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2006 Mercedes Benz C280

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 29 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.

  • Engine. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

Engine complaints

13 reports
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85,000 miles · Aug 12, 2013
EnginePower Train

ENGINE BEGAN KNOCKING WHILE DRIVING. BALANCE SHAFT MALFUNCTION. CAUSED VEHICLE TO BECOME NON-DRIVABLE. LOCAL DEALER QUOTED 6K TO FIX. CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ WHICH INDICATED IT WOULD OFFER NO ASSISTANCE IN REPAIR OF THIS PROBLEM. INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE YEAR AND C-CLASS VEHICLES. OTHER RESEARCH INDI…

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ENGINE BEGAN KNOCKING WHILE DRIVING. BALANCE SHAFT MALFUNCTION. CAUSED VEHICLE TO BECOME NON-DRIVABLE. LOCAL DEALER QUOTED 6K TO FIX. CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ WHICH INDICATED IT WOULD OFFER NO ASSISTANCE IN REPAIR OF THIS PROBLEM. INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE YEAR AND C-CLASS VEHICLES. OTHER RESEARCH INDICATES A DEFECT IN THE BALANCE SHAFT USED BY MERCEDES BENZ IN THIS MODEL AND OTHER MODELS. MERCEDES BENZ ISSUED A SERVICE NOTIFICATION ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN 2008. PROBLEM OCCURRED ON THIS VEHICLE WHILE RELATIVELY CLOSE TO HOME PRIOR TO BEING DRIVEN OUT OF TOWN. HAD THE PROBLEM OCCURRED ON THE ROAD, THE DRIVER AND VEHICLE WOULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED. A NON DEALER MERCEDES MECHANIC STATED THERE WAS AN 8-10% FAILURE RATE ON THE BALANCE SHAFTS IN QUESTION. MERCEDES BENZ NEEDS TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THE OWNERS TO RESOLVE THE ONES THAT DO FAIL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10534943

94,000 miles · Jul 26, 2013
EnginePower Train

THE CAR HAS A BALANCE SHAFT ISSUE LIKE MANY W272 ENGINES...WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO GET MERCEDES INTO ANOTHER CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT...THIS ISSUE WILL COST ME ABOUT 5000 DOLLARS TO FIX...OTHERWISE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10532092

53,000 miles · Apr 21, 2012
EngineCrash

AN ENGINE AIR FILTER HOUSING TO MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR SEAL TEAR CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SURGE AND THE CAR TO BUCK FORWARD INSTEAD OF BRAKING WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. FAILURE TO BREAK RESULTED IN THIS VEHICLE REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE. LUCKILY THE VEHICLE SPEED WAS LOW SO NO ONE WAS INJURED OR KILLED. THE SENSORY SYSTEM FAI…

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AN ENGINE AIR FILTER HOUSING TO MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR SEAL TEAR CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SURGE AND THE CAR TO BUCK FORWARD INSTEAD OF BRAKING WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. FAILURE TO BREAK RESULTED IN THIS VEHICLE REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE. LUCKILY THE VEHICLE SPEED WAS LOW SO NO ONE WAS INJURED OR KILLED. THE SENSORY SYSTEM FAILED TO DETECT THIS ISSUE UNTIL THE TEAR WORSENED AND THE PROBLEMS IT CAUSED WERE BAD ENOUGH AND CONTINUOUS ENOUGH TO TRIGGER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (TOOK APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH). MERCEDES COULD NOT DIAGNOSE OR FIND THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. DURING THAT 1 MONTH PERIOD THE FAILURE OF THE BREAKS TO ENGAGE/ENGINE SURGING/CAR BUCKING ISSUE OCCURRED 2 MORE TIMES. LUCKILY NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES RESULTED FROM THESE EVENTS. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MERCEDES US AND MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10455977

Official recalls

4

24V874000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

Nov 19, 2024

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and can detach.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A detached sunroof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 22V-954. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024120001/2/3.

22V954000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

Dec 23, 2022

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and may detach.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A detached sunroof panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall expands NHTSA recall number 19V-918. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2023010004, 2023010005, and 2023010006.

21V196000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

Mar 19, 2021

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2007 C350, C230, C280, CLK350, E320CDI, E350 Wagon, E350, 2006 C55 AMG, CLK500, CLS500, CLS55 AMG, E500 Wagon, E500, E55 AMG, 2007 CLK550, CLS550, CLS63 AMG, E550, E63 AMG, and E63 Wagon AMG vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly causing the glass panel to detach from the vehicle.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 7, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of recall number 19V-918. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021040012.

19V918000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

Dec 20, 2019

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly resulting in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V918-4126.pdf

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020040011.

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.