2005 Mercedes Benz C230 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
85 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
82,543 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 43 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 45 of 85 complaints (52.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 10.6% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 8.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 7.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 4.7% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 3.5% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 3.5% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 45 |
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Engine | 6 |
| Power Train | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 |
| Seats | 3 |
Air Bags: 45; Electrical System: 10; Engine: 6; Power Train: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Air Bags:Frontal: 3; Exterior Lighting: 3; Seats: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 14 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 14; 150,000 and above: 2
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (14). 42 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 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 23 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2006: 6; 2007: 4; 2008: 3; 2010: 5; 2011: 4; 2012: 3; 2013: 3; 2014: 4; 2015: 2; 2016: 7; 2017: 23; 2018: 9; 2019: 1; 2020: 5; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 7 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 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 10364178 · 2010-11-05 (November 5, 2010)
IN SEPT 2008 I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED MERCEDES BENZ C230 SEDAN ALONG WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR AN ADDITIONAL EXPENSE THE CAR HAD APPROX 32K ON IT AT TIME OF PURCHASE, IT NOW IS AT APRROX 62K ALL SERVICE ACTIONS HAVE BEEN PERFORMED BY THE LOCAL MB DEALERSHIP AND THE CAR ONLY HAS THE OEM EQUIPMENT IT WAS MANUFACTURED WITH. ON THE 28TH OF OCT 2010 I HAD RETURNED TO WORK PARKED THE CAR AND ABOUT 15 MINS AFTER IT WAS SHUT OFF I WAS SUMMONED BY A COWORKER THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE, I IMMEDIATELY OPENED THE HOOD, EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND …
Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10364178 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10369462 · 2010-12-07 (December 7, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ C230. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CAMSHAFT SOLENOID HAD LEAKED OIL INTO THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE SRS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SEAT BELT H…
Owner-reported narrative. 47,668 miles reported. Look up ODI 10369462 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10156068 · 2006-04-25 (April 25, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER A FEW MINUTES. OTHER TIMES THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP A TOTAL OF EIGHT TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP MADE UNKNOWN REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER, HOWEVER THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER ACCURATELY DETERMINED AND NONE OF THE UNKNOWN REPLACEMENT PARTS REMEDIED THE PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 20,252 miles reported. Look up ODI 10156068 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10165348 · 2006-08-13 (August 13, 2006)
PROBLEM STARTS WITH A HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION AND LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING. AFTER SHUTTING ENGINE OFF, THEN UPON STARTING VEHICLE, ENGINE WOULD START TO SHAKE AND STUMBLE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. VEHICLE ENGINE SOUNDS AS IF IT GOING TO BLOW UP AND HAS NO POWER AND STALLS BECOMES UNDRIVEABLE. IF YOU SHUT ENGINE OFF AGAIN AND RESTART SOMETIMES CAR CAN BE DRIVEN EVEN THOUGH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON. IT ALWAYS SHOWS THE SAME CODES FOR REPAIR. CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO DEALER 2 TIMES AND DRIVEN OVER 4 ADDITIONAL TIMES. EACH T…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10165348 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10166252 · 2006-08-22 (August 22, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UPON SHIFTING THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD INTO A TREE WITHOUT WARNING; AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THERE WAS MODERATE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE POLICE WERE ALERTED AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP FOR REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE DAMAGE. A NHTSA RECALL, #05V560000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING, THE AIRBAGS HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10166252 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10204835 · 2007-10-04 (October 4, 2007)
