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1998 Mercedes Benz C280

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
15Owner complaints

Model-year median: 15

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1998 Mercedes Benz C280

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 15 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 1 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Electrical System: 6 reports
  • Suspension: 4 reports
  • Fuel System, Gasoline: 2 reports
  • Equipment: 1 reports
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 1 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    16
    1995    4
    1996    7
    1997    15
    1998    34
    1999    4
    2000
    Compare all C280 years →

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

    What owners reported most

    Electrical System
    6    Suspension
    4    Fuel System, Gasoline
    2    Equipment
    1    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    1
    All reported categories
    Tires
    1    Vehicle Speed Control
    1    Visibility
    1    Wheels
    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: 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

    Tires complaints

    1 reports
    Clear category filter
    Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2000
    Tires

    WHILE DRIVING THE VEHILCE, DRIVER NOTICED A SHIMMY OR VIBRATION. THE PROBLEM GREW WORSE WITH FURTHER TRAVEL AND ESCALATED WITH INCREASED SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A DEALERSHIP, THEIR TECHNICIAN IDENTIFED THE PROBLEM WAS THE TIRES, ALL FOUR TIRES WERE WORN DOWN TO THE METAL AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD LESS T…

    Read full complaint

    WHILE DRIVING THE VEHILCE, DRIVER NOTICED A SHIMMY OR VIBRATION. THE PROBLEM GREW WORSE WITH FURTHER TRAVEL AND ESCALATED WITH INCREASED SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A DEALERSHIP, THEIR TECHNICIAN IDENTIFED THE PROBLEM WAS THE TIRES, ALL FOUR TIRES WERE WORN DOWN TO THE METAL AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 26,000 MILES. THE TIRE WERE MANUFACTURED BY CONTINENTAL.

    NHTSA ODI #556888

    Recall campaigns

    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 ↗

    Defect investigations

    1

    PE03058 · 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.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.