2007 Mercedes-Benz C280 Engine Problems

I am writing about this incident after finding out about the lawsuit filed against Mercedes concerning problems with the balance shaft, the soft metal they used in production, and the COMMON engine codes (P0016 & P0017). I am [XXX] and I was on the highway with my girlfriend going around 75mph and I smelled a burning smell and thought it might’ve been the truck/one of the cars in front of me. All of a sudden my power steering was gone and my car basically lost all power. Only the brakes worked. Thank god the other cars were far enough away from me and I didn’t put anyone else in danger. Due to the loss of control I was forced to pull into the breakdown lane on the LEFT side which was so incredibly dangerous since the highway was so busy. I eventually pulled to the right side of the highway when there was enough space and time to do so and opened my hood and saw that my tensioner blew and the serpentine belt came off. I was so angry because the dealer that sold me the car told me the codes were only emission related and did not affect the mechanics of the car. That’s a whole other issue. I am not so very mechanically inclined but after extensive research I’ve found that this code (which was covered up by Mercedes) was most likely the culprit and has been causing me issues throughout my experience with the vehicle. I am a broke college student. Yes, it was stupid to buy a Mercedes, but I was [XXX] and I’ve learned a lot about cars and the industry since then. At the end of the day, despite my stupidity and ignorance, Mercedes should be held responsible for this issue and everyone who has [had incidents similar to myself or have the codes that I have deserve to be reimbursed for all the repairs, time, and danger they have and will eventually put people in. Don't wait for someone to die on the highway before you consider issuing a recall. DO SOMETHING. I shouldn’t have to fear for my life going out in this car to get to work, school, and most importantly, my family. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF I

NHTSA ID

11589331

Incident

Aug 24, 2023

MY CAR RAN HOT AND EVERYTHING ON THE INSIDE BEGAN TO FLICKER. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF TO LET IT COOL. WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON WITH THE EMFAMOUS P0016 AND P0017 CODES AD I LATER FOUND OUT AND IT HAS NOT RUN THW SAME SINCE. IF DRAGS, SHIFTS INCORRECTLY, AND PULLS WRONG NOW.

NHTSA ID

11415688

Incident

May 1, 2021

Mileage

110,000 mi

HVAC MOLD SMELL , THE CAR SMELLS LIKE ($#!*) WHENEVER I USE AC OR HEAT . TRIED LIKE CHANGING 10'S OF CABIN FILTER ,BUT THAT SMELL MAKES ME SICK ALL THE TIME. CHECKED WITH ALL THE MECHANICS ,THEY ONLY SAY ITS A MANUFACTURER ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11300436

Incident

Nov 16, 2019

Mileage

112,000 mi

P0022 CAMSHAFT BALANCER DEFECT, SUBJECT TO PRIOR CLASS ACTION, I AM HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM! WISH TO BECOME A PART OF THAT PRIOR SETTLED CLASS ACTION OR PURSUE MY OWN ACTION FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS

NHTSA ID

11208976

Incident

May 20, 2019

ENGINE STARTED MISFIRING AND LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING UPHILL IN HAWAII THE AND THE CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE UP THE HILL IT HAD NO POWER. THERE HAS BEEN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING THE CAMSHAFT WHICH MERCEDES LOST HOWEVER WHEN I CALLED MERCEDES TO HELP FIX THE ISSUE THEY SAID TIME HAS EXPIRED AND THIS WAS NO LONGER VALID.