MY MERCEDES BENZ C230 KOMPRESSOR STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS AT 4400 MILES, IT HAS A HESITATION PROBLEM. IT NOW HAS 42,000 MILES AND STILL HAS HESITATION. ITS BEEN IN THE SHOP 7 TIMES FOR THE SAME SITUATION. THEY TRIED TO BLAME IT ON WATER IN THE FUEL, BUT IT CONTINUES TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. OVER THE SEVEN ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE, THE PROBLEMS STILL PERSISTS. THE HESITATION IS CONSISTED OF STOPPING AND GOING, JERKING THE VEHICLE WHEN TRANSMISSION FROM GEAR TO GEAR. ITS A FUEL RELATED PROBLEM. MY FIANCE AND I HAVE BEEN IN TO MANY CLOSE CALLS …
Owner-reported narrative. 4,405 miles reported. Look up ODI 10204835 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10508830 · 2013-04-19 (April 19, 2013)
BEGAN TO SMELL A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL EVAPORATION FROM VEHICLE, BOTH WHILE DRIVING AND ALSO WHILE PARKED. CONFIRMED TO BE SOME TYPE OF FUEL LEAK AT OR NEAR THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. WE WERE ADVISED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN AND COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE OF VEHICLE AND THAT THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REPAIR WILL BE SUBSTANTIAL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10508830 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10194976 · 2007-06-29 (June 29, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ C230. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 9,000 MILES. IN ADDITION, BOTH REAR TIRES WERE REPLACED AT 13,000 MILES BECAUSE THEY WERE WORN OUT. THE TIRES CURRENTLY NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE PURCHASE DATE AND TIRE INFORMATION WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 19,775 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10194976 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10509805 · 2013-04-27 (April 27, 2013)
I PULLED UP TO A STOP SIGN AND AS I PRECEDED TO ACCELERATE IT WAS VERY SHAKY AND UNWILLING TO ACCELERATE. IT WOULD NOT BRAKE 20 MPH. I THEN PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE CAR DOWN AND WAITED TO RESTART. AFTER THE RESTART IT BEHAVE AS NORMAL BUT IF I ACCELERATED TO MUCH IT WOULD BEGIN TO SHAKE AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ANYMORE. AFTER SOME RESEARCH ON THE FORUMS I DISCOVER A MASS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS THAT MATCH MY DESCRIPTION TO A T AND DESCRIBE ISSUES WITH A CAM BEARING, A TRANSMISSION PLATE, OR BOTH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. [XX…
Owner-reported narrative. 82,543 miles reported. Look up ODI 10509805 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10358849 · 2010-10-02 (October 2, 2010)
FIRST, MY STEERING WHEEL WIRE WAS REPLACED FROM A FAULTY SRS LIGHT COMING ON AND THE ESP LIGHT COMING ON. I HAD TO PAY FOR ALL OF THIS. NEXT, EUROMOTOR CARS SAID THE STEERING WHEEL COLLAR WAS BROKE. I HAVE NEVER HAD THAT FIXED BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME AND I FELT THEY SHOULD REPLACE THE COLLAR SINCE THEY REPLACED THE STEERING WIRE. NOW MY CAR DOES NOT START AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DOES NOT LIGHT UP. I CANNOT UNLOCK THE DOORS WITH THE REMOTE KEY AND I CANNOT UNLOCK THE TRUNK OF THE CAR. MY CAR JUST SITS BECAUSE I FEEL I SHOU…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10358849 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10574846 · 2014-03-25 (March 25, 2014)
I WAS INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT AT A STOPLIGHT. WHILE WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO TURN GREEN, MY CAR ACCELERATED AND I RAN INTO THE BACK OF A PICKUP TRUCK. THE TRUCK DID NOT HAVE A SCRATCH ON IT. I HAD $OVER $8,000 DAMAGE. THE WHOLE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS DAMAGED (SMASHED UP INTO THE WINDSHIELD). THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP AND REPAIRED. I NOW FIND OUT 3/15/2014 THE CAR HAS A BENT K-FRAME NOT TO MENTION THE WORK WAS SHODDY ON THE BODY WORK. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY MORE ACCIDENTS. I HAD JUST PURCHASED THE CAR THE MONTH BEFORE AS A USED VEHICLE. I WANT TO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10574846 at NHTSA ↗