1996 Mercedes Benz C220
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Mercedes Benz › C220 › 1996
These records cover every 1996 Mercedes Benz C220. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Owner complaints
31 complaints3 involved a crash2 involved a fire2 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Air bags
Takata recall; maybe. I was driving on fwy-405, heading south, it was around 4:00pm. I was going the traffic speed. There was no traffic jam. My speed was between 60 and 65 mph (the vehicle was in motion). I didn't hit my breaks, I was driving under the conditions I just stated; then all the sudden…
Takata recall; maybe. I was driving on fwy-405, heading south, it was around 4:00pm. I was going the traffic speed. There was no traffic jam. My speed was between 60 and 65 mph (the vehicle was in motion). I didn't hit my breaks, I was driving under the conditions I just stated; then all the sudden my airbags deployed. First the driver side; then immediately (almost spontaneously) the passenger airbag deployed too. I tried my best to control the car. The car came to a complete stop taking two lanes on the highway. Engine had stopped. The aftermath after: complete stop, smoke and smile of deployed airbags, a non stop sound of the horn, and the car was no longer in a drive mode (it was shifted). I switched the car key and the horn noise stopped. Then I called 911.
- Electrical system
Wiring throughout vehicle IS insulated with a bio-degradable plastic. Shorting out of ignition and emission looms kill many who stall on freeways and 'inconvenient spots'. The insulation flakes off like corn flakes and electrical loss in many looms disable and imperal occupants.
- Fuel/propulsion system · Service brakes
Car had unexpected accelleraton during a routine left hand turn in an intersection with a stop light; pressing on the brake did not stop the forward accelleration, crashed into a wall, occurred downtown, early evening, no other vehicles or pedestrians hit; driver injured. driver not under the influence of drugs or alcohol. brakes serviced recently.
- Electrical system · Fuel/propulsion system · Vehicle speed control
Was driving all gages went crazy started to back fire and died on the highway so I had a friend pull off the highway back to the shop the shop said the wiring haress was degraded and it cost 2,700 dollar to fix the sad thing IS this car only has 30,000 mile's
- Electrical system · Fuel/propulsion system
My 1996 mercedes C220 has a defective engine wiring harness. the check engine light came on and I took it to my mechanic. He told me that this was due to the type of insulation that mercedes used for the wiring and the engine harness needs to be replaced asap. Mercedes used a bio-degradable wire…
My 1996 mercedes C220 has a defective engine wiring harness. the check engine light came on and I took it to my mechanic. He told me that this was due to the type of insulation that mercedes used for the wiring and the engine harness needs to be replaced asap. Mercedes used a bio-degradable wire cover that with high temps cracks and falls off. this has caused the engine to run rough, stall and loose power and IS not safe to drive in traffic. This should have been taken care of with a recall by mercedes. Mercedes has been of no help except for me to pay to have it repaired. *tr
- Electrical system · Engine · Fuel/propulsion system
Engine wiring harness, and the transmission wiring harness, and the ignition coil harness, degraded to the point there are inches and inches of bare wires touching and shorting which causes the engine to quit. All three separate harness which reside with other harness which have not degraded. The…
Engine wiring harness, and the transmission wiring harness, and the ignition coil harness, degraded to the point there are inches and inches of bare wires touching and shorting which causes the engine to quit. All three separate harness which reside with other harness which have not degraded. The engine quit on the freeway in rush hour traffic and nearly caused several accidents at 65 miles per hour. Repair shop want $3500 to change out the three harness with no assurance that the problem will not come back. *tr
- 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 at any significant speed would likely have been life threatening. *tr
- Structure › Frame and members › Underbody shields · Suspension
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
- Electronic stability control (esc)
Car went dead. *tr
- Electrical system · Engine · Vehicle speed control
While accelerating the mercedes C220 will surge, stall and cut engine power or "cut out". Idle IS unstable. Wiring harness insulation IS crumbling. *tr
- Electrical system
Recently there was an issue with the car. The temperature gage was showing the vehicle as heating up. The temp would reach close to 120 f. After further investigation by our mechanic, the vehicle needed the entire electrical wiring to be replaced. Our mechanic said that if not replaced, the car…
