https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280 New NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for the Mercedes-Benz 280. en-us Sun, 18 Oct 2026 05:48:49 GMT https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280#complaint-1064077 Mon, 12 May 2014 00:00:00 GMT SRS LIGHT COMES ON. CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES FOR VARIOUS REPAIRS TO AIR BAG SYSTEM, AT TIMES CAR STAYED AT DEALER FOR AS LONG AS A WEEK. THIS HAS OCCURRED FROM TIME OF PURCHASE TO PRESENT. *TR https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280#complaint-1051778 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 00:00:00 GMT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE THE THE BALL JOINT IS ATTACHED BROKE DETACHING THE WHEEL AND CAUSING THE TIRE TO COLLAPSE. A MERCEDES-BENZ SPECIALIST IN MY AREA WHO REPAIRS ONLY MERCEDES-BENZ ADVISED ME THAT THIS IS ALL TOO COMMON WITH THIS SERIES OF MERCEDES-BENZ HAS RANGING FROM 1994 TO 1998 IN BOTH C CLASS AND E CLASS VEHICLES. THE REPAIR SHOP THAT REPLACED THE CONTROL ARM WAS https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280#complaint-940834 Mon, 24 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT WHILE TRAVELING, CAR GRADUALLY LOST POWER UNTIL COMPLETELY SHUT-OFF. MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROADWAY. VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN ON AGAIN. NO POWER AT ALL. COULD NOT EVEN TURN ON HAZARDS. THANKFULLY, A GOOD SAMARITAN PULLED UP BEHIND ME WITH THEIR FLASHERS ON AND PROVIDED ME WITH A BOOST THAT POWERED UP MY VEHICLE AND I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE MAIN ROADWAY. HOWEVER, ONCE I STOPPED AT THE NEXT STOP SIGN https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280#complaint-935606 Thu, 23 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT CAR HAS BEEN A GOOD RUNNING CAR FRO SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES, HOWEVER TODAY IT STARTED, WHAT SEEM TO BE A MISFIRE. I CHECKED THE SPARK PLUGS, WIRES, IGNITERS AND THEY WERE ALL IN GOOD CONDITION SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED RECENTLY. AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT 35 MILES AN HOUR THE CAR SUDDENLY JERKED AND SMOKE FILED THE INSIDE AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ON A BUSY CROSS ROAD, SO INSTANT PANIC SET IN, https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280#complaint-935607 Thu, 23 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT CAR HAS BEEN A GOOD RUNNING CAR FRO SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES, HOWEVER TODAY IT STARTED, WHAT SEEM TO BE A MISFIRE. I CHECKED THE SPARK PLUGS, WIRES, IGNITERS AND THEY WERE ALL IN GOOD CONDITION SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED RECENTLY. AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT 35 MILES AN HOUR THE CAR SUDDENLY JERKED AND SMOKE FILED THE INSIDE AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ON A BUSY CROSS ROAD, SO INSTANT PANIC SET IN, https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280#complaint-935608 Thu, 23 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT CAR HAS BEEN A GOOD RUNNING CAR FRO SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES, HOWEVER TODAY IT STARTED, WHAT SEEM TO BE A MISFIRE. I CHECKED THE SPARK PLUGS, WIRES, IGNITERS AND THEY WERE ALL IN GOOD CONDITION SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED RECENTLY. AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT 35 MILES AN HOUR THE CAR SUDDENLY JERKED AND SMOKE FILED THE INSIDE AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ON A BUSY CROSS ROAD, SO INSTANT PANIC SET IN, https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280#complaint-918555 Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ C280. WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING . THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280#complaint-914273 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT THE WIRE HARNESS ON MY VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY DETERIORATED. IT ACTUALLY CAUGHT FIRE BY THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR CONNECTOR. ALL OF THE INSULATION ON THE HARNESS IS GONE. *TR https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280#complaint-865018 Mon, 04 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT 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 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280#complaint-846035 Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAS BADLY DETERIORATED DUE TO USING POOR MATERIALS. THIS IS A VERY HIGH OCCURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS IN THAT IT CAN CAUSE STALLING, SUDDEN