Multiple issues with electrical system caused engine to overheat/blown head gasket. Bad o2 sensor. Eventually traced to defective engine wiring harness. Maybe this is why the mercedes 280c is singled out for smog only check in ca.
1995 Mercedes Benz 280 electrical complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 31 of 31, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Our vehicle failed on the highway and almost killed my family. The cause was an engine wiring harness failure. *jb updated 12/12/2007 *bf the consumer stated he had to buy a new wiring harness at the cost of $765.00. Updated 12/12/07
This is in reference to my 1995 mercedes c280, on multiple occasions, the car just suddenly stalled in the middle on the road and three occasions on the freeway. We brought the car to the shop and found that the wiring harness was bad and there was a shortage from time to time causing the engine to suddenly stop. We can't use the car for now because its too dangerous to drive.
Engine wiring harness deteriorating to the point of exposed wire at 90,000 miles. Engine failure causes standing in desolate area of montana.
I have a 1995 c280 mercedes benz and I'm having the same problem that I have been reading in the other complaints about the mid 90's mercedes benz. The fuel injection wiring harness is disintegrated causing expose wiring and my car is mis-firing and shaking is uncontrollable. I'm appalled to see the complaints about the same problem I am having, and mercedes fail to do anything about it. The mercedes manufacture should have some kind of recall in effect because this is a expensive car parts to replace and it has to be replace because it can cause anaccident or fire. Someone should investigate this matter, its despicable. I thought this car company had some integrity but its very apparent id doesn't.
Wire harness under hood,fire department put it out.
The wiring harness within the engine compartment caught on fire while I was backing the car out of the driveway. I called the dealer and told them about the harness,they seemed to think it was normal for the wiring to catch on fire. If anyone there would like to look at this car it is in my driveway. I don't think am going to spend $2,000 to fix it.
My 1995 c280 mercedes quit running in the middle of town and the check engine light came on. I was told my the repair shop that the wiring harness needed to be replaced and this was a very common problem on this year car. This car was always serviced at a mercedes dealer ship. Why could this have not been pointed out before I got stranded? I am also told this is a very extreme fire hazard.
The main wiring harness for the engine, fuel injection and rest of critical functions of the vehicle (1995 c280) has disintegrated due to a manufacturing defect. The manufacturer seemed to have used an inferior an unsuitable insulation for the wires, which, for no reason other than time, deteriorate allowing the wires to short and prevent the vehicle from functioning as well as creating a hazardous situation (stalling in freeway, fire in engine, etc). The manufacturer is aware of the defect but refuses to provide a solution or to assist in any way. We have owned this vehicle since new and have maintained it with the utmost care.
My car acts hazardous. From time to time intermittent electrical problems occur like engine stalls,engine erratically increase RPM, check engine light for no reason, gauges not working from time to time, while driving the engines seems to stall but runs on 3 cylinders I have to pull over and shut it off to restart. My car went off and took 6 tries to get the car started. Replaced head gasket at 130k another mercedes benz problem.
Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle stalled while driving 30 MPH under normal road conditions. There were no warnings prior to the failure. The vehicle was taken to the service dealer, who determined the wiring harness within the engine had to be replaced.
(1) while driving my 95 mercedes c280 on I-44 highway construction I hit a small bump. Immediately the "check engine" light came on, but the engine seemed to operate normally. I was on my way to the dealer for another problem, so they checked the warning light and found the wiring harness to be deteriorated, which the service representative said was a common problem with the original harness. At $1745 to replace and with it operating normally and with their assurance it should not cause a fire or any other parts to fail, I have not had it repaired. When I talked with carol, a customer service representative at the national mercedes office, she referred me to kenneth holland at elite, the dealership in springfield, mo for a reduced cost but he refused because mercedes did not authorize it. I am concerned after reading of others who have had accident resulting from failed wiring harness on this model.
