1994 Mercedes-Benz C220

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/07/2000· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  CONSUMER WAS ACCELERATING TO GET ON FREEWAY, CONSUMER STATED THAT GAS PEDAL WAS STUCK, AND CAR WOULD NOT SLOWDOWN. CONSUMER'S FOOT STAYED DOWN ON BRAKES, WHEN CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET OFF HIGHWAY, CONSUMER SLAMMED CAR INTO PARK, AND SHUT CAR OFF, CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS HAPPENS WHEN SPEED IS LOW AND THAT VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN. *AK SLC

• 12/02/2004· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WE ARE EXPERIENCING AN INTERMITTENT, PARASITIC DRAIN OF OUR NEW ( LESS THAN 6 MONTHS OLD) BATTERY WITHIN A 12 HOUR WINDOW. IF WE CATCH IT BEFORE THE 12 HOURS, WE _CAN_ START THE C220. IF WE WAIT LONGER THAN 12 HOURS, THE BATTERY IS UNABLE TO ENGAGE THE STARTER SELENOID. IT IS ALSO UNABLE TO POWER _ANY_ OF THE VEHICLE SYSTEMS - NO LIGHTS, NO DASH INSTRUMENTATION, NO RADIO, NOTHING WORKS. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 ( THREE) TIMES - EACH TIME REQUIRING A JUMP START. MB ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS INVOLVED IN THE FIRST 2 (TWO) EPISODES, AND REPLACED THE BATTERY. THEY STATED THE PROBLEM WAS _NOT_ WITH THE BATTERY OR CHARGING SYSTEM AND SUGGESTED WE HAVE THE VEHICLE TESTED. WE HAD THE TESTING DONE AT MAINLY BENZ SERVICE - 845.452.3645 - WITH NO FAULTS FOUND. THEY SAY NOTHING IS WRONG. WITHIN THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS, THE C220 WORKED JUST FINE - WE HAVE NOT KEPT A LOG ON THE EVENTS, BUT WE HAVE NOTICED THAT THE TIME-FRAME IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY SHORTER - NOW ABOUT 12 HOURS - DOWN FROM 14 DAYS - BEFORE THE BATTERY IS TOTALLY DRAINED. WHILE THIS IS NOT LIFE-THREATENING - IT IS CERTAINLY ANNOYING. I EXPECT MORE FROM THE ENGINEERS AT MB. WE HAVE AN EXPENSIVE - GREAT LOOKING - PAPERWEIGHT.

• 11/23/2014· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ENGINE HARNESS CRUMBLING/FALLING APART CAUSING CAR TO STALL ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. *TR

• 11/23/2006· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  MY 1994 MERCEDES C220 ENGINE WIRE HARNESS HAS DETERIORATED AND THE INSULATION IS DISINTEGRATING. THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM FOR MBZ, AND POSSES A SAFETY CONCERN WHEREBY THE CAR CAN CATCH FIRE. MBZ USA SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE AND PROVIDE SOME MEANS TO HAVE OWNERS REPLACE THE HARNESS UNDER A SHARED COST PROGRAM. *JB

• 11/17/1994· VISIBILITY

  AIR CONDTIONER/HEATER FAILED. *SKD

• 11/16/2007· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  MY 1994 MERCEDES C220 VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STOP RUNNING DURING A 120 MILE TRIP AT 10 PM. DURING COLD WEATHER MY PREGNANT WIFE AND I WERE LUCKY TO HAVE A SIGNAL ON OUR CELL PHONE WE CONTACTED AAA HAD TO WAIT 1 HOUR FINALLY VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE NEXT DAY A MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND HE ATTRIBUTED THE PROBLEM TO AN INJECTORS WIRE HARNESS THAT LOST INSULATING CAPACITY CAUSING WIRES TO TOUCH EACH OTHER CREATING A CIRCUIT SHORT AND FUEL INJECTORS MALFUNCTION. *TR

• 11/14/2006· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAS ALMOST COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED WHICH HAS CAUSED CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH THROTTLE CONTROL. ALMOST CAUSED A HIGHWAY ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF LOSS OF COMMUNICATION FROM THROTTLE SENSOR. *JB

• 11/10/2007· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ENGINE WIRING HARNESS COMPLETELY DETERIORATED. ABS LIGHT IS ON. SPEEDOMETER IS NOT WORKING , CAR REVS AT HIGH RPM, FUEL GAUGE NOT PRECISE, CAR STARTS BY ITSELF, STARTER BURNED BECAUSE IT ENGAGED WHILE DRIVING. *TR

• 10/31/2011· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCEDES BENZ C220. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE GAS PEDAL HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE DEALER DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WIRING HARNESS HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 214,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

• 10/24/2005· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  I HAVE A 1994 MERCEDES BENZ C280 VIN#[XXX] WITH ABOUT 84000 MILES ON IT AND IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE MISFIRING, WARNING LIGHTS COMING ON RANDOMLY AND OTHER ELECTRICAL GREMLINS. I WAS CHECKING UNDER THE HOOD GETTING READY TO CHANGE THE SPARK PLUGS TO TRY TO MAKE IT RUN BETTER, WHEN I NOTICED SOME BARE WIRES COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS TO A CONNECTOR NEAR THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. I REACHED DOWN TO REMOVE THE CONNECTOR AND WHEN I DID THERE WAS A POP, AND A PUFF OF SMOKE FROM THAT AREA. THE HARNESS GOT VERY HOT, SO I IMMEDIATELY DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. UPON CAREFUL INSPECTION I FOUND THAT ALL OF THE INSULATION ON THIS AND MOST ALL OF THE WIRES IN THE HARNESS HAD DISINTEGRATED, THE INSULATION ALMOST COMPLETELY AND THE COPPER WAS ALSO GREEN AND IN POOR CONDITION. UPON CHECKING THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT 1994 AND 1995 C280 MODELS HAVE THIS AS A CHRONIC COMPLAINT. I HAVE WRITTEN MERCEDES BENZ AND RECEIVED NO REPLY. I SPOKE WITH A BENZ MECHANIC I KNOW IN ANOTHER STATE AND HE SAID HE HAD REPLACED DOZENS OF THESE WIRE HARNESSES ON THIS MODEL . HE STATED THAT MERCEDES BENZ HAD EXPERIMENTED WITH A BIODEGRADABLE WIRE INSULATION AT THIS TIME AND THAT THEY FINALLY STOPPED IN LATE 1995 ON THIS MODEL. FURTHER THAT MERCEDES IS AWARE, BUT LEAVES IT UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL DEALERSHIP TO DECIDE IF THEY WILL REPAIR IT AS A GOODWILL REPAIR. HE SAID THEY CHARGE ABOUT $1500 FOR THIS REPAIR. THE CAR SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY INOPERABLE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. MERCEDES LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE NOT EVEN GOING TO REPLY. I NOTICED A COMPLAINT 10129347 WHICH SOUNDS ABOUT IDENTICAL. MERCEDES SHOULD OWN THIS DEFECT BEFORE SOME ONE BURNS UP ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE HARNESS IS STILL IN PLACE IF SOMEONE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT. I WILL TAKE A FEW PICTURES TO DOCUMENT IT. THIS NEED TO BE CORRECTED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY. *NM UPDATED 07/18/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

• 10/19/2006· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  THE WIRE HARNESS IS DETERIORATING, MAKING THE ENGINE SHAKING AND ROUGH IDLING. SOME OF INSTRUMENT LIGHTS ARE NO WORKING DUE TO THE WIRE SHORTED OUT. UNDER THE HOOD INSPECTION BY A QUALIFIED MB MECHANIC REVEALED SOME WIRE CONNECTORS ARE CRACKING WITH NAKE COPPER WIRES EXPOSED. MB IS AWARE OF THE WIRE HARNESS PROBLEM AS THEY ADMIT TO USING AN EXPERIMENTAL PLASTIC TO INSULATE THESE WIRES WHICH BREAKS DOWN WHEN THE WIRES GET HOT. MB SHOULD INITIATE A RECALL ON THESE AFFECTED MODEL YEARS AND REPLACE THE HARNESS FEE OF CHARGE. *NM

