1997 Mercedes Benz C280
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Mercedes Benz › C280 › 1997
These records cover every 1997 Mercedes Benz C280. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Owner complaints
7 complaints
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Electrical system · Exterior lighting
Insulation on the wiring harness for the headlights IS failing to where bare wires show and are contacting other bare wires shorting out the system. after searching online I see this IS a common problem. *tr
- Air bags
TL* the contact owns a 1997 mercedes benz C280. While driving approximately 30 mph, the air bag in the steering wheel deployed unexpectedly. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was unavailable.
- Electrical system
Mercedes 1997 C280 sport wiring harness. *Tr
- Structure › Body
1997 mercedes benz, model C-280: trunk front spring anchor point (drivers side) broke from metal fatigue when the trunk was opened. the weld point did not break. Mercedes benz USA was notified of the metal failure problem and has declined to act or take responsibility, as they stated "this IS due…
1997 mercedes benz, model C-280: trunk front spring anchor point (drivers side) broke from metal fatigue when the trunk was opened. the weld point did not break. Mercedes benz USA was notified of the metal failure problem and has declined to act or take responsibility, as they stated "this IS due to the age of the vehicle". this part IS not one to be replaced by wear and tear. we are advising you of the metal part failure, please respond. thank you. *Tr
- Electrical system › Wiring
1997 c-class C280 sport mercedes-benz wiring harness problem causing random electrical problems. *Jb
- Electrical system
Wire harness and mass air flow sensors are well known to fail in all W202 body style mercedes maf are not a larger problem due to their low repair cost on the other hand all W202 have to have the wire harness replaced in under 10 years which for $2000+ IS unreasonable due to the fact that it IS a clear problem in all such vehicles. *jb
- Visibility › Defroster/defogger/hvac system
Interior windshield fogs once consumer exit the vehicle. *mr the problem occurred after the vehicle was in the park position with the engine off. the visibility through the windshield would get worse if the defogger was turned on and would not defrost when the windshield fogged up. (model-c 280) *scc *jb
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
- 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.
- 10022893Check engine light on / fault codes fc1200 / fc1208 stored in me-sfi control unit. Mercedes-benz model C230, C280, C350, slk280, slk350, clk350, clk550, E350, E550, cls550, S600, and sl550. Equipped with M272 engine or M273 engine. Updated 8/28/08.
- 10020460Play in the rack and pinion steering system. Models 203, 209, 210, 211, 215, 220, 230. Mercedes benz. Updated 5/13/09.
Every Mercedes Benz C280 model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.