Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Suspension2
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Visibility1
- Structure1
- Air bags1
- Child seat1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 6 1998 C-Class vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 8 people died inside them, and 2 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1998 Mercedes-Benz C-Class failed the safety check 0.96% of the time — 44% less often than the average 1998 passenger car (1.71%). Median odometer at inspection: 127,990 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 1998 Mercedes-Benz C-Class cars on Dutch roads are the 1.8 petrol (90 kW, 121 hp), 2.4 petrol (125 kW, 168 hp) and 2.0 petrol (100 kW, 134 hp), out of 6 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.8 petrol | 90 kW 121 hp | 191 |
| 2.4 petrol | 125 kW 168 hp | 72 |
| 2.0 petrol | 100 kW 134 hp | 50 |
| 2.2 diesel | 92 kW 123 hp | 33 |
| 4.3 petrol | 225 kW 302 hp | 31 |
| 2.8 petrol | 145 kW 194 hp | 22 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
487 first registered in 1998 are on Dutch roads; 29% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €91,120.
Most common APK defects
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm173
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde163
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen139
- Band onvoldoende profiel107
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm86
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld76
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect73
- Richtingaanwijzers kleur wijkt af/niet toegestaan49
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
616 cars built in 1998 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 1,832 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In Finland
261 of these cars first registered in 1998 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 292,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
48 1998 cars are on the New Zealand register; 94% arrived as used imports, 2% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HOPPECKE BATTERIES. THE BATTERY MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE COULD BE LESS THAN NEEDED TO MAINTAIN PROPER ELECTROLYTE LEVELS.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mercedes-Benz told its dealers about the 1998 Mercedes-Benz C-Class: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 601449 | UPDATED INFORMATION TO REFLECT ADDITON OF APPROVED TIRES. *YC |
| 10136029 | SENTEX gate operator with Clik Card Remote not compatible with Homelink |
| 10028147 | MERCEDES: REPLACING THE LONGITUDINAL MEMBER (LEFT AND RIGHT) BELOW THE MAIN FLOOR PANEL ON ALL MY 204 UP TO 12/31/07. (C300, C350, C300 4-MATIC, C63 AME). *PE |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FAILURE
BATTERY EXPLOSION
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation