1995 Mercedes-Benz C280 Problems
- Complaints
- 16filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 142,000miles, 13 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
- 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 1995 Mercedes-Benz C280 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 16 consumer complaints for the 1995 Mercedes-Benz C280. The part named most often is electrical system, with 13 complaints (81% of the total), followed by engine (6) and other or unknown (2). 13 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 142,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 2 an injury, 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 system13 81%
- Engine6 38%
- Other or unknown2 13%
- Air bags1 6.3%
- Fuel system1 6.3%
Example complaints
Electrical system: “The wiring harness shorted and caught fire. The engine shut off and I hit a pole on the side of the road after loss of steering. I hit my head on the steering wheel. I have a check engine light now, and they want me to spend thousands of dollars on an electrical wiring harness for the engine.”
NHTSA complaint #10497708, filed 2013-02, 150,000 milesEngine: “After starting the engine started missing then quit. Could not get it re-started. Failure codes said random misfire. Checked the wiring harness going into the spark coils and found that the insulation had disintegrated. After checking a few other spots on the engine wiring harness, I found the insulation had disintegrated there also.”
NHTSA complaint #10489542, filed 2012-12, 183,484 milesAir bags: “The contact owns a 1995 mercedes benz C280. While driving 35 MPH, the contact heard a loud noise followed by the deployment of both frontal air bags. The windshield was smashed and the passenger sustained a bruised arm due to the impact. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 178,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10615553, filed 2014-07, 178,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
0% of the 13 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 121,482 and 178,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1995 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 1995 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, 2020Electronic stability control, Brakes. 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, 2019Equipment, Suspension. 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 1995 Mercedes-Benz C280 have?
NHTSA recorded 16 consumer complaints for the 1995 Mercedes-Benz C280 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1995 Mercedes-Benz C280 is reported most often?
Electrical system is named most often, in 13 complaints (81% of the total), followed by engine with 6.
Has the 1995 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 1995 Mercedes-Benz C280 get?
The EPA rates the 1995 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 1995 Mercedes-Benz C280 reported?
Among the 13 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 142,000 miles and the middle half falls between 121,482 and 178,000 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. 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.