1999 Mercedes-Benz C280 Owner Complaints

ON JULY 30, 2015 AROUND 1900 HRS. I WAS LEAVING HOME GOING TO PICK UP MY KIDS FROM AROUND THE CORNER. I CAME TO A STOP LIGHT (RED). BEGIN TO MOVE FORWARD WHEN A LOUD BANG HAPPENED THEN SCRAPING. I GOT OUT THE CAR TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION AND OBSERVED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS SAGGING. I RETRACED MY TRACKS ON FOOT AND LOCATED MY COIL SPRING. ONCE I GOT BACK HOME, I JACKED UP THE CAR AND NOTICED MY UPPER SPRING HOUSING ON MY PASSENGER SIDE WAS BROKEN.

NHTSA ID

10745183

Incident

Jul 30, 2015

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ C280. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE UPPER SPRING PERCHES BECAME FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10654856

Incident

Nov 13, 2014

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ C280. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH OVER A BUMP AND A LOUD POPPING NOISE EMITTED OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FALL TOWARDS THE GROUND AND TILT TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE WITH CAUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY DETECTED EXCESSIVE RUST CORROSION WITHIN THE FRAME. A NEW SPRING PERCH AND BUSHING WILL NEED TO BE WELDED TO THE FRAME; THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE VEHICLE NOT BE DRIVEN DUE TO A SAFETY HAZARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000.

NHTSA ID

10444011

Incident

Dec 9, 2011

Mileage

151,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES C280. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIGHTS CONSTANTLY BURN OUT AND HAD BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST TWENTY TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE LIGHTS WERE BURNING OUT AND CREATING A FIRE HAZARD. THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 155,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10417946

Incident

Jun 21, 2000

AFTER ARRIVING HOME AND DRIVING OVER A SPEED BUMP IN OUR APARTMENT COMPLEX AT A SLOW SPEED, WE HEARD A POPPING NOISE. THEN, AS WE WERE TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE, WE HEARD A GRINDING OR DRAGGING NOISE. WHILE LOOKING UNDER THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE TO SEE IF SOMETHING HAD COME LOOSE, THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR DROPPED SUDDENLY AFTER ANOTHER LOUD POPPING NOISE. AFTER LOOKING UNDER THE CAR SOME MORE I SAW THE SPRING WAS LAYING ON IT'S SIDE BEHIND THE WHEEL. I JACKED THE CAR UP AND REMOVED THE SPRING WHICH WAS JUST LYING THERE LOOSE AND SAW THE UPPER MOUNT/PERCH HAD A LOT OF RUST ON IT AND LOOKED LIKE IT HAD BENT UPWARD AND GAVE WAY, RELEASING THE SPRING. LUCKILY HAPPENED JUST OUTSIDE OUR APARTMENT DOOR, BUT HAD JUST DRIVEN HOME FROM A TOWN 30 MINUTES AWAY ON I-75 AT 70 MPH! GLAD IT DIDN'T GIVE WAY THEN!!! I HAVE FOUND TONS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS ONLINE SEARCHING "MERCEDES SPRING PERCH RUSTED". VERY COMMON PROBLEM, SHOULD BE RECALLED IN MY OPINION, OR AT THE VERY LEAST A MINIMAL CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER TO HAVE NEW MOUNT/PERCH REWELDED ON BOTH SIDES AT THE SAME TIME. ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE RIGHT SIDE GIVES WAY I GUESS! *TR

