1999 Kia Sephia vs 1999 Mercedes-Benz C280
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1999 Kia Sephia | 1999 Mercedes-Benz C280 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 428 | 34 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 15 | 10 |
| Investigations | 8 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 50 | 2 |
| Fire reports | 42 | 2 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 23–24 | 21 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 59,000 mi | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Sephia | Mercedes-Benz C280 |
|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 169 | 1 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 88 | 10 |
| Power Train | 71 | 1 |
| Electrical System | 63 | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 43 | 3 |
| Air Bags | 37 | 1 |
| Steering | 23 | 3 |
| Suspension | 17 | 5 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 40 | 5 |
| Vibration / shaking | 38 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 15 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 11 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 9 | 0 |
| Overheating | 9 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 7 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 7 | 0 |
1999 Kia Sephia
1999 Mercedes-Benz C280
Compare all Kia Sephia vs Mercedes-Benz C280 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.