AI DamageMercedes-Benz 220: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Mercedes-Benz 220 across 5 model years: 27 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 59% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel system 11% of all complaints
- 3 Vehicle speed control 11% of all complaints
- 4 Suspension 7% of all complaints
- 5 Visibility 7% of all complaints
- 6 Air bags 4% of all complaints
- 7 Electronic stability control 4% of all complaints
- 8 Engine and cooling 4% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 16 complaints (59% of all).
- Fuel system: 3 complaints (11% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 3 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Suspension: 2 complaints (7% of all).
- Visibility: 2 complaints (7% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 27 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
While parking the vehicle, engine went into high idle and accelerated forward, lost control, went into inbankment/glaze and tree, impact 1:00.
My mercedes benz was driven on highway 5 towards stockton ca at 65 miles / hour. The traffic suddenly stopped!. The distance to front vehicle was much shorter to respond quickly by pressing the brake. The mercedes rear ended and crushed the front chevrolet, pushed it into a couple of more cars ahead in the same lane.
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 mercedes benz c220. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph, he activated the cruise control function and the vehicle accelerated uncontrollably without warning. The contact applied the brakes and attempted to disengage the cruise control but to no avail.
Driving and car stalled in intersection - smelt smoke - would not start, towed home then surprisingly started next day, this problem continued over and over despite replacing fuel pump, tune-up - mechanic ran a obd program which showed many errors, the mechanic informed me (and showed me) the wiring harness and told…
Speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauges, fuel gauge, everything inoperative. Nhtsa campaign number 06v028000 extended this recall for 10 years, until 2016, but my m/b dealer told me the recall expired in 2009 and refused to replace the instrument cluster panel. Am I correct in assuming the recall is still in effect?
Car stall and will not run after driving thru a car wash.. Mercedes is responsible, and a great danger for a fire and fatal accident. I retired after working for ford motor company as a safety engineer. I have a college degree in mechanical engineering.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.