NHTSA ID

10398676

Incident

May 2, 2011

Mileage

196,000 mi

ON NOVEMBER 24, 2010 OUR 1999 MERCEDES BENZ C280 SEDAN ENGINE STALLED/STOPPED RUNNING WITH NO WARNING. FORTUNATELY FOR US WE WERE NOT ON A FAST MOVING SURFACE STREET, A HIGHWAY OR A FREEWAY. THIS SITUATION, WHEN THE ENGINE STALLS/STOPS MAKES IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE CAR AND STOP IT SINCE THE BRAKES AND POWER STEERING ARE DIFFICULT TO USE EFFECTIVELY WITH THE ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING. AFTER REFUELING THE CAR WE TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 100FT WHEN, WITHOUT ANY DASH BOARD WARNING LIGHTS OR ANY OTHER INDICATIONS, THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. WE ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE SEVERAL TIMES AND IT WOULD NOT START. WE CALLED AAA OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AT APPROXIMATELY 3:15PM, THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED AT 3:55PM AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER ASKED US TO ATTEMPT TO START THE CAR AND TO OUR SURPRISE THE ENGINE STARTED. WE DROVE TO SOUTH BAY MERCEDES BENZ, TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, WITH THE TOW TRUCK FOLLOWING US. WHILE THE WORK ORDER WAS BEING PREPARED, SERVICE BAY PERSONNEL ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES AND WERE UNABLE TO DO SO. AFTER ABOUT 35 MINUTES, ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO START THE ENGINE WAS SUCCESSFUL. OUR CONCERN IS THAT THE ENGINE STALLING/STOPPING IS MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A TOTAL DISASTER FOR US AND OTHER DRIVERS HAD THIS HAPPENED IN A HIGH TRAFFIC SITUATION. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATED BY THE NHTSA TRAFFIC SAFETY ORGANIZATION. THIS INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE MADE TO DETERMINE FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE, REVIEW MERCEDES BENZ SERVICE REPORTS AND OTHER C280 OWNERS. THIS CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED AT SOUTH BAY MERCEDES, TORRANCE, CA, AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN LESS THAN 20,000 MILES. THE ENGINE STALLING/STOPPING WAS CORRECTED BY REPLACING THE FRONT CRANKSHAFT TEMPERATURE SENSOR. THERE ARE NO REDUNDANCIES WHEN THIS PART FAILS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10371212

Incident

Nov 24, 2010

Mileage

19,559 mi

1999 MERCEDES BENZ C280 DRIVERS SIDE SPRING PERCH RUSTED AND BROKE . CAUSING SPRING TO FLY OFF LOWER CONTROL ARM AND SUSPENSION TO DROP . THE FRONT STEERING WOULD NO LONGER OPERATE BECAUSE WHEEL WAS TRAPPED IN WHEEL WELL. THE INCIDENT IMMEDIATELY DISABLED . CAR WAS TOWED TO REPAIR AND NEW SPRING , PERCH,AND PLASTIC BUSHING WERE PURCHASED. THE PERCH WAS WELDED TO THE FRAME ,NEW SPRING INSTALLED ALL AT OWNERS EXPENSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10311066

Incident

Dec 10, 2009

Mileage

148,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ C280. THE REAR TAIL LIGHT BULBS AND PLASTIC HOLDER MELTED SEVEN TIMES. THE DEALER HAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THEY REPLACED THE PLASTIC HOLDER AND BULB UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 151,000.

NHTSA ID

10246491

Incident

Dec 1, 2004

Mileage

45,000 mi

SHORTAGE IN TAIL LAMPS AND MELTING OF BULBS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10237342

Incident

Dec 15, 2003

MERCEDES-BENZ 1999 C280. CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FELL APART WHILE AT A STOP SIGN NOT FAR FROM HOME, WAS ABLE TO DRIVE BACK HOME BEFORE COMPLETE BREAKDOWN. SMELLED BURNING RUBBER, NO FIRE. THE CAR HAS ONLY 25,284 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10196086

Incident

Jul 10, 2007

Mileage

25,282 mi

DRIVER SIDE UPPER SPRING CARRIER FAILED ALLOWING THE SPRING TO BECOME JAMBED IN THE STEERING. DUE TO FAILURE OCCURRING AT LOW SPEED (UNDER 20 MPH) LOSS IF STEERING CONTROL CAUSED ONLY MINOR DAMAGE BY COMING IN CONTACT WITH A CURB. A FAILURE OF THIS TYPE AT HIGHWAY SPEED WOULD BE CATASTROPHIC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10193383

Incident

Jun 12, 2007

Mileage

109,174 mi

THE ELECTRONIC ODOMETER NO LONGER DISPLAYS THE MILEAGE PROPERLY. THIS SEEMS VERY COMMON FOR THE MERCEDES C-CLASS BUILT BETWEEN 1994-2000. *NM

