AI DamageMercedes-Benz 280: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Mercedes-Benz 280 across 8 model years: 97 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 46% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 12% of all complaints
- 3 Air bags 8% of all complaints
- 4 Vehicle speed control 8% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel system 7% of all complaints
- 6 Visibility 6% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 5% of all complaints
- 8 Powertrain 4% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 45 complaints (46% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 12 complaints (12% of all).
- Air bags: 8 complaints (8% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Vehicle speed control: 8 complaints (8% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Fuel system: 7 complaints (7% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 97 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 | 45 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 8 | 4 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 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.
I was rear-ended by a bus and also severely struck on my driver side - no airbag activation, I was injured and car was a total loss.
While vehicle was in drive with foot on brake pedal, the vehicle surged foward, hit a wall in garage, causing passenger's side air bag to deploy, while driver's side air bag did not deploy. Please provide details.
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.
While in reverse position, the vehicle took off in reverse about 20 mph, causing $3200 damages on the vehicle.
Abs brakes; failure on the brake system caused the consumer to have an accident, electrical short or shock.
Possible defect in left rear wheel, caused loss of control/accident.
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.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
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 2026-11-05.