10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
55,950 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 #5

Jan 012015

C230

  • miles
The SAM system failed and car would not start !It took months to be diagnosed by 3 different mechanics! The message said quite often that the Air bags have been deployed !The dealer could not determine the issue! There have been various recalls on the Takata air bags stating my C230 2005 Kompressor is included in the recall over the last few years and when I put in the vin it says my car is not included! My mechanic said I should take it to the dealer before someone is killed. All I want now is to have these airbags replaced! Thank you [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Deerfield Beach , FL, USA

problem #4

Jun 222022

C230

  • miles
I was driving my car to work and the next thing you know it slowed down only going 40mph. Then the engine light came on and now it want go in reverse. The electrical has went out for moving the headrest up and down, moving the seat forward N backwards. The battery keep draining, this is the 3rd new battery I had to buy. It's still beging drain. The sunroof will not open all electrical has went out in that area. It has never been able to open. The windshield wiper motor has went out. I took the car to the dealership they sais it wasn't nothing they can do since there wasn't no recall for this model

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #3

Oct 142016

C230

  • 93,750 miles
Heated driver side seat burned through leather and scorched clothing. The vehicle was in motion on a highway. Smelled smoke, exited car and seat was smoking and sparking.

- Canton, OH, USA

problem #2

Feb 272014

C230

  • 81,000 miles
Driver's side seat back, left bolster, started to smoke and burned a dime size hole in the leather seat cover. Driver's seat heat was on at the time. Turning the seat heat off seems to have solved the problem temporarily. Suspect short in seat heat wiring. Potential fire hazard!

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #1

Jan 012012

C230

  • 105,000 miles
Seat control module failure. 2 modules per car, 1 for passenger seat, and 1 for driver seat fail. The defective seat control module unit will deplete the cars battery overnight resulting in a no-start condition the following day. A new battery, or a jump start, will get the car going again. The common immediate resolution is to unplug the seat control module which would impact the seats ability to respond in an accident. The replacement part and diagnosis from mb dealer is approx $700/ module. This is a huge liability for Mercedes owners and the repair should be investigated for seat function safety. I understand the part number has been updated, which I believe is an admission by Mercedes that the original part is defective.

- Trabuco Canyon, CA, USA