Recently there was an issue with the car. The temperature gage was showing the vehicle as heating up. The temp would reach close to 120 f. After further investigation by our mechanic, the vehicle needed the entire electrical wiring to be replaced. Our mechanic said that if not replaced, the car would eventually catch on fire. The electrical wiring IS faulty not due to wear and tear on the car but should have been recalled by mercedes for faulty wiring. The wiring has completely deteriorated and the wires are completely exposed and if the wires happen to touch each other, that IS what will cause the fire. In order to get these wires replaced, it will cost well over $1500.00 to replace all the wiring. *tt
- Electrical system
Wiring harness damaged causing decreased performance, check engine light, and lower fuel economy. *tr
- Engine and engine cooling
I was driving home, when I heard the seat belt start squeaking, then after a while I smelled smoke and then smoke started coming out of the hood and the engine died suddenly in the middle of the road. I pushed the car to the side of the road and opened the hood to let the smoke out. I was thinking…
I was driving home, when I heard the seat belt start squeaking, then after a while I smelled smoke and then smoke started coming out of the hood and the engine died suddenly in the middle of the road. I pushed the car to the side of the road and opened the hood to let the smoke out. I was thinking I was out of coolant, but the reservoir tank was full. I waited for at least one hour to let the engine cool off, before restarting the car. The car started after the 3RD try, but the squeaking was getting louder as I started driving home. I went drove to the store with my other car to buy a belt dresser or belt spray and sprayed it on the belt. I went to check online to find the closest mercedes benz repair shop and ran across the edmond.com website and found there was a recall on the 1996 mb C220 regarding the drive belt pulley with recall# 96v058000 and t hen called mbusa to inquire about the recalled model, but she told me that my car's vin# was not on the recall list. So what can I do about the problem described on edmond.com when the recall symptoms are the same. I don't understand why the same year and model of my car has not been recalled. updated 08/31/11 *bf
- Engine and engine cooling
TL* the contact owns a 1996 mercedes C220. The contact stated that the engine began to make a squeaking noise and started smoking. The vehicle stalled moments after the smoking began. The contact felt that the failure was caused by the drive belt pulley. The vehicle had not been inspected. The failure and current mileages were 75,000.
- Electrical system
Engine wiring harness wire insulation IS beginning to biodegrade and crumble apart. Car will not be able to pass emissions without a replacement part, which costs no less than $1350 (for a wire bundle and hookups that are doomed to fail again in the same way), plus 4-7 hours of labor costs. Car has…
Engine wiring harness wire insulation IS beginning to biodegrade and crumble apart. Car will not be able to pass emissions without a replacement part, which costs no less than $1350 (for a wire bundle and hookups that are doomed to fail again in the same way), plus 4-7 hours of labor costs. Car has less than 60K miles on it and IS in otherwise great condition. After speaking with the mechanic, he said anyone who owns this make of car will have a mandatory $2000 wire harness replacement fee somewhere along the way (at least once, if not every few years). Even with a replacement, it will only postpone the issue until the new one inevitably begins to break down. Extremely poor automotive design! Mercedes should be held accountable for what appears to be a massive design flaw affecting all cars of several similar models within a half-decade or more time frame. The makers of the faulty part are making bank off of mandatory repairs and part replacements due to their own negligence. That IS absolutely wrong and unethical, and the makers should be held accountable and be forced to recall the part. *tr
- Engine and engine cooling
The car IS very hard to start (doesn't fire immediately), the idle speed races higher and lower without driver input. the car looses power at highway speeds without driver input. *Tr
- Electrical system
I have a 1996 mercedes benz. The car literally shuts off on the road. I have replaced maf and O2 sensors repeatedly to no avail. I'm told by my mechanic that the problem IS a corroded engine wiring harness. *tr
- Electrical system
Car surges, stalls, idles rough, and also revs at about 4000 rpm. Took to repair shop, was told electrical harness was deteriorating causing these problems and also other problems. Mechanic stated this was a common problem for early 90S mercedes. Wiring harness cost $1,198.75. Have not repaired at this time. *tr
- Electrical system › Wiring
My mercedes benz 220C went dead at stop light causing danger to who ever was driving. I took auto to mercedes dealer who informed me that wire harness was deteriorating after only 80,000 miles on car. Also air flow was bad. *tr
- Electrical system › Wiring
Engine keeps shutting off while accelerating. This happened several times while driving sometimes in the left lane and then have to coast to the side. Very scary and unsafe!. ! I took vehicle to the mechanic and he said the engine wire harness needed to be replaced. *Ak
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
The 1996 mercedes C220 had a defective engine wiring harness. The check engine light came on and I serviced the car. The mechanic mentioned that mercedes used a recycled wiring cover that with the high temperature cracked and even melted. I was told by the service technician that he changed a few…
