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U.S. public vehicle records

2003 Mercedes Benz C240 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

20 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

114,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 20 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues210.0%
Fuel system concerns15.0%

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.

Fuel/Propulsion System
8
Air Bags
5
Electrical System
4
Engine
2
Exterior Lighting
2
Tires
2
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
1
Seat Belts
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Fuel/Propulsion System8
Air Bags5
Electrical System4
Engine2
Exterior Lighting2
Tires2
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)1
Seat Belts1

Fuel/Propulsion System: 8; Air Bags: 5; Electrical System: 4; Engine: 2; Exterior Lighting: 2; Tires: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Seat Belts: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
1
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
5
150,000 and above
3
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9991
75,000 to 99,9991
100,000 to 149,9995
150,000 and above3

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 3

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 10 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.

2014
3
2015
4
2016
5
2017
2
2018
1
2020
3
2023
1
2024
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20143
20154
20165
20172
20181
20203
20231
20241

2014: 3; 2015: 4; 2016: 5; 2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2020: 3; 2023: 1; 2024: 1

Pattern summary

Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns 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 10586324 · 2014-05-03 (May 3, 2014)

I WAS ALWAYS GETTING AN ERROR MESSAGE TELLING ME MY REAR LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. I EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN MY TRUNK, WHICH CAUSED THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY AND THE ENTIRE LEFT SIDE OF MY CAR CAUGHT FIRE. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. CAR WOULD NOT START, TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN. CAR WAS TOTALED BY DEALER AND INSURANCE COMPANY. I KNOW THERE IS A RECALL NOTICE FOR NEW C CLASS CARS, BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT I EXPERIENCED, I BELIEVE OLDER MODELS MAY ALSO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10586324 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10852305 · 2016-03-29 (March 29, 2016)

I OWN A A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ C240. THE FOLLOWING DAY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REFUELED, THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR. IT HAS HAPPEN SUDDENLY OUT OF NOWHERE AFTER MY OTHER ELECTRICAL FAILURES OF SHOWING UP IN MY MALFUNCTION PANEL, IN WHICH I HAVE A COMPLAINT. THE SRS THEN THE ESP NOW. THEN THE FUEL SMELL. I SEEM TO NOTICE IT MORE WHEN I WOULD IDLE HEATING UP THE CAR IN THE WINTER, THEN WHEN I JUST TURN IT ON AND DRIVE. I NOTICE IT AT STOP LIGHTS AS WELL. IF THERE IS ANY RECALL ON ANY MERCEDES THAT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THIS OR ANY ISSUE, IT SHO…

Owner-reported narrative. 168,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10852305 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10927575 · 2016-11-22 (November 22, 2016)

AFTER FILLING MY GAS TANK, THERE'S A VERY STRONG RAW GAS ODOR INSIDE THE CAR WHILE DRIVING, AND WHEN PARKED. SEEMS STRONGER IN THE BACKSEAT. I SEE THERE'S A EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS ISSUE FROM MERCEDES BENZ ON THE E CLASS FOR MY YEAR (2003). THAT WARRANTY EXTENSION SHOULD HAVE COVERED ALL CLASSES WITH SIMILAR DESIGN OR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE FUMES ARE SO STRONG I AM AFRAID ANY SPARK COULD IGNITE THE VAPORS. I REALLY NEED YOUR HELP! IF MERCEDES BENZ ACKNOWLEDGED PROBLEMS WITH MY YEAR (2003), IT SHOULD INCLUDE MY C CLASS UNLESS THEY CAN ESTABL…

Owner-reported narrative. 196,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10927575 at NHTSA ↗