NHTSA ID

10183467

Incident

May 10, 2006

Mileage

86,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10149991

Incident

Feb 10, 2006

Mileage

172,500 mi

MY WIPER MOTOR ON MY VEHICLE WENT OUT BECAUSE IT HAS ONE WIPER AND THE GEAR POWERING IT IS PLASTIC AND STRIPPED OUT. I KNOW TWO OTHER PEOPLE PERSONALLY THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO, AND WHILE SEARCHING FOR THIS PART USED I'VE FOUND THAT THIS PART IS SOLD OUT ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY DUE TO THESE MOTORS GOING OUT ALL THE TIME. *NM

NHTSA ID

10149987

Incident

Jan 20, 2006

Mileage

172,000 mi

HARMONICA BALANCER ON 1999 MERCEDES BENZ C280 V6 2.8L ENGINE. I'VE HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING AND STARTING THE CAR. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT I NEVER RECEIVED ANY PAPERS FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10144527

Incident

Sep 21, 2005

Mileage

40,000 mi

A LEAK IN THE TRANSMISSION THAT WAS ACCUMULATING BELOW THE DRIVER FLOOR. THIS LEAK FILLED THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE WITH FLUID AND IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT I REPLACE THIS. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD LEAKED INTO THE SHIFTER AND THE REVERSE BACKUP SOLENOID IN SHIFTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MERCEDES SERVICE MANAGER MADE IT CLEAR THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I SHOULD GET THE PART REPLACED. THE SAFETY CONCERN WAS THAT IF THE SHIFTER WAS MOVED TO REVERSED WHILE THE CAR WAS MOVING THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD BE PLACED IN REVERSE. I NEVER RECEIVED AN EXPLAINATION OF HOW THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED.

NHTSA ID

10125653

Incident

Apr 22, 2005

Mileage

54,500 mi

A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO SO. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10099153

Incident

Nov 1, 2004

A SQUEAKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM MY WIFE'S MERCEDES BENZ C-280. ON HER WAY TO OUR MECHANIC, HER CAR DIED, CONVENIENTLY IN FRONT OF ANOTHER MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC IDENTIFIED A PROBLEM WITH THE HARMONIC BALANCER WHICH FLEW OFF ITS APPROPRIATE PLACE ON THE ENGINE. THE CAR IS BEING LOOKED AT ON 8/31/04 TO ASSESS THE AMOUNT OF DAMGED CAUSED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10088879

Incident

Aug 30, 2004

Mileage

76,000 mi

EXPLOSION OF MERCEDES-BENZ BATTERY IN VEHICLE.*MR WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SHE HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION FOLLOWED BY SMOKE FROM THE TRUNK OF THE CAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE BATTERY THE YEAR BEFORE. THE CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL NOTICE. THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10076031

Incident

Apr 27, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10067402

Incident

Apr 7, 2004

Mileage

32,000 mi

ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE

NHTSA ID

10063862

Incident

Mar 21, 2004

Mileage

48,370 mi

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DRIVEBELT CRACKED AND CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING FAILURE OF POWER STEERING/ ALTERNATOR, AND THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10024586

Incident

Jun 17, 2003

THE DRIVE BELT PULLEY OF MY 1999 MERCEDES C280 BROKE. THE BATTERY CHARGE LIGHT CAME UP AND I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR BECAUSE MY STEERING BECAME STIFF. MY CAR JUST HAS 49K MILES AND I JUST USE IT AS A COMMUTE VEHICLE. THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 96V058000

NHTSA ID

10016864

Incident

Apr 29, 2003

Mileage

49,000 mi

THE VEHICLES FUEL TANK FILLER FAILED AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO FILL THE TANK WITH GAS. THE GAS CAME BACK OUT THE FILLER CAP ALTHOUGH THE TANK DIDN'T HAVE A HALF A TANK OF GAS. *NLM SOMETIMES THE ENGINE DIDN'T TURN OVER, AND THE VEHICLE WAS POOR ON GAS. *SCC

NHTSA ID

10016095

Incident

Dec 4, 2002

Mileage

48,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AND SWITCH TO DIM THE HEAD LIGHTS CUTS OFF. TS

NHTSA ID

8021617

Incident

Oct 17, 2002