2007 Mercedes-Benz C280 Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2007 Mercedes-Benz C280 most often describe a strong gasoline smell after refueling, with some reporting visible fuel leaks at the tank sending unit or fuel level sensor. Sudden power loss or stalling while driving, and balance shaft or camshaft timing faults, are the next most common themes. Complaints are trending down in the data, and where mileage is given the reports range from about 100 to 160,000 miles.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Strong fuel smell and leaks after refueling

   • 19 complaints (34%)
   • median 59,000 mi at 9.4 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • filed 2012–2023

   Owners describe a strong gasoline smell in the cabin, the garage or at the rear wheel well after refueling, and some say it lingers for days. Some report visible fuel leaks at the tank sending unit or fuel level sensor, including fuel dripping from the rear wheel well and a pool of gasoline on a driveway. Some owners say parts such as the fuel pump, gas cap, purge valve or fuel level sensor were replaced, and in some reports the smell continued afterward. Some owners cite a recall or extended warranty covering other model lines and say the C-Class was not included. Where mileage is given, reports range from about 39,700 to 156,500 miles, and the odor is usually described right after refueling.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the fuel level sensor or sending unit has been inspected or replaced, and whether the purge valve and EVAP system were checked. After a fill-up, check the garage and cabin for gasoline odor, and look under the rear seats and in the rear wheel wells for fuel wetness.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Mileage 54,606 1 owner car strong gas odor when the tank is filled, and moving. Took to dealer. Dealer stated we need to drain tank and replace leaking l/h fuel sensor module. L/h fuel unit fuel sender o rings fuel sender lock rings all for the low cost of $1,095.84 for now we are not filling tank. I've read on line this is a problem with mb a recall should be done.”

   NHTSA complaint #10873240, filed 2016-06, 54,606 miles

   “After filling up the gas tank I noticed a strong odor of gasoline in the cabin while at a stoplight. Upon returning home, the car was shut off and could smell the gasoline on the drivers side exterior. After the car was sitting in the driveway for roughly 3 hours, we noticed a pool of gasoline on the driveway surface. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10491629, filed 2013-01, 56,243 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Sudden power loss or stalling while driving

   • 12 complaints (21%)
   • median 54,336 mi at 5.0 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2007–2024

   Owners describe the engine suddenly losing power or stalling while driving, sometimes at highway speed and with little or no warning. Some describe the accelerator not responding, the engine racing, or a sharp drop in speed, and some had to coast to the roadside and restart the car. Diagnoses reported in the complaints vary, including an ignition switch, an electrical fault, a fuel level sensor, an engine control unit, a coil, a balance shaft or an automatic transmission. Some say the problem returned after a repair. Where mileage is given, reports cite about 19,000 to 94,000 miles, and the stalls are described while driving at speed, in traffic, or while climbing a hill.

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition switch, fuel level sensor, engine control unit or transmission work is on the service record, and whether any stalls were logged with stored codes. On a test drive, confirm the engine responds smoothly to the accelerator and that no warning lights are on.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Engine Control Unit failed during warranty after replacement by the Mercedes Benz Dealership. The ECU causes stumbling and cutting out of engine in traffic while driving which can cause an accident putting my self, wife and others at risk. I took the car to the dealership and showed them the stored code of 1596 “The engine off time has an implausible value” (P1026) on the Mercedes Benz Xentry DAS software. Yes: the dealer inspected the car and did a diagnostic. The code was cleared and the dealer claimed there was no code. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11498284, filed 2022-12

   “Engine started misfiring and lost power while driving uphill in hawaii the and the car was not able to drive up the hill it had no power. There has been a class action lawsuit regarding the camshaft which mercedes lost however when I called mercedes to help fix the issue they said time has expired and this was no longer valid.”

