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1994 Mercedes Benz C220

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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: 15 of 24 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 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 3 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 reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

24 reports
166,000 miles · Aug 31, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineUnknown Or Other

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.…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10760234

167,000 miles · Nov 23, 2014
Electrical System

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

NHTSA ODI #10660399

150,000 miles · Apr 29, 2013
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed ControlFire

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

NHTSA ODI #10510009

Mileage unknown · Oct 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 NEEDE…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10433745

194,000 miles · May 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

NHTSA ODI #10399870

113,200 miles · Jul 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 …

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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

NHTSA ODI #10235760

160,000 miles · Jul 5, 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 HA…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10233236

140,000 miles · May 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 …

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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

NHTSA ODI #10229382

200,000 miles · Nov 16, 2007
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

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 INJE…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10209154

Mileage unknown · Nov 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

NHTSA ODI #10208568

Official recalls

1

94V091000 · Vehicle Speed Control

May 13, 1994

THE FACTORY INSTALLED CRUISE CONTROL LINKAGE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ADEQUATELY LUBRICATED, WHICH CAN CAUSE BINDING AND THE THROTTLE WILL NOT RETURN TO THE CLOSED POSITION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE THROTTLE STICKING RESULTS IN A LOSS OF SPEED CONTROL AND COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL LINKAGE.

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.