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U.S. public vehicle records

2001 Mercedes Benz 240 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

22 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

48,541 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Structure is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 22 complaints (13.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Engine operation418.2%
Braking behavior313.6%
Electrical and battery issues313.6%
Steering behavior313.6%
Fuel system concerns14.5%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Structure
3
Vehicle Speed Control
3
Air Bags:Frontal
2
Electrical System
2
Suspension
2
Unknown Or Other
2
Air Bags:Side/Window
1
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Structure3
Vehicle Speed Control3
Air Bags:Frontal2
Electrical System2
Suspension2
Unknown Or Other2
Air Bags:Side/Window1
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery1

Structure: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Electrical System: 2; Suspension: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Air Bags:Side/Window: 1; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
3
25,000 to 49,999
3
50,000 to 74,999
2
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
2
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0003
25,000 to 49,9993
50,000 to 74,9992
75,000 to 99,9991
100,000 to 149,9992
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 11 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2001
3
2002
6
2003
1
2004
3
2005
2
2006
2
2008
1
2010
1
2011
1
2012
1
2013
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20013
20026
20031
20043
20052
20062
20081
20101
20111
20121
20131

2001: 3; 2002: 6; 2003: 1; 2004: 3; 2005: 2; 2006: 2; 2008: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1

Pattern summary

Structure leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10164152 · 2006-08-02 (August 2, 2006)

AT SEVERAL POINTS DURING A ROAD TRIP THIS PAST WEEKEND, MY 2001 MERCEDES C240 SUDDENLY DIED WHILE CRUISING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR IN THE MONTHS LEADING UP TO THIS INCIDENCE. HOWEVER, SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING IT, THE SAME THING HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THE DEALER CHECKED THE CAR AT THAT TIME BUT NEVER TOOK ANY CORRECTIVE ACTION. IN THE LATEST INCIDENCES THIS PAST WEEK THE STALLING PUT ME IN IMMEDIATE DANGER OF BEING HIT BECAUSE THEY HAPPENED ON A MOUNTAIN ROA…

Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10164152 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 744786 · 2001-05-01 (May 1, 2001)

THREE EPISODES ON UNINTENDED ACCELERATION FROM A STOP. VEHICLE BEGINS TO STALL AND THEN SUDDENLY ACCELERATES. DEALER STATES PROBLEM ON EARLIER VEHICLES, BUT SOLVED WITH REPLACEMENT FUEL PUMP. I HAVE REPLACEMENT PUMP BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE IN FRONT OF ME ON THESE OCCASIONS.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 744786 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10237355 · 2008-08-07 (August 7, 2008)

WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 MERCEDES C240 AT FREEWAY SPEED. THE AUTOMATIC "EASY EXIT" FEATURE SHORTED OUT CAUSING MY SEAT TO AUTOMATICALLY MOVE ALL THE WAY BACKWARDS SO THAT I COULD NO LONGER REACH MY CLUTCH, BRAKE OR GAS PEDAL. IN ADDITION TO THIS MY STEERING WHEEL MOVED ITSELF UPWARDS AS FAR AS IT COULD GO. I NEARLY WRECKED MY CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENED, HOWEVER I WAS ABLE TO REACH MY BRAKE PEDAL BY SCOOTING WAY FORWARD IN THE SEAT, AND I ALSO WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE STICKSHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, AND PULL TO THE SHOULDER. I HAD BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE D…

Owner-reported narrative. 97,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10237355 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10477345 · 2012-09-27 (September 27, 2012)

WHILE DRIVING ON 101 FREEWAY AT FULL SPEED, THE MERCEDES SUDDENLY SELF-INITIATED CONTINUOUS BRAKE ACTION. THIS WAS UNCOMMANDED -- WITHOUT ME PRESSING THE BRAKES OR TAKING ANY OTHER ACTION. THE CONSOLE DISPLAYED AN "ESP" ERROR MESSAGE. THIS NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THIS SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD COULD HAVE VERY EASILY CAUSED DAMAGE, INJURY OR DEATH. CAR WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF CALABASAS. IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THIS ESP UNCONTROLLED AUTO-BRAKING ON FREEWAY ISSUE IS FROM THE YAW SENSOR. CALABASAS REPLACED IT TODAY -- TOTAL COST OVER…

Owner-reported narrative. 48,541 miles reported. Look up ODI 10477345 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10141839 · 2005-11-05 (November 5, 2005)

I HAVE A 2001 C-240 MERCEDES BENZ, THE LEFT TAIL LIGHT KEEP BLOWING AND I GET A MESSAGE THAT I'M USING THE SUBSTITUTE LIGHT, I TOOK IT THE REPAIR SHOP (MERCEDES BENZ) AND THEY CHANGED THE BULB, NOW THE PROBLEM IS HAPPENING AGAIN IN LESS THAN A YEAR. THERE IS A SHORTEST SOMEWHERE AND IT ALSO CAUSES THE CAR NOT TO START ONLY AFTER A DAY OF SITTING, I HAVE TO JUMP IT TO GET IT TO START. I CALLED ROADSIDE SERVICE THE CHECKED THE BATTERY AND SAID SOMETHING IS DRAINING THE BATTERY, BUT WHEN I TAKE IT IN THE REPAIR SHOP CAN'T FIND ANYTHING. A COUP…

Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10141839 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10148626 · 2006-01-04 (January 4, 2006)

2001 MERCEDES BENZ LEAKED WATER UNDER DRIVER SEAT AND BACK SEAT, ENGINE MADE A CLICKING NOISE, COMPUTER MALFUNCTIONED. *TS THE HEADLIGHTS NEVER LASTED MORE THAN 2-3 MONTHS. WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS A HUGE EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER. WHILE WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK, THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED A HUGE OIL LEAK UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. HE OPENED THE HOOD, AND A SMELL OF ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE EMITTED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE ENGINE RODS HAD FAILED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 6,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10148626 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10000990 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING WITH MY WIFE AS PASSENGER THE STEERING FROZE. UNABLE TO TURN WHEEL. VEHICLE PUSHED TO SAFETY OFF ROAD WITH A LOT OF EFFORT TO STEER. VEHICLE REMAINS AT DEALER # 2 IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK. MILEAGE WAS OVER 30, 000 AT TIME OF FAILURE ON 11/11/02.

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000990 at NHTSA ↗