10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
50,269 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #14

Oct 242011

C230

  • 84,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Mercedes Benz CL500. The contact was driving 45 mph when abnormal smoke was emitted from the exhaust. The abc sensor warning light was also illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who inspected the vehicle and discovered abc hydraulic fluid leaking near the catalytic converter. The dealer was notified who advised that they had repaired the vehicle June 07, 2007 under NHTSA campaign id number: 07V263000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was also contacted who stated that they would not take any liability for the recent failure. The failure mileage was 84,000.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #13

Jul 212009

C230

  • 83,000 miles
I bought a car and the check engine light went on, its a 2002 C230 kompressor 2 door, and the dealer said its a sensor from the supercharger.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #12

Oct 152008

C230 4-cyl

  • 56,146 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Mercedes Benz C230. On October 15, 2008, while driving 65 mph, the vehicle suddenly decelerated to 15 mph on its own. The vehicle was towed to the garage. It was diagnosed that the radiator failed and coolant fluid penetrated the transmission reserved fluid. The mechanic replaced the radiator and cleaned the transmission at the cost of $5,000. The mechanic stated that the transmission will eventually also need to be replaced. The failure mileage was 56,146 and current mileage is 59,000. Updated 02/24/09. Updated 02/25/09.

- New Smyrna Beach, FL, USA

problem #11

Aug 242008

C230 6-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 110,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Mercedes Benz C class. While driving 35 mph or higher, the esp indicator light illuminated. The vehicle had been taken to the dealer and repaired once before for the same failure. The failure occurs intermittently while driving 35 mph. The dealer stated that they will not order the parts and make the repair again. The failure mileage was 110,000. Updated 09/23/08 the consumer stated the vehicle stalled in braking mode.

- Severn, MD, USA

problem #10

Jun 012008

C230

  • miles
I own a 2002 Mercedes Benz C230, which has now had 2 severe issues with it. The first issue is the electrical system - the seat control modules go faulty and start draining the battery even when the car is turned off. If you have a battery drain, this is the likely culprit. I have replaced the seat control modules a total of 3 times. This is a common problem according to internet boards. The 2nd problem is that oil started to leak all over the wires. Again another common problem according to the internet boards.

- Edgewater, MD, USA

problem #9

Feb 192008

C230 62-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 78,000 miles
I have a 2002 Mercedes Benz C240 sedan with 78,000 miles on it. Upon leaving work two weeks ago driving down the parking lot in second gear the car started to make the worst engine noise I ever heard. I shut the car off and had it towed to a dealer and they tell me the timing chain broke. If I was traveling down an interstate and this broke and the engine lost power who knows what would have happened. This in not the first problem I had with the car I have a service file full of problems and spent a lot of time and money on things like front coil springs which also could be very dangerous when they break and I lose control of the car.

- Slatington, PA, USA

problem #8

Mar 022007

C230 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,997 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Mercedes Benz cl 500. He stated that the abc light illuminated. The dealer replaced the high pressure distribution hose and catalytic converter. He was charged $171.90 for the diagnostic and $2,568.03 for the replacement. He received a safety recall notice (recall#07V263000) for engine and engine cooling after he paid for the repairs however, the manufacturer denied reimbursement. The current mileage was 74,000 and the failure mileage was 70,997.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #7

Jul 252007

C230 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 101,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Mercedes Benz CL500. The contact received recall notice number 07V263000 (engine and engine cooling). When he took the vehicle in for repair, a warning light illuminated. The dealer attempted to charge him for the recall repair. The contact stated that the vehicle was fine before he took it to the dealer for the recall repair. The purchase date was unknown. The current mileage was 101,740 and failure mileage was 101,000.

- District Heights, MD, USA

problem #6

May 092007

C230 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,126 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Mercedes Benz Cl class. While driving 45 mph, a hydraulic line failed and the vehicle began smoking. The abc light illuminated and the vehicle was towed. The engine size was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 55,126. The consumer stated that through the internet there was a recall for this vehicle but when Mercedes Benz dealer was contacted they stated that the vehicle's VIN was not included in the recall. The consumer stated while daughter was driving hydraulic fluid leaked onto the exhaust and smoke was coming from underneath the vehicle. Updated 07/03/07

- Miramar, FL, USA

problem #5

Sep 052005

C230 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,000 miles
I leased a Mercedes Benz C230 compressor for my daughter in 2001. The sun roof didn't slide back on the exterior or the interior. The dealer dismantled the sun roof. Mercedes refunded the first month's lease payment since she did not have use of the vehicle for the first month. After one year the sun roof needed additional repair. At 31,000 miles - the power steering failed the brakes failed and were replaced the differential broke the sun roof once again wasn't working... the interior sliding mechanism failed for the third time in 2 and 1/2 years. The check engine light came on because the coolant sensor failed, the car overheated but the sensor registered cool. Currently at 37,000 miles - the transmission had to be taken apart because it wasn't shifting gears. The motor on the driver's power window broke and had to be replaced. The left turn harness had to be replaced because the flasher broke. While they were fixing the transmission they somehow damaged the rear window and the rear windshield is now being replaced. The check engine light is still coming on occasionally. Mercedes ceased to manufacture this vehicle in 2005. My daughter spoke to the regional rep., he was unresponsive, rude and hung up on her. I have lost confidence in this vehicle and I have every reason to believe that it will continue to break down and jeopardize my daughter's safety. The engine could break down because of a defective sensor that they cannot seem to fix. The incident date that follows is the date of the most recent problem.. the transmission and the rear window.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #4

Jul 152003

C230

  • Automatic transmission
  • 0 miles
The 1st incident; my Mercedes C240 was only 2 months new. 2nd incident at 10.5 mos, 3rd: Exaclty 1 year, 4th: 1 yr/3 wks, 5th: 13 mos. All 5 times the car experienced the same exact dying out of the engine while driving on the freeway, resulting in loss of power steering, & brakes. 3 of the 5 incidents the car would not start & required a tow to the dealer, having the dealers work on the car only to have the car die out again. Biggest complaint besides mine, my children, & other fellow freeway travelers lives being in danger is the lack and disrespctful attitude of that from Mercedes Benz's customer service.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #3

Apr 162004

C230 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 25,500 miles
After driving the car 90 miles on the highway, I was in local traffic about to make a left turn when the car stalled. I needed to restart the car before it would run briefly and then stall again. It kept stalling in traffic before I could pull over and have it towed in for service.

- Glenview, IL, USA

problem #2

Mar 112004

C230

  • 39,000 miles
While driving 60 mph vehicle stalled. The consumer managed to restart the vehicle on one occasion, but had the vehicle towed the second time. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.

- Palmdale, CA, USA

problem #1

Jul 202002

C230

  • miles
Consumer states that the vehicle overheated.

- Espanola, NM, USA