1995 Mercedes-Benz C220

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

• 12/24/1998· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  THE CAR LOST THE POWER WHEN WAS DRIVING WHICH HAPPENED THREE TIMES WITHIN THREE MONTHS (9/24/98, 10/24/98, 12/18/98) WHICH IS VERY DANGEOURS ON THE FREEWAY AND ALMOST HIT BY THE CAR BEHIND.

• 12/21/2007· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ENGINE WIRING HARNESS FAILURE. IT APPEARS THAT, DUE TO IT'S DESIGN USING "BIODEGRADABLE" PLASTIC WIRE INSULATION, THE HARNESS IS PRONE TO SHORTING OUT AND FAILING AND EVEN POTENTIALLY STARTING AN ENGINE FIRE. MY MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE, AS A MERCEDES BENZ SPECIALIST, HE HAS SEEN THIS HAPPEN OVER AND OVER. THE INSULATION JUST CRUMBLES AND FLAKES OFF OF THE WIRES, CAUSING SHORTS AND MALFUNCTION. IN MY CASE, THE CAR LOST POWER IN A SITUATION THAT PUT ME DANGER OF BEING REAR-ENDED. THE ONLY REPAIR IS TO REPLACE THE HARNESS AT A COST WELL OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS. *TR

• 12/20/2006· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  1995 MERCEDES BENZ C280. WHOLE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS IS CRACKED AND CORROTED. *NM

• 12/08/2006· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHEN I BOUGHT MY 1995 MERCEDES C220 FROM THE MERCEDES DEALER, THEY KNEW WHAT I FOUND OUT AFTER I BOUGHT THIS CAR THAT 1995 MERCEDES C220'S HAVE A FAULTY ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. I HAVE BEEN AN ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN FOR OVER 30 YEARS NOW AND I KNOW WHAT FAULTY INSULATION LOOKS LIKE, THE INSULATION IS BRITTLE, CRACKING AND FALLING OFF THE CONDUCTORS.. AND WITH MY AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING BACKGROUND THE ENGINE HARNESS WOULD ONLY COST MERCEDES A FEW DOLLARS TO MANUFACTURE. ( UNDER $20.00 USD ) IS IT A SAFETY ISSUE FOR HAVING INTERMITTENT ABS SYSTEM? INTERMITTENT TEMP AND FUEL GAUGES AND SPEEDOMETER? CLEARLY THERE MUST BE A SET STANDARD FOR THE INSULATION USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF AUTOMOBILES, AND CLEARLY THE ORIGINAL INSULATION USED IN PRODUCTION DID NOT,AND WOULD NOT PASS.. *JB

• 12/05/2007· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  I PURCHASED A 1995 MERCEDES C220 FROM A MERCEDES DEALER AND THEY KNEW THE CAR HAD A WIRING HARNESS THAT WAS DEGRADING WITH EXPOSED CONDUCTORS THROUGH OUT THE CAR... BUT THEY DIDN'T TELL ME , AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR AND WAS HAVING TONS OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS I FOUND OUT THE HISTORY OF THIS MODEL ..THE MB DEALER TOLD ME THE WIRING HARNESS COULD BE REPLACED FOR ABOUT $3000.00 ... A MONTH OR SO AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. RANDOMLY THE SPEEDOMETER,ABS,TEMP GAUGE ,FUEL GAUGE, TACHOMETER DO FUNCTION, BUT RARELY AND NOT ALL AT ONCE. *TR

• 12/03/2008· FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WIRING HARNESS ON MY 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ C36 HAS FAILED, CRACK AND DISINTEGRATED WIRE COVERINGS IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR

• 12/03/2006· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  MY MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IN MY 1995 MERCEDES C280 WITH 118K MI. IT CAUSE THE CYLINDER MISFIRED. I NEVER HEARD OR EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM WITH OTHER CARS IN MY LIFE. WHEN I SEARCH THE INFORMATION ON THE WEB, IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 1994 & 1995 MERCEDES C280. I AM VERY SURPRISED THAT IT HAS NEVER BEEN RECALLED. IT WILL CAUSES THE CAR TO STALL DURING TAKE OFF AND ON THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING. *NM

