2001 Mercedes Benz C CLASS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
14 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
72,193 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 14 complaints (28.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 14.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 14.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 7.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 7.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 7.1% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Electrical System:Horn | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
Electrical System: 4; Exterior Lighting: 2; Air Bags: 1; Electrical System:Horn: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 5 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 3 |
2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 4; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 2; 2010: 3
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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 10064111 · 2004-03-29 (March 29, 2004)
STEERING WHEEL LOOSE AND MAKING NOISE WHEN TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT, DEALER FOUND POWER STEERING PUMP LEAKING AND WAS REPLACED. NEXT DAY ENGINE LIGHT ON,ABS SYSTEM FAILS, ESP ELEC,STABILITY,PROGRAM FAILS, BAS BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM FAILS, THE CAR DOES NOT CHANGE GEAR AND WOULD NOT PICK UP SPEED EVENTHOUGH I'M PRESSING HARD ON THE GAS PEDAL. DEALER ATTEMPTED FIXING THE PROBLEM 4X AND STILL THERE FOR THE 5TH TIME. EACH TIME THEY FIND DIFFERENT CAUSES LIKE CRACKED THRUST ARMS AND WAS REPLACED. THEN THEY SAID THERE'S AN OPEN CIRCUIT AT THE RIGHT SPEED C…
Owner-reported narrative. 31,384 miles reported. Look up ODI 10064111 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10071027 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
AFTER LEAVING MY 2001 CLK320 MERCEDES AT THE DEALERSHIP I WAS NOTIFIED THAT MY BRAKE SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE REQUIRING PADS/ROTORS AND OTHER RELATED ITEMS ALONG WITH THE FACT THAT EVERY 1000 MILES OR SO, A LIGHT BULB OR SOMETHING ELECTRICAL WILL FAIL AND I USUALLY FIND THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP AND GET THE PROBLEM FIXED. THE BRAKE SYSTEM (WHICH IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY) WAS THE LAST STRAW! WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A 50,000 DOLLAR AUTOMOBILE WITH ONLY A LITTLE OVER 17,000 MILES ON IT.
Owner-reported narrative. 17,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10071027 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10366976 · 2010-11-20 (November 20, 2010)
BATTERY DRAIN, SEEMS TO COME FROM DEFECT IN SEAT CONTROLLER MODULE. SEE 19 PAGES OF FORUM: HTTP://WWW.BENZWORLD.ORG/FORUMS/W203-C-CLASS/1196568-MERCEDES-C320-BATTERY-DRAIN-11.HTML MERCEDES C240 2001, BUT MANY OTHER MODELS AND YEARS AFFECTED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 93,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10366976 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10266184 · 2009-04-20 (April 20, 2009)
APRIL NOV 2004, I PURCHASED A 2001 C240 MERCEDES FROM PRINCETON MERCEDES IN NEW JERSEY. ONE MONTH AFTER DRIVING THE CAR SLOWED DOWN AS IF IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATED. I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK IN FOR REPAIR. THEY TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. HOWEVER 4/19/08 I EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM OF DECELERATION WHILE DRIVING I WAS TOLD THIS TIME THAT IT WAS TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING AND I BELIEVED THAT THIS WAS THE PROBLEM 4 YEARS AGO; HOWEVER THEY DID NOT WAS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I WANT TO KNOW WAS THERE A RECALL FOR THI…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10266184 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10214727 · 2008-01-14 (January 14, 2008)
STALLING IN TRAFFIC CAUSED BY FAILURE OF CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 115,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10214727 at NHTSA ↗