• 09/21/2007· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCEDES BENZ C220. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE THROTTLE WAS STICKING WHEN RELEASED AND DOES NOT CLOSE ENTIRELY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. HE WAS UNABLE TO PROPERLY CONTROL HIS SPEED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE THROTTLE WAS NOT BEING PROPERLY LUBRICATED. SPEED WAS NOT A FACTOR. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 94V091000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) WAS REFERENCED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 171,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

• 09/17/2011· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION HAS DETERIORATED TO BARE WIRES AND CRACKS ALL ALONG THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FURTHER DOWN YOU REMOVE THE TAPE HOLDING BUNDLES OF WIRE TOGETHER, THE MORE INSULATION CRUMBLES. ABOUT 1K AGO THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ERATICALLY AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO ACCELARATE, AND MAINTAIN SPEED. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE WITH ABOUT 172K ON IT. AFTER TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE WITH A TUNE-UP AND COILS. THAT SEEMED TO WORK FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES. AFTER FURTHER EXAMINATION AND PURE LUCK A, FRIEND WITH ME, FOUND SOME BARE WIRES RUNNING ALONG THE TOP OF THE FIREWALL UNDER THE PLASTIC HARNESS COVER. ALSO FOUND, WAS A STRETCH OF WIRES THAT HAD THE INSULATION CRUMBLE AND WAS REPAIRED WITH BLACK ELECTRICAL TAPE BY ONE OF THE PREVIOUS OWNERS. THE LEAST EXPENSEIVE REPLACEMENT HARNESS IS $400.00 DOLLARS. THE LABOR HAS GOT TO BE ASTRONOMICAL. I HAVE HEARD OF AND READ MANY ON-LINE INCIDENCES OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THESE MERCEDES. THIS WAS MY FIRST MERCEDES. IT IS A PHENOMINAL VEHICLE THAT I HAVE TRULY ENJOYED. HOWEVER, KNOWING HOW MANY OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME CONDITION, AND THE RATING OF MERCEDES IN PREVIOUS CONUMER " " " MAGAZINE, THE JURY IS OUT AS TO WHETHER OR NOT I WOULD CONSIDER A NEWER ONE. *TT

• 08/31/2015· UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),ENGINE

  DRIVING IN TRAFFIC EACH TIME THE CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER. CUT OFF SHORTLY WHILE DRIVING. HAD 2 USE FOOT ON GAS,BRAKE TO GIVE CAR A WAY TO MOVE ON. FORCE MOVE. PUTTING AWFUL, JERK LIKE ALSO, DOG HIT DASH BOARD CUT RIGHT SIDE OF TONGUE.WHEN PARK AFTER INCIDENTS 3 TIMES. CAR WOULD SET, START ABOUT 15-30 MINS START ALL OVER AGAIN. HAD TO TOW HOME. BATTERY GO DEAD AFTER SET, THEN AT TIMES START WITHOUT CHARGE AT TIMES. AFRAID TO DRIVE TO SHOP AND PAY TOO MUCH FOR MECHANIC. HAD IT IN TRANNY SHOP SEVERAL TIMES. SAID NOTHING FOUND.WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION SINCE OCT 2014. A SENIOR 69YRS. ALREADY BOUGHT CASH AND PAID MONIES FOR TIRES AND ETC.