• 12/02/1998· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  WHILE IN A CAR WASH PLACED LEVER IN PARK AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML

• 11/20/2015· AIR BAGS,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMCrash

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ C220. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STRUCK HER HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO PROPERLY SECURE HER. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT OF MINOR INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE FUEL LINE DUE TO A LEAK. THERE WERE ALSO REPAIRS MADE TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT MEET THE CRITERIA TO WARRANT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000.

• 11/20/2006· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  SUDDEN ACCELERATION, LOSS OF CONTROL AFTER STOP AND PROCEEDING ON RESIDENTIAL STREET. COLLISION RESULTED FROM SUDDEN ACCELERATION, LOSS OF CONTROL AND NON-RESPONSIVE BRAKES. *NM

• 11/20/1995· VISIBILITY

  VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING, ALSO HEAT SYSTEM MAKES A NOISE. TT

• 11/16/2007· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  1995 MERCEDES C220 ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEFECT. CAUSING FAILURE OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS OF AUTOMOBILE. AUTOMOBILE STOPPED ABRUPTLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. *TR

• 11/15/2007· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  FAILURE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT WIRING HARNESS WITH THE ROTTING AND CRACKING OF HARNESS HAS CAUSED ENGINE TO MISFIRE CAUSING RAPID POWER LOSS IN INTERSECTIONS. SHORTING OF CONNECTIONS CAUSE ECU RELATED MALFUNCTIONS AND READ ERROR CODES ON VEHICLE. PREMATURE DEGRADATION OF WIRING HARNESS. *TR

• 11/13/1995· STRUCTURE

  PLASTIC RUNNING BOARD CRACKED 3 TIMES. *TT

• 11/08/2013· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)Fire

  DRIVING AND CAR STALLED IN INTERSECTION - SMELT SMOKE - WOULD NOT START, TOWED HOME THEN SURPRISINGLY STARTED NEXT DAY, THIS PROBLEM CONTINUED OVER AND OVER DESPITE REPLACING FUEL PUMP, TUNE-UP - MECHANIC RAN A OBD PROGRAM WHICH SHOWED MANY ERRORS, THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME (AND SHOWED ME) THE WIRING HARNESS AND TOLD ME TO "GET RID OF THE CAR" IT WAS DISINTEGRATING - EXPOSED WIRE AND INSULATION ON WIRES WAS CRACKED AND CRUMBLING AND IN SOME PLACES WIRES WERE COMPLETELY EXPOSED. I COULD NOT AFFORD THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND SO MY CAR SAT FOR A LONG TIME AND NOW I HAD A NEW MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION INSTALLED AND FEEL I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY THIS ADDITIONAL AND VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. *TR

• 10/28/2011· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLFire

  THE POORLY DESIGNED WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO MANUFACTURES DEFECT OF BIODEGRADABLE SHIELDING ... IT IS THE HARNESS FROM THE E.C.M. TO THE ENGINE... IF THE CAR WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED DURING THIS FAILURE IT COULD HAVE CAUSED DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY TO EITHER THE DRIVER/PASSENGER OR OTHERS ON THE ROAD ... I HAVE OWNED OLDER M.B. AND NEVER SEEN THIS KIND OF WIRING IN MY 10+ YEARS OF DRIVING AND REPAIRING THESE KIND OF CARS... THIS ISSUE WAS REPORTED TO MBUSA AND THEY TRIED TO SAY IT IS DUE TO NON MAINTENANCE THROUGH M.B..... THIS PART SHOULD HAVE LASTED LONGER THAN THE LIFE OF THE CAR AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ROUTINE MAINTENANCE...WHAT DID I MISS ? HOW DO YOU DO MAINTENANCE ON A WIRE ? HOW?... THIS ISSUE WAS FOUND TO HAPPEN OFF THE LINE AND THEY PRODUCED THIS CRAP...RECALL/REPAIR THANK YOU PLEASE FIX OR RECALL THIS THERE ARE OTHERS WHO TRUSTED THEIR FAMILY'S TO THIS COMPANY AND SOME ARE STILL UNAWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND ARE IN DANGER... *TR