ACCELERATION, FIRE AND IT CAN ALSO CAUSE VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS TO OTHER VEHICLE SYSTEMS. THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AND MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM OUT OF CONCERN FOR CONSUMER SAF https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280#complaint-846036 Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAS BADLY DETERIORATED DUE TO USING POOR MATERIALS. THIS IS A VERY HIGH OCCURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS IN THAT IT CAN CAUSE STALLING, SUDDEN ACCELERATION, FIRE AND IT CAN ALSO CAUSE VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS TO OTHER VEHICLE SYSTEMS. THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AND MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM OUT OF CONCERN FOR CONSUMER SAF https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280#complaint-795906 Sun, 27 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT 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 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280#complaint-694696 Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT ROTTED DISINTEGRATED WIRING IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ELECTRICAL PROBLEM--DASHBOARD LIGHTS THAT GO ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY---- ABS, CLOCK, OUTSIDE TEMP GAUGE, REAR DEFROSTER. HAD PROBLEMS WITH IGNITION---WIRING WAS "PATCHED UP" AS BEST AS IT COULD BE AND STARTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A 1995 C-280 WITH APPROX. 118000 MI. I HAVE ALSO HAD AN UNRELATED PROBLEM WHICH, ACCORDING TO MY BENZ MECH, https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280#complaint-694697 Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT ROTTED DISINTEGRATED WIRING IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ELECTRICAL PROBLEM--DASHBOARD LIGHTS THAT GO ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY---- ABS, CLOCK, OUTSIDE TEMP GAUGE, REAR DEFROSTER. HAD PROBLEMS WITH IGNITION---WIRING WAS "PATCHED UP" AS BEST AS IT COULD BE AND STARTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A 1995 C-280 WITH APPROX. 118000 MI. I HAVE ALSO HAD AN UNRELATED PROBLEM WHICH, ACCORDING TO MY BENZ MECH, https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280#complaint-694698 Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT ROTTED DISINTEGRATED WIRING IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ELECTRICAL PROBLEM--DASHBOARD LIGHTS THAT GO ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY---- ABS, CLOCK, OUTSIDE TEMP GAUGE, REAR DEFROSTER. HAD PROBLEMS WITH IGNITION---WIRING WAS "PATCHED UP" AS BEST AS IT COULD BE AND STARTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A 1995 C-280 WITH APPROX. 118000 MI. I HAVE ALSO HAD AN UNRELATED PROBLEM WHICH, ACCORDING TO MY BENZ MECH, https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280#complaint-691654 Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT 1.TEMPERATURE AND FUEL GAUGE HAS INTERMITTENT ISSUES. ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ONE COLD MORNING. 2. ENGINE STALLS / STUTTERS WHEN COLD. LOST POWER TO CAR AND ALMOST HIT A WALL TRYING TO STOP THE CAR. 3 3. NO MONEY TO CORRECT THE ISSUE YET. I DRIVE A DIFFERENT CAR DAILY AND TRY TO AVOID USING THIS ONE. *TR https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280#complaint-691655 Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT 1.TEMPERATURE AND FUEL GAUGE HAS INTERMITTENT ISSUES. ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ONE COLD MORNING. 2. ENGINE STALLS / STUTTERS WHEN COLD. LOST POWER TO CAR AND ALMOST HIT A WALL TRYING TO STOP THE CAR. 3 3. NO MONEY TO CORRECT THE ISSUE YET. I DRIVE A DIFFERENT CAR DAILY AND TRY TO AVOID USING THIS ONE. *TR https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280#complaint-686893 Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT THE WIRES IN MY ENGINE HARNESS TO MY 1995 MERCEDES BENZ C280,THE INSULATION OF THE WIRES DISINTEGRATED(TURNED TO DUST).ITS BEEN SAID THAT IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT AND THAT MERCEDES DOESN'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT .WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF PAYING $1300 PROBLEM (WE WILL KEEP THE OLD PART).MERCEDES IS CASHING IN ON THERE MISTAKE. *TR https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280#complaint-682893 Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT I HAVE A 1994 MERCEDEZ BENZ C280 AND WAS PURCHASED IN 2004 WITH APPROXIMATELY 94,000 MILES. NOT LONG AFTER HAVING THE CAR I START HAVING ERRATIC MISFIRE CODES SHOWING UP ON THE COMPUTER. