Total Complaints
6 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ 220 · model year
1996 MERCEDES-BENZ 220
6 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996MERCEDES-BENZ220 carries 6 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, 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 1996 220 is fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump with 1 filings, followed by equipment:appliance:air conditioner (1) and visibility:power window devices and controls (1). 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 1996 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.
6
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 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 |
|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20131202VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCEDES BENZ C220. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, HE ACTIVATED THE CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTION AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND ATTEMPTED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,000.
Mileage: 173,000
20060921ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
MY 1996 MERCEDES C220 HAS 190,000 MILES ON IT. THE WIRING HARNESS COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED AND I WAS TOLD BY MY REPAIR SHOP THAT THE FAULTY WIRING HARNESS SHORTED OUT THE COMPUTER. I CALLED MERCEDES CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SENT A LETTER TO PAUL HALATA. THEY WERE VERY SORRY, BUT THE CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THE CAR IS SITTING IN MY GARAGE - NOT RUNNING. *NM
Mileage: 190,000
19971106VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
POWER WINDOW SWITCH FAILED.
19971106ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
COMPUTER FAILED.
19970527EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITIONER FAILURE.
19970424FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL PUMP FAILED TWICE.
Compare 1996MERCEDES-BENZ220 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1996 MERCEDES-BENZ 220 have?▼
The 1996 MERCEDES-BENZ 220 has 6 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 MERCEDES-BENZ 220?▼
The most-complained component for the 1996 MERCEDES-BENZ 220 is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER and VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS.
Is the 1996 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.