1996 Mercedes-Benz C220 Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 17about this part
- Share
- 55%of 31 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 78,393miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 17 complaints about the electrical system of the 1996 Mercedes-Benz C220, 55% of the 31 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 78,393 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10224837, filed 2008-04, 78,000 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10188473, filed 2007-04, 169,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10049352, filed 2003-12, 74,250 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #11130704, filed 2018-09, 217 miles“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”
NHTSA complaint #10780157, filed 2015-10, 30,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10186141Dec 10, 2020NTG5.5: Incorrect time shown on instrument cluster, COMAND display, and analog clock
- 10167563Jul 8, 2013The 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…
Electrical system: other model years
Other parts of the 1996 Mercedes-Benz C220
5 complaintsEngine cooling
4 complaintsBrakes
3 complaintsAir bags
2 complaintsEngine
2 complaintsBody and structure
2 complaintsSuspension
2 complaintsVehicle speed control
2 complaintsElectronic stability control
1 complaintsEquipment
1 complaintsSeat belts
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1996 Mercedes-Benz C220
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.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology