1994 Mercedes-Benz C220 problems
NHTSA has received 39 complaints about the 1994 Mercedes-Benz C220, and 59% of them involve electrical system. After that come cruise control (15%) and fuel system (13%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 39 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 59% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 0 and 3
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 150,000 miles 27 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 1 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 0 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 0 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 6 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 0 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 1 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 8 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 5 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 2 |
| 200k+ miles | 4 |
What the data shows
Among the 27 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 150,000 miles. For electrical system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 148,000 miles (17 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 3 complaints mention a fire.
It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
The wiring insulation prematurely disintegrated under normal use causing the wires it is designed to protect and insulate, to short causing many problems.
We are experiencing an intermittent, parasitic drain of our new ( less than 6 months old) battery within a 12 hour window. If we catch it before the 12 hours, we _can_ start the c220. If we wait longer than 12 hours, the battery is unable to engage the starter selenoid. It is also unable to power _any_ of the vehicle systems - no lights, no dash instrumentation, no radio, nothing works. This has happened 3 ( three) times - each time requiring a jump start.
Wiring harness disintegrated, said to be made of cornstarch in order to comply with german government mandate. The consumer stated the thermostat in his vehicle was stuck in the open position and the engine was not getting warm enough which then increased the vehicles acceleration. The consumer stated the problem would only happen in the winter. Updated 02/22/11