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2001 Mercedes Benz C320 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

63 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

70,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 48 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 23 of 63 complaints (36.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues2742.9%
Braking behavior1117.5%
Steering behavior69.5%
Engine operation57.9%
Fuel system concerns34.8%
Transmission and shifting11.6%

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.

Electrical System
23
Seats
17
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
6
Engine And Engine Cooling
5
Exterior Lighting
5
Vehicle Speed Control
5
Steering
4
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
3
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System23
Seats17
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine6
Engine And Engine Cooling5
Exterior Lighting5
Vehicle Speed Control5
Steering4
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)3

Electrical System: 23; Seats: 17; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5; Exterior Lighting: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Steering: 4; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 3

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
10
50,000 to 74,999
13
75,000 to 99,999
11
100,000 to 149,999
9
150,000 and above
3
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0002
25,000 to 49,99910
50,000 to 74,99913
75,000 to 99,99911
100,000 to 149,9999
150,000 and above3

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 3

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 15 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.

2001
2
2002
2
2003
5
2004
4
2005
4
2006
2
2007
2
2008
7
2009
3
2010
7
2011
4
2012
5
2013
2
2014
5
2015
2
2016
3
2018
1
2020
1
2022
1
2023
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20012
20022
20035
20044
20054
20062
20072
20087
20093
20107
20114
20125
20132
20145
20152
20163
20181
20201
20221
20231

2001: 2; 2002: 2; 2003: 5; 2004: 4; 2005: 4; 2006: 2; 2007: 2; 2008: 7; 2009: 3; 2010: 7; 2011: 4; 2012: 5; 2013: 2; 2014: 5; 2015: 2; 2016: 3; 2018: 1; 2020: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 27 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Steering 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 10019133 · 2003-05-22 (May 22, 2003)

GAS FUMES SO OVER POWERING THAT YOU HAD TO DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN AFTER YOU FILLED UP THE CAR WITH GASOLINE. GAS TANK HAD A LEAK AND ALL THE DASH WAS REPLACED AT DEALER. HOWEVER THERE ARE SHORTAGES IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THAT CAUSE THE VISOR LAMPS TO NOT WORK AND THE AUTOMATIC LIGHTS AND RELAYS IN THE WIPERS DO NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. WHEN THE HEAT IS ON THE GAS FUMES AND MONOXIDE IS STRONG AGAIN . I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS RECTIFIED WHEN THEY FIXED IT BUT IT STILL TENDS TO ACT UP. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 29,457 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019133 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10126338 · 2005-06-23 (June 23, 2005)

DT: CAR HAS HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS FROM AIR BAGS TO BRAKES TO ALTERNATOR. OWNER DOESNT THINK HE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS, ACTUALLY THE MAIN CONCERN HE HAS IS ABOUT THE WARRANTY. UPON PURCHASE, THE VEHICLE AIR BAG LIGHTS CAME ON, THEN THE BRAKES AND ALTERNATOR WENT OUT AS WELL. THE BRAKES FAILED DUE TO A MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE. THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AFTER THE OWNER INSTALLED A NEW BATTERY. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 53,867 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126338 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10103381 · 2004-12-08 (December 8, 2004)

CONSUMER WAS PULLING INSIDE OF A PARKING SPACE TO PARK AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THEN, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITH SPEED, JUMPED THE CURB,AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES REPORTED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 29,943 miles reported. Look up ODI 10103381 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10008848 · 2003-03-07 (March 7, 2003)

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED STEERING PROBLEMS.*DT *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008848 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10313066 · 2010-02-23 (February 23, 2010)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES C320. WHILE DRIVING 68 MPH WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE STALLED, LOST POWER AND WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL. HE WAS ABLE TO DROVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE USING A LOT OF FORCE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A MERCEDES DEALER WHERE THEY DIAGNOSIS INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY CRANK POSITION SENSOR AND THE COMPUTER SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE FAULTY SENSOR WAS REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,151 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,488. UPDATED 3/30/10 *CN THE FIRST TIME …

Owner-reported narrative. 31,151 miles reported. Look up ODI 10313066 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10012433 · 2003-03-25 (March 25, 2003)

THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 55 miles reported. Look up ODI 10012433 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10092634 · 2004-09-17 (September 17, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING 65-70 MPH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR LOCATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10092634 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10189094 · 2007-04-27 (April 27, 2007)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ C320. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AND FAILED. THE DEALER REMOVED THE FUEL PUMP AND FOUND THAT THE PLASTIC COMPONENT MELTED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN THIS TYPE OF FAILURE AND IT COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE AN EXPLOSION. THE MECHANIC ORDERED A NEW FUEL PUMP, AND DISCOVERED THAT MERCEDES WAS USING A NEW TYPE OF WIRING CONNECTION THAT LINKED THE FUEL PIPE TO THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 76,000. *AK UPDATED 06/08/07. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10189094 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10352334 · 2010-08-27 (August 27, 2010)

MALFUNCTIONING SEAT CONTROL MODULES DRAIN BATTERY IN 2001 C320 MERCEDES BENZ. NOT LONG AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR IN JANUARY 2008 WITH 51,000+ MILES, I PAID $175 DOLLARS FOR A NEW MBZ BATTERY, BEFORE ASKING DEALERSHIP TO DISCONNECT SEAT CONTROL MODULES. I WAS NOT PREPARED TO PAY $1200 TO REPLACE MODULES. JUNE 25, 2010, MY 2001 C320 STOPPED DURING A TRIP TO PHOENIX, AZ FROM CALIFORNIA, DUE TO FUEL PUMP GOING OUT. MY 79 YEAR-OLD MOTHER AND I WAITED IN 100+ DEGREE WEATHER FOR A TOW, WHICH TOOK 3 HOURS TO GET TO PHOENIX MBZ DEALERSHIP. OAKLAND SER…

Owner-reported narrative. 102,211 miles reported. Look up ODI 10352334 at NHTSA ↗