1994 Mercedes-Benz C220 Problems
- Complaints
- 24filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 154,000miles, 15 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 22 mpgcombined, 2.2L 4-cyl RWD · 19 city / 26 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1994 Mercedes-Benz C220 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 24 consumer complaints for the 1994 Mercedes-Benz C220. The part named most often is electrical system, with 17 complaints (71% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control (6) and fuel system (4). 15 of the complaints include a mileage, and 7% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 154,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 8 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Vehicle speed control complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign filed under the same part.
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 system17 71%
- Fuel system4 17%
- Engine1 4.2%
- Engine cooling1 4.2%
- Other or unknown1 4.2%
- Seat belts1 4.2%
Example complaints
Electrical system: “As I have been reading, this is a known issue, yet no recall has happened. The engine wiring harness is disintegrating for no other reason than age. As a result, the engine is starting to exhibit stalling issues and rough running, also fault codes are produced on the car computer. I have been told the wiring harness needs to be replaced to prevent further damage and fire.”
NHTSA complaint #10229382, filed 2008-05, 140,000 milesVehicle speed control: “The wiring insulation prematurely disintegrated under normal use causing the wires it is designed to protect and insulate, to short causing many problems.”
NHTSA complaint #10510009, filed 2013-04, 150,000 milesFuel system: “My 1994 mercedes C220 vehicle lost power and stop running during a 120 mile trip at 10 pm. During cold weather my pregnant wife and I were lucky to have a signal on our cell phone we contacted aaa had to wait 1 hour finally vehicle was towed. The next day a mechanic inspected the vehicle and he attributed the problem to an injectors wire harness that lost insulating capacity causing wires to touch each other creating a circuit short and fuel injectors malfunction.”
NHTSA complaint #10209154, filed 2007-11, 200,000 milesElectronic stability control: “Driving in traffic each time the car started to lose power. Cut off shortly while driving. Had 2 use foot on gas,brake to give car a way to move on. Force move. Putting awful, jerk like also, dog hit dash board cut right side of tongue.when park after incidents 3 times. Car would set, start about 15-30 mins start all over again. Had to tow home. Battery go dead after set, then at times start without charge at times. Afraid to drive to shop and pay too much for mechanic. Had it in tranny shop several times. Said nothing found.without transportation since oct 2014. A senior 69yrs. …”
NHTSA complaint #10760234, filed 2015-08, 166,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
7% of the 15 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 148,000 and 167,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1994 Mercedes-Benz C220. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C220 · sedan | not rated | 4 / 4 | — | — | — |
Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1994 Mercedes-Benz C220 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C220 RWD | 2.2L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 19 | 26 | 22 | $3,750 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 94V091000May 13, 1994Vehicle speed controlCovers: Mercedes-Benz C220 1994
The factory installed cruise control linkage may not have been adequately lubricated, which can cause binding and the throttle will not return to the closed position when the accelerator pedal is released.
Recall details for the 1994 Mercedes-Benz C220 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 8 on record; the latest 8 are shown.
- 10186141Dec 10, 2020Electrical system. NTG5.5: Incorrect time shown on instrument cluster, COMAND display, and analog clock
- 10186135Dec 9, 2020Brakes, Electronic stability control. If 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
- 10164810Aug 5, 2019Suspension, Equipment. Throttle lift-off clunking noises at drive shafts of front axle
- 10151959Jul 23, 2018Seat belts. Seat belt extender toothed rack sluggish or makes noises
- 10135743Jan 10, 2017Seats. Driver and front passenger seats make cracking noise when cornering
- 10135599Mar 24, 2015Suspension. Clunking noise from front axle suspension strut or rear axle shock absorber on short strokes of the damper
- 10167563Jul 8, 2013Electrical system. The 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…
- 10028624Jan 13, 2009Brakes. Mercedes 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…
Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz C220
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 9 | — | 0 | 4 | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1996 | 31 | 110,000 | 0 | — | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 53 | 143,176 | 0 | — | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 24 | 154,000 | 1 | — | 22 | — | Stable |
All Mercedes-Benz C220 model years
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1994 Mercedes-Benz C220 have?
NHTSA recorded 24 consumer complaints for the 1994 Mercedes-Benz C220 as of Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1994 Mercedes-Benz C220 is reported most often?
Electrical system is named most often, in 17 complaints (71% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control with 6.
Has the 1994 Mercedes-Benz C220 been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1994 Mercedes-Benz C220 get?
The EPA rates the 1994 Mercedes-Benz C220 (C220, 2.2L 4-cyl) at 22 mpg combined, 19 city and 26 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,750 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1994 Mercedes-Benz C220 reported?
Among the 15 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 154,000 miles and the middle half falls between 148,000 and 167,000 miles; 7% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
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.