NHTSA ID

10958923

Incident

Mar 1, 2017

Mileage

94,000 mi

IN NOVEMBER OF 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ USA INITIATED A SERVICE CAMPAIGN THAT AFFECTED APPROX. 1,064,723 VEHICLES. THE DEFECTIVE PART WAS THE CAMSHAFT SOLENOID. MBUSA SENT THIS NOTICE TO ALL DEALERSHIPS, BUT FAILED TO NOTIFY THE VEHICLE OWNERS DIRECTLY. THEY APPARENTLY DID NOT DEEM THIS TO BE A SAFETY RECALL AND FELT NO OBLIGATION TO NOTIFY THE CONSUMER. HOWEVER, WHEN THE SOLENOID MALFUNCTIONS DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE PART IT DOES IN FACT AFFECT THE PERFORMANCE AND DRIVING ABILITY OF THE CAR. IF DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, IN WHICH IS THE CASE HERE, IT DOES BECOME A SAFETY CONCERN. IT SEEMS THAT MBUSA KNOWINGLY WITHHELD THIS INFORMATION FROM THEIR CONSUMERS. DURING THE TIME OF THEIR CAMPAIGN MY VEHICLE WAS ALSO UNDER WARRANTY AS WELL. MBUSA HAD AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO NOTIFY THEIR CUSTOMERS OF THIS ISSUE TO HAVE IT CORRECTED. THEY NEVER ACTIVELY PROVIDED NOTICES TO CUSTOMERS DIRECTLY. DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION OF THE AFFECTED SOLENOID, MY VEHICLE HAD TO BE REPAIRED IN APRIL 2015. MY WARRANTY EXPIRED IN MARCH 2014. I HAD MY VEHICLE REPAIRED AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AT A COST OF $232.93. MBUSA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR FAILURE TO NOTIFY THE VEHICLE OWNERS OF THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD IF NOT CORRECTED, AS WELL AS THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REIMBURSE ANY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES THAT WERE INCURRED AS A RESULT OF THIS ISSUE. I HAVE ATTACHED A COPY OF THE BULLETIN THAT MBUSA PROVIDED TO THEIR DEALERSHIPS, BUT AGAIN FAILED TO PROVIDE TO THE 1,064,723 CONSUMERS THAT WERE AFFECTED.

NHTSA ID

10782915

Incident

Apr 8, 2015

Mileage

84,951 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ C280. WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THERE WAS A DRASTIC REDUCTION IN SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE RPMS RACED AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS NOT RESPONDING. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO COAST THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURN OFF, AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE TRANSMISSION SHAFT, SPRINGS, INTERNAL SPEED SENSOR, AND CAM SHAFT NEEDED TO BE RE-ADJUSTED TO THE CORRECT POSITION. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10781640

Incident

Aug 5, 2015

ENGINE MOTOR MOUNTS ARE CONSTRUCTED OF UNTREATED ALUMINUM. IT IS WELL KNOWN THAT SALT WILL REACT EASILY WITH ALUMINUM, EXTENSIVE CORROSION RESULTS. THE DRIVER SIDE MOTOR MOUNT SITS IN A POCKET IN THE FRAME, WHERE BRINE CAN LAY ON IT FOR PROLONGED PERIODS. OF NOTE, MANY HIGHWAY DEPARTMENTS ARE NOW USING A BRINE MIX, INCLUDING MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE, THAT WILL REACT WITH MOISTURE IN THE AIR TO CONTINUE THE CORROSION PROCESS. A RECENT STUDY BY VOLKSWAGEN CONFIRMS THAT THIS ACCELERATES THE CORROSION PROCESS. IN APRIL OR MAY OF THIS YEAR, I HAD TO HAVE THE MOTOR MOUNTS ON MY CAR REPLACED. ONE FAILED COMPLETELY, THE OTHER WAS SEVERELY CRACKED AND NEARLY THE SAME WAY. THE ENTIRE TOP OF THE DRIVER SIDE MOUNT WAS COMPLETELY MISSING, APPARENTLY FROM CORROSION. WHAT WAS LEFT WAS WHITE POWDER. THE PASSENGER SIDE ALSO SHOWED EVIDENCE OF SIGNIFICANT CORROSION. THE MECHANIC WHO WORKED ON MY CAR SAID THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM, AND NOT THE FIRST HE HAD SEEN. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS. A COMPLETE FAILURE OF MOTOR MOUNTS COULD CAUSE A SEVERE ACCIDENT, WITH WIRING AND OR FUEL LINES BEING SHEARED, AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE BREAKAGE WOULD BE LIKELY TO OCCUR UPON ACCELERATION (THINK ABOUT ENTERING AN INTERSECTION) OR WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH MERCEDES CORPORATE OFFICES. I EXPLAINED THAT I WAS NOT LOOKING FOR ANY KIND OF FINANCIAL SETTLEMENT. I AM NOT. I WOULD LIKE THE PROBLEM ADDRESSED. IT HAS BEEN A FEW MONTHS NOW WITH NO RESPONSE. THIS SITUATION IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