• 08/23/2011· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGFire

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCEDES BENZ C280. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT DETECTED EXTREMELY SMALL FLAMES AND SPARKS COMING FROM THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

• 08/12/2008· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  I RECENTLY ACQUIRED THIS 1994 C-CLASS 4 CYL FROM MY FATHER WHO DROVE IT VERY LITTLE AROUND TOWN. IT ONLY HAD 108,000 MILES ON WHEN I GOT IT IN FEB., 2008. ON MARCH 24, 2008 I HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN THE SHOP BECAUSE IT WAS RUNNING VERY ROUGH. I PAID $1,400.00 FOR A NEW LOWER ENGINE WIRING HARNESS TO BE INSTALLED. TODAY AUG. 12,2008 I WILL BE PICKING UP MY CAR AT THE SHOP FOR THE UPPER WIRING HARNESS TO BE REPLACED FOR THE COST OF $450.00. THESE REPLACEMENTS ARE BOTH DUE TO THE HARNESSES CRACKING, AND SPLITTING THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE WIRING HARNESSES. THIS ALLOWS FOR THE VEHICLE TO SHORT AND CAUSE FIRES UNDER THE HOOD OR ELSEWHERE. THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE REGARDING THE WIRING HARNESSES ON MERCEDES BENZ. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT MERCEDES BENZ WILL NOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. *TR

• 08/09/2000· SEAT BELTS

  ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO OWNER NOTICED THAT PLASTIC HOUSING AROUND MALE PART OF THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WAS CRACKED. THIS CAUSED BELT NOT TO FASTEN PROPERLY. DEALER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE BUCKLE. OWNER WAS TOLD THAT WHOLE BELT ASSEMBLY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. COST OF THE PART WOULD BE $189.00 PLUS LABOR CHARGES. *AK

• 07/27/2011· FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER,ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  FIRE AND SPARKS CAUSED BY MERCEDES ENGINE WIRE HARNESS! THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS WAS POORLY MADE, AND WAS INSULATED BELOW STANDARD. I JUST FOUND OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES .THEY SHOULD RECALL ALL THEIR VEHICLES FOR SAFETY! MERCEDES VEHICLE NOT SAFE IF THEY DO NOT CORRECT THIS HUGE PROBLEM! *TR

• 07/25/2008· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCEDES BENZ C220. WHILE DECELERATING FROM 55 MPH AND UNDER, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED UNWANTED ACTIVATION OF THE CRUISE CONTROL. THIS INCREASED THE RISK OF A SERIOUS INJURY AND CRASH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 94V091000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 113,200. UPDATED 09/10/08 *BF UPDATED 09/10/08. *JB

• 07/19/2005· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  THE WIRE HARNESS ON THIS CAR IS COMPLETELY STRIPPED OF INSULATION. THE BARE WIRES ARE HANGING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CAR RUNS POORLY AND SOMETIMES FEELS LIKE IT WILL STALL. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON IN THE DASH CONSTANTLY WHICH REQUIRES DIAGNOSIS. I HAVE DECIDES IT IS TOO COSTLY TO GET DIAGNOSIS DONE REGULARLY SO I JUST UNPLUG THE BATTERY TO RESET THE COMPUTER. IN ADDITION TO THE FIRE HAZARD, ACCIDENT HAZARD, NOW I AM COVERING UP OTHER POSSIBLE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS BY DISREGARDING CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ON THE DASH. MERCEDES WILL NOT DO ONE THING TO ASSIST ON THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE READ OF HUNDREDS OF THESE PROBLEMS AND AM SURE MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT AWARE OF THESE PROBLEMS AND MERCEDES WILL NOT NOTIFY ANYONE. SOMEONE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO GET HURT BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE!

• 07/17/2006· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH., THE ENGINE BEGAN REVVING ON ITS OWN AND ACCELERATING VEHICLE'S SPEED ON THE SPEEDOMETER. AS THE CONTACT TURNED INTO A DRIVEWAY, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE FASTER AND THE SPEED INDICATOR NEEDLE MOVED PASSED THE MAXIMUM SPEED INDICATED ON THE DASH. THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND SHOOK AS THE BRAKES FAILED TO HOLD THE PROGRESS OF THE RACING ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF STOPPING THE VEHICLE. ON THE FIRST VISIT, THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER. THE REPLACEMENT PART UNAVAILABLE, THEREFORE THE ORIGINAL PART WAS CLEANED AND PLACED BACK INTO THE VEHICLE. ON THE SECOND VISIT, THE DEALER SERVICE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM HOWEVER THEY WERE ABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.

