Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1995 Mercedes-Benz C220 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 30 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.
The 25 most recent of 30, in the owner's own words
MY VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AT START UP AND ALSO DURING DRIVING IN MOTION. THIS HAPPENS AT VARIOUS TIMES DURING THE DAY WHILE STATIONARY, ON A CITY STREET, OR TURNING WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. MY MECHANIC SAYS THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. I'VE OWNED THIS MERCEDES FOR YEARS AND HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW SERIOUS THIS PROBLEM WAS UNTIL I SPOKE WITH MY MECHANIC RECENTLY.
HIGH VOLTAGE WIRING HARNESS SHEATHING GONE. CAR WILL NOT START. IN GARAGE FOUND THE DEFECTIVE HARNESS.
I STARTED MY CAR AND BEGAN DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. I WAS GOING ABOUT 55 MPH WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SHUT DOWN; LIKE THE POWER WAS SUDDENLY TURNED OFF. THEN, LIKE A CHILD FLIPPING THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF, THE CAR BEGAN TO JERK FORWARD AND BACK AS THE POWER AND ENGINE WENT ON AND OFF AGAIN. WHEN I CAME TO A STOP THE CAR DIED. I WAS ABLE TO START IT AND GET HOME BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO SHUT DOWN WHILE I DROVE HOME AND DIE WHEN I STOPPED. THE NEXT DAY I GOT IT OVER TO THE SHOP. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS THE WIRING HARNESS. HE SAID THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES. I LOOKED IT UP AND SURE ENOUGH, MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATERIALS. I ASKED THE MECHANIC TO SEE THE WIRING HARNESS HE REMOVED. IT LOOKED JUST LIKE THE ON IN THIS WEBSITE HTTP://WWW.MERCEDESDEFECTS.COM/2008/04/WIRE-HARNESS-DEFECT.HTML?M=1 THERE WAS CRACKED INSULATION AND EXPOSED WIRES THROUGHOUT THE HARNESS.
I WAS CHANGING MY OIL AND CHECKING MY LEVEL AND SUDDENLY THERE WAS A SPARK AND THEN FIRE BUT I TOOK IT OUT FAST WITH SAND.IT WAS THE WIRING HARNESS THEY WERE ALL CRACKED AND SOME OF IT ARE DISINTEGRATING.
MY VEHICLE HAS THE FAULTY WIRING HARNESS PREVALENT IN ALL THESE CARS DURING THE MID TO LATE NINETIES. IT HAS EXHIBITED MANY OF THE SIGNS MENTIONED BY NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS OVER THE YEARS SUCH AS: ENGINE LIGHT ON CONSTANTLY, SURGING OF THE THROTTLE, DASH INSTRUMENTS THAT WON'T WORK, STUMBLING AND STALLING IN TRAFFIC, ETC. THE ONLY THING I HAVEN'T HAD YET IS A FIRE. I WAS COMPLETELY UNAWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR BACK IN FEB. THIS IS MY FIRST MERCEDES AND WILL BE MY LAST.....NEXT CAR WILL BE A HONDA. WHY MERCEDES IS ALLOWED TO IGNORE THIS IS BEYOND ME. I THOUGHT THE REASON WE HAVE GOVERNMENT REGULATION IS TO FORCE CAR MAKERS TO CLEAN UP MESSES LIKE THIS. THERE ARE STILL A NUMBER OF THESE CARS ON THE ROAD AND THIS PROBLEM WILL EVENTUALLY GET SOMEONE KILLED IF IT HASN'T ALREADY. MERCEDES SHOULD BE MADE TO RECALL AND REPLACE THIS WIRING WITH GOOD REMANUFACTURED PARTS FOR FREE IF YOU STILL OWN ONE OF THESE CARS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES C-220. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
MERCEDES BENZ KNOWS ABOUT THESE FAULTY WIRING HARNESSES AND REFUSES TO OWN UP TO THEIR FAULTS. THESE FAULTS PLACE THE OWNER AND OTHERS AT RISK AS THEY CAN CAUSE SHORTS, A POOR RUNNING CAR WITH SHORTING ISSUES, OR EVEN CAUSE A FIRE. I WOULD BE HAPPY IF MERCEDES WOULD JUST GIVE US A NEW WIRING HARNESS, I WOULD INSTALL IT MYSELF AND THEY WOULD NOT HAVE LOST ANYTHING. *TR
VEHICLE STALLED IN INTERSECTION. CONTINUES TO DO SO, THOUGH IT WILL RESTART. CEL ON. MECHANIC CHANGED MAF AND WIRING FOR MAF, ADVISED REST OF UNDERHOOD WIRING INSULATION BAD, EXPOSING BARE WIRES. *TR
I TOOK MY CAR TO A MECHANIC WITH AN UNRELATED ENGINE PROBLEM WHICH WAS RESOLVED. AFTERWARDS THE MECHANIC POINTED OUT THE ENGINE MAIN WIRING HARNESS TO ME AND INFORMED ME IF I DON'T REPLACE IT, IT COULD HAVE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES LIKE THE CAR CATCHING OF FIRE, STOPPING AT ANY MOMENT AND MAIN COMPUTER DAMAGE. THEY SHOED ME THE WIRE INSULATIONS IN THE WIRING HARNESS AND I WAS APPALLED BY WHAT I SAW. THEY WERE ALL CRACKED, AT PLACES MISSING, AND VERY CLOSE TO ACTUALLY TOUCHING AND SHORTING OUT. ONE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE AN EXPERT IN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY OR ELECTRICAL REPAIR TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS. THE WIRING HARNESS COST IS ABOUT $1000 AND THE LABOR IS SEVERAL HOURS. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT WHICH SHOULD BE RECTIFIED BY MERCEDES-BENZ BY ISSUING A RECALL AND REPLACING THE HARNESS AT NO COST TO THE OWNER. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THIS WAS A SYSTEMIC DEFECT, AND MANY MERCEDES-BEND CARS OF THE SAME ERA AROUND 1995-1998 HAD TO BE REFIT WITH NEW WIRING HARNESSES. IT IS NOT CAUSED BY NORMAL WEAR ALTHOUGH MY CAR HAS HIGH MILEAGE, BUT POOR MATERIALS USED. *TR
