1999 Mercedes-Benz C280 Suspension Problems
- Complaints
- 5about this part
- Share
- 15%of 34 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 148,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the suspension of the 1999 Mercedes-Benz C280, 15% of the 34 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 148,000 miles.
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.
“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“After arriving home and driving over a speed bump in our apartment complex at a slow speed, we heard a popping noise. Then, as we were turning into a parking space, we heard a grinding or dragging noise. While looking under the front right tire to see if something had come loose, the left side of the car dropped suddenly after another loud popping noise. After looking under the car some more I saw the spring was laying on it's side behind the wheel. …”
NHTSA complaint #10398676, filed 2011-05, 196,000 miles“1999 mercedes benz C280 drivers side spring perch rusted and broke . Causing spring to fly off lower control arm and suspension to drop . The front steering would no longer operate because wheel was trapped in wheel well. The incident immediately disabled . Car was towed to repair and new spring , perch,and plastic bushing were purchased. The perch was welded to the frame ,new spring installed all at owners expense.”
NHTSA complaint #10311066, filed 2010-02, 148,000 miles“Driver side upper spring carrier failed allowing the spring to become jambed in the steering. Due to failure occurring at low speed (under 20 MPH) loss if steering control caused only minor damage by coming in contact with a curb. A failure of this type at highway speed would be catastrophic.”
NHTSA complaint #10193383, filed 2007-06, 109,174 miles“The contact owns a 1999 mercedes benz C280. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 5 MPH, the upper spring perches became fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10654856, filed 2014-11, 140,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10164810Aug 5, 2019Throttle lift-off clunking noises at drive shafts of front axle
- 10135599Mar 24, 2015Clunking noise from front axle suspension strut or rear axle shock absorber on short strokes of the damper
Suspension: other model years
Other parts of the 1999 Mercedes-Benz C280
10 complaintsExterior lighting
5 complaintsElectrical system
4 complaintsFuel system
4 complaintsOther or unknown
3 complaintsSteering
3 complaintsBody and structure
2 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
2 complaintsAir bags
1 complaintsBrakes
1 complaintsEquipment
1 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1999 Mercedes-Benz C280
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