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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

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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

Suspension complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
158,000 miles · Nov 28, 2014
Suspension

DURING BRAKE INSPECTION RIGHT FRONT LOWER SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM WAS OBSERVED TO BE ON VERGE OF FAILURE DUE TO INTERNAL RUST OUT OF CONTROL ARM AT THE BALL JOINT JUNCTION. WHEEL WOULD HAVE SEPARATED FROM CONTROL ARM WITHIN A FEW MORE MILES AS THE CONTROL ARM WAS ALREADY SPLIT APART WITH ONLY A THREAD OF METAL REMAINING. FAILURE …

Read full complaint

DURING BRAKE INSPECTION RIGHT FRONT LOWER SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM WAS OBSERVED TO BE ON VERGE OF FAILURE DUE TO INTERNAL RUST OUT OF CONTROL ARM AT THE BALL JOINT JUNCTION. WHEEL WOULD HAVE SEPARATED FROM CONTROL ARM WITHIN A FEW MORE MILES AS THE CONTROL ARM WAS ALREADY SPLIT APART WITH ONLY A THREAD OF METAL REMAINING. FAILURE AT ANY SIGNIFICANT SPEED WOULD LIKELY HAVE BEEN LIFE THREATENING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10661234

167,000 miles · Sep 4, 2014
StructureSuspensionCrash

UPPER SPRING PERCH RUSTED AWAY FROM CAR CAUSING MY 16YEAR OLD SON TO CRASH. I BOUGHT THE 1996 C220 FOR HIM FOR SAFETY. COME TO FIND OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND MERCEDES SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10630565

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.