Mercedes Benz C240 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
88 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
89,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 to 2007 model years. Data snapshot: . 57 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 88 complaints (19.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 8 | 9.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 6.8% |
| Braking behavior | 6 | 6.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 5.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 5.7% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 3.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 17 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 13 |
| Electrical System | 12 |
| Seat Belts | 7 |
| Engine | 6 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
| Visibility | 5 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 4 |
Air Bags: 17; Fuel/Propulsion System: 13; Electrical System: 12; Seat Belts: 7; Engine: 6; Unknown Or Other: 6; Visibility: 5; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 16 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 10
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 31 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 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 13 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2004: 1; 2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2010: 3; 2011: 2; 2012: 5; 2013: 5; 2014: 10; 2015: 9; 2016: 13; 2017: 8; 2018: 6; 2019: 1; 2020: 13; 2021: 2; 2022: 1; 2023: 2; 2024: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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 11005283 · 2017-07-14 (July 14, 2017)
ESP LIGHT, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FADING, ACCELERATION SENSOR AND MULTIPLE LEAKS IN THE ENGINE, POWER STEERING, AXEL SEAL, SPARK PLUGS VALVE LEAKS, OIL LEAKS, TRANS BELL. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT IN FOR AN ESP LIGHT THAT TURNS ON ONCE THE CAR IS IN MOTION, A BURNING SMELL THAT COMES THROUGH THE CAR. MULTIPLE LEAKS DISCOVERED AND THE CLUSTER LIGHTING ALSO FADES OUT ONCE THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR A WHILE MAKING THE READINGS UNREADABLE. BENZEL AND BUSCH GENERATED A DIAGNOSTIC THAT DISCOVERED MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. MBUSA WAS ALSO NOTIFIED OF THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 11005283 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10544120 · 2013-09-17 (September 17, 2013)
WHILE DRIVING TO GET ON THE FREEWAY FROM ON RAMP, MISS JUDGE AND LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL, VEHICLE FLIP FROM FRONT TO BACK ON THE DITCH SIDE OF THE ROAD, DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT BUT GOT THROWN OUT DUE TO SEATBELT MALFUNCTION. FRONT AIRBAG ON STEERING AND PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT DEPLOYED, DRIVER SUSTAINED BROKEN SPINAL (NECK), TRAUMA BRAIN INJURY, BROKEN COLLAR BONES, BRUISED LUNGS, TWO BROKEN ARMS TWO BROKEN LEGS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 117,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10544120 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10817582 · 2016-01-04 (January 4, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C240. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR AND WAS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING FLUID IN SIX DIFFERENT PLACES AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10817582 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10204872 · 2007-09-24 (September 24, 2007)
2004 MERCEDES C240 WITH SUNROOF AND OVERHEAD CONTROL PANEL. CUSTOMER STATES THAT AFTER THE CAR WAS SUPPOSED TO BE REPAIRED THE VEHICLE ACQUIRED OTHER PROBLEMS ALONG WITH A LOOSE SEAT THAT MOVES WHILE DRIVING. *KB THE SUNROOF WOULDN'T CLOSE ON AUTO MODE, THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER WAS INOPERABLE, THE ALARM DIDN'T SOUND, THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR LOCK WAS DEFECTIVE, THE BRAKES SQUEAKED, THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK COMING FROM THE OIL PAN, THE TRANSMISSION LEAKED, THE THRUST ARM BUSHINGS FAILED, THE RIGHT SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER WAS COMING APART, THE RIGHT FRONT …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10204872 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10654596 · 2014-11-12 (November 12, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ C 240. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ESP CONTROL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 170,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10654596 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10854486 · 2016-04-08 (April 8, 2016)
NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, THEN VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY SLAMS ON BRAKES (SOMETIMES ALL 4 WHEELS, SOMETIMES ONLY 1 WHEEL--WHICH CAUSES VEHICLE TO YAW). AT FIRST, THIS PROBLEM WOULD ONLY OCCUR AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 40 MINUTES. NOW IT CAN HAPPEN UP TO 3 MINUTES AFTER STARTING VEHICLE. ON 1 OCCASION SYSTEM CAUSED THE WHEELS TO SKID FOR ABOUT ONE SECOND, WHICH MADE ME LOSE TRACTION. PROBLEM HAPPENS ONLY WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. INDEPENDENT OF WHETHER ON HIGHWAY OR IN A TURN.
Owner-reported narrative. 107,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10854486 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11192785 · 2019-03-31 (March 31, 2019)
MY 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ C240 ENGINE COOLING OR SUCTION FAN RUNS CONSTANTLY AT HIGH SPEED NONSTOP AT STARTUP UNTIL VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT / MODULE (ECU / ECM) OR COOLING / SUCTION FAN WAS BAD AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. I REPLACED THE ECU 5 TIMES AND THE COOLING / SUCTION FAN ONCE RELYING ON DEALER'S DIAGNOSES. MY C240 WOULD WORK FOR A WHILE BUT THE FAN WOULD MALFUNCTION AGAIN RUNNING CONSTANTLY AT HIGH SPEED. I NOTIFIED MERCEDES BENZ USA OF MULTIPLE FAN MALFUNCTIONS AND …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11192785 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10614719 · 2014-07-19 (July 19, 2014)
I AM NOT SURE WHY MERCEDES IS DOING THIS. I AM SURE THE AUTO MAKER IS AWARE OF THE SITUATION AND NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS FORUMS REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE. ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. I DEMAND MERCEDES TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY CAN NOT GET AWAY CLEAN HANDS JUST LIKE ANY OTHER AUTO MAKERS. THIS ARE PEOPLE LIVES YOU ARE PLAYING WITH AND YOU AS A AUTOMAKER HAVE NO REMORSE FOR PEOPLE LIVES. THIS IS NOT A MOVIE WHERE YOU CAN JUST CALCULATE YOUR COLLATERAL DAMAGE AND GET AWAY. WILL NEV…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10614719 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 ↗
Owner report 10631279 · 2014-09-06 (September 6, 2014)
BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN JUNE 2014, AFTER EVERY TIME I FILLED THE GAS TANK, THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF GAS INSIDE THE CAR, AUGUST 2, 2014 CAR JUST CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, LOST ALL POWER LIKE IT WAS GETTING NO GAS AND JUST CUT OFF. AUGUST 5, FILLED GAS TANK TO TAKE TO SHOP AND HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND GAS LEAKED FROM UNDERSIDE OF DRIVERS SIDE REAR AREA AND AGAIN STRONG SMELL OF GAS INSIDE THE CAR, DID SOME INVESTIGATION TO FIND OUT THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH OTHER MERCEDES CARS. APPARENTLY THERE HAS BEEN RECALLS ON THE E SERIES…
Owner-reported narrative. 180,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10631279 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10411835 · 2011-07-11 (July 11, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ C240. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10411835 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2007 | 0 |
2001: 3; 2002: 3; 2003: 3; 2004: 3; 2005: 3; 2007: 0