THE POORLY DESIGNED WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO MANUFACTURES DEFECT OF BIODEGRADABLE SHIELDING ... IT IS THE HARNESS FROM THE E.C.M. TO THE ENGINE... IF THE CAR WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED DURING THIS FAILURE IT COULD HAVE CAUSED DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY TO EITHER THE DRIVER/PASSENGER OR OTHERS ON THE ROAD ... I HAVE OWNED OLDER M.B. AND NEVER SEEN THIS KIND OF WIRING IN MY 10+ YEARS OF DRIVING AND REPAIRING THESE KIND OF CARS... THIS ISSUE WAS REPORTED TO MBUSA AND THEY TRIED TO SAY IT IS DUE TO NON MAINTENANCE THROUGH M.B..... THIS PART SHOULD HAVE LASTED LONGER THAN THE LIFE OF THE CAR AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ROUTINE MAINTENANCE...WHAT DID I MISS ? HOW DO YOU DO MAINTENANCE ON A WIRE ? HOW?... THIS ISSUE WAS FOUND TO HAPPEN OFF THE LINE AND THEY PRODUCED THIS CRAP...RECALL/REPAIR THANK YOU PLEASE FIX OR RECALL THIS THERE ARE OTHERS WHO TRUSTED THEIR FAMILY'S TO THIS COMPANY AND SOME ARE STILL UNAWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND ARE IN DANGER... *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ C220. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAULTY WIRING HARNESS INSTALLATION BECAME BRITTLE, BEGAN TO CRACK AND WAS FALLING OFF OF THE CONDUCTORS WHICH DETACHED THE WIRES FROM THE ENGINE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED BY THE DEALER BACK IN 2000 AND THEY REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE FOR $800. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED, THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS FOR $700. THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS OR A WARRANTY FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ C220. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED AND WAS THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC SHOP WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A SHIRT CIRCUIT IN THE WIRING HARNESS INSTALLATION AND THAT IT WAS FRACTURED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED TO REPORT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 209,000.
I PURCHASED MY C220 IN 1995 FROM A DEALER IN NORTH CAROLINA. WITHIN THREE YEARS THE LCD BECAME NONFUNCTIONAL(RADIO AND TAPES BECAME DEAD). IN FOURTH YEAR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, I TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP, THEY FIXED AND CHARGED HUGE AMOUNT BUT AFTER A MONTH OR SO IT CAME ON AGAIN. I WAS TOLD AT THE DEALERSHIP TO CHANGE WIRE HARNESS BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO GIVE A GUARANTEE THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT COME ON SO I DIDN'T GET THAT SERVICE. TILL TODAY I AM DRIVING MY CAR WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND NOTHING HAVE HAPPENED. I THINK THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE FIXED BY MB WITHOUT ANY CHARGE TO ITS CUSTOMERS. IT SEEMS LIKE THIS CAR IS NOT WORTH FOR THE MONEY. MY DRIVER SEAT CAN NOT BE FULLY ADJUSTED USING ITS MECHANICAL SYSTEM. THE UPHOLSTERY ALSO COMING DOWN FROM THE ROOF AND THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER BODILY FAULTS IN MY C220. *TR
THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION IN MY 1995 MERCEDES BENZ C220 HAS DETERIORATED TO THE POINT OF DUST. THIS RESULTED IN THE CAR STALING AT OVER 35 MPH, AND MY WIFE BEING PUT IN HARMS WAY WHEN THE CAR LOST POWER. SHE COULD NO LONGER CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND HIT A MAILBOX. I WOULD LIKE TO STATE THAT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT THEY HAD "NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS" WHEN THEY DISCOVERED THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS WAS DESTROYED, BUT YET THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF MERCEDES BENZ'S UNFORGIVABLE IGNORANCE TO THIS SUBJECT. I WOULD LIKE MY HARNESS REPLACED AT THE LEAST. *TR
