Total Complaints
4 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ 280 · model year
1998 MERCEDES-BENZ 280
4 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998MERCEDES-BENZ280 carries 4 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 1998 280 is visibility:windshield with 2 filings, followed by fuel system, other:storage:fuel gauge system (1) and tires (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 1998 280. 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.
4
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 |
|---|---|
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20020514VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
THE DRIVER HEARD A PING NOISE, NOT VERY LOUD AND SUBSEQUENTLY A SMALL STAR LIKE MARK ON THE WINDSHIELD APPEARED, WITHIN A COUPLE HOURS LONG FREEFORM CRACK LINES ON THE WINDSHIELD HAD EMANATED FROM THAT SMALL STAR LIKE PING EARLIER ON, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT, THE WINSHIELD HAD TO BE REPLACED. NLM
20011015VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
THE DRIVER HEARD A PING NOISE, NOT VERY LOUD AND SUBSEQUENTLY A SMALL STAR LIKE MARK ON THE WINDSHIELD APPEARED, WITHIN A COUPLE HOURS LONG FREEFORM CRACK LINES ON THE WINDSHIELD HAD EMANATED FROM THAT SMALL STAR LIKE PING EARLIER ON, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT, THE WINSHIELD HAD TO BE REPLACED. NLM
19991017TIRES
ALL 4 TIRES NEED TO BE REPLACED EVEN BEFORE 20,000 MILES OR THE CAR 2 YRS OLD. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 205/60 15 )
19990830FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
GAS GAUGE SENSOR FAILED. YH
Compare 1998MERCEDES-BENZ280 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1998 MERCEDES-BENZ 280 have?▼
The 1998 MERCEDES-BENZ 280 has 4 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 MERCEDES-BENZ 280?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 MERCEDES-BENZ 280 is VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM and TIRES.
Is the 1998 MERCEDES-BENZ 280 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.