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1996 Mercedes Benz C220

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →
31Owner complaints

Model-year median: 27.5

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
24
199453
199531
19962
1998
Compare all C220 years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
17Engine And Engine Cooling
4Fuel/propulsion System
4Air Bags
2Engine
2
All reported categories
Structure
2Suspension
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1Equipment
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Parking Brake
1Seat Belts
1Service Brakes
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
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: 17 of 31 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 →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
128,000 miles · Oct 25, 2018
Air BagsInjury

TAKATA RECALL; MAYBE. I WAS DRIVING ON FWY-405, HEADING SOUTH, IT WAS AROUND 4:00PM. I WAS GOING THE TRAFFIC SPEED. THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC JAM. MY SPEED WAS BETWEEN 60 AND 65 MPH (THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION). I DIDN'T HIT MY BREAKS, I WAS DRIVING UNDER THE CONDITIONS I JUST STATED; THEN ALL THE SUDDEN MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. FIRST THE…

Read full complaint

TAKATA RECALL; MAYBE. I WAS DRIVING ON FWY-405, HEADING SOUTH, IT WAS AROUND 4:00PM. I WAS GOING THE TRAFFIC SPEED. THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC JAM. MY SPEED WAS BETWEEN 60 AND 65 MPH (THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION). I DIDN'T HIT MY BREAKS, I WAS DRIVING UNDER THE CONDITIONS I JUST STATED; THEN ALL THE SUDDEN MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. FIRST THE DRIVER SIDE; THEN IMMEDIATELY (ALMOST SPONTANEOUSLY) THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED TOO. I TRIED MY BEST TO CONTROL THE CAR. THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP TAKING TWO LANES ON THE HIGHWAY. ENGINE HAD STOPPED. THE AFTERMATH AFTER: COMPLETE STOP, SMOKE AND SMILE OF DEPLOYED AIRBAGS, A NON STOP SOUND OF THE HORN, AND THE CAR WAS NO LONGER IN A DRIVE MODE (IT WAS SHIFTED). I SWITCHED THE CAR KEY AND THE HORN NOISE STOPPED. THEN I CALLED 911.

NHTSA ODI #11142669

Mileage unknown · Dec 18, 2000
Air BagsCrashInjury

DURING VEHICLE FRONT END COLLISION THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS WHICH RESULTED IN INJURY TO THE CONSUMER (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER). *MJS

NHTSA ODI #558518

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.