2007 Mercedes Benz C280 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Fuel/Propulsion System (16) · Engine (6) · Fuel System, Gasoline (5)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mercedes Benz C280 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
36 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly 2024-11-19 · campaign 24V874000 · 33,456 vehicles
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and can detach.
Risk: A detached sunroof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 22V-954. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024120001/2/3.
Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly 2022-12-23 · campaign 22V954000 · 131,653 vehicles
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and may detach.
Risk: A detached sunroof panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall expands NHTSA recall number 19V-918. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2023010004, 2023010005, and 2023010006.
Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly 2021-03-19 · campaign 21V196000 · 11,356 vehicles
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2007 C350, C230, C280, CLK350, E320CDI, E350 Wagon, E350, 2006 C55 AMG, CLK500, CLS500, CLS55 AMG, E500 Wagon, E500, E55 AMG, 2007 CLK550, CLS550, CLS63 AMG, E550, E63 AMG, and E63 Wagon AMG vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly causing the glass panel to detach from the vehicle.
Risk: A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 7, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of recall number 19V-918. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021040012.
Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly 2019-12-20 · campaign 19V918000 · 747,928 vehicles
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly resulting in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V918-4126.pdf
Risk: A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020040011.
Service bulletins (62)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Service Brakes 2026-09-22 · LI42.10-P-078779 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60mph. note: although the symptom is similar to a tire or wheel vibration, it is usually readily noticeable that it is distinctly different if it happens at all times or only while braking. cause although the cause of the vibra
Structure:body 2026-09-14 · LI82.62-P-078631 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. cause under analysis. remedy to narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • if the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary,
Structure:body 2026-08-06 · LI82.62-P-078631 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. cause under analysis. remedy to narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • if the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary,
Power Train 2026-07-14 · LI35.30-P-058566 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). the noise is heard once in each instance when changing direction of travel. note: sound file in attachment cause if the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the outboard collar n
Visibility/Wiper 2026-05-19 · LI82.30-P-059239 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint there are several types of complaint about noises or poor windshield wiper wiping performance: a: wiper blades squeaking, chattering, shuddering b: the windshield is not wiped completely (streaking) c: during the downward movement water is pulled back onto the windshield from the a-pillar
Exterior Lighting 2026-04-16 · LI82.10-P-078301 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged. cause fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. it does not lead to any technical impairment of the headlamp. if a pressure compensation diaphragm is fitted in the housing cover, then the l
Showing the 6 most recent of 62 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-05-21 · Seat Belts · 💥 crash“driver seat belt. seat belt did not lock during crash with airbag deployment. problem has not been confirmed. police observed the belt not locked in either extended or retracted position after collision. burn marks on belt would indicate belt was in use…”
2025-12-15 · Air Bags“my mercedes has never been recalled for the takata air bag recall and now i have a warning about the srs, supplemental restraint system. what ever happened to vehicles having replacement air bags??…”
2025-12-15 · Structure:body“i have never been contacted about this recall either. this is the second complaint form i have filed. first one filed 12/28/2019. …”
2025-07-02 · Steering“june 2, 2025 to mercedes customer service: safety issue. this weekend i experienced the most frightening encounter that i ever had in a car. as i was driving on a 4-lane bypass highway at 55mph my car suddenly and erratically turned to the right almost sending me into the cement bridge guards (i was driving over a river bridge). as i tried to corr…”
2025-03-10 · Service Brakes“grinding nose after i did the breaks. and when i press the gas it acts like the e brake is on on …”
2024-05-17 · Engine“i am writing about this incident after finding out about the lawsuit filed against mercedes concerning problems with the balance shaft, the soft metal they used in production, and the common engine codes (p0016 & p0017). i am [xxx] and i was on the highway with my girlfriend going around 75mph and i smelled a burning smell and thought it might’ve …”
2024-03-29 · Unknown Or Other“i first noticed an issue with the alignment. the vehicle would always pull to the left. after 3 different alignment procedures, it remind the same. i started noticing a clunking sound when i would brake. while driving i hit a moderate pothole and the car lurched side to side, causing me to lose control. it was fortunate that i was on a surface…”
2023-12-02 · Fuel/Propulsion System“everytime i fill the gas tank i smell gas strongly i paid out of pocket to have the fuel pump done the gas cap the purge valve and i’m still getting a check engine light for a evap leak and still smelling gas from inside and outside the car i also have a rattle noise comeing from inside the gas tank u can take the gas cap off and heat it inside the…”
2023-09-22 · Air Bags · 💥 crash“on 9/18/23 we were hit head on by a person driving a large ford. the air bags deployed on my cclass. i was unable to see after the accident. my nose is huge! face is bruised. i had severe eye pain. neck pain etc. there was chrome on the floor after the deployment. major concern what was in this airbag. however, i’m sure it saved my life. …”
2022-12-20 · Power Train“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 implausib…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.