• 10/24/2007· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  1 - RANDOM ELECTRICAL FAILURES 2 - BAD ENGINE WIRING HARNESS 3- REPLACE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS *TR

• 10/23/2007· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT MY WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON MY 1995 C220 MERCEDES. THE WIRES ARE EXPOSED AND SOME OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS A "COMMON" PROBLEM BY MECHANIC AND THAT IT COULD BE "DANGEROUS." I COMMUTE EVERYDAY ON LA FREEWAYS. I DO NOT WANT TO RISK MY LIFE BECAUSE OF A FAILURE OF MERCEDES BENZ OF AMERICA TO TAKE CARE OF A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW. TO DATE, THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT NOR A FIRE. DO YOU WANT ME TO BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR TO DIE BEFORE THIS COMPLAINT IS EFFECTIVE? ACCORDING TO THE INTERNET I AM ONLY PART OF A GROWING, VOCAL GROUP WHO ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUES WITH THEIR MERCEDES AUTOMOBILES. *JB

• 10/21/2008· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  RE: CASE 45839 I HAVE THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS THAT WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE CAR. IT IS AMAZING THAT THIS CAR RAN AT ALL. I WOULD LIKE TO SEND YOU THE HARNESS SO THAT YOU CAN SEE THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM MERCEDES IS COVERING UP. IT COST ME OVER $2100.00 TO GET THIS PROBLEM REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I CAN SEND YOU THE HARNESS. DAVE YOUNG *TR

• 10/18/2007· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ENGINE HARNESS AND MORE WIRES HAVE DETERIORATED TOTALLY. *TR

• 10/17/2007· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  MY C220'S WIRING HARNESS IS DISINTEGRATING DAILY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, FUEL GAUGE, WATER TEMP., ETC. ALL INTERMITTENT. THE CAR MISSES, AND SOMETIMES LUNGES FROM A SUDDEN HIGH REV. THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORST AS THE INSULATION FLAKES OFF, CAUSING SHORTS. *JB

• 10/14/2007· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ENGINE HARNESSES DETERIORATED IN MY 1995 C220 CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL. *JB

• 10/13/2009· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  MERCEDES-BENZ ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEFECT ENCLOSED, PLEASE FIND A LIST OF REPORTED COMPLAINTS THAT I FOUND ON YOUR VERY OWN NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) WEBSITE CONCERNING THE CHRONIC ENGINE COMPARTMENT WIRING HARNESS FAILURE SUFFERED BY (AT THE LEAST) 1992 THROUGH 1995 MERCEDES BENZ AUTOMOBILES. THIS LIST IS NOT, BY ANY MEANS, MEANT TO BE COMPLETE, AS IT ONLY LISTS THOSE REPORTS THAT I WAS ABLE TO LOCATE. NOTE THAT THE FIRST COMPLAINT ON THE LIST IS MINE. I AM OUTRAGED AT MERCEDES-BENZ' ARROGANT REFUSAL TO OWN UP TO, AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR, THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DESIGN AND ENGINEERING DEFECT. FOR THE LIFE OF ME (LITERALLY), I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY NHTSA HAS NOT INVESTIGATED THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS. I WILL NOT BE SATISFIED WITH LESS THAN MERCEDES' IMMEDIATE RECTIFICATION. I WAS ASKED BY MERCEDES BENZ DEALER OVER $4,000 TO FIX PROBLEM. *TR

