1998 Mercedes Benz C280: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 21 complaints
21
Total Complaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
Top Issue
2
Crash Reports

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2
SUSPENSION
2
TIRES
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
1
WHEELS
1

Severity Assessment

2
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"WHILE WAITING AT A RED LIGHT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AFTER THE CONSUMER STARTED TO MAKE THE LEFT TURN AND SPINNED 360 DEGREE ANGLE INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY BRAKES BEFORE HITTING THE OTHER VEHICLE, BUT THEY DID NOT RESPOND. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTAC..."
"WHILE WAITING AT A RED LIGHT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AFTER THE CONSUMER STARTED TO MAKE THE LEFT TURN AND SPINNED 360 DEGREE ANGLE INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY BRAKES BEFORE HITTING THE OTHER VEHICLE, BUT THEY DID NOT RESPOND. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTAC..."
"WHILE DRIVING AN ELECTRICAL LIGHT WILL COME ON AT THE DASHBOARD, AND THE LIGHT HAS A DESIGN LIKE A BULB, STARTING TO CHECK ELECTRIC ON THE BRAKES. *AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

CA: 6 NJ: 3 FL: 3 NY: 3 OH: 3 MD: 2 VA: 1

Who Files Complaints?

42.9%
Original Owners
57.1%
Second+ Owners

Mercedes Benz C280 — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

YearComplaintsCrashes
1995253
1999453
2006404
2007681

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28