RoadVitals

1996 Mercedes-Benz C220

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.
31
Latest Oct 25, 2018
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.
5
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 31 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Mercedes-Benz C220, most frequently naming the electrical, engine and fuel system categories. 9 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

  • Electrical1740.5%
  • Engine614.3%
  • Fuel system511.9%
  • Brakes37.1%
  • Driver assistance37.1%
  • Suspension24.8%
  • Body & structure24.8%
  • Airbags24.8%

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 31
Airbags
Filed Oct 25, 2018
1 injury reported

TAKATA RECALL; MAYBE. I WAS DRIVING ON FWY-405, HEADING SOUTH, IT WAS AROUND 4:00PM. I WAS GOING THE TRAFFIC SPEED. THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC JAM. MY SPEED WAS BETWEEN 60 AND 65 MPH (THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION). I DIDN'T HIT MY BREAKS, I WAS DRIVING UNDER THE CONDITIONS I JUST STATED; THEN ALL THE SUDDEN MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. FIRST THE DRIVER SIDE; THEN IMMEDIATELY (ALMOST SPONTANEOUSLY) THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED TOO. I TRIED MY BEST TO CONTROL THE CAR. THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP TAKING TWO LANES ON THE HIGHWAY. ENGINE HAD STOPPED. THE AFTERMATH AFTER: COMPLETE STOP, SMOKE AND SMILE OF DEPLOYED AIRBAGS, A NON STOP SOUND OF THE HORN, AND THE CAR WAS NO LONGER IN A DRIVE MODE (IT WAS SHIFTED). I SWITCHED THE CAR KEY AND THE HORN NOISE STOPPED. THEN I CALLED 911.

NHTSA ID
11142669
Incident
Oct 21, 2018
Mileage
128,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 21, 2018

WIRING THROUGHOUT VEHICLE IS INSULATED WITH A BIO-DEGRADABLE PLASTIC. SHORTING OUT OF IGNITION AND EMISSION LOOMS KILL MANY WHO STALL ON FREEWAYS AND 'INCONVENIENT SPOTS'. THE INSULATION FLAKES OFF LIKE CORN FLAKES AND ELECTRICAL LOSS IN MANY LOOMS DISABLE AND IMPERAL OCCUPANTS.

NHTSA ID
11130704
Incident
Aug 9, 2018
Mileage
217 mi
BrakesFuel system
Filed Jan 30, 2017
Crash reported

CAR HAD UNEXPECTED ACCELLERATON DURING A ROUTINE LEFT HAND TURN IN AN INTERSECTION WITH A STOP LIGHT; PRESSING ON THE BRAKE DID NOT STOP THE FORWARD ACCELLERATION, CRASHED INTO A WALL, OCCURRED DOWNTOWN, EARLY EVENING, NO OTHER VEHICLES OR PEDESTRIANS HIT; DRIVER INJURED. DRIVER NOT UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS OR ALCOHOL. BRAKES SERVICED RECENTLY.

NHTSA ID
10948376
Incident
Jan 20, 2017
Mileage
110,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalFuel system
Filed Oct 6, 2015

WAS DRIVING ALL GAGES WENT CRAZY STARTED TO BACK FIRE AND DIED ON THE HIGHWAY SO I HAD A FRIEND PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY BACK TO THE SHOP THE SHOP SAID THE WIRING HARESS WAS DEGRADED AND IT COST 2,700 DOLLAR TO FIX THE SAD THING IS THIS CAR ONLY HAS 30,000 MILE'S

NHTSA ID
10780157
Incident
Aug 19, 2015
Mileage
30,000 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Feb 11, 2015

MY 1996 MERCEDES C220 HAS A DEFECTIVE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC. HE TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS DUE TO THE TYPE OF INSULATION THAT MERCEDES USED FOR THE WIRING AND THE ENGINE HARNESS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ASAP. MERCEDES USED A BIO-DEGRADABLE WIRE COVER THAT WITH HIGH TEMPS CRACKS AND FALLS OFF. THIS HAS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO RUN ROUGH, STALL AND LOOSE POWER AND IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IN TRAFFIC. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF WITH A RECALL BY MERCEDES. MERCEDES HAS BEEN OF NO HELP EXCEPT FOR ME TO PAY TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10682786
Incident
Jan 5, 2015
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Dec 14, 2014

ENGINE WIRING HARNESS, AND THE TRANSMISSION WIRING HARNESS, AND THE IGNITION COIL HARNESS, DEGRADED TO THE POINT THERE ARE INCHES AND INCHES OF BARE WIRES TOUCHING AND SHORTING WHICH CAUSES THE ENGINE TO QUIT. ALL THREE SEPARATE HARNESS WHICH RESIDE WITH OTHER HARNESS WHICH HAVE NOT DEGRADED. THE ENGINE QUIT ON THE FREEWAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND NEARLY CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS AT 65 MILES PER HOUR. REPAIR SHOP WANT $3500 TO CHANGE OUT THE THREE HARNESS WITH NO ASSURANCE THAT THE PROBLEM WILL NOT COME BACK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10664150
Incident
Nov 21, 2014
Mileage
94,655 mi
Suspension
Filed Nov 28, 2014

DURING BRAKE INSPECTION RIGHT FRONT LOWER SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM WAS OBSERVED TO BE ON VERGE OF FAILURE DUE TO INTERNAL RUST OUT OF CONTROL ARM AT THE BALL JOINT JUNCTION. WHEEL WOULD HAVE SEPARATED FROM CONTROL ARM WITHIN A FEW MORE MILES AS THE CONTROL ARM WAS ALREADY SPLIT APART WITH ONLY A THREAD OF METAL REMAINING. FAILURE AT ANY SIGNIFICANT SPEED WOULD LIKELY HAVE BEEN LIFE THREATENING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10661234
Incident
Nov 28, 2014
Mileage
158,000 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Sep 4, 2014
Crash reported

UPPER SPRING PERCH RUSTED AWAY FROM CAR CAUSING MY 16YEAR OLD SON TO CRASH. I BOUGHT THE 1996 C220 FOR HIM FOR SAFETY. COME TO FIND OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND MERCEDES SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10630565
Incident
Sep 1, 2014
Mileage
167,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

LI54.30-P-072145

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

NTG5.5: Incorrect time shown on instrument cluster, COMAND display, and analog clock

LI42.47-P-067502

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC); SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

If the customer brakes sharply from a speed of > 30mph, without ABS intervention, there is a single cracking noise from the area of the ESP hydraulic unit

LI27.50-P-071658

POWER TRAIN

Harsh engagement when changing gear range from P to D or R

LI33 30-P-056665

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; SUSPENSION

Throttle lift-off clunking noises at drive shafts of front axle

LI91 45-P-066075

SEAT BELTS

Seat belt extender toothed rack sluggish or makes noises

LI91.10-P-054769

SEATS

Driver and front passenger seats make cracking noise when cornering

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mercedes-Benz C220 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2015401—
1998200—
1996Viewing310041.0
1995530041.7
1994241038.5

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.