• 10/12/2008· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  CAR STARTED ACTING LIKE IT WAS DRIVEN BY REMOTE CONTROL. STARTING STOPPING THE ENGINE REVVED UP TO 7000 RPM I COULD NOT HOLD IT BY THE BRAKE HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND HAVE IT TOWED. WIRING HARNESS HAD SHORTED OUT. I HEAR THIS MAY BE A COMMON PROBLEM. I'M GLAD I WAS DRIVING INSTEAD OF MY 16 YEAR OLD SON. THIS COULD HAVE HAD A MUCH GRIMMER OUTCOME. *TR

• 10/09/2007· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ C220. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED, LUNGED, THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED, AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED TWICE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE. THE MERCEDES MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS DISINTEGRATING. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

• 10/06/2004· AIR BAGSCrash

  SEE LETTER NO LETTER ENCLOSED. *AK

• 10/05/2015· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  I STARTED MY CAR AND BEGAN DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. I WAS GOING ABOUT 55 MPH WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SHUT DOWN; LIKE THE POWER WAS SUDDENLY TURNED OFF. THEN, LIKE A CHILD FLIPPING THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF, THE CAR BEGAN TO JERK FORWARD AND BACK AS THE POWER AND ENGINE WENT ON AND OFF AGAIN. WHEN I CAME TO A STOP THE CAR DIED. I WAS ABLE TO START IT AND GET HOME BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO SHUT DOWN WHILE I DROVE HOME AND DIE WHEN I STOPPED. THE NEXT DAY I GOT IT OVER TO THE SHOP. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS THE WIRING HARNESS. HE SAID THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES. I LOOKED IT UP AND SURE ENOUGH, MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATERIALS. I ASKED THE MECHANIC TO SEE THE WIRING HARNESS HE REMOVED. IT LOOKED JUST LIKE THE ON IN THIS WEBSITE HTTP://WWW.MERCEDESDEFECTS.COM/2008/04/WIRE-HARNESS-DEFECT.HTML?M=1 THERE WAS CRACKED INSULATION AND EXPOSED WIRES THROUGHOUT THE HARNESS.

• 10/03/2008· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION IN MY 1995 MERCEDES BENZ C220 HAS DETERIORATED TO THE POINT OF DUST. THIS RESULTED IN THE CAR STALING AT OVER 35 MPH, AND MY WIFE BEING PUT IN HARMS WAY WHEN THE CAR LOST POWER. SHE COULD NO LONGER CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND HIT A MAILBOX. I WOULD LIKE TO STATE THAT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT THEY HAD "NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS" WHEN THEY DISCOVERED THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS WAS DESTROYED, BUT YET THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF MERCEDES BENZ'S UNFORGIVABLE IGNORANCE TO THIS SUBJECT. I WOULD LIKE MY HARNESS REPLACED AT THE LEAST. *TR

• 10/01/2012· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  VEHICLE STALLED IN INTERSECTION. CONTINUES TO DO SO, THOUGH IT WILL RESTART. CEL ON. MECHANIC CHANGED MAF AND WIRING FOR MAF, ADVISED REST OF UNDERHOOD WIRING INSULATION BAD, EXPOSING BARE WIRES. *TR

• 09/29/2007· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  READ ABOUT MANY WIRE HARNESS FAILURES ON INTERNET, ALTHOUGH NO PROBLEMS YET, OBSERVED CRACKED AND SPLIT WIRING IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR

• 09/25/2015· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  I WAS CHANGING MY OIL AND CHECKING MY LEVEL AND SUDDENLY THERE WAS A SPARK AND THEN FIRE BUT I TOOK IT OUT FAST WITH SAND.IT WAS THE WIRING HARNESS THEY WERE ALL CRACKED AND SOME OF IT ARE DISINTEGRATING.

