The contact owns a 2004 Mercedes Benz C230. While driving between 25-30 mph, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission and radiator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000. Updated 02/05/16 updated 02/11/16

- New Britain, CT, USA

I have black Mercedes C230 kompressor sports sedan 2004 model. Car was purchased brand new at Mercedes authorized dealer. There is no modification made to this car and all the servicing done at Mercedes authorized dealer since I bought this car. It had only 58000 miles. Last B servicing which checked any safety related issues and includes regular maintenance, was done at authorized dealer on 02/18/2012. No issue was informed on 02/18/2012 to us by Mercedes authorized dealer servicing department. On 06/21/2012, when I was driving this car from work to home, I turned on A/C, A/C shutdown and I started smelling smoke. On left side of my car there is A/C vent and I saw fire inside the hood through that vent.I pulled over car right away and electricity went out with in 1 min of my pulling over and within 4 min, whole car was burning. My car is now totaled. This poses following security concerns: 1. Mercedes C230 2004 is made of highly inflammable material and driver and users of car has very less chance to survive if there is fire. 2. Mercedes C230 2004 model A/C unit is not of highest quality and electrical system is faulty. Both of above issues poses very serious security risks to public and it needs through investigation. I contacted Mercedes head quarter for investigation and Mercedes declined to investigate. Geico stated in report that hood is stuck and cause of fire is unknown. Geico insurance company authorized Mercedes engineers to investigate further upon my request and Mercedes usa does not want to investigate further. I have pictures of burnt car and can share if it helps in investigation to rule out above 2 concerns. We do not want others to go through same ordeal as we went through. Updated 06/13/13 updated 06/17/2013

- North Potomac, MD, USA

This car is a money pit! I bought 2004 C230 kompressor used in 2007. To date I have spent well over $8500 in repairs and the car is sitting in my driveway with its latest affliction..a completely blown engine. It is a useless piece of junk and I am out the $25,000 I originally paid for it, plus the additional $8500 I have put into it. This is how Mercedes Benz takes care of business? something has drastically changed. My dad has had 2 Mercedes over the last 30 years...they ran perfectly until he sold them. He just bought a brand new S-series (2012) and it has already been in the shop numerous times. The cars are made cheap and everything in the interior is plastic, not wood as it should be. Mercedes, you should be ashamed of how far you have let your standards fall, it is a disgrace.

- Lodi, CA, USA

2004 Mercedes Benz C- class wagon. Consumer writes in regards to defect that allows coolant to leak into the transmission, requiring replacement of the transmission, torque converter and radiator the consumer stated he was forced to spend over six thousand dollars to have the transmission replaced, to correct a defect Mercedes Benz was aware of.

- Pittsboro, NC, USA