• 07/05/2008· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  IT ALL STARTED WHEN I WAS WARMING UP THE CAR BEFORE WORK AND I WENT BACK INSIDE MY HOUSE WHEN I RETURNED THE CAR HAD SHUT OFF. LATER AT A STOP LIGHT THE CARS ENGINE SHUT OFF AGAIN. I'M AT FEAR WHEN EVER I STOP THAT THE CAR MAY CUT OFF. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND WHEN RESET IT CAME BACK ON. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE HARNESS IS DETERIORATING INSIDE. THE MECHANICAL TECHNICIAN SHOWED IT TO ME. THE COST TO REPAIR THE ENGINE HARNESS, I WAS QUOTED AND ESTIMATE OF $1700.00 MAYBE I WAS TOLD. *TR

• 06/29/2008· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  MY 1994 C220 HAS HAD ITS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON FOR AWHILE AND THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE CAR EITHER NOT STARTING PROPERLY, STRANGE NOISES WHEN I TURN THE RADIO ON WHEN THE ANTENNA GOES UP, THE HEAT AUTOMATICALLY TURNS ON, THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT, THE CAR HESITATES WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO IN GEAR OR FROM NEUTRAL TO IN GEAR OR PARK OR REVERSE. I WAS TOLD BY A LICENSED MERCEDES SERVICE CENTER THAT THEY CAN NOT REPAIR ANY OTHER ITEMS UNDER MY HOOD UNTIL THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS IS TOTALLY REPLACED SINCE IT HAS WORN INSULATION AND FRAYED AND BARE WIRES. THEIR POLICY IS TO DO NOTHING TO THE CAR UNTIL HARNESS IS REPLACED. TOO DANGEROUS, FIRE HAZARD, ETC. *TR

• 06/23/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  THE INSULATION ON THE ENGINE WIRING OF THIS CAR HAS COMPLETELY DISINTIGRATED IN NORMAL USE. THE LOCAL DEALER AND INDEPENDENT GARAGE HAVE REPLACED THE WIRING ON MANY OTHER CARS OF THIS MODEL. WITH MUCH OF THE BARE WIRING EXPOSED, IT IS BOTH A SEVERE FIRE RISK, AS WELL AS POSING A SEVERE RISK OF ENGINE FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

• 05/31/2008· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  AS I HAVE BEEN READING, THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, YET NO RECALL HAS HAPPENED. THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IS DISINTEGRATING FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN AGE. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE IS STARTING TO EXHIBIT STALLING ISSUES AND ROUGH RUNNING, ALSO FAULT CODES ARE PRODUCED ON THE CAR COMPUTER. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE AND FIRE. *TR

• 05/15/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE WIRING HARNESS 3 TIMES. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND OUT CAUSE OR FIX THE PROBLEM.*AK

• 05/10/2011· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  MY C-220 BEGAN TO BE HARD TO START. IT ALSO HAD A NOISE OF RUNNING HARD. THEN IT STARTED SHUTTING OFF ON ME. I HAD IT CHECK OUT AND THE WIRES OF THE FUEL INJECTOR HARNESS JUST BEGAN TO CRUMBLE. *TR

• 05/09/2002· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  VEHICLE STALLS MOSTLY WHILE USING CRUISE CONTROL AROUND 40 MPH. DEALER HAS REPLACED COMPUTER AND RELAY TO FUEL PUMP/ FUEL PUMP. AND VARIOUS OTHER PARTS. HAS NOT REMEDIED THE PROBLEM.*AK

• 04/30/2012· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGFire

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCEDES BENZ C280. THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING 20 MPH WHEN SMOKE FILLED THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 221,000.