• 09/25/2011· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  MERCEDES BENZ C280 1995 IT HAS LOW MILES ENGINE LOOKS VERY WELL TAKING CARE OF LOOKS LIKE ITS NEVER BEEN IN DIRT ALL THE HOSES ARE CLEAN NO CRACKS OR WEAR BUT RECENT MY CAR CHECK ENGINE CAME ON SO I TOOK IT TO MY CERTIFIED MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY HE CALLS ME UP SAYING TO GO TO HIS SHOP TO SHOW THAT WHOLE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS IS WORN AN THAT IS RIPS SO EASY HE SAID MERCEDES SHOULD OF PUT MORE LAYERS TO PROTECT THE WIRES HARNESS. I THINK MERCEDES DOESN'T WANT TO DO A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THE PRICE FOR THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS COMES OUT TO ATLEAST $800 TO $1000 PLUS LABOR I THOUGHT MERCEDES WAS THE BEST HOW THEY SAY THE BEST OR NOTHING IN THEIR COMMERCIALS. *TR

• 09/25/2010· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  MY WELL MAINTAINED '95 MERCEDES-BENZ C280 OF WHICH I AM THE SINGLE OWNER SINCE NEW HAS A DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY BAD DISASTER AS THE CAR JUST LOST IT'S POWER TO DRIVE WHILE BEING DRIVEN...BY MY SON, WHO JUST CAME OFF OF I-95. HE MANAGED TO GET TO SAFER GROUND AND HAD TO BE TOWED. MECHANIC(NOT A MBENZ ONE) STATES NEVER SEEING ANYTHING LIKE IT AS THE WIRE COATING IS DISINTEGRATING INTO A POWDER LIKE SUBSTANCE AND BARING ALL METAL...CAUSED IT TO ARC WHEN FIRST LOOKING. THANK GOOD FORTUNE IT DIDN'T CATCH FIRE, EXPLODE OR CAUSE A BAD ACCIDENT. SO IF REPLACED BY MBENZ PART CAUSE IT CANNOT BE REPAIRED....WON'T THE SAME THING HAPPEN WITH IT? *TR

• 09/25/2007· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  THE ELECTRICAL INSULATION OF THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS HAS VIRTUALLY DISINTEGRATED, APPARENTLY FROM THE (NORMAL) HEAT OF THE ENGINE. THE INSULATION LITERALLY FLAKES AWAY IN MY HAND WHEN BEING HANDLED EVEN WITH THE MOST GENTLE TOUCH. THE COST TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS IS $600+ FOR ONLY THE PART; THE COST OF INSTALLATION IS ALSO IN EXCESS OF $500, THUS COSTING OVER $1,000. THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE! THE DETERIORATED INSULATION CAUSES INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL SHORT-CIRCUITS, CAUSED MY CAR TO SUDDENLY LOSE ENGINE POWER WITHOUT WARNING (ON THE EXPRESSWAY), THEN AFTER I PULLED OFF AT THE EXIT, SMOKING (ELECTRICAL FIRE) FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THIS IS A LIFE SAFETY ISSUE AND THE FACT IS THAT THE WIRING INSULATION/COVERS ARE DEFECTIVE AND SOMEONE WILL BE SERIOUSLY INJURED DUE TO THIS UNSAFE CONDITION. *JB

• 09/23/2000· TIRES

  TIRE TREAD IS SEPARATING ON ALL FOUR TIRES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: LMP C PXBU TIRE SIZE: 195/65R15 )

• 09/22/2008· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  MY 1995 MERCEDES BENZ C280 WAS RUNNING ROUGH AND STALLED ON THE ROAD. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO MERCEDES DEALER AND FOUND THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS TO BE DEFECTIVE AND DETERIORATING AND CRUMBLING CRACKED AND EXPOSED WIRES. MY IGNITION PORTION FAILED WHERE THE WIRES CONNECT TO THE SPARK PLUGS AND HIGH ENERGY COILS SHORTING OUT AGAINST THE ENGINE FRAME. VEHICLE TOWED AND TECHNICIANS REPLACED ENGINE HARNESS PARTS PLUS LABOR $1,500. REPAIR BILL. THE HARNESS IS A MANUFACTURED DEALER NEW ITEM ONLY NO REPAIR COULD BE MADE AS THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS IS DEFECTIVE AND CONTROLS CRITICAL FUNCTIONS OF THE ENGINE OPERATION. *TR

