1996 Mercedes Benz C Class Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other C Class years
- Not enough data 10th of 14 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Mercedes Benz C Class. That ranks 10th out of 14 C Class model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (5 complaints, 83%), typically at around 82,000 miles. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
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- 6owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 Mercedes Benz C Class 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 | 5 | 83% | 82,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 33% | 119,293 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 17% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 17% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 Mercedes Benz C Class recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Problem: The drive belt pulley on the engine can develop fatigue cracks in the metal and break. If the drive pulley breaks, the car would not have engine cooling, battery charging, and/or power steering.
Risk: Loss of these systems can cause the car to over heat, lose power from the battery, and loss of control of the car increasing the potential for a vehicle accident.
Fix: Dealers will replace the engine crankshaft damper-pulley on these vehicles.
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.
1996 mercedes c220; electrical harness problems; engine will turn over but will not start; sometimes the car will start and run, then will cut off when slowing up at a stop or when putting into reverse. Several mechanics say that the mercedes company allowed inferior wiring to be used but will not…
Tl*the contact owns a 1996 mercedes benz c280. While driving approximately 40 mph the steering wheel became very stiff and difficult to turn. The check engine and battery lights began illuminating moments before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed. The failure was not diagnosed. The…
The car not run the wiring of computer to fuel injection is fails. *tr
Hesitation/ no response from engine. Signal lights/ emergency flashers not working at times. This problem put my family at risk since it was in a intersection. *jb
I own a c 280 (96) [xxx] car started consuming more gas than normal, was harder to start, started missing and drove sluggish. I replaced the spark plugs and cables. But it got worse, and then quit, as if it was out of time. I send it to an imported car service shop in dalton, ga. They told me that…
Other Mercedes Benz C Class years
← 1995 C Class · 1997 C Class →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 C Class | 1 | 0 |
| 2008 C Class | 13 | 1 |
| 2006 C Class | 9 | 2 |
| 2005 C Class | 5 | 2 |
| 2004 C Class | 15 | 1 |
| 2003 C Class | 9 | 0 |
| 2002 C Class | 31 | 0 |
| 2001 C Class | 14 | 0 |
| 2000 C Class | 8 | 0 |
| 1999 C Class | 7 | 1 |
| 1998 C Class | 6 | 1 |
| 1997 C Class | 3 | 0 |
| 1996 | 6 | 1 |
| 1995 C Class | 49 | 0 |
See all Mercedes Benz C Class 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 C Class?
Owners most often report electrical system, engine and engine cooling, equipment problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 5 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Mercedes Benz C Class?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1996 Mercedes Benz C Class a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other C Class model years, the 1996 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.