVERAL TIMES AND IT WOULD NOT START. WE CALLED AAA OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AT APPROXIMATELY 3:15PM, THE TOW TRUCK…

  Nov 24, 2010 · 19,559 miles
• Suspension › Front

  1999 MERCEDES BENZ C280 DRIVERS SIDE SPRING PERCH RUSTED AND BROKE . CAUSING SPRING TO FLY OFF LOWER CONTROL ARM AND SUSPENSION TO DROP . THE FRONT STEERING WOULD NO LONGER OPERATE BECAUSE WHEEL WAS TRAPPED IN WHEEL WELL. THE INCIDENT IMMEDIATELY DISABLED . CAR WAS TOWED TO REPAIR AND NEW SPRING , PERCH,AND PLASTIC BUSHING WERE PURCHASED. THE PERCH WAS WELDED TO THE FRAME ,NEW SPRING INSTALLED ALL AT OWNERS EXPENSE. *TR

  Dec 10, 2009 · 148,000 miles
• Exterior lightingFire

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ C280. THE REAR TAIL LIGHT BULBS AND PLASTIC HOLDER MELTED SEVEN TIMES. THE DEALER HAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THEY REPLACED THE PLASTIC HOLDER AND BULB UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 151,000.

  Dec 1, 2004 · 45,000 miles

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