1998 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Suspension, Wheels & Tires
Suspension, Wheels & Tires leads by volume: 20 of 62 complaints (32%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Electrical include more reported injuries (4) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 17 in 1997 to 62 in 1998.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | vs. 1998 Compact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,350–4,300 | 3,350–4,100 | 3,350–4,550 | 3,500–4,300 | 3,500–4,300 | |
| Combined MPG | 18–23 | 19–23 | 17–23 | 18–22 | 18–22 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 16–21 / 20–27 | 16–20 / 22–28 | 16–20 / 21–28 | 16–19 / 21–26 | 16–19 / 21–26 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 386–494 | 386–468 | 386–523 | 404–494 | 404–494 | |
| Complaints filed | 41 | 17 | 62 | 77 | 41 | |
| Recalls issued | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 3 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 3 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 2 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 3 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 1998 Mercedes-Benz C-Class have?
1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 1998 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
Suspension, Wheels & Tires: 20 of 62 NHTSA complaints (32%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 1998 Mercedes-Benz C-Class get?
EPA rates it 17–23 MPG combined across 3 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 1998 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
EPA estimates $3,350–$4,550 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (3)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 5-spd | 4 | 2.3L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 20 mpg (high) | 28 mpg (high) | 23 mpg (high) | $3,350 (low) | 386 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic 5-spd | 6 | 2.8L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 18 mpg | 25 mpg | 21 mpg | $3,700 | 423 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic 5-spd | 8 | 4.3L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 16 mpg (low) | 21 mpg (low) | 17 mpg (low) | $4,550 (high) | 523 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 13 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Brakes | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (1)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY · Campaign 01V366000 · Dec 19, 2001
Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HOPPECKE BATTERIES. THE BATTERY MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE COULD BE LESS THAN NEEDED TO MAINTAIN PROPER ELECTROLYTE LEVELS.
Consequence: THE LOW ELECTROLYTE LEVELS RESULT IN ACCELERATED BATTERY GRID GROWTH, INCREASED POTENTIAL FOR INTER-CELL RUPTURE AND SPARKING, AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A BATTERY EXPLOSION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BATTERIES, INCLUDING FLUID LEVELS. SOME BATTERIES MAY BE REPLACED IF NECESSARY, ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. IN ADDITION TO THE BATTERY INSPECTION, THE ADDITION OF LABELS IN THE VEHICLE OWNER'S MANUAL AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT WILL BE INCLUDED TO CONSPICUOUSLY REMIND OWNERS AS WELL AS DEALER AND SERVICE PERSONNEL OF THE NEED TO PERFORM BATTERY MAINTENANCE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 20, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.