• 09/16/1997· AIR BAGSCrash

  CONSUMER FELT A JERK IN THE VEHICLE, INSTANTLY THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SPIN. VEHICLE HIT CONCRETE MEDIUM BARRIER WHILE SPINNING . THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

• 09/12/2003· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  CONSUMER STATES THAT HOOD LATCH DOES NOT LOCK. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE HOOD LATCH FAILED DUE TO A MINOR REAR END ACCIDENT. *SCC *JB

• 09/10/2003· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

  MAIN ENGINE HARNESS CORROSION ON A 1995 C 280 MERCEDES BENZ. THIS TYPE OF DETERIORATION IS NOT FROM ABUSE OF THE CAR. IT IS CAUSED BY POOR QUALITY OF CRAFTSMANSHIP. SHOULDN'S WIRES IN A VEHICLE LAST A LIFETIME? I COULD SEE REPLACING TIRES, BRAKES A TRANSMISSION, BUT AN ENGINE HARNESS. THIS PART IS NOT EVEN READILY AVAILABLE, IT NEEDS TO BE ORDERED IN GERMANY. I AND MY FRIEND BOTH OWN THIS MODEL VEHICLE AND WE ARE BOTH EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. MY MECHANIC INFORMEND ME THAT HE REPAIRED A FEW OTHER CARS OF THE SAME MODEL WITHIN THE LAST 2 MONTHS OR SO. ANY RESPONSE OR INVESTIGATION INFORMATION THAT YOU TURN UP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. *AK

• 09/08/2008· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  DISINTEGRATING WIRING HARNESS ON MB C280 1995. THIS CAUSED MY CAR TO STOP RUNNING AND VARIOUS OTHER ELECTRICAL FAULTS UNTIL REPLACED BY MY MECHANIC - WHO STATED "THIS HAPPENS TO ALL MBS OF THIS VINTAGE - IT WAS BAD WIRING THAT MB BOUGHT. GOOD THING YOU CAUGHT IT BECAUSE IT CAN DO MORE DAMAGE". *TR

• 09/03/2010· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  COMPLETE WIRING HARNESS FAILURE ON 1995 MERCEDES C280, ONLY 60,000 MILES ON CAR. *TR

• 08/28/2008· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  DEFECTIVE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAS CAUSED AUTOMOBILE TO BE INOPERABLE AND UNSAFE. MANUFACTUER IS AWARE AND WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. 1995 MERCEDES C280. *TR

• 08/23/2005· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  MERCEDES BENZ WIRING HARNESS FAILURE C280 1995 DEFECTIVE WIRING INSULATION SHORTING OUT OF WIRES ENGINE FAILURE POSIBLE FIRE NO RESPONCE FROM MERCEDES BENZ THIS IS A COMMEN DEFECT KNOWN BY ALL BENZ TECHNICIANS

• 08/18/2009· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY (NJ TURNPIKE, MY ENGINE BEGAN TO BECOME CHALLENGED TO ACCELERATE. AFTER A COUPLE OF MILES, I WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO ACCELERATE AT ALL. WITH NOWHERE TO PULL OVER I DROVE ACROSS THE BEN FRANKLIN BRIDGE AT 20 MPH. A FEW BLOCKS AFTER EXITING THE BRIDGE THE CAR SIMPLY FAILED. UPON RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE I DETERMINED THAT MANY MANY OTHER OWNERS OF MY SAME MODEL CAR HAD THE SAME EXACT ISSUE - THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION WAS SHOT AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *TR

