NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
31 reportsClear category filter130,000 miles · Sep 24, 2012
Electrical System
WHILE TRAVELING, CAR GRADUALLY LOST POWER UNTIL COMPLETELY SHUT-OFF. MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROADWAY. VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN ON AGAIN. NO POWER AT ALL. COULD NOT EVEN TURN ON HAZARDS. THANKFULLY, A GOOD SAMARITAN PULLED UP BEHIND ME WITH THEIR FLASHERS ON AND PROVIDED ME WITH A BOOST THAT POWERED UP MY VEHICLE AND I WAS ABLE TO GE…
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WHILE TRAVELING, CAR GRADUALLY LOST POWER UNTIL COMPLETELY SHUT-OFF. MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROADWAY. VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN ON AGAIN. NO POWER AT ALL. COULD NOT EVEN TURN ON HAZARDS. THANKFULLY, A GOOD SAMARITAN PULLED UP BEHIND ME WITH THEIR FLASHERS ON AND PROVIDED ME WITH A BOOST THAT POWERED UP MY VEHICLE AND I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE MAIN ROADWAY. HOWEVER, ONCE I STOPPED AT THE NEXT STOP SIGN THE CAR SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. AGAIN, THE SAME GUY CAME TO MY AID. THIS TIME WE LET THE BATTERY CHARGE FOR A MUCH LONGER TIME. I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR BUT, THE RPM'S WERE GOING CRAZY. THE DIALS WERE GOING UP AND DOWN. THE CAR WAS REVVING UP AND DOWN. THE FUEL GAUGE, ODOMETER AND OTHER GAUGES WERE AT ZERO. ODD. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT I NEEDED A NEW WIRING HARNESS AS HE SHOWED ME THE INSULATION ON MINE HAD COMPLETELY DETERIORATED WAS CAUSING IT TO SHORT OUT. HE STATED THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM FOR THESE VEHICLES AND THAT IT MAY CAUSE A FIRE OR A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT ON THE ROAD. THIS REPAIR IS COSTING ME $1700. MB CUSTOMER SERVICE ARE NO HELP. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10476841
202,122 miles · Aug 23, 2012
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion SystemFireInjury
CAR HAS BEEN A GOOD RUNNING CAR FRO SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES, HOWEVER TODAY IT STARTED, WHAT SEEM TO BE A MISFIRE. I CHECKED THE SPARK PLUGS, WIRES, IGNITERS AND THEY WERE ALL IN GOOD CONDITION SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED RECENTLY. AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT 35 MILES AN HOUR THE CAR SUDDENLY JERKED AND SMOKE FILED THE INSIDE AN…
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CAR HAS BEEN A GOOD RUNNING CAR FRO SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES, HOWEVER TODAY IT STARTED, WHAT SEEM TO BE A MISFIRE. I CHECKED THE SPARK PLUGS, WIRES, IGNITERS AND THEY WERE ALL IN GOOD CONDITION SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED RECENTLY. AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT 35 MILES AN HOUR THE CAR SUDDENLY JERKED AND SMOKE FILED THE INSIDE AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ON A BUSY CROSS ROAD, SO INSTANT PANIC SET IN, BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF VISION AND UNABLE TO BREATH FROM THE FUMES. I SUFFER FROM MIGRAINES AND HAD TO GO TO THE DOCTOR FOR A CHECK UP BECAUSE MY HEALTH HAS NOT BEEN THE SAME SINCE. AS DAYLIGHT CAME I FINALLY HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE DAMAGE AND IT WAS THE DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS THAT HAS BEEN INSTALLED ON CERTAIN YEARS OF MERCEDES BENZ, PER THE VAST AMOUNT OF INFORMATION REGARDING THE ISSUE AND HOW I AM NOW WRITING ABOUT IT. THE CAR HAS BEEN A GOOD RUNNING CAR, BUT MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD OWN UP TO THE PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10471970
60,000 miles · Apr 12, 2012
Electrical SystemFire
THE WIRE HARNESS ON MY VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY DETERIORATED. IT ACTUALLY CAUGHT FIRE BY THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR CONNECTOR. ALL OF THE INSULATION ON THE HARNESS IS GONE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10455008
150,000 miles · Mar 8, 2011
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control
THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAS BADLY DETERIORATED DUE TO USING POOR MATERIALS. THIS IS A VERY HIGH OCCURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS IN THAT IT CAN CAUSE STALLING, SUDDEN ACCELERATION, FIRE AND IT CAN ALSO CAUSE VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS TO OTHER VEHICLE SYSTEMS. THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AND MER…
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THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAS BADLY DETERIORATED DUE TO USING POOR MATERIALS. THIS IS A VERY HIGH OCCURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS IN THAT IT CAN CAUSE STALLING, SUDDEN ACCELERATION, FIRE AND IT CAN ALSO CAUSE VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS TO OTHER VEHICLE SYSTEMS. THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AND MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM OUT OF CONCERN FOR CONSUMER SAFETY, AND EXPENSE.
NHTSA ODI #10389389
10,900 miles · Oct 31, 2008
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineTires
ROTTED DISINTEGRATED WIRING IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ELECTRICAL PROBLEM--DASHBOARD LIGHTS THAT GO ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY---- ABS, CLOCK, OUTSIDE TEMP GAUGE, REAR DEFROSTER. HAD PROBLEMS WITH IGNITION---WIRING WAS "PATCHED UP" AS BEST AS IT COULD BE AND STARTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A 1995 C-280 WITH APPROX. 118000 MI. I…
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ROTTED DISINTEGRATED WIRING IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ELECTRICAL PROBLEM--DASHBOARD LIGHTS THAT GO ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY---- ABS, CLOCK, OUTSIDE TEMP GAUGE, REAR DEFROSTER. HAD PROBLEMS WITH IGNITION---WIRING WAS "PATCHED UP" AS BEST AS IT COULD BE AND STARTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A 1995 C-280 WITH APPROX. 118000 MI. I HAVE ALSO HAD AN UNRELATED PROBLEM WHICH, ACCORDING TO MY BENZ MECH, JUST LIKE THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, IS CHARACTERISTIC OF THESE CARS,WAS A DISINTEGRATING GAS HOSE THAT HAD GASOLINE SPEWING EVERYWHERE. THE THREE (EXPENSIVE) HOSES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO SHOW RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE PROBLEMS. PERHAPS A CLASS ACTION SUIT MIGHT STIR THEM UP. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10247400
106,100 miles · Oct 9, 2008
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
1.TEMPERATURE AND FUEL GAUGE HAS INTERMITTENT ISSUES. ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ONE COLD MORNING. 2. ENGINE STALLS / STUTTERS WHEN COLD. LOST POWER TO CAR AND ALMOST HIT A WALL TRYING TO STOP THE CAR. 3 3. NO MONEY TO CORRECT THE ISSUE YET. I DRIVE A DIFFERENT CAR DAILY AND TRY TO AVOID USING THIS ONE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10244954
170,000 miles · Sep 6, 2008
Electrical System
THE WIRES IN MY ENGINE HARNESS TO MY 1995 MERCEDES BENZ C280,THE INSULATION OF THE WIRES DISINTEGRATED(TURNED TO DUST).ITS BEEN SAID THAT IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT AND THAT MERCEDES DOESN'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT .WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF PAYING $1300 PROBLEM (WE WILL KEEP THE OLD PART).MERCEDES IS CASHING IN ON THE…
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THE WIRES IN MY ENGINE HARNESS TO MY 1995 MERCEDES BENZ C280,THE INSULATION OF THE WIRES DISINTEGRATED(TURNED TO DUST).ITS BEEN SAID THAT IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT AND THAT MERCEDES DOESN'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT .WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF PAYING $1300 PROBLEM (WE WILL KEEP THE OLD PART).MERCEDES IS CASHING IN ON THERE MISTAKE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10241136
84,000 miles · Apr 30, 2008
Electrical SystemInjury
ENGINE WIRE HARNESS ALL WIRE INSULATIONS IN THE HARNESS ARE IN A SERIOUS DISINTEGRATED AND ARE SHORTING OUT ON EACH OTHER IN A WRAPPED UP HARNESS CONFIGURATION MY GOD IS ANYONE GOING TO LOOK AT THIS . *TR
NHTSA ODI #10226124
59,187 miles · Nov 24, 2007
Electrical System
1995 MERCEDES C280 SEDAN. MILEAGE 59,187. ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEFECTIVE DUE TO POOR SUBSTANDARD OEM QUALITY HAS DETERIORATED INTERNALLY AND VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONS IN MANNER WHICH MAY CAUSE ACCIDENT OR FIRE. VEHICLE IS UNUSABLE. MERCEDES BENZ USA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS FAULT INVOLVING THIS VEHICLE MODEL AND RELATED VEHICLE MODELS. …
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1995 MERCEDES C280 SEDAN. MILEAGE 59,187. ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEFECTIVE DUE TO POOR SUBSTANDARD OEM QUALITY HAS DETERIORATED INTERNALLY AND VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONS IN MANNER WHICH MAY CAUSE ACCIDENT OR FIRE. VEHICLE IS UNUSABLE. MERCEDES BENZ USA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS FAULT INVOLVING THIS VEHICLE MODEL AND RELATED VEHICLE MODELS. COST TO REPLACE IS OVER $1700. REPAIR DONE OUT OF POCKET TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS AND FIRE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10209811
96,404 miles · Nov 8, 2007
Electrical System
DEGRADING WIRE HARNESS CAUSES MY 95 MERCEDES C280 TO CUT OUT IN TRAFFIC CAUSING SEVERE SAFETY ISSUES {FUEL,BRAKES,FIRES, ACCIDENTS] I NOW OWN A PIECE OF WORTHLESS JUNK THAT MERCEDES WILL NOT ADMIT HAS THIS VERY COMMON VERY SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE 96,000 MILES ,ASR SYS FAIL ,COMPUTER MOD FAIL ,CHECK ENG CODES WILL COST 2000-3000 TO…
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DEGRADING WIRE HARNESS CAUSES MY 95 MERCEDES C280 TO CUT OUT IN TRAFFIC CAUSING SEVERE SAFETY ISSUES {FUEL,BRAKES,FIRES, ACCIDENTS] I NOW OWN A PIECE OF WORTHLESS JUNK THAT MERCEDES WILL NOT ADMIT HAS THIS VERY COMMON VERY SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE 96,000 MILES ,ASR SYS FAIL ,COMPUTER MOD FAIL ,CHECK ENG CODES WILL COST 2000-3000 TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT,,PLEASE TELL MERCEDES THANKS FOR APIECE OF JUNK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10208228