Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 7 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Mercedes-Benz C280, most frequently naming the electrical, airbags and body & structure categories. 10 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.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2003 | 1 | 1 |
| Aug 2006 | 1 | 2 |
| Sep 2007 | 1 | 3 |
| Jan 2009 | 1 | 4 |
| Aug 2009 | 1 | 5 |
| Sep 2014 | 1 | 6 |
| Feb 2015 | 1 | 7 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
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.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
INSULATION ON THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE HEADLIGHTS IS FAILING TO WHERE BARE WIRES SHOW AND ARE CONTACTING OTHER BARE WIRES SHORTING OUT THE SYSTEM. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE I SEE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCEDES BENZ C280. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE AIR BAG IN THE STEERING WHEEL DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
MERCEDES 1997 C280 SPORT WIRING HARNESS. *TR
1997 MERCEDES BENZ, MODEL C-280: TRUNK FRONT SPRING ANCHOR POINT (DRIVERS SIDE) BROKE FROM METAL FATIGUE WHEN THE TRUNK WAS OPENED. THE WELD POINT DID NOT BREAK. MERCEDES BENZ USA WAS NOTIFIED OF THE METAL FAILURE PROBLEM AND HAS DECLINED TO ACT OR TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, AS THEY STATED "THIS IS DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE". THIS PART IS NOT ONE TO BE REPLACED BY WEAR AND TEAR. WE ARE ADVISING YOU OF THE METAL PART FAILURE, PLEASE RESPOND. THANK YOU. *TR
1997 C-CLASS C280 SPORT MERCEDES-BENZ WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM CAUSING RANDOM ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *JB
WIRE HARNESS AND MASS AIR FLOW SENSORS ARE WELL KNOWN TO FAIL IN ALL W202 BODY STYLE MERCEDES MAF ARE NOT A LARGER PROBLEM DUE TO THEIR LOW REPAIR COST ON THE OTHER HAND ALL W202 HAVE TO HAVE THE WIRE HARNESS REPLACED IN UNDER 10 YEARS WHICH FOR $2000+ IS UNREASONABLE DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT IS A CLEAR PROBLEM IN ALL SUCH VEHICLES. *JB
INTERIOR WINDSHIELD FOGS ONCE CONSUMER EXIT THE VEHICLE. *MR THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION WITH THE ENGINE OFF. THE VISIBILITY THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD WOULD GET WORSE IF THE DEFOGGER WAS TURNED ON AND WOULD NOT DEFROST WHEN THE WINDSHIELD FOGGED UP. (MODEL-C 280) *SCC *JB
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
NTG5.5: Incorrect time shown on instrument cluster, COMAND display, and analog clock
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
POWER TRAIN
Harsh engagement when changing gear range from P to D or R
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; SUSPENSION
Throttle lift-off clunking noises at drive shafts of front axle
SEAT BELTS
Seat belt extender toothed rack sluggish or makes noises
SUSPENSION:FRONT; SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT; SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER
Clunking noise from front axle suspension strut or rear axle shock absorber on short strokes of the damper
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.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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.