Total Complaints
7 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS · model year
1998 MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS
7 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998MERCEDES-BENZC-CLASS carries 7 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 C-CLASS is structure:frame and members:underbody shields with 1 filings, followed by suspension:rear (1) and fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly (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 C-CLASS. 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.
7
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 |
|---|---|
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 1 |
| CHILD SEAT | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20140302SUSPENSION
WAS DRIVING CAR AND HEARD LOUD NOISE GOT OUT AND SAW FRONT RIGHT SIDE WAS SITTING LOWER ON ONE SIDE. CAR PULLS HARD TO THE RIGHT. HAD MY MECHANIC INSPECT. CONCLUDED THAT THE CUP HOLDER THAT HOLDS THE VEHICLES SPRINGS WAS RUSTED OUT. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AND OR DESIGN FLAW. THANKFULLY DID NOT HAPPEN AT HIGHER SPEEDS IN DANGEROUS CONDITIONS. *TR
Mileage: 173,000
20000118CHILD SEAT
BRITAX ROUNDABOUT CAR SEAT DOES NOT FIT INTO MERCEDES C CLASS CAR. *AK
19990730VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDOW FAILED. NLM
19990511AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN THE AIRBAG EXPLODED . THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER AT THE TIME THE AIRBAG EXPLODED. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
19990422FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
GAS GAUGE SENSOR FAILED.
19990218STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
HEAT SHIELD MAKES NOISE WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF, DUE TO DESIGN.
19990218SUSPENSION:REAR
REAR SUSPENSION BOUNCING CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN MAINTAINING CONTROL.
Compare 1998MERCEDES-BENZC-CLASS to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1998 MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS have?▼
The 1998 MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS has 7 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS is STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION:REAR and FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1998 MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS 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.