• 08/17/2006· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A 1995 C280 MERCEDES-BENZ IN AUGUST OF 2002. THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 20,000 MILES AND WAS GARAGE KEPT. THE CAR RAN FINE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS BUT BEGAN EXPERIENCING TROUBLE WITH THE CAR INTERMITTENTLY STALLING OUT WHILE DRIVING, OCCASIONALLY NOT STARTING, AND ULTIMATELY LEAVING ME STRANDED. IN FEBRUARY OF 2006 I TOOK THE CAR TO A NON DEALER REPAIR SHOP WHICH SPECIALIZES IN MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLES. AFTER EXPLAINING THE CAR'S PROBLEMS, THE TECHNICIAN IMMEDIATELY SAID THE WIRING HARNESSES ON THIS MODEL AND YEAR ARE ALL DEFECTIVE. HE OPENED THE HOOD AND SHOWED ME WHERE THE PLASTIC COATING HAD ERODED FROM THE WIRES. HE RUBBED THE OUTSIDE SURFACE OF A COUPLE OF WIRES TO SHOW ME HOW THE PLASTIC INSULATION DISINTEGRATED IN HIS FINGERS. I PAID TO HAVE THE WIRING HARNESS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $2,354.76. NOBODY WAS HURT NOR DID ANYONE DIE. I TOOK CORRECTIVE ACTION BEFORE ME, MY WIFE OR CHILDREN BECAME A STATISTIC. THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM AND SHOULD OWN UP TO IT. *NM

• 08/14/2007· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE CAR FREQUENTLY HAS VERY ERRATIC IDLE TO THE ENGINE. IT DIES WHILE WARMING UP AND DIES WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD REGARDLESS LOCAL OR FREEWAY. TODAY, (AGAIN!!!) WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE ENGINE LOST ITS POWER AND ALMOST GOT KILL OVER OTHER CARS. I WAS TOLD BY MECHANICS THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IN MY 1995 MERCEDES C220 WITH 107K MI DUE TO FAULTY MANUFACTURE WIRE INSULATION WHICH CRACKS AND OPENS UP DURING HOT ENGINE HEAT. IT ALSO CAUSES THE CYLINDER MISFIRED DISABLE THE GAUGES ON THE DASHBOARD (CAUSED FREQUENT BULBS BURNT). I NEVER HEARD OR EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM WITH OTHER VEHICLES THAT I DROVE IN MY LIFE. WHEN I LOOKED INTO THE MATTER ON THE WEB, SURE ENOUGH IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 1994 AND 1995 MERCEDES C220. I AM VERY ANGRY AND SURPRISED THAT IT HAS NEVER BEEN RECALLED BY MERCEDES USA. I AM ALSO SURPRISED THAT FACT THAT NO ONE CAME FORWARD TO FORM A CLASS-ACTION LAW SUIT AGAINST THE COMPANY. THIS IS PURELY A MORAL ISSUE THAT HURTS HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OWN AND DRIVING THE DEFECTIVE CAR ON THE ROAD EVERYDAY. NOW I KNOW THAT REAL REASON BEHIND OFFERING 24/7 FREE ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE TO ITS OWNERS. SIMPLY THEY ARE NOT SURE WHAT THEY PUT ON THEIR PRODUCTION LINE. *TR

• 08/07/2006· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  COMPLETE FAILURE OF ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DUE TO PREMATURE DETERIORATION OF WIRE INSULATION. GARAGED CAR WOULD START AND RUN NORMALLY FOR SHORT (TEN MINUTE) TRIPS BUT WOULD NOT START UP TO RETURN HOME. STRANDED NUMEROUS TIMES. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TRIPS PERIODICALLY. STALLING AND SURGING COMMON. INDEPENDENT SPECIALIST MECHANIC DISCOVERED CRUMBLING AND CRACKED WIRE INSULATION ON WIRING HARNESS. CAR WILL NO LONGER START AT ALL. I HAVE SPENT MUCH TIME AND MONEY TRYING TO FIX WHAT APPEARS NOW TO BE A KNOWN DEFECT. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS CAR AND I AM VERY UPSET THAT SUCH A SERIOUS DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN SATISFACTORILY ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *NM

