1999 Mercedes Benz 230: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
8 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
74,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 8 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 62.5% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 25.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 12.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 12.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 12.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring: Rear Compartment/Trunk | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Air:Disc:Pads | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 1 |
| Suspension:Front | 1 |
| Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs | 1 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Electrical System:Wiring: Rear Compartment/Trunk: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 1; Service Brakes, Air:Disc:Pads: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 1; Suspension:Front: 1; Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 4 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10046749 · 2003-11-12 (November 12, 2003)
DRIVING THE CAR AT 45 MILES AN HOUR, HEARD A BUZZING NOISE GETTING LOUDER AND LOUDER, THE ACCELERATOR WAS PICKING UP SPEED ON ITS OWN, PRESSED THE BRAKES AND THE CAR WASN'T STOPPING, I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY, TOOK THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A HARD LEFT, WAS IN THE LEFT LANE, HIT THE CONCRETE DIVIDER TO AVOID HITTING OTHER CARS, HIT THE CAR IN FRONT THAT CAR HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM, THE AIRBAG OPENED, KNOCKED ME OUT, THEN I GUESS THE CAR SWERVED DIAGONALLY HIT A CAR IN THE MIDDLE LANE AND THEN HIT THE CONCRETE WALL ON THE RIGHT SIDE, WHEN I CAME TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10046749 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052402 · 2004-01-05 (January 5, 2004)
THE LIGHT IN THE DASH BOARD THAT COMES ON WHEN BRAKE PADS ARE LOW DID NOT COME ON UNTIL PADS AND ROTORS WERE BELOW SPECS, AND I HAD TO REPLACE THE ROTORS. THE WARNING SYSTEM TO REPLACE PADS DID NOT PERFROM IT'S JOB BECAUSE THE ROTORS WERE WORN TO THE POINT WHERE THEY HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10052402 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10078806 · 2004-06-25 (June 25, 2004)
CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER DETACHED FROM ENGINE WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING. VERY DANGEROUS. CAR HAS ONLY 14600 MILES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 14,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10078806 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10108413 · 2005-02-02 (February 2, 2005)
APPROXIMATELY, IN 2001 I STOPPED INTO A MERCEDES DEALER IN LATROBE, PA. FOR HELP REPLACING MY RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT. IT WAS FROZEN IN THE SOCKET AND IT WOULDN'T MOVE. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM AND THAT THE SOCKET HOLDING THE BULB GETS SO HOT THAT THE PLASTIC ADHERES TO THE FRAME. THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE LIGHT ASSEMBLY EXPLAINING TO ME THAT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND EVEN THOUGH I WAS OUT OF WARRENTY SAFETY ISSUE RESPONSIBILITY NEVER EXPIRE AS A MANUFACTURER. I LIKE THAT, I FELT OK WITH IT. SINCE THEN I AM CONTINUING TO PLACE BRAK…
Owner-reported narrative. 105,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10108413 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10147718 · 2006-01-13 (January 13, 2006)
WITHOUT ANY MEMORY OF HITTING ANY BAD POTHOLES OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT COULD HAVE COMPROMISED THE SUSPENSION. WHILE SITTING IN LINE TO PICK UP THE CHILDREN AT SCHOOL THE TOP SUPPORT ON THE COIL SPRING GAVE AWAY, RELEASING THE SPRING AND CAUSING THE FRONT OF THE CAR TO STRIKE THE GROUND. UPON THE INSPECTION OF THE COIL SPRING SUPPORTS AT A GARAGE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE OPPOSITE COIL SPRING HAS BEEN 3/4 COMPROMISED, RESULTING IN THE REPLACEMENT OF BOTH COIL SPRING MOUNTS. THE RESULTS OF THE FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC HAD IT OCCURRED O…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10147718 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10392293 · 2011-03-20 (March 20, 2011)
I HEARD A LOUD BANG AND FELT THE VEHICLE SHUDDER VIOLENTLY. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. I THOUGHT THAT PERHAPS THE ENTIRE EXHAUST SYSTEM HAD FALLEN OFF THE CAR BUT IT HAD NOT. UPON CLOSE INSPECTION I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVERS FRONT SUSPENSION HAD COLLAPSED AND THE FENDER AND WHEEL WELL WERE RESTING ON THE TIRE. I WONDERED IF THE A-ARM BALL JOINT HAD BROKEN SO I JACKED UP THE CAR. WITH THE CAR JACKED UP IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE UPPER SPRING POCKET ALSO CALLED A SPRING PERCH HAD TORN AWAY FROM THE BODY OF THE CAR. IT H…
Owner-reported narrative. 237,557 miles reported. Look up ODI 10392293 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 727970 · 2000-08-15 (August 15, 2000)
MY CAR SELF-ACCELERATED CAUSING CRASH INTO OTHER VEHICLE. BRAKES FAILED TO STOP SELF-PROPELLED CAR. MANUFACTURER NOT ACKNOWLEDGING CAR PROBLEM. PUTTING BURDEN OF PROOF ON ME. I HAVE NO WITNESSES . I REPORTED THIS TO YOU ON 5/28/00 AND DO NOT SEE IT APPEARING ON YOUR WEBSITE. I CALLED THIS A.M. GOT NO WHERE WITH YOUR OPERATOR. I HAVE COPY OF VOQ CONFIRMATION. PLEASE RESPOND ASAP.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 727970 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8010282 · 2002-05-21 (May 21, 2002)
BRAKES ARE WORN OUT, AND T ROTORS ARE BELOW SAFETY LEVEL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8010282 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.