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Mercedes-Benz C280Model year report

1999 Mercedes-Benz C280 Problems

Complaints
34filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
76,000miles, 19 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns 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
21 mpgcombined, 2.8L 6-cyl RWD · 19 city / 25 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1999 Mercedes-Benz C280 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 34 consumer complaints for the 1999 Mercedes-Benz C280. The part named most often is engine cooling, with 10 complaints (29% of the total), followed by exterior lighting (5) and suspension (5). 19 of the complaints include a mileage, and 42% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 76,000 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 2 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 10 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine cooling complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

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.

Also reported: Brakes (1), Equipment (1), Transmission and drivetrain (1), Vehicle speed control (1).

Example complaints

Engine cooling: “A squeaking noise was coming from my wife's mercedes benz c-280. On her way to our mechanic, her car died, conveniently in front of another mechanic. The mechanic identified a problem with the harmonic balancer which flew off its appropriate place on the engine. The car is being looked at on 8/31/04 to assess the amount of damged caused.”

NHTSA complaint #10088879, filed 2004-08, 76,000 miles

Exterior lighting: “Harmonica balancer on 1999 mercedes benz C280 v6 2.8l engine. I've had some problems with the power steering and starting the car. I understand there is a recall for this problem but I never received any papers from the manufacturer.”

NHTSA complaint #10144527, filed 2005-12, 40,000 miles

Suspension: “On july 30, 2015 around 1900 hrs. I was leaving home going to pick up my kids from around the corner. I came to a stop light (red). Begin to move forward when a loud bang happened then scraping. I got out the car to address the situation and observed that my vehicle was sagging. I retraced my tracks on foot and located my coil spring. Once I got back home, I jacked up the car and noticed my upper spring housing on my passenger side was broken.”

NHTSA complaint #10745183, filed 2015-07, 150,000 miles

Electrical system: “On may 7 my wife and I took a trip to visit her parents graves and to enjoy a relaxing day in the country. After finding the rural cemetary and paying our respects we sat down for a little picnic at the cemetary. As we tidied up when finished, we began to put our stuff into the trunk of the car, which we had left open while we picnicked. As my wife began to put the picnic blanket into the trunk, there was a small explosion. It was accompanied by a puff or so of smoke and the smell of something that had burned. We did not know what had happened. …”

NHTSA complaint #745608, filed 2001-05

Mileage when problems were reported

42% of the 19 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 45,000 and 150,000 miles.

0%0–105%10–2537%25–505%50–7511%75–10016%100–15026%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (19 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 76,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

5’01’035’05’07’10’12’15
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1999 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).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
C280 RWD2.8L 6-cyl5-speed automatic192521$3,900

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 1999 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. 10 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz C280

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20075661,5004—22Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20062994,0004—21Not compared (before 2008)Falling
19993476,0000—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199815182,8730—21—Stable
1997785,2250—20—Not enough data
199516142,0000—20—Falling
19949167,5000—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 1999 Mercedes-Benz C280 have?

NHTSA recorded 34 consumer complaints for the 1999 Mercedes-Benz C280 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1999 Mercedes-Benz C280 is reported most often?

Engine cooling is named most often, in 10 complaints (29% of the total), followed by exterior lighting with 5.

Has the 1999 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 1999 Mercedes-Benz C280 get?

The EPA rates the 1999 Mercedes-Benz C280 (C280, 2.8L 6-cyl) at 21 mpg combined, 19 city and 25 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,900 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1999 Mercedes-Benz C280 reported?

Among the 19 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 76,000 miles and the middle half falls between 45,000 and 150,000 miles; 42% 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.