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1997 Mercedes Benz 280

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
5Owner complaints

Model-year median: 0

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
18
199447
199513
19965
19973
19983
19996
2000
Compare all 280 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
2Child Seat
1Steering
1Vehicle Speed Control
1Visibility
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 0 of 5 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Child Seat. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

5 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 1999
Child Seat

THE MERCEDES BENZ 280 CAN NOT HAVE A CHILD CAR SEAT TETHER INSTALLED. THE TETHERS ARE REQUIRED TO BE SOLD WITH CAR SEATS AFTER SEPT 99, BUT MERCEDED WILL NOT INSTALL THESE. IN CANADA, THE TETHER ATTACHMENTS ARE FACTORY INSTALLED OR THERE IS A RETROFIT KIT BECAUSE CARS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE DRIVEN WITHOUT THESE ATTACHMENTS. TOY…

Read full complaint

THE MERCEDES BENZ 280 CAN NOT HAVE A CHILD CAR SEAT TETHER INSTALLED. THE TETHERS ARE REQUIRED TO BE SOLD WITH CAR SEATS AFTER SEPT 99, BUT MERCEDED WILL NOT INSTALL THESE. IN CANADA, THE TETHER ATTACHMENTS ARE FACTORY INSTALLED OR THERE IS A RETROFIT KIT BECAUSE CARS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE DRIVEN WITHOUT THESE ATTACHMENTS. TOYOTA, GM, AND OTHERS ALL INSTALL AFTER-MARKET TETHER KITS AT NO CHARGE. MERCEDES WILL NOT. PLEASE HELP. ALL CARS WILL BE REQUIRED TO HAVE THIS ATTACHMENT FACTOR-INSTALLED BY YEAR 2002. IN THE MEANTIME, THE CAR SEATS TELL YOU TO INSTALL THE ATTACHMENT AFTER MARKET.

NHTSA ODI #713698

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 1999
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS CONSTANTLY BANG WHEN IN USE. MERCEDES CAN'T FIX. ON 2 OCCASIONS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FROZE AND SO DID THE FLUID. *AK

NHTSA ODI #713431

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #608166

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Steering

LINKAGE BUSHINGS FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #607263

Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 1997
Power TrainVehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHILE IN REVERSE POSITION, THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF IN REVERSE ABOUT 20 MPH, CAUSING $3200 DAMAGES ON THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #815232

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.