1996 Mercedes-Benz C220 Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 13%of 31 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 75,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the engine cooling of the 1996 Mercedes-Benz C220, 13% of the 31 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 75,000 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10423509, filed 2011-08“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10418489, filed 2011-08, 75,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10246033, filed 2008-10Engine cooling: other model years
Other parts of the 1996 Mercedes-Benz C220
17 complaintsFuel system
5 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 30, 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