• 04/29/2013· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMFire

  THE WIRING INSULATION PREMATURELY DISINTEGRATED UNDER NORMAL USE CAUSING THE WIRES IT IS DESIGNED TO PROTECT AND INSULATE, TO SHORT CAUSING MANY PROBLEMS. *TR

• 04/19/2008· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ENGINE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE HOOD HAS DETERIORATING INSULATION, CAUSING THE WIRES TO RUB TOGETHER SHORTING OUT WITH ONE ANOTHER. WIRING INSULATION BEGUN CRACKING WHEN CAR WAS ONE YEAR OLD. *TR

• 04/13/2001· POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WHEN GETTING CLOSE TO A STOP VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. CONSUMER HAS TO PLACE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL TO CONTROL VEHICLE.*AK

• 04/11/2007· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WIRING HARNESS DISINTEGRATED, SAID TO BE MADE OF CORNSTARCH IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH GERMAN GOVERNMENT MANDATE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE THERMOSTAT IN HIS VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION AND THE ENGINE WAS NOT GETTING WARM ENOUGH WHICH THEN INCREASED THE VEHICLES ACCELERATION. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WOULD ONLY HAPPEN IN THE WINTER. UPDATED 02/22/11

• 03/26/2006· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  MY C280 STARTED SURGING FROM IDLE AND IT IS REALLY HARD TO CONTROL ESPECIALLY IN TRAFFIC OR JUST MANEUVERING IN A PARKING AREAS. I HAVE NO TOTAL CONTROL OF THE CAR AND IT IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I FOUND OUT THAT THE WIRING INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IS DETERIORATING AND COOPER WIRES ARE EXPOSED CAUSING WRONG ENGINE SIGNAL FROM THE COMPUTER SENSORS. I AM BUT THE WIRING HARNESS IS SO EXPENSIVE, THIS MUST BE RULED AS A SAFETY RECALL, PLEASE HELP!*JB

• 03/25/2005· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  CRUISE CONTROL STARTED WORKING INTERMITTENTLY AT FIRST. CURRENTLY, IT HAS STOPPED WORKING. THERE WAS A PREVIOUS RECALL 94V091000 FOR THE SAME YEAR/MAKE AND MODEL, HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

• 03/22/1996· SUSPENSION

  THE VEHICLE PULLS TO LEFT WHILE DRIVING .PLEASE DESCRIBE. )AK

• 03/07/2007· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  I WAS PULLING INTO A GAS STATION TO FILL UP, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN A FEW WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT OF MY HEATER VENTS. OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW A MELTED WIRING HARNESS, AND FURTHER INSPECTION SHOWED ME THAT THE RUBBER WAS FALLING OFF OF THE WIRES, DISINTEGRATED. *JB

• 03/04/2007· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  MY 1994 C220 MERCEDES QUIT RUNNING IN THE MIDDLE OF TOWN AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS TOLD MY THE REPAIR SHOP THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS YEAR CAR. THIS CAR WAS ALWAYS SERVICED AT A MERCEDES DEALER SHIP. WHY COULD THIS HAVE NOT BEEN POINTED OUT BEFORE I GOT STRANDED? I AM ALSO TOLD THIS IS A VERY EXTREME FIRE HAZARD. *JB

• 03/01/1999· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  ENGINE DIED ABRUPTLY WHILE VEHICLE GOING AT 65 MPH.

• 03/01/1995· STRUCTURE

  BUMPER FELL OFF. *SKD

• 02/27/2006· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  MY CAR BEGAN TO SUFFER ELECTRICAL AND OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS. OVER THE COURSE OF A MONTH, MY CAR WAS AT THE MECHANIC ALMOST EVERY DAY WITH ODD NEW PROBLEMS. MY WORST FEAR HAD COME TRUE, AS MY MECHANIC HAD WARNED ME. MY CAR'S WIRE HARNESS HAD BEGAN TO FALL APART, EVEN SIMPLY TOUCHING IS WOULD CAUSE IT TO DISINTERGRATED WHICH CAUSED MANY PROBLEMS FOR MY CAR. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME FOR THE EARLY 90S TO 95 MODEL YEARS THEY HAVE CHANGED MANY OF THE WIRE HARNESS ON THESE CAR'S. I CONTACTED MERCEDES WANTING TO WORK OUT A DEAL FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE WIRE HARNESSES, AND WAS TOLD NO SUCH PROBLEM EXISTED. CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS VERY RUDE TO ME, AND IT ENDED WITH MERCEDES ACCUSING ME OF CREATING A FALSE CLAIM TO EXTORT THE COMPANY. I WAS HURT BY THE WAY THEY TREATED ME, AND VOWED NEVER TO BUY A NEW MERCEDES AGAIN. I HAVE MY OLD WIRE HARNESS, AND YOU CAN'T EVEN TOUCH SOME SECTIONS OF IT...IT'LL SIMPLY FALL APART. IN THE END I PAID $2000 DOLLARS FOR A NEW HARNESS, INSTALL...FEW DAYS WORTH OF DIAGNOSIS TIME WAS ADDED TO THE BILL ALSO, AND THE POWER SURGES CAUSED MY BULBS AND SOME MINOR PARTS TO BLOW, IN TOTAL AFTER TAXES I WAS IN IT FOR $3000 DOLLARS. MERCEDES THINKS I'M LYING AND THIS PROBLEM NEVER EXISTED...CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS RUDE ENOUGH TO TELL ME, ITS NOT THEIR FAULT IF I GOT RIPPED OFF...EXACTLY RIPPED OFF BUYING A MERCEDES. *JB

• 02/25/2004· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  BRITTLE, DEFECTIVE UNDERHOOD WIRING HARNESS CAUSING STALLING/LOSING POWER AT SPEED, HIGH EMISSIONS AND ENGINE FIRES. *AK

• 02/21/2008· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WIRING HARNESS ON 1994 MERCEDES C280. *TR

• 02/16/2003· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

  MY 94 C-280 HAS A SOGGY BRAKE PEDAL. HAVE REPLACED 3 MASTERCYLINDERS, AND BLED LINES NUMEROUS TIMES. SEEMS THAT AIR IS GETTING INTO SYSTEM, BUT THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS LOSING NO FLUID.

• 02/15/2005· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS FOR THE ENGINE DEFECTIVE ON ALL MODELS RELATED TO 94-95 MERCEDES. *BF THE CONSUMER HAS A 1994 MERCEDES BENZ, HE EXPERIENCED WIRING HARNESS PROBLEMS AND WANTED TO KNOW THE OUTCOME OF OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT HE SAW LISTED. *JB

• 02/14/2000· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  THE VEHICLE IS LEAKING FUEL DUE TO FAULTY O-RINGS. DEALER SAYS O-RINGS AND SENSOR MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

• 01/27/2006· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  1994 C280 WAS BEING DRIVEN ON AN INTERSTATE WHEN THERE WAS A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE CAR REQUIRED TOWING TO THE MB DEALERSHIP. THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAD COMPLETELY DETERIORATED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT TO THE TUNE OF $1500.00. MB IS NOT ONLY BRUSHING ASIDE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS WELL DOCUMENTED DEFECT, THEY ARE MAKING MONEY ON THE REPAIRS, WHAT A SCAM. *AK

• 01/09/2008· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAS BRITTLE INSULATION; HAS HUNDREDS OF CRACKS; INSULATION IS FALLING OFF OF WIRES; IS SHORT CIRCUITING, MOTOR IS RUNNING ROUGH; MISSING SOME; SOUNDS LIKE ITS NOT RUNNING ON ALL CYLINDERS. WIRING HARNESS IS HEATING WHERE IT IS SHORT CIRCUITING. I HAVE SEEN SOME SMOKING; WAS ON FIRE ONCE SO FAR. *TR