• 08/06/2008· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  I HAVE A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ C220 AUTOMATIC 4 CYLINDERS. I HAD MY ENGINE CHECK LIGHTS ON AND I WENT TO THE DEALER TO CHECK AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST ME MORE THAN $1700 TO REPLACE IT. THIS IS NOT A MATTER OF REPLACEMENT WHEN IT COMES TO ENGINE WIRE HARNESS WHICH CONTROLS THE ECU AND CAN CAUSE DANGER TO OUR LIVES. IT SHOULD BE THE MANUFACTURERS RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE HIGH GRADE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS WHICH SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 20 YEARS WHEN WE ARE PAYING HIGH PRICES FOR THE LUXURY CARS AND ENDING UP AS A JUNK. I HOPE THAT THE GOVERNMENT AGENCY WOULD DIRECT ALL THESE DEALERS TO RECALL AND FIX THESE FAULTS RIGHT AND NOT GETTING A PENNY FROM US. *TR

• 08/02/2007· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WE JUST BOUGHT A 95 MERCEDES BENZ C280.WE GOT IT IN DALLAS AND DROVE HOME TO AUSTIN. EVERYTHING SEEMED OK WHEN WE LEFT BUT AFTER WE GOT HOME AND STARTED THE CAR UP FOR THE FIRST TIME THE NEXT DAY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, SRS LIGHT CAME ON,AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THEY NEVER TURNED OFF. ALL OF A SUDDEN THREE INDICATOR LIGHTS THE VERY NEXT DAY. SO I OPENED UP THE HOOD TO TAKE A LOOK AND AFTER CAREFUL LOOKING I COULD SEE THAT THE WIRES GOING TO CONNECTIONS ON THE ENGINE WERE CRACKED INSULATIONS EVERYWHERE ON ALL THE WIRES. SO I WENT TO UNPLUG ONE AND ALL OF THE INSULATION ON THE WIRES JUST ALL FELL OFF. NOW THERE ARE FOUR WIRES WITH NO INSULATION FROM THE CONNECTION TO WHERE THE WIRES ARE WRAPPED TIGHT. COMPLETELY BARE. NO INSULATION AT ALL COMPLETELY EXPOSED ELECTRICAL WIRES. I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND THIS SO I UNWRAPPED SOME OF THE WRAP TO SEE IF THE WIRES CONTINUED TO SHOW THIS DEGREGATION ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE HARNESS AND IT DOES. SO I STOP THERE AND SEPARATED THE EXPOSED WIRES SO THEY WOULD NOT TOUCH OTHERS AND CREATE A SHORT. THE WIRE HARNESS IN THESE CARS IS A COMPLETE FAILURE. THIS CONDITION MUST BE CORRECTED BEFORE WE CAN DRIVE THE CAR ANYMORE. WIRES IN A CAR THAT CANNOT SUPPORT THE VERY INSULATION THAT IS ON THEM IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR.THE LAST TIME I SAW THIS PROBLEM WAS THE FIRST TIME I EVER HEARD OF IT.AND IT KILLED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ON A PAN AM FLIGHT. ELECTRICAL WIRES WITH BAD INSULATION SHORTED OUT AND BLEW UP THE CENTER FUEL CELL. IF YOU LOOK UP THIS CRASH THAT KILLED EVERYONE ON BOARD AND LOOK AT THE WIRES ON ANOTHER PLANE YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE THE EXACT DEFECT. INSULATION COMES OFF AND WIRES TOUCH AND THEN THERE'S FIRE. ALL OF THESE PLANES WITH THESE WIRE HARNESSES WERE GROUNDED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED BEFORE RETURNING TO SERVICE. THANK GOD BENZ DIDN'T PUT WINGS ON THESE CARS. *TR

• 07/31/2014· ENGINE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ C220. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.