The 1996 mercedes C220 had a defective engine wiring harness. The check engine light came on and I serviced the car. The mechanic mentioned that mercedes used a recycled wiring cover that with the high temperature cracked and even melted. I was told by the service technician that he changed a few, and there was no charge. My car was not included, and I was requested to pay for everything. This was unexplainable. I had to pay twice for the diagnostic ($120) and for the labor ($700.). The engine wiring harness costs $1400.00. I am negotiating with customer service if they could cover the costs because it was an issue of poor workmanship or quality. I have never herd of engine wires cracking and melting on a car!! The service person was very nice and mentioned that this was not the first time and some even resulted in fires. I do believe that this should be recalled in all cars that mercedes benz cars that have been equipped with this type of recycled wire covering. It IS a danger to all that drive this cars and others that it may effect if an accident results. To ignore this issue after it has been brought to the attention of customer service IS to hold them liable in all accidents, deaths and injury that involve these vehicles. *Ak
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
1996 mercedes C220 - wiring has deteriorated to the point of the car no longer running, but they want to charge me $1080 just for the 30 feet of wiring harness to replace it - not to mention labor charges. Driving down the highway and the car just flooded out, started smoking, and quit. Now it will…
1996 mercedes C220 - wiring has deteriorated to the point of the car no longer running, but they want to charge me $1080 just for the 30 feet of wiring harness to replace it - not to mention labor charges. Driving down the highway and the car just flooded out, started smoking, and quit. Now it will start then immediately die. Mechanic showed me the inside of numerous engine wiring channels where exposed copper wires lay next to each other with crumbly dry-rot looking rubber material which used to be insulation. This car has been meticulously taken care of. I have searched and found this problem reported all over the internet with people complaining but mb refuses to repair for a cheaper charge for their own factory defect. The dealer says that many left the assembly line already cracked back in 1996 as they had to replace many under warranty back then. This sounds like a deliberate scam to force customers to pay high repair costs for a known factory defect. *jb
- Electrical system › Wiring · Engine and engine cooling › Engine
The engine light came on and the engine surges up and down. vehicle IS difficult to drive. *nm
- Electrical system › Wiring
Severe degradation of the engine wiring harness which shorted out the air mass meter and throttle actuator. The vehicle stalled in heavy rush hour traffic. This wiring deterioration could have easily resulted in a vehicle fire, as has occurred in other mercedes-benz vehicles with this defect. Mercedes has denied any responsibility. *jb
- Electrical system › Wiring
Wiring harness on a 1996 mercedes C220 with 74,000 miles intermittently failing, and causing car to stall on freeway and surface streets. This IS putting me and my family in danger, as well as other drivers. Mercedes does not recognize this as a problem, there are numerous websites dedicated to…
Wiring harness on a 1996 mercedes C220 with 74,000 miles intermittently failing, and causing car to stall on freeway and surface streets. This IS putting me and my family in danger, as well as other drivers. Mercedes does not recognize this as a problem, there are numerous websites dedicated to this issue, hundreds of cases, and no response. This part which should outlast the car, IS failing on cars with less than 100,000. I am afraid to drive my car! I don't know if it IS going to completely stop in the middle of the freeway... and get me into an accident. *la
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 10186141NTG5.5: Incorrect time shown on instrument cluster, COMAND display, and analog clock
- 10186135If the customer brakes sharply from a speed of > 30mph, without ABS intervention, there is a single cracking noise from the area of the ESP hydraulic unit
- 10181124Harsh engagement when changing gear range from P to D or R
- 10167563The COMAND unit does not start or the COMAND display remains dark. The COMAND unit cannot be operated. Note: The problem disappears after a lengthy idle period (>6h) or after interrupting the power supply (circuit 30).
- 10164810Throttle lift-off clunking noises at drive shafts of front axle
- 10151959Seat belt extender toothed rack sluggish or makes noises
- 10135743Driver and front passenger seats make cracking noise when cornering
- 10135599Clunking noise from front axle suspension strut or rear axle shock absorber on short strokes of the damper
- 10028624Mercedes vehicle: the anti-lock brake system (ABS) return flow pump running without control with corresponding fault code c1401, clean and insulated the connector for the return flow pump relay. Models 202 and 208. Model years unknown.
Every Mercedes Benz C220 model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.