NHTSA ID

10749942

Incident

May 4, 2015

Mileage

46,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ C280W. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE COOLING FAN STAYED ON INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

NHTSA ID

10678962

Incident

Jan 19, 2015

Mileage

116,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ C-280.THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE THE RIGHT INTAKE CAM SHAFT MAGNET AND THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM TO BE THE BALANCE SHAFT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10585333

Incident

Apr 24, 2014

Mileage

94,000 mi

THE BALANCE CAMSHAFT CAM BROKE BECAUSE OF SOFT METAL USED CAUSING TIMING OFF IN ENGINE AND KILLING ENGINE LOST CONTROL OF CAR WHEN IT SHUT OFF LUCKILY I COASTED IT TO SIDE OF ROAD MERCEDES KNOWS OF THESE PROBLEMS IS A LAW SUIT AGAINTS THEM BUT NOTHING BEING DONE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10442041

Incident

Jan 1, 2012

Mileage

52,430 mi

MY MERCEDES C280 4MATIC, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT 62,000 MILES, DIAGNOSED WITH A FAULTY "ENGINE BALANCE SHAFT" WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST AROUND $6,000 TO FIX AND IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS. PART SHOULD BE RECALLED ! VERY DANGEROUS, AND WAY TOO COMMON TO NOT BE FAULT OF MERCEDES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10403613

Incident

Jan 8, 2011

Mileage

62,000 mi

2007 C280 MERCEDES-BENZ LEASE WITH STALLING PROBLEMS**CC THE CONSUMER STATED 31 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING IN THE CAR WITH HER DAUGHTER THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STARTED TO INCREASE RAPIDLY. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO INFORMED HER OF THE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD IT WAS BAD GAS. THE CONSUMER STATED ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS ASSESSED THEY INFORMED HER THAT COIL #4 WAS THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10199121

Incident

Nov 29, 2006

I TOOK DELIVERY OF A NEW 2007 MERCEDES BENZ C280 4MATIC VEHICLE THE 1ST WEEK OF JANUARY,2007 & ON JANUARY 14, 2007 I WAS RETURNING HOME ON A US HIGHWAY IN SEMINOLE COUNTY, OKLAHOMA WHEN I APPROACHED A SMALL (8 INCHES TALL) HOUSE CAT OR POSSUM & WAS UNABLE TO AVOID RUNNING OVER THE ANIMAL. RATHER THAN THE ANIMAL MAKING CONTACT WITH THE "SKID (PROTECTIVE) PLATE" & FALLING TO THE PAVEMENT, THE ANIMAL BUSTED THROUGH THE PLATE & ENTERED INTO THE RADIATOR FAN UNIT DOING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE (APPROXIMATELY $3000). UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE "SKID PLATE" WAS A THIN PLASTIC COVERING NOT CAPABLE OF DEFLECTING THE IMPACT OF AN OBJECT, BUT RATHER ALLOWING THE OBJECT TO ENTER THE ENGINE CAVITY. I WOULD REQUEST THAT A STUDY BE DONE TO DETERMINE IF THIS PLATE MEETS THE INDUSTRY STANDARDS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10196359

Incident

Jan 14, 2007

Mileage

100 mi