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1996 Mercedes Benz C Class

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →
6Owner complaints

Model-year median: 8.5

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
15
199449
19956
19963
19976
19987
1999
Compare all C Class years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
5Engine And Engine Cooling
2Equipment
1Fuel System, Gasoline
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: 4 of 6 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Equipment. 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.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

2 reports
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119,293 miles · Jan 11, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCEDES BENZ C280. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CHECK ENGINE AND BATTERY LIGHTS BEGAN ILLUMINATING MOMENTS BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CO…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCEDES BENZ C280. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CHECK ENGINE AND BATTERY LIGHTS BEGAN ILLUMINATING MOMENTS BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V058000, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 119,293.

NHTSA ODI #10376256

Mileage unknown · Dec 13, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ON HIGHWAY, ENGINE WILL STALL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, ON DIFFERENT OCCASSIONS HAD HAPPENED IN MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY, AND CONSUMER HAD TO PULL VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID ACCIDENTS. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT HAD CAUSED STALLING.*AK CONSUMER STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS COMES ON FREQUENTLY.*SLC AL…

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WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ON HIGHWAY, ENGINE WILL STALL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, ON DIFFERENT OCCASSIONS HAD HAPPENED IN MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY, AND CONSUMER HAD TO PULL VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID ACCIDENTS. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT HAD CAUSED STALLING.*AK CONSUMER STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS COMES ON FREQUENTLY.*SLC ALSO THE SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED. *YD

NHTSA ODI #8000709

Official recalls

1

96V058000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Apr 4, 1996

THE DRIVE BELT PULLEY ON THE ENGINE CAN DEVELOP FATIGUE CRACKS IN THE METAL AND BREAK. IF THE DRIVE PULLEY BREAKS, THE CAR WOULD NOT HAVE ENGINE COOLING, BATTERY CHARGING, AND/OR POWER STEERING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: LOSS OF THESE SYSTEMS CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO OVER HEAT, LOSE POWER FROM THE BATTERY, AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT DAMPER-PULLEY ON THESE VEHICLES.

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.