Total Complaints
19 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ 220 · model year
1995 MERCEDES-BENZ 220
19 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1995MERCEDES-BENZ220 carries 19 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 5 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1995 220 is electrical system with 5 filings, followed by electrical system:wiring (2) and electrical system:wiring:front underhood (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 15 investigation files overlapping the 1995 220. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
19
Complaints
1
Crashes
5
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 5 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20140304AIR BAGS
MY MERCEDES BENZ WAS DRIVEN ON HIGHWAY 5 TOWARDS STOCKTON CA AT 65 MILES / HOUR. THE TRAFFIC SUDDENLY STOPPED!. THE DISTANCE TO FRONT VEHICLE WAS MUCH SHORTER TO RESPOND QUICKLY BY PRESSING THE BRAKE. THE MERCEDES REAR ENDED AND CRUSHED THE FRONT CHEVROLET, PUSHED IT INTO A COUPLE OF MORE CARS AHEAD IN THE SAME LANE. THE FRONT OF THE MERCEDES PART SIDE TOTALLY JAMMED AND WAS TOTALED AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO OPEN!, AND THE IMPACT RESULTED IN CHEST, NECK AND BACK INJURY TO MERCEDES BENZ DRIVER.
Mileage: 89,000
20140118ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR REFUSED TO START. MECHANIC "JIGGLED" THE WIRING HARNESS. THE CAR STARTED, AND CONTINUES TO START. HOWEVER, THE HARNESS IS MADE OF BIODEGRADEABLE MATERIALS, AND IS CRACKED AND TURNING INTO DUST. NEEDS REPLACING. UNDERSTAND IT COULD CATCH FIRE. THIS IS AN ALL TOO COMMON PROBLEM WITH M-B, AND I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS HASN'T BEEN ADDRESSED YET. *TR
Mileage: 252,000
20131108FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
DRIVING AND CAR STALLED IN INTERSECTION - SMELT SMOKE - WOULD NOT START, TOWED HOME THEN SURPRISINGLY STARTED NEXT DAY, THIS PROBLEM CONTINUED OVER AND OVER DESPITE REPLACING FUEL PUMP, TUNE-UP - MECHANIC RAN A OBD PROGRAM WHICH SHOWED MANY ERRORS, THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME (AND SHOWED ME) THE WIRING HARNESS AND TOLD ME TO "GET RID OF THE CAR" IT WAS DISINTEGRATING - EXPOSED WIRE AND INSULATION ON WIRES WAS CRACKED AND CRUMBLING AND IN SOME PLACES WIRES WERE COMPLETELY EXPOSED. I COULD NOT AFFORD THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND SO MY CAR SAT FOR A LONG TIME AND NOW I HAD A NEW MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION INSTALLED AND FEEL I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY THIS ADDITIONAL AND VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. *TR
20131108FireELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
DRIVING AND CAR STALLED IN INTERSECTION - SMELT SMOKE - WOULD NOT START, TOWED HOME THEN SURPRISINGLY STARTED NEXT DAY, THIS PROBLEM CONTINUED OVER AND OVER DESPITE REPLACING FUEL PUMP, TUNE-UP - MECHANIC RAN A OBD PROGRAM WHICH SHOWED MANY ERRORS, THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME (AND SHOWED ME) THE WIRING HARNESS AND TOLD ME TO "GET RID OF THE CAR" IT WAS DISINTEGRATING - EXPOSED WIRE AND INSULATION ON WIRES WAS CRACKED AND CRUMBLING AND IN SOME PLACES WIRES WERE COMPLETELY EXPOSED. I COULD NOT AFFORD THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND SO MY CAR SAT FOR A LONG TIME AND NOW I HAD A NEW MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION INSTALLED AND FEEL I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY THIS ADDITIONAL AND VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. *TR
20131108FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DRIVING AND CAR STALLED IN INTERSECTION - SMELT SMOKE - WOULD NOT START, TOWED HOME THEN SURPRISINGLY STARTED NEXT DAY, THIS PROBLEM CONTINUED OVER AND OVER DESPITE REPLACING FUEL PUMP, TUNE-UP - MECHANIC RAN A OBD PROGRAM WHICH SHOWED MANY ERRORS, THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME (AND SHOWED ME) THE WIRING HARNESS AND TOLD ME TO "GET RID OF THE CAR" IT WAS DISINTEGRATING - EXPOSED WIRE AND INSULATION ON WIRES WAS CRACKED AND CRUMBLING AND IN SOME PLACES WIRES WERE COMPLETELY EXPOSED. I COULD NOT AFFORD THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND SO MY CAR SAT FOR A LONG TIME AND NOW I HAD A NEW MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION INSTALLED AND FEEL I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY THIS ADDITIONAL AND VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. *TR
