2007 Mercedes Benz C230 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
212 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
71,105 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2007 model year. Data snapshot: . 149 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 55 of 212 complaints (25.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 40 | 18.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 33 | 15.6% |
| Engine operation | 10 | 4.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 4.7% |
| Braking behavior | 6 | 2.8% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 2.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 55 |
| Air Bags | 51 |
| Power Train | 50 |
| Engine | 29 |
| Electrical System | 14 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 14 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 |
Fuel/Propulsion System: 55; Air Bags: 51; Power Train: 50; Engine: 29; Electrical System: 14; Vehicle Speed Control: 14; Fuel System, Gasoline: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 25 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 36 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 29 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 33 |
| 150,000 and above | 11 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 25; 50,000 to 74,999: 36; 75,000 to 99,999: 29; 100,000 to 149,999: 33; 150,000 and above: 11
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (36). 63 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 |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 25 |
| 2013 | 18 |
| 2014 | 25 |
| 2015 | 25 |
| 2016 | 23 |
| 2017 | 41 |
| 2018 | 11 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2007: 2; 2008: 3; 2010: 1; 2011: 9; 2012: 25; 2013: 18; 2014: 25; 2015: 25; 2016: 23; 2017: 41; 2018: 11; 2019: 7; 2020: 7; 2021: 4; 2022: 3; 2023: 2; 2024: 4; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 40 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 33 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 10 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 10420594 · 2011-08-17 (August 17, 2011)
MY 2007 C230 AUTOMATIC SPORT SEDAN THAT I PURCHASED PRE-OWNED AND CERTIFIED FROM AN AUTHORIZED MB DEALER IN 2009 HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASE. I HAVE EXPERIENCED EXTREME LOSS OF ACCELERATION AND RUNNING AT A HIGH RPM. IT FIRST OCCURRED A FEW WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I WAS ENTERING A PARKING GARAGE WITH A STEEP HILL AND AS I DROVE UP HILL, THE CAR STRUGGLED TO ACCELERATE WHILE THE RMP RAN HIGH. I FEARED THE VEHICLE WAS ABOUT TO ROLL BACKWARD AND I QUICKLY APPLIED THE BRAKES, PLACED THE CAR IN PARK WITH MY FOOT S…
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10420594 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10442791 · 2012-01-07 (January 7, 2012)
VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. RPMS WERE AT SHIFT LEVEL, THEN ENGINE SHUT DOWN. RESTARTED AND REVVED ENGINE, LOUD WAILING SOUND. CAR WAS TOWED TO MERCEDES BENZ, THEY SAID TRANSMISSION PUMP BAD AS WELL AS TRANSMISSION, NEEDS REPLACING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10442791 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10232564 · 2008-06-27 (June 27, 2008)
ENGINE FAILED TO START; WOULD CRANK, BUT WOULD NOT START. KEY HAD TO BE RETURNED TO OFF POSITION TO STOP CRANKING ACTION. MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR CLAIMS TEH FUEL PUMP WAS AT FAULT.
Owner-reported narrative. 12,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10232564 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10426315 · 2011-09-19 (September 19, 2011)
STRONG RAW FUEL ODOR WAS NOTICED AFTER FILL UP ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT BOTH THE FUEL PUMP HOUSING AND THE FUEL SENDER HOUSINGS WERE CRACKED ALLOWING RAW FUEL TO LEAK OUT. THIS IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE E CLASS RECALL. THIS RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE THE C CLASS AS WELL AS THIS CAR HAS AN IDENTICAL FAILURE MODE. *KB
Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10426315 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10461161 · 2012-06-11 (June 11, 2012)
I PURCHASED MY 2007 MERCEDES C230 IN APPROXIMATELY FEBRUARY 2011 FROM CARMAX IN ROSEVILLE, CA. WITHIN SIX WEEKS, I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL FREEWAY WHEN I EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ACCELERATION POWER YET THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING A OVER 4000 RPM. I RETURNED TO THE CARMAX DEALERSHIP TO REPORT THE ENGINE PROBLEM, BUT THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM, WHICH REPEATED ITSELF INTERMITTENTLY IN THE FOLLOWING MONTHS. IN DECEMBER 2011, I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL MERCEDES SPECIALIST FOR A SERVICE B; UPON EXAMINATION, THE SPECIALIST ADVISED ME THAT …
