1998 Mercedes Benz C230 problems and owner complaints

ONE MORNING CAR STARTED NORMAL BUT RPMS WERE HI WHILE IN PARK AND EVER SINCE THE CAR DROVE ROUGH, STALLING AT LIGHTS, DYING WHEN ACCELERATION WAS PRESSES. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON - OBD READER CODE SAYS MASS FLOW AIR SENSOR FAILURE. REPLACED THE SENSOR, PROBLEM FIXED, AT A COST OF $500 FOR PART! *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10141243 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ C230. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY, AND THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. HE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000 . THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 122,748.

Owner-reported narrative. 122,748 miles reported. Look up ODI 10290301 at NHTSA ↗

NAR 04/07/2003. * MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE BATTERY STARTED SMOKING AND EMITTING FUMES FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE SAME PROBLEM HE EXPERIENCED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015272 at NHTSA ↗

01 V 366 000/BATTERY: WHEN THE CONSUMER REMOVED THE BATTERY FROM THE TRUNK AND PLACED IT ON A CRATE TO CHECK THE WATER LEVEL, IT ALL OF A SUDDEN EXPLODED IN THE CONSUMERS FACE. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED ACID BURNS, CUTS AND BRUISES TO HIS FACE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE WAS NOT TOUCHING THE BATTERY AT THE TIME OF EXPLOSION. *TC

Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10105202 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 1998 MERCEDES C230 WITH A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. FOR THE PAST 3 MONTHS I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THE MERCEDES REGIONAL MANAGER (MACINTOSH) TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM, WHICH HAS BEEN PRESENT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW, BUT ONLY BECAME DANGEROUS IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. MACINTOSH IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND ITS SERIOUS NATURE, BUT REFUSES TO RETURN MY CALLS. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE MERCEDES DEALER THAT I CANNOT ESCALATE THE SITUATION FURTHER. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE TRANSMISSION CAUSES THE CAR TO LURCH FORWARD A FEW SECONDS AFTER A HARD S…

Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018417 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION STICKS IN SECOND GEAR, THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8010391 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE TURNING ON THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING STEERING COLUMN HAD WIRES EXPOSED. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN SWITCH. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10067050 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS SITTING STOPPED IN TRAFFIC WITH THE ENGINE OFF, AND THE FRONT DRIVERS' SIDE OF MY VEHICLE JUST SPONTANEOUSLY DROPPED AS IF THAT PART OF THE VEHICLE HAD FALLEN INTO A SINK HOLE. I WAS WAITING FOR A DRAW BRIDGE TO COME DOWN AFTER A SAILBOAT PASSED, SO THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO INSPECT WHAT HAD HAPPENED, I COULD SEE THAT THE FRONT SPRING HAD SEPARATED FROM ITS TOP MOUNT IN WHAT I ASSUME WAS THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I SEARCHED ON-LINE I FOUND THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WITH VARIOUS MO…

Owner-reported narrative. 148,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10597414 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ C230. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO DISCOVERED A FUEL LEAK AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10621532 at NHTSA ↗