   NHTSA complaint #10958923, filed 2017-03, 94,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Balance shaft or camshaft timing faults

   • 17 complaints (30%)
   • median 84,951 mi at 7.5 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2007–2025

   Owners describe check engine lights and rough running, with diagnoses pointing to the engine balance shaft, camshaft balancer or camshaft position parts. Some describe a broken balance camshaft or timing that went out of sync, which stopped the engine while driving, and some attribute it to soft metal used in the part. Owners cite trouble codes P0016 and P0017 and a class action, and some say the camshaft service campaign was not sent to owners directly. Some owners describe a high repair cost, and say the manufacturer said the time limit had expired. Where mileage is given, reports cite about 52,000 to 110,000 miles, and some mention a check engine light.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the balance shaft, camshaft or timing parts have been inspected or replaced, and check the service record for camshaft campaign work. Ask for a scan of stored codes, since codes such as P0016 and P0017 concern camshaft and crankshaft timing.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My car ran hot and everything on the inside began to flicker. I pulled over and turned the car off to let it cool. When I turned it back on the check engine light was on with the emfamous p0016 and p0017 codes ad I later found out and it has not run thw same since. If drags, shifts incorrectly, and pulls wrong now.”

   NHTSA complaint #11415688, filed 2021-05, 110,000 miles

   “My mercedes C280 4matic, engine light came on at 62,000 miles, diagnosed with a faulty engine balance shaft was told it would cost around $6,000 to fix and is a common problem with the Mercedes-Benz c-class. Part should be recalled ! Very dangerous, and way too common to not be fault of mercedes.”

   NHTSA complaint #10403613, filed 2011-05, 62,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Cooling fan problems and overheating

   • 6 complaints (11%)
   • median 110,000 mi at 8.3 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2007–2021

   Owners describe a cooling fan that kept running after the engine was switched off, with a loud noise, and a mechanic diagnosis pointing to the engine control unit. Other reports describe the temperature gauge rising quickly, the car running hot, and interior lights flickering. A complaint describes a radiator fan unit damaged after a small animal went through the skid plate. Where mileage is given, reports range from about 100 miles on a new vehicle to about 116,000 miles, and some overheating was reported within about a month of purchase.

   What to check: Check that the cooling fan turns off after the engine is switched off, and watch the temperature gauge during a test drive. Ask whether the engine control unit and fan wiring have been checked, and whether any fan or cooling fault codes are stored.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I took delivery of a new 2007 mercedes benz C280 4matic vehicle the 1st week of january,2007 & on january 14, 2007 I was returning home on a us highway in seminole county, oklahoma when I approached a small (8 inches tall) house cat or possum & was unable to avoid running over the animal. Rather than the animal making contact with the skid (protective) plate & falling to the pavement, the animal busted through the plate & entered into the radiator fan unit doing extensive damage (approximately $3000). …”

   NHTSA complaint #10196359, filed 2007-07, 100 miles

   “2007 C280 Mercedes-Benz lease with stalling problems**cc the consumer stated 31 days after purchasing the vehicle while driving in the car with her daughter the vehicle started to shake violently, the check engine light came on and the temperature gauge started to increase rapidly. The consumer contacted the dealer who informed her of the problem and was told it was bad gas. The consumer stated once the vehicle was assessed they informed her that coil #4 was the problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10199121, filed 2007-08
5. 5
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Sunroof glass recall delays and glass failures

   • 5 complaints (9%)
   • median 92,750 mi at 13.7 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2020–2023

   Owners describe sunroof recall repairs that could not be completed because replacement parts were not available, and say dealers confirmed the shortage. Some say the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable time for the repair, and that no failure had occurred yet. A separate complaint describes sunroof glass that shattered while the car was being driven at speed, with the dealer unable to repair it and no assistance from the manufacturer. Where mileage is given, reports cite about 85,500 to 100,000 miles, and the glass failure described happened while driving at speed.

   Recall 19V918000Recall 21V196000Recall 22V954000Recall 24V874000

   What to check: Ask whether the sunroof recall repair has been completed, and check the VIN with the manufacturer's recall lookup, since owners report repair parts were unavailable. Look for cracks or looseness in the sunroof glass, and ask the dealer to confirm the glass panel is secured.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2007 Mercedes-Benz C280. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, there was a loud sound coming from the vehicle. The contact pulled over safely and noticed that the sunroof had shattered. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer but was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure; however, no assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 85,500.”

   NHTSA complaint #11460945, filed 2022-04, 85,500 miles

   “The contact owns a 2007 Mercedes-Benz C 280. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V918000 (VISIBILITY) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”

   NHTSA complaint #11419327, filed 2021-06

Buying note. Buyers considering this model year may want to ask whether the fuel system has been checked for leaks after refueling, and whether engine timing, balance shaft work and recall repairs are on record. Service history showing completed recall work, fuel system repairs and engine diagnostics can help clarify what has been addressed in the vehicle's history.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 46 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.