20110306ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
INSULATION CRACKING AND FALLING OFF THE WIRING HARNESS ON MY 1995 C-220 MERCEDES. CAR STALL AND WILL NOT RUN AFTER DRIVING THRU A CAR WASH.. MERCEDES IS RESPONSIBLE, AND A GREAT DANGER FOR A FIRE AND FATAL ACCIDENT. I RETIRED AFTER WORKING FOR FORD MOTOR COMPANY AS A SAFETY ENGINEER. I HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING. *TR
Mileage: 10,000
20080717FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE BECUASE OF FAULTY WIRING HARNESS. *TR
Mileage: 107,000
20080604FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE INSULATION ON THE WIRING HARNESS IN MY 1995 C220 HAS DETERIORATED SO MUCH THAT IT SPARKED FIRE ON SECTIONS OF THE HARNESS. I HAVE JUST LEARNED THAT MB USA IS NOT OWNING UP TO THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM. WHY IS THE COMPANY NOT PROVIDING SOME MEANS TO HAVE OWNERS REPLACE IT UNDER A SHARED COST PROGRAM? *TR
20071116ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
1995 MERCEDES C220 ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEFECT. CAUSING FAILURE OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS OF AUTOMOBILE. AUTOMOBILE STOPPED ABRUPTLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. *TR
20060613ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
I BOUGH MY MERCEDES C220 1995 FROM ANOTHER OWNER 3 YEARS AGO. ON MARCH OF THIS YEAR I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT THE WIRING HARNESS IS DETERIORATING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED OTHERWISE ISSUES ARE GOING TO START POPPING UP. ALREADY THE FIRST DID - FUELING SYSTEM ISSUES. I WAS TOLD THAT I COULD HAVE THE HARNESS REPLACED OR 1300$ ( US $ )*JB
20060513ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WIRING HARNESS FAILURE ON 1995 MERCEDES C220 CAUSING ERRATIC OPERATION AND STALLING OF THE VEHICLE. *JB
Mileage: 124,000
20060114ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
1995 MERCEDES BENZ C220 - NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH A CAR THAT ONLY HAS ABOUT 80K MILES ON IT. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE. GAVE UP WITH USING MERCEDES FOR SERVICE EONS AGO....AFTER FEELING THAT WE WERE LIED TO. DEALER LED US TO BELIEVE THAT WE WERE HAVING PROBLEMS BECAUSE MICE NESTED IN THE CAR AND PROBABLY ATE THROUGH THE WIRING. 3 OTHER SERVICE PEOPLE HAVE THOUGHT THAT THEY SUCCESSFULLY 'FIXED' THE CAR... BUT PROBLEM RECURS (SOMETIMES WITHIN A HALF HOUR OF LEAVING REPAIR SHOP) CAR WILL NOT RUN UNLESS YOU KEEP YOU FOOT ON THE GAS CONTINUALLY.... REPLACED WIRING HARNESS COUPLE OF YEARS AGO....FREQUENT BULB BURN OUTS, SRS LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED FOR FIRST 2 MINUTES CAR IS ON THEN GOES OUT... VARIOUS GAUGES ARE OUT....FUSES BLOW....I COULD GO ON FOREVER. *JB
Mileage: 45,000
20040617FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL LINE LEAKS, PROBLEMS WITH MUFFLER, WATER PUMP AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS NOISY AND SMELLING. *MR *SC *JB
Mileage: 17,000
20040617ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
FUEL LINE LEAKS, PROBLEMS WITH MUFFLER, WATER PUMP AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS NOISY AND SMELLING. *MR *SC *JB
Mileage: 17,000
20040617ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
FUEL LINE LEAKS, PROBLEMS WITH MUFFLER, WATER PUMP AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS NOISY AND SMELLING. *MR *SC *JB
Mileage: 17,000
19960711CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE, ENGINE WENT INTO HIGH IDLE AND ACCELERATED FORWARD, LOST CONTROL, WENT INTO INBANKMENT/GLAZE AND TREE, IMPACT 1:00. *AK
19960314STRUCTURE:BODY
PLASTIC RUNNING BOARD CRACKED 3 TIMES. *TT
19951120ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING, ALSO HEAT SYSTEM MAKES A NOISE. TT
19951120VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING, ALSO HEAT SYSTEM MAKES A NOISE. TT
Compare 1995MERCEDES-BENZ220 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ 220 have?▼
The 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ 220 has 19 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 5 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ 220?▼
The most-complained component for the 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ 220 is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD.
Is the 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ 220 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.