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Mercedes-Benz C280Years to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 174 NHTSA owner complaints across 9 model years, no Mercedes-Benz C280 year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 1999 and 2006. The C280 has 4 safety recalls on record.

Years to avoidNoneUse caution: 2007Best years'99 '06Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints174Top: Electrical systemSafety recalls41994–2007 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Mercedes-Benz C280 years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the C280 median. Tap a year for its full report.

'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'06'07
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2007Caution40/10056 complaints · 4 recalls2006Solid51/10029 complaints · 4 recalls2000Not rated–/1004 complaints · 0 recalls1999Solid50/10034 complaints · 0 recalls1998Not rated–/10015 complaints · 0 recalls1997Not rated–/1007 complaints · 0 recalls1996Not rated–/1004 complaints · 0 recalls1995Not rated–/10016 complaints · 0 recalls1994Not rated–/1009 complaints · 0 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Mercedes-Benz C280 problems

All model years combined: 174 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system449
Engine344
Fuel/propulsion system192
Engine and engine cooling140
Suspension140
Air bags135
Power train130
Fuel system, gasoline100
Visibility90
13 other systems4411
4 recalls

Mercedes-Benz C280 recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

10%Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly24V-874 · 2006–2007 · Nov 19, 2024 · 33,456 vehicles34%Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly22V-954 · 2006–2007 · Dec 23, 2022 · 131,653 vehicles46%Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly21V-196 · 2006–2007 · Mar 19, 2021 · 11,356 vehicles24%Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly19V-918 · 2006–2007 · Dec 20, 2019 · 747,928 vehicles
1 investigation

NHTSA investigations of the C280

  1. ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FAILUREPE03058 · 1998–1999 · closed Apr 22, 2004
    No recall