IllustrationWHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND FLASHED, AND EVENTUALLY BATTERY WENT DEAD. VERY NEXT DAY A RECALL NOTIFICATION WAS RECEIVED. BATTERY WAS REPLACED AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.*AK
1998 Mercedes Benz C280
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all C280 years →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: 3 of 15 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 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 2 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 reports1 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
6 reportsWHILE HUSBAND WAS MOVING OBJECTS IN TRUNK. TOUCHED BATTERY AND EXPLODE AT HIS FACE, INJURING PARTS ON FACE AND BODY.*AK THE CONSUMER SUFFERED EYE DAMAGE, NASAL FRACTURE AND FACIAL LACERATIONS AS THE RESULT OF BATTEY EXPLOSION. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED AT THE CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *YH
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 15 MPH, CONSUMER HEARD AN EXPLOSION, PULLED OVER AND BATTERY HAD SHATTERED. DEALER SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.*AK CONSUMER STATED HAD PROBLEMS STARTING VEHICLE AT TIMES.*JB
WHILE DRIVING AN ELECTRICAL LIGHT WILL COME ON AT THE DASHBOARD, AND THE LIGHT HAS A DESIGN LIKE A BULB, STARTING TO CHECK ELECTRIC ON THE BRAKES. *AK
HORN DID NOT WORK AT ALL. YH
IGNITION KEY MALFUNCTION. YH
Official recalls
0No 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
1PE03058 · Engine Crankshaft Pulley Failure
Opened Dec 17, 2003 · Closed Apr 22, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:belts And Associated Pulleys
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE THAT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER-STEERING ASSIST.ODI HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 546 NON-DUPLICATIVE REPORTS THAT ALLEGE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE ON ALL MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLES USING THE SUBJECT COMPONENT.THE SUBJECT COMPONENT FAILURES ARE PROGRESSIVE IN NATURE AND ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINTS AND WARRANT CLAIMS INVOLVED A FAILURE THAT HAD PROGRESSED FAR ENOUGH TO EFFECT POWER STEERING PERFORMANCE (6 OF 55 ODI COMPLAINTS REFERENCE INCREASED STEERING EFFORT).THERE HAVE BEEN NO CRASHES OR INJURIES RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE SUMMARY REPORT ATTACHED FOR FURTHER DETAIL.