1994 MERCEDES-BENZ 280
23 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 4 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
Recent Complaints
1994 C280 MERCEDES CAUGHT FIRE AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES. MERCEDES WAS DESTROYED AND CAR NEXT TO IT TOTALED AS WELL. HOUSE DAMAGED (CARS WERE IN DRIVEWAY). FIRE INSPECTOR SAID FIRE STARTED UNDER HOOD, APPEARS IT WAS PROBABLY THE WIRING HARNESS. FIREMEN HAD TO USE SPECIAL FOAM TO PUT FIRE OUT BECAUSE OF MAGNESIUM PARTS ON MERCEDES, CAN'T USE WATER BECAUSE IT WILL CAUSE AN EXPLOSION. IT BURNED FOR OVER AN HOUR AND TOOK THE FIREMEN AT LEAST HALF AN HOUR TO PUT IT OUT. THIS NEEDS T
Mileage: 250,000
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAS BRITTLE INSULATION; HAS HUNDREDS OF CRACKS; INSULATION IS FALLING OFF OF WIRES; IS SHORT CIRCUITING, MOTOR IS RUNNING ROUGH; MISSING SOME; SOUNDS LIKE ITS NOT RUNNING ON ALL CYLINDERS. WIRING HARNESS IS HEATING WHERE IT IS SHORT CIRCUITING. I HAVE SEEN SOME SMOKING; WAS ON FIRE ONCE SO FAR. *TR
Mileage: 154,000
1994 C280 MERCEDES HAS ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEFECT DUE TO WIRES SHEARING AND BEING EXPOSED. FROM INTERNET RESEARCH IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT AND THAT THE INSULATION IS NOT HEAT RESISTANT. THE CAR STARTED TO SMOKE DUE TO EXPOSED WIRES TOUCHING AND SHORTED OUT A.C. THE CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN NOW UNTIL WIRING HARNESS IS REPLACED DUE TO RISK OF FIRE. THIS CAR IS A DEATH TRAP - JUST GLAD I CAUGHT IT WHEN I DID. *TR
Mileage: 123,000
THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS (THAT SUPPLIES 12 VOLTS DC TO THE COILS THAT CONVERT IT INTO HIGH VOLTAGE FOR USE IN THE SPARK PLUGS), HAD A CRITICAL FAILURE IN THE WIRE INSULATION. OVER TIME THE INSULATION WILL HARDEN AND CRACK TO THE POINT THAT WIRES SHORT OUT. THIS FAILURE IS NOT LIMITED TO ONLY THIS HARNESS, IN FACT IT HAS BEEN FOUND TO CAUSE ELECTRICAL FIRES IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CAR. THOUGH MY CAR HAS NOT HAD A FIRE, THE HARNESS DID HAVE THIS INSULATION FAILURE, WHICH CAUSED CYLINDERS 2 AND 5 TO
Mileage: 173,000
WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE WITH FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SURGED FOWARD, HIT A WALL IN GARAGE, CAUSING PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY, WHILE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK
WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE WITH FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SURGED FOWARD, HIT A WALL IN GARAGE, CAUSING PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY, WHILE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK
WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE WITH FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SURGED FOWARD, HIT A WALL IN GARAGE, CAUSING PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY, WHILE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK
ABS BRAKES; FAILURE ON THE BRAKE SYSTEM CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT, ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK. *AK