Multiple engine failure events while driving at highway speeds. The car would completely shutdown. Local mercedes repair shop investigated and informed me of the main engine harness wiring deterioating and this was normal for this model year car (wires are biodegradable). My wires had fell apart and was shortening out due to bare wires touching and exposure to the elements. Thus, this required re-wiring the car with a new harness. Checked with the dealership and was told that the wiring issue was due to wear/tear and they would replace the wiring at full price for parts & labor. This is a dangerous scenario for a car at highway speed and possible fire hazard. The replacement wires also has the same problem. The manufacturer should be forced to recall this item and replace with a improved (non-biodegradabel) wiring harness.
1995 mercedes c280 disintegrating engine wiring harness defect. Many problems for the last few years with trying to repair but to no avail.. Found out now after opening the wiring cover that all of it was due to disintegrating wiring that explains why sometimes stalling and rough running or fault codes need reset!
My husband was changing the ignition wires an when doing so noticed that all the wires under the hood are cracking deteriorating. We are worried that this will cause a fire soon. The ignition wires are sealed in thick rubber he cut it apart and found that all the wires inside were rotted cracked bare wire running together. Which is why the car wouldn't start. What's next?
Shortly after purchasing my mercedes benz c-280 from a private party, the check engine light came on. The local mercedes benz dealership stated it was the wiring harness and it needed to be replaced. They did not state this was a known problem with this model or year. The estimate to replace the wiring harness was $1600. Given the extent of the problem from the numerous complaints here, mercedes benz should issue a recall on all affected vehicles because this problem is a safety hazard not only to the driver of an affected vehicle, but to all cars on the same road as said vehicle that could stall, or worse, catch on fire while being operated!
Complaint received via e-mail."in the early morning of sept. 24, 2004, I went to start my 1995 mercedes c280. When I turned the ignition key there was a very loud bang and the ignition and the entire electrical system went dead. I called a towing service and had the car taken to my service center (mercedes benz of escondido, 1101 west 9th ave, escondido, ca 92025, 1-760 745 5000). I was told the battery had exploded, and despite my protests that I had brought the car in scrupulously and regularly for service, the mercedes service center said they were not accountable for the explosion. My question: shouldn't they be? Don't battery explosions take place only if the fluid levels have not been maintained at least once a year? I subsequently researched mercedes and battery explosions on the web and discovered that there had been a recall of some 65,000 mercedes c280s made in 1998 and 1999.
My son's car quit running. The mechanic at the garage discovered that the underhood wiring harness had completely deteriorated. He spoke with a mercedes mechanic who told him this was a well known problem with this era car with this engine. I spoke with a mercedes customer service rep who said that they were unaware of an issue. I pointed out that I was seeing complaints on the nhsta site. He denied their existence. Here are the odi id numbers I found in a quick search. They all describe the same type of problem: 769109 10059002 10005610 8014541 742685 737212 836664 733503 720365 720365 10016993 898986 714914 767707 now, I am in infection control and epidemiology. If I were to see these 14 records all about 1994 and 1995 models, it would suggest a cluster and require some action on my part. I don't know if the federal safety agency works that way, but remember this data is from the very few angry customers that know how or have the ability to get into this agency. The car has not been repaired yet. The original estimate was in the $2000.00 range. To this point mercedes has been unwilling to help or cooperate. High and low voltage exposed copper wires under the hood, next to a potential ground can be an extreme fire hazard.
Faulty wiring harness. Rubber coating has deteriorated exposing copper wire, causing erroneous signals of systems failures on dash panel and reported during diagnostic testing.
Problem with various electrical component failured due to electrical wiring harness underhood. Dealer and manufacturer has been notified. Feel free to provide any further information.
The problems I have cited are repettive....benz fixes a part, then it goes again....the cra cannot be properly balanced I have been told by ywo independent car repair shops.....the electrical probelsm started 3 days after I bought the car and are ongoing.........I believe the car is unsafe at any speed and benz has been lying to me........ng.
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