RoadVitals

1996 Mercedes-Benz 280

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
13
Latest Sep 19, 2007
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 13 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Mercedes-Benz 280, most frequently naming the electrical, airbags and heating & air conditioning categories.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical321.4%
  • Airbags214.3%
  • Heating & air conditioning17.1%
  • Driver assistance17.1%
  • Engine17.1%
  • Seat belts17.1%
  • Suspension17.1%
  • Tires & wheels17.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 13
Electrical
Filed Sep 19, 2007

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

NHTSA ID
10203462
Incident
Jul 1, 2004
Electrical
Filed Jul 1, 2007

DURING A RECENT SERVICE OF MY VEHICLE AT AN AUTHORIZED MERCEDES BENZ SERVICE CENTER, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE INSULATION COVERING MY WIRES WERE DECOMPOSING AND THE WIRES WERE EXPOSED TO THE ENGINE, HENCE CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM, AND THE POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES IF THE WIRES CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A MATERIAL DEFECT. HE REVEALED THAT THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME HE HAD OBSERVED THIS PROBLEM WITH 1996 280C- CLASS. SINCE THIS APPEARED TO BE A HABITUAL DEFECT WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL; I ASKED IF A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED TO REPLACE THIS DECOMPOSING WIRE HARNESS. HE REPLIED "NO." I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE HARNESS REPLACED. IT IS A DEFECT AND SHOULD BE PAID BY THE MANUFACTURER. I HAVE SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND MANY OTHER OWNERS, @ MERCEDESHOP.COM SITE, HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR 280C CLASS. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME? *TR

NHTSA ID
10195095
Incident
Jun 26, 2007
Mileage
90,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 12, 1998

AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD OR ROCKS BACKWARD, PROBLEM STILL EXIST.

NHTSA ID
512075
Transmission
Filed Oct 28, 1997
Crash reported

ON SLIGHT INCLINE, AFTER GEAR SHIFT WAS PUT INTO PARK, KEY REMOVED AND SHUT DOOR WHILE WALKING TOWARD HOUSE, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN THE HILL, HITTING TWO TREES. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK *NLM

NHTSA ID
817824
Incident
Oct 15, 1997
Visibility
Filed Oct 27, 1997

WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID SENSOR FAILED.

NHTSA ID
605203
Incident
May 1, 1996
Electrical
Filed Sep 18, 1997

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS HAS NUMEROUS FAILURES SINCE OWNER PURCHASED VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
603983
Incident
Jan 1, 1996
Suspension
Filed Jul 17, 1997

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE VEHICLE WILL START TO VIBRATE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
814343
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed May 16, 1997

DRIVING VEHICLE; AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. HAD THE SEAT BELTS AND AIR BAGS REPLACED; TOOK TO DEALER WHO HAD REPAIRED PROBLEM TEMPORARILY, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
812335
Incident
Feb 28, 1997

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mercedes-Benz 280 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2000600—
1999300—
1998300—
1997500—
1996Viewing130037.7
1995470040.7
1994180045.7
1988001—
1987001—
1986001—
1985001—
1984001—
1976010—
1973020—
1972010—
1971030—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.