1994 Mercedes-Benz C280 Problems
- Complaints
- 9filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 167,500miles, 8 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 20 mpgcombined, 2.8L 6-cyl RWD · 18 city / 24 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1994 Mercedes-Benz C280 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 9 consumer complaints for the 1994 Mercedes-Benz C280. The part named most often is electrical system, with 8 complaints (89% of the total), followed by engine (4) and transmission and drivetrain (1). 8 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 167,500 miles. Of all complaints, 4 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 6 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins 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 system8 89%
- Engine4 44%
Example complaints
Electrical system: “The car began to slow down uncontrollably. The car shook and died. I was on I-75 in atlanta, ga. The shop said that it was due to a faulty engine wiring harness, something that mercedes is aware of. I was almost killed.”
NHTSA complaint #10668920, filed 2014-12, 173,000 milesEngine: “I just bought this w202 94' C280 with 150k in the spring time which surprisingly ran fine with no issues, considering some of the loom on the electrical wires going to the connectors and sensors is entirely disintegrated and insulation is breaking apart leaving bare copper wires near each other or near metal brackets. …”
NHTSA complaint #11282279, filed 2019-11, 170,000 milesTransmission and drivetrain: “Car started stalling and transmission refused to upshift. When car slowed it would not accelerate again. Turns out the engine wiring harness failed due to a biodegradable type of insulation used and is shorting out in multiple places. Car started to smoke at one point. This caused dangerous engine malfunction--and a fire-could have been started inside my engine compartment.”
NHTSA complaint #10487452, filed 2012-12, 96,957 milesVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “Engine began to make a buzzsaw grinding sound that was not initially noticed while driving along on an 85 mile interstate highway trip. While traveling at 60 MPH on a 6 lane highway, all the dashboard lighting began to dim and malfunction, the electrical system then completely failed and shut down causing the engine to stall out, steering and brake function became significantly degraded due to engine failure (including complete stoppage of the windshield wipers during a heavy rain downpour) safely exited roadway by maneuvering around traffic and coasting to road side shoulder at which point…”
NHTSA complaint #10701852, filed 2015-03, 62,928 milesMileage 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 113,000 and 173,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1994 Mercedes-Benz C280 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C280 RWD | 2.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 18 | 24 | 20 | $4,100 |
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
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1994 Mercedes-Benz C280 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
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. 6 on record; the latest 6 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
- 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…
Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz C280
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 56 | 61,500 | 4 | — | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2006 | 29 | 94,000 | 4 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1999 | 34 | 76,000 | 0 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 15 | 182,873 | 0 | — | 21 | — | Stable |
| 1997 | 7 | 85,225 | 0 | — | 20 | — | Not enough data |
| 1995 | 16 | 142,000 | 0 | — | 20 | — | Falling |
| 1994 | 9 | 167,500 | 0 | — | 20 | — | Not enough data |
All Mercedes-Benz C280 model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1994 Mercedes-Benz C280 have?
NHTSA recorded 9 consumer complaints for the 1994 Mercedes-Benz C280 as of Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1994 Mercedes-Benz C280 is reported most often?
Electrical system is named most often, in 8 complaints (89% of the total), followed by engine with 4.
Has the 1994 Mercedes-Benz C280 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.
What gas mileage does the 1994 Mercedes-Benz C280 get?
The EPA rates the 1994 Mercedes-Benz C280 (C280, 2.8L 6-cyl) at 20 mpg combined, 18 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,100 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1994 Mercedes-Benz C280 reported?
Among the 8 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 167,500 miles and the middle half falls between 113,000 and 173,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. 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.