1996 Mercedes Benz 280 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 280 years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 6 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Mercedes Benz 280. That ranks 2nd out of 6 280 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (3 complaints, 23%), typically at around 90,000 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes, 1 injury. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year.
- 13owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 2complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 Mercedes Benz 280 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 3 | 23% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 2 | 15% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 Mercedes Benz 280 recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 1996 Mercedes Benz 280.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Ever since i bought this mercedes c280 1996 three years ago (2004) it had a problem with the wiring harness and it is just too expensive to replace it. *jb
During a recent service of my vehicle at an authorized mercedes benz service center, i was informed that the insulation covering my wires were decomposing and the wires were exposed to the engine, hence creating a safety hazard for me and my family. Due to the severity of the problem, and the…
After parking the vehicle and turn off the ignition, the vehicle lurches forward or rocks backward, problem still exist.
On slight incline, after gear shift was put into park, key removed and shut door while walking toward house, the vehicle rolled backwards down the hill, hitting two trees. Please describe details. *ak *nlm
Windshield washer fluid sensor failed.
Other Mercedes Benz 280 years
See all Mercedes Benz 280 problems by year, every Mercedes Benz model, or the Mercedes Benz VIN decoder.
Similar Mercedes Benz models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Mercedes Benz 280?
Owners most often report electrical system, air bags, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 3 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Mercedes Benz 280?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 1996 Mercedes Benz 280 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 280 model years, the 1996 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.