1999 Mercedes-Benz C280 vs 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1999 Mercedes-Benz C280 | 1999 Oldsmobile Alero |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 34 | 462 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 10 | 150 |
| Investigations | 1 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 2 | 14 |
| Fire reports | 2 | 11 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21 | 20–23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | — | 64,480 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Mercedes-Benz C280 | Oldsmobile Alero |
|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 111 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 10 | 85 |
| Electrical System | 4 | 89 |
| Visibility | 2 | 56 |
| Suspension | 5 | 46 |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 | 43 |
| Power Train | 1 | 34 |
| Steering | 3 | 30 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 5 | 12 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 38 |
| Overheating | 0 | 14 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 9 |
| Brake problems | 0 | 8 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 7 |
| Rust / corrosion | 0 | 6 |
1999 Mercedes-Benz C280
1999 Oldsmobile Alero
Compare all Mercedes-Benz C280 vs Oldsmobile Alero years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.