1999 Mercedes Benz C280: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 45 complaints
45
Total Complaints
76,000mi
Median Mileage
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
Top Issue
3
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

45,000 25th Percentile
76,000 Median Mileage
150,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
5
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
3
SUSPENSION
3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
3
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
2
STRUCTURE:BODY
2
SUSPENSION:FRONT
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2

Severity Assessment

3
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"FUEL SENDING UNIT AND FUEL GAUGE FAILED TWICE WITHIN 1 WEEK PERIOD OF TIME (AFTER DEALER REPLACED IT). CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING DUE TO LACK OF FUEL. ROAD CONDITION AT THE TIME WAS BAD. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AFTERWARD. *AK"
"FUEL SENDING UNIT AND FUEL GAUGE FAILED TWICE WITHIN 1 WEEK PERIOD OF TIME (AFTER DEALER REPLACED IT). CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING DUE TO LACK OF FUEL. ROAD CONDITION AT THE TIME WAS BAD. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AFTERWARD. *AK"
"HEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE A/C FAN WILL STAY WORKING. CONSUMER HAD TO REMOVE THE FAN FUSE TO STOP WORKING. *AK"

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

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