I HAVE A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ C220 AUTOMATIC 4 CYLINDERS. I HAD MY ENGINE CHECK LIGHTS ON AND I WENT TO THE DEALER TO CHECK AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST ME MORE THAN $1700 TO REPLACE IT. THIS IS NOT A MATTER OF REPLACEMENT WHEN IT COMES TO ENGINE WIRE HARNESS WHICH CONTROLS THE ECU AND CAN CAUSE DANGER TO OUR LIVES. IT SHOULD BE THE MANUFACTURERS RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE HIGH GRADE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS WHICH SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 20 YEARS WHEN WE ARE PAYING HIGH PRICES FOR THE LUXURY CARS AND ENDING UP AS A JUNK. I HOPE THAT THE GOVERNMENT AGENCY WOULD DIRECT ALL THESE DEALERS TO RECALL AND FIX THESE FAULTS RIGHT AND NOT GETTING A PENNY FROM US. *TR
WIRING HARNESS SHORTED OUT AND ALMOST CAUGHT FIRE IN ENGINE BAY. *TR
I HAVE A 1995 C220 MERCEDES BENZ AND THE ENGINE MANAGEMENT HARNESS IS DEFECTIVE. THE INSULATION ON ALL OF THE WIRING IS MADE OF VERY POOR MATERIAL BREAKS VERY EASY AT THE TOUCH. WHY IS THERE NOT A WIRING ENGINE MANAGEMENT HARNESS RECALL. *TR
I PURCHASED A 1995 MERCEDES C220 FROM A MERCEDES DEALER AND THEY KNEW THE CAR HAD A WIRING HARNESS THAT WAS DEGRADING WITH EXPOSED CONDUCTORS THROUGH OUT THE CAR... BUT THEY DIDN'T TELL ME , AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR AND WAS HAVING TONS OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS I FOUND OUT THE HISTORY OF THIS MODEL ..THE MB DEALER TOLD ME THE WIRING HARNESS COULD BE REPLACED FOR ABOUT $3000.00 ... A MONTH OR SO AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. RANDOMLY THE SPEEDOMETER,ABS,TEMP GAUGE ,FUEL GAUGE, TACHOMETER DO FUNCTION, BUT RARELY AND NOT ALL AT ONCE. *TR
1 - RANDOM ELECTRICAL FAILURES 2 - BAD ENGINE WIRING HARNESS 3- REPLACE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS *TR
I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT MY WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON MY 1995 C220 MERCEDES. THE WIRES ARE EXPOSED AND SOME OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS A "COMMON" PROBLEM BY MECHANIC AND THAT IT COULD BE "DANGEROUS." I COMMUTE EVERYDAY ON LA FREEWAYS. I DO NOT WANT TO RISK MY LIFE BECAUSE OF A FAILURE OF MERCEDES BENZ OF AMERICA TO TAKE CARE OF A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW. TO DATE, THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT NOR A FIRE. DO YOU WANT ME TO BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR TO DIE BEFORE THIS COMPLAINT IS EFFECTIVE? ACCORDING TO THE INTERNET I AM ONLY PART OF A GROWING, VOCAL GROUP WHO ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUES WITH THEIR MERCEDES AUTOMOBILES. *JB
MY C220'S WIRING HARNESS IS DISINTEGRATING DAILY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, FUEL GAUGE, WATER TEMP., ETC. ALL INTERMITTENT. THE CAR MISSES, AND SOMETIMES LUNGES FROM A SUDDEN HIGH REV. THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORST AS THE INSULATION FLAKES OFF, CAUSING SHORTS. *JB
ENGINE HARNESSES DETERIORATED IN MY 1995 C220 CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ C220. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED, LUNGED, THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED, AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED TWICE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE. THE MERCEDES MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS DISINTEGRATING. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
THE ELECTRICAL INSULATION OF THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS HAS VIRTUALLY DISINTEGRATED, APPARENTLY FROM THE (NORMAL) HEAT OF THE ENGINE. THE INSULATION LITERALLY FLAKES AWAY IN MY HAND WHEN BEING HANDLED EVEN WITH THE MOST GENTLE TOUCH. THE COST TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS IS $600+ FOR ONLY THE PART; THE COST OF INSTALLATION IS ALSO IN EXCESS OF $500, THUS COSTING OVER $1,000. THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE! THE DETERIORATED INSULATION CAUSES INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL SHORT-CIRCUITS, CAUSED MY CAR TO SUDDENLY LOSE ENGINE POWER WITHOUT WARNING (ON THE EXPRESSWAY), THEN AFTER I PULLED OFF AT THE EXIT, SMOKING (ELECTRICAL FIRE) FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THIS IS A LIFE SAFETY ISSUE AND THE FACT IS THAT THE WIRING INSULATION/COVERS ARE DEFECTIVE AND SOMEONE WILL BE SERIOUSLY INJURED DUE TO THIS UNSAFE CONDITION. *JB
-CAR PERIODICALLY HAS VERY ERRATIC IDLE -LAST TIME CAR WAS ON HIGHWAY, WHEN PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAR ENGINE LOST POWER AND I HAD TO STRUGGLE TO GET CAR BACK HOME -NOW AM AFRAID TO DRIVE CAR. *JB
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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