Most common 2007 Mercedes-Benz C280 problems
Share of the 56 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercedes-Benz C280 complaints by model year
Best C280 years: 1995, 1997, 2006. Years to avoid: 2007, 1999. Compare all years →
2007 Mercedes-Benz C280 recalls (4)
Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
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.
Remedy: 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.
Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
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.
Remedy: 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.
Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
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.
Remedy: 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.
Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
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
Remedy: 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.
What 2007 Mercedes-Benz C280 owners say
Fuel & propulsion system all 21 →
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 gas tank from outside and inside the car it's a constant knocking noise inside the gas tank I replaced everything and their is still a knock noise and fuel smell I have proof receipts from Merceds dealer of all work I did and I have videos of the noise I can't afford a new gas tank I bought the car in Connecticut with a 2 year extended warranty the warranty place won't cover a new gas tank I saw their were recalls for gas smells on other models same year as mine but not the c class a lot of other people I noticed on google have had this same …
76000 ml nice and clean but, all of the sudden strong smell of the gasoline inside. When did my research online found a lot of similar complaints with same symptoms as what was investigated on report# vrtc-dcd-3206 by NHTSA. Upon filling up the gas tank to full, gas leaks from sanding unit under rear passenger seat. Can not understand why same recall is not applicable to the c-class mb, makes no sense to me as to the others unhappy mb owners. My next car is Lexus, done with mb
Engine & cooling
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 [redacted] and I was on the highway with my girlfriend going around 75mph and I smelled a burning smell and thought it might've been the truck/one of the cars in front of me. All of a sudden my power steering was gone and my car basically lost all power. Only the brakes worked. Thank god the other cars were far enough away from me and I didn't put anyone else in danger. Due to the loss of control I was forced to pull into the breakdown lane on the LEFT side which was so incredibly dangerous since the highway was so busy. …
Engine motor mounts are constructed of untreated aluminum. It is well known that salt will react easily with aluminum, extensive corrosion results. The driver side motor mount sits in a pocket in the frame, where brine can lay on it for prolonged periods. Of note, many highway departments are now using a brine mix, including magnesium chloride, that will react with moisture in the air to continue the corrosion process. A recent study by Volkswagen confirms that this accelerates the corrosion process. In April or May of this year, I had to have the motor mounts on my car replaced. One failed completely, the other was severely cracked and nearly the same way. The entire top of the driver side mount was completely missing, apparently from corrosion. What was left was white powder. The passenger side also showed evidence of significant corrosion. …
Transmission & drivetrain
I was pulling out of my driveway when all of a sudden, the car came to a screeching halt and would not move. I was stuck diagonally in the middle of the road. When I called AAA for a tow they said it looked like the passenger front ball joint failed. Upon inspection, it was found that the ball joint failed and the tie rod, lower control arm, and strut all broke as a result. The axel was also ripped out when the control arm failed. All of these things needed to be replaced. I can only image what would have happened if I had been traveling on a main road or highway at a higher rate of speed. But to have a catastrophic failure like this happen was completely unexpected, especially after having brand new tires and an alignment completed only one week earlier. …
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 implausible value" (P1026) on the Mercedes Benz Xentry DAS software. Yes: the dealer inspected the car and did a diagnostic. The code was cleared and the dealer claimed there was no code. A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT was present when the problem started approximately 23 months after the ECU was replaced be the dealer with a two year advertised and communicated warranty.
2007 Mercedes-Benz C280 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 7-speed automatic | RWD | 19 / 26 / 22 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2007 Mercedes-Benz C280 a good car?
Based on 56 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2007 C280 rates avoid: 2.6× as many complaints as a typical year of the C280 at the same age. It is one of the C280 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2007 Mercedes-Benz C280?
The fuel & propulsion system — 21 complaints, 38% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (14) and transmission & drivetrain (4).
How many recalls does the 2007 Mercedes-Benz C280 have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2007 Mercedes-Benz C280, the most recent from November 19, 2024 (sun/moon roof assembly). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercedes-Benz C280?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1995, 1997 and 2006. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2007 and 1999. See the full Mercedes-Benz C280 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2007 Mercedes-Benz C280 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 62,000 miles; 28% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.