Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Aug 23, 2012
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
21%
of 47 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1
What this page shows
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1995 Mercedes-Benz 280 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming engine
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Aug 23, 2012
Fire reported1 injury reported
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, BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF VISION AND UNABLE TO BREATH FROM THE FUMES. I SUFFER FROM MIGRAINES AND HAD TO GO TO THE DOCTOR FOR A CHECK UP BECAUSE MY HEALTH HAS NOT BEEN THE SAME SINCE. AS DAYLIGHT CAME I FINALLY HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE DAMAGE AND IT WAS THE DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS THAT HAS BEEN INSTALLED ON CERTAIN YEARS OF MERCEDES BENZ, PER THE VAST AMOUNT OF INFORMATION REGARDING THE ISSUE AND HOW I AM NOW WRITING ABOUT IT. THE CAR HAS BEEN A GOOD RUNNING CAR, BUT MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD OWN UP TO THE PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ID
10471970
Incident
Aug 22, 2012
Mileage
202,122 mi
Engine
Filed May 14, 2012
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.
NHTSA ID
10458447
Incident
Aug 18, 2010
Mileage
130,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 9, 2008
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
NHTSA ID
10244954
Incident
Oct 3, 2008
Mileage
106,100 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Nov 7, 2007
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
NHTSA ID
10208159
Incident
Nov 6, 2007
Mileage
104,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Nov 7, 2006
MY CAR ACTS HAZARDOUS. FROM TIME TO TIME INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS OCCUR LIKE ENGINE STALLS,ENGINE ERRATICALLY INCREASE RPM, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FOR NO REASON, GAUGES NOT WORKING FROM TIME TO TIME, WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINES SEEMS TO STALL BUT RUNS ON 3 CYLINDERS I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND SHUT IT OFF TO RESTART. MY CAR WENT OFF AND TOOK 6 TRIES TO GET THE CAR STARTED. REPLACED HEAD GASKET AT 130K ANOTHER MERCEDES BENZ PROBLEM. *JB
NHTSA ID
10172882
Incident
Nov 7, 2006
Mileage
132,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 2, 2004
IN FOR OIL CHANGE HEAD GASKET BAD NEED $1500 KNOW MONEY FOR WORK . *AK
NHTSA ID
10089014
Incident
Mar 16, 2004
Mileage
71,000 mi
AirbagsBrakesEngine+2 more
Filed May 3, 2004
8182225555: MERCEDES C 280 LEMON RETURNED TO THE DEALER ON 3/26/03/. I WALKED INTO ACURA AFTER TEST DRIVING THIS CAR W/ ERIK ON 3/27. I DROVE IT FOR 3 WEEKS. THE SRS LIGHT (AIRBAGS ) KEPT COMING ON W/ BUZZ NOISE. ON THE 5TH DAY, THE VEHICLE DID NOT START. THE HEAD RESTRAINTS AND REAR BUTTONS DID NOT WORK. THE RADIO FREQUENTLY GOES IN AND OUT ON SEVERAL STATIONS. THE 3RD WEEK, THERE WAS A HEAVY OIL LEAK, LEAKING FROM THE OIL PAN AND HEAD GASKET. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND DOES NOT MEET USED CAR SAFETY STANDARDS. THE POWER STEERING HAD A LEAK. THE BRAKES WERE WORN BELOW 50%, THE BRAKE SENSORS WERE BAD AND THE ROTORS WERE WORN. THE SHOCKS LEAKED GAS FROM THE FRONT AND ARE WEAK IN THE BACK. CAR ENGINE IDLE HAS A WATER PUMP LEAK. THE BUYERS GUIDE STATED ABOVE. 4/16/04, I DROVE TO ACURA TO TALK TO VERN. VERN TOLD ME THAT MERCE ALWAYS HAS OIL LEAKS. VERN SIGNED A FORM THAT STATED HE WOULD HAVE UNION 76 MECHANIC CHANGE OIL PAN GASKET, CHECK OUT PWR STR PUMP, BRAKES, MISFIRE. 4/20/04, I HEARD VERN TELL UNION 76 TO FIX THE OIL LEAK, CHANGE ALL 4 STRUTS, CHANGE THE ROTORS, BRAKES, AND SENSORS, CHECK PWR STEERING, AND CHECK THE IDLE. WHEN I GOT THE CAR BACK ON 4/21/04, THE MECHANICS MESSED UP THE IDLE, THE CAR WAS SHAKING . THE CAR WAS NOT LIKE THIS BEFORE. VERN HAD UNION 76 MESS UP THE CAR. THE STRUTS WERE NOT CHANGED. THE OIL LEAK WAS NOT FIXED. THE OIL PAN WASN'T TIGHTENED. THIS IS AUTO REPAIR FRAUD. ON 4/22/04 I TALKED TO KURT KEENER. HE TRIED TO TO DRAG THIS ORDEAL TILL THE WARR PERIOD RAN OUT. 4/22/04, I BROUGHT A MALE WITNESS W/ ME, I DROPPED OFF THE CAR AND REQUESTED A REFUND OF $8,012.09 FOR THE CAR AND FOR CAR INSURANCE THE AMOUNT OF $421.00. VERN WAS AWARE OF MAJOR OIL LEAK IN HEAD GASKET/PISTONS, DECEPTIVE BUSINESS PRACTICES. THIS WAS VERIFIED AT CALABASAS MOTORS ON 4/29 BY TONI PENKINS. TONI SAID THERE WERE OTHER LEAKS TOO. 8185912377. *AK
NHTSA ID
10068188
Incident
Apr 16, 2004
Mileage
127,100 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 19, 2004
CAR IN FOR OIL CHANGE- NEEDED CYLINDER HEAD GASKET WITH 19240 MILES ON MY 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ C280! CALLED BUFFALO DEALER, OUT OF WARRANTY,NO HELP WANTED APPROX $1400. TO REPAIR! FOUND CAR HAS HAD 3 SERVICE BULLETTINS ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. FOUND AUTO DEALER TO FIX FOR $1034.04
NHTSA ID
10058505
Incident
Feb 13, 2004
Mileage
19,240 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 8, 1999
I HAVE PURCHASED A MERCEDES BENZ C280 THIS PAST WEEK. I HAVE FIND OUT THAT THE ENGINE IS LEAKING OIL. ACCORDING TO 2 DIFFERENT MECHANICS, ONE OF THEM IS AN EMPLOYEE OF A LOCAL MERCEDES BENZ DEALER, ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH C-CLASS MODELS. THE HEAD GASKET LEAKS OIL OVERTIME AND ENGINE OIL WILL SEEP INTO AN OIL PAN UNDER THE ENGINE. SINCE I AM NOT A MECHANIC, IT IS HARD FOR ME TO TELL THE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH PROBLEM. BUT IT IS OBVIOUS THAT AN ENGINE WITHOUT THE OIL WILL FAIL. IT MAY WELL HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON A ROADWAY WITH HIGH TRAFFIC, CAUSING A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. I WILL APPRECIATE YOUR ACTION ON THIS MATTER, SINCE MERCEDES BENZ REPRESENTATIVES ARE RELUCTANT TO ACCEPT THIS A TAKE ACTION. BEST REGARDS, HAKAN AKIN
NHTSA ID
712981
Incident
Sep 26, 1999
Engine
Filed Jul 6, 1999
ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED TWO TIMES. ONCE AFTER 2 YEARS AT 21,000 MILES, AND AGAIN AT 48,000 MILES AFTER ABOUT 18 MONTHS. *AK
NHTSA ID
708278
Incident
Jul 6, 1999
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own