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10461161 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10491587 · 2013-01-06 (January 6, 2013)
I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON 01-04-2013 IN TRAFFIC THE CAR STALLED ALMOST CAUSING AN ACIDENT. AND ON 01-06-2013 THE CAR STALLED AGAIN ON A BUSY STREET NEAR MY HOUSE AGAIN ALMOST CAUSING AN ACIDENT.I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM PENSKE MERCEDES BENZ OF WEST COVINA ON 08-03-2012.I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION.AND THAT IT HAD BEEN SERVICED.NOW I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE BECAUSE OF HAVING AN ACIDENT.AND ALSO THEY DID NOT TELL ME THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN ON RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. AND NOW THEY DON'T WANT TOO FIX THE CAR. CAN YOU PLEASE GET THIS …
Owner-reported narrative. 30 miles reported. Look up ODI 10491587 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10399921 · 2011-05-10 (May 10, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ C230. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE SPEEDOMETER WAS INOPERABLE AND THE ESP BAS CONTROL WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HER VIN HAD NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V303000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THEY PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC WHICH CONFIRMED THAT THE CONTROL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE C…
Owner-reported narrative. 69,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10399921 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10473170 · 2012-08-31 (August 31, 2012)
IT OCCURRED ON THE FREEWAY IN STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND THE RPM RAN HIGH. THE TRANSMISSION GEAR INDICATOR WENT BLANK. I HAD TO PULL OVER, TURN THE CAR OFF, LET IT SIT, THEN WHEN I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, IT WAS NORMAL AGAIN. I HAD ONLY 38,400 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE! ONLINE THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE 2006 2007 C230'S WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP SAID IT IS PERHAPS THE TRANSMISSION SPEED SENSOR WHICH IS PART OF THE ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR PLATE ASSEMBLY. WHEN T…
Owner-reported narrative. 38,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10473170 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10228931 · 2008-05-26 (May 26, 2008)
THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING MY 2007MERCEDESBENZ.5TH TIME. I LEASED A MBENZ 2007 C230W FROM BILL USSERY MERCEDES JANUARY 2007.2 WEEKS FROM PURCHASE BROUGHT THE CAR INTO SERVICE TOLD THEM THE CAR WOULD SHAKE VIGOROUSLY WHEN PRESSING ON BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN FROM 40MPH OR MORE. TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG. 2MONTHS LATER BROUGHT CAR BACK AND CAR WAS SHAKING WHEN BRAKING. CONFIRMED THE SHAKING AND BRAKE ROTORS BRAKE PADS,BRAKE DISCS WERE REPLACED,FRONT SUSPENSION LOOSE/TIGHTENED. THIS HAS OCCURRED NOW ON 5 SEPARATE OCCASSIONS. ONGOING SINCE FEBRUARY OF…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,529 miles reported. Look up ODI 10228931 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10196399 · 2007-07-15 (July 15, 2007)
I WAS DRIVING MY THREE MONTH OLD 07 MERCEDES BENZ C230 SPORT SEDAN. I HAD 1 PASSENGER WITH ME AND I ENTERED THE INTERSECTION IN THE#1 LANE AND I FELT AN IMPACT TO THE DRIVER DOOR AS THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. I STEERED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT , CAUSING THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TO FISHTAIL IN THE ISLAND. AS I WENT ACROSS THE LANES I STEERED TO THE LEFT TO AVOID THE FRONT END. MY PASSENGER REAR TIRE HIT THE CURB. AS I EXITED THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND AND NOTHING IN THE ROADWAY. THE CAR HAD NO DAMAGE, JUST SC…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10196399 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10563855 · 2014-02-11 (February 11, 2014)
I WAS ENTERING TO MY CAR AND ADJUST THE STEERING WHEEL, BUT IT DID NOT LOCK THE WHEEL NOW IS UP AND DOWN AND SO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ANY MOVEMENT AND THE WHEEL GOES UP OR DOWN DEPEND HOW I TURN DOWN LEFT OR RIGHT AND THEY SAID THAT IS NOT A COMPANY RECALL ON THAT SITUATION, BUT IS A SAFETY MARA SHOULD BE COVER IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND SO EXPENSIVE TO FIXED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 71,105 miles reported. Look up ODI 10563855 at NHTSA ↗