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE A WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM WHICH THIS MAKE AND YEAR OF CAR IS HAVING. NOW I FIND ON THE INTERNET A REPORT DATED IN 2007 OF OVER 300 PEOPLE WITH MERCEDEZ VEHICLES FROM 1991 TO 1996 HAV https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280#complaint-682009 Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT 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 GL https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280#complaint-667819 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT ENGINE WIRE HARNESS ALL WIRE INSULATIONS IN THE HARNESS ARE IN A SERIOUS DISINTEGRATED AND ARE SHORTING OUT ON EACH OTHER IN A WRAPPED UP HARNESS CONFIGURATION MY GOD IS ANYONE GOING TO LOOK AT THIS . *TR https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280#complaint-667751 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT MY 1994 MERCEDES BENZ WOULD STOP IN TRAFFIC FOR NO REASON. *TR https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280#complaint-652629 Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCEDES BENZ 280. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, IT BEGAN HESITATING AND SURGING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ON SIX SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND THEY STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS FAILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280#complaint-647257 Sat, 24 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT 1995 MERCEDES C280 SEDAN. MILEAGE 59,187. ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEFECTIVE DUE TO POOR SUBSTANDARD OEM QUALITY HAS DETERIORATED INTERNALLY AND VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONS IN MANNER WHICH MAY CAUSE ACCIDENT OR FIRE. VEHICLE IS UNUSABLE. MERCEDES BENZ USA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS FAULT INVOLVING THIS VEHICLE MODEL AND RELATED VEHICLE MODELS. COST TO REPLACE IS OVER $1700. REPAIR DONE OUT OF POCKET TO PREVENT AC https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280#complaint-647258 Sat, 24 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT 1995 MERCEDES C280 SEDAN. MILEAGE 59,187. ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEFECTIVE DUE TO POOR SUBSTANDARD OEM QUALITY HAS DETERIORATED INTERNALLY AND VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONS IN MANNER WHICH MAY CAUSE ACCIDENT OR FIRE. VEHICLE IS UNUSABLE. MERCEDES BENZ USA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS FAULT INVOLVING THIS VEHICLE MODEL AND RELATED VEHICLE MODELS. COST TO REPLACE IS OVER $1700. REPAIR DONE OUT OF POCKET TO PREVENT AC https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280#complaint-645362 Thu, 08 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT DEGRADING WIRE HARNESS CAUSES MY 95 MERCEDES C280 TO CUT OUT IN TRAFFIC CAUSING SEVERE SAFETY ISSUES {FUEL,BRAKES,FIRES, ACCIDENTS] I NOW OWN A PIECE OF WORTHLESS JUNK THAT MERCEDES WILL NOT ADMIT HAS THIS VERY COMMON VERY SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE 96,000 MILES ,ASR SYS FAIL ,COMPUTER MOD FAIL ,CHECK ENG CODES WILL COST 2000-3000 TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT,,PLEASE TELL MERCEDES THANKS FOR APIECE OF JUNK. * https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280#complaint-645247 Wed, 07 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSED ENGINE TO OVERHEAT/BLOWN HEAD GASKET. BAD O2 SENSOR. EVENTUALLY TRACED TO DEFECTIVE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. MAYBE THIS IS WHY THE MERCEDES 280C IS SINGLED OUT FOR SMOG ONLY CHECK IN CA. *TR https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280#complaint-645248 Wed, 07 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSED ENGINE TO OVERHEAT/BLOWN HEAD GASKET. BAD O2 SENSOR. EVENTUALLY TRACED TO DEFECTIVE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. MAYBE THIS IS WHY THE MERCEDES 280C IS SINGLED OUT FOR SMOG ONLY CHECK IN CA. *TR https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280#complaint-641219 Fri, 05 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT OUR VEHICLE FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALMOST KILLED MY FAMILY. THE CAUSE WAS AN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS FAILURE. *JB UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD TO BUY A NEW WIRING HARNESS AT THE COST OF $765.00. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-280#complaint-639284 Wed, 19 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THIS MERCEDES C280 1996 THREE YEARS AGO (2004) IT HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING HARNESS AND IT IS JUST TOO EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE IT. *JB