2004 Mercedes Benz C CLASS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
15 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
21,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 15 complaints (13.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 13.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 13.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 6.7% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 6.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 6.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Power Train: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Air Bags:Side/Window: 1; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 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 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 8 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
2004: 7; 2005: 2; 2006: 1; 2007: 2; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 10146555 · 2005-12-30 (December 30, 2005)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS AN ODOR COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION AREA. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE ODOR WAS COMING FROM EITHER AN OIL OR TRANSMISSION LEAK. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE ODOR. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THIS WAS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. THE VEHICLE IS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ C230. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10146555 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10437010 · 2011-11-21 (November 21, 2011)
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 *TGW 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. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10437010 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10187454 · 2007-04-10 (April 10, 2007)
I HAVE A 2004 MERCEDES C230 COMPRESSOR. YESTERDAY, I DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND AFTERWARDS LEFT IT PARKED. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. IT ENGULFED THE WHOLE VEHICLE IN SMOKE AND DAMAGED MOST OF THE INTERIOR. THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR CAME ,AND STATED THAT IT WAS FROM THE ELECTRICAL WIRES INSIDE THE DASHBOARD. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10187454 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10464581 · 2012-07-08 (July 8, 2012)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10464581 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10087821 · 2004-08-12 (August 12, 2004)
WILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER NOTICED STEAM COMING FROM THE HOOD AND BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE ,BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10087821 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10100612 · 2004-11-27 (November 27, 2004)
EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE I HAVA HAD PROBLEMS WITH IS FEATURES. POWER SEATS THAT MOVE BY THEMSELVES, AUTOMATIC DIMMING MIRRORS THAT TURN PITCH BLACK IN MIDDLE OF DAY, POWER TILT STEERING WHEEL THAT HAS UNPREDICITIBLE MOVES. AUTO WINDSHIELD WIPERS THAT DONT FUCNTION PROPERLY IN HEAVY DOWN POURS. THE SEATS ARE POWER AND THEY WILL MOVE ALL BY THEMSLEVES AND MOVE THE DRIVER EITHER INTO THE STEERING WHEEL OR PULL THE DRIVER BACK FROM THE WHEEL AND PEDALS. THE RAIN WIPERS DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, DURNING HEAVY DOWNPOURS THEY JUST STOP W…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10100612 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10548199 · 2013-10-17 (October 17, 2013)
I SMELLED STRONG VAPORS OF GAS INSIDE MY CAR AND OUTSIDE THE AREA. I LOOKED UNDER CAR GAS WAS POURING OUT FROM UNDER FUEL TANK . TOOK IT TO ( TOWED THAT IS) THE SHOP FIND FUEL TANK WAS DEFECTIVE ! FOUND HOLE IN THE TANK ON THE TAB IF THAT MAKES SENSE . THE SHOP CALLED AROUND FOR SAFETY RECALL AND MERCEDES SEE IF ANY OTHER INFORMATION. I AM AWARE MERCEDES HAS HAD PROBLEM IN PAST WITH FUEL TANKS . THE SOP INFORMED ME IF I DROVE THIS CAR WITH HEAT FROM EXHAUST WOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE ., I AM TRYING TO CONTACT MERCEDES CORPORATE HEAD QUARTERS WIT…
Owner-reported narrative. 123,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10548199 at NHTSA ↗