1994 Mercedes-Benz 280 Problems
- Complaints
- 18filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 110,500miles, 8 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1994 Mercedes-Benz 280 (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 18 consumer complaints for the 1994 Mercedes-Benz 280. The part named most often is electrical system, with 10 complaints (56% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control (3) and brakes (2). 8 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 110,500 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 4 a fire, 4 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Electrical system10 56%
- Brakes2 11%
- Engine cooling2 11%
- Air bags1 5.6%
- Body and structure1 5.6%
- Suspension1 5.6%
Example complaints
Electrical system: “1994 c280 mercedes has engine wiring harness defect due to wires shearing and being exposed. From internet research it is clear that this is a design defect and that the insulation is not heat resistant. The car started to smoke due to exposed wires touching and shorted out a.c. The car cannot be driven now until wiring harness is replaced due to risk of fire. This car is a death trap - just glad I caught it when I did.”
NHTSA complaint #10237366, filed 2008-08, 123,000 milesVehicle speed control: “This is an intermittent problem that happens when slowing down for a stop light and applying pressure to the brake pedal, the vehicle will suddenly accelerate forward for a second. Driver has to press harder on the brake pedal for vehicle to stop.”
NHTSA complaint #828934, filed 1998-10Engine cooling: “This vehicle was diagnosed with a leaking head gasket and failed engine wiring harness. The oil leak had begun over three years ago, but was minor and I was lead to believe that it was a minor seal or gasket. Upon contacting other owners of the same type of vehicle, I found out that it was generally known by many owners of c280's that the head gaskets leak oil and the engine wiring harnesses go bad. The term most used was it is not a question of if it will fail but when it will fail . …”
NHTSA complaint #769109, filed 2002-10Mileage when problems were reported
0% of the 8 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 94,000 and 154,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1994 Mercedes-Benz 280 in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1994 Mercedes-Benz 280.
Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz 280
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 6 | 5,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1997 | 5 | — | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1996 | 13 | 90,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1995 | 47 | 125,000 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 18 | 110,500 | 0 | — | — | — | Stable |
All Mercedes-Benz 280 model years
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1994 Mercedes-Benz 280 have?
NHTSA recorded 18 consumer complaints for the 1994 Mercedes-Benz 280 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1994 Mercedes-Benz 280 is reported most often?
Electrical system is named most often, in 10 complaints (56% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control with 3.
Has the 1994 Mercedes-Benz 280 been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 1994 Mercedes-Benz 280 reported?
Among the 8 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 110,500 miles and the middle half falls between 94,000 and 154,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.