2003 Mercedes Benz C CLASS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
9 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
32,073 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 9 complaints (22.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 22.2% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 11.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 11.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 1 |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 |
| Power Train:Driveline | 1 |
Electrical System: 2; Air Bags: 1; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 1; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 1; Fuel System, Other: 1; Power Train:Driveline: 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 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 2 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 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2007: 3; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2011: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10075879 · 2004-06-04 (June 4, 2004)
VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED WHILE BEING SHIPPED. *MR *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10075879 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10134422 · 2005-08-28 (August 28, 2005)
MY MERCEDES-BENZ C-240 (2003 MODEL), HAVING LESS THAN 18500 MILES, SUDDENLY LOST POWER AFTER SOME 2-HOUR WORTH OF FREE-WAY DRIVING. AROUND NOON ON FRIDAY, 8/26/05, I WAS DRIVING SOUTH -BOUND ON I-15 PAST VICTORVILLE (CA), ABOUT 9 MILES PAST THE EXIT FOR ROUTE 18, WHEN MY C-240 SUDDENLY LOST POWER. AS I DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR, I FELT NO POWER AND THE RPM WAS DECREASING. IT FELT LIKE THE ENTIRE ENGINE-TRANSMISSION SYSTEM WAS SHUTTING DOWN. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING. I MADE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL LETTING OTHER VEHICLES KNOW I WAS COMING OFF TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10134422 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10198454 · 2007-08-03 (August 3, 2007)
I OWN A 2003 MERCEDES C240 STATION WAGON WITH ABOUT 42000 MILES, A FEW DAYS AGO I OBSERVED SOME MESSAGES ON DASH WHICH SEEM TO INDICATE ALTERNATOR PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN HEAVILY USED AND I AM SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT A NEW ALTERNATOR MAY BE NEEDED, THIS BECAUSE A FRIEND WITH C CLASS SEDAN HAS HAD THE SAME ISSUE JUST 2 WEEKS AGO AND COST HIM $1500 TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR & BATTERY. I BELIEVE THERE MAY BE MANY MORE FOLKS THAT EXPERIENCED THE SAME SITUATION AND PROBABLY THE C CLASS MERCEDES ARE OUTFITTED WITH FAULTY ALTERNATORS AND IN…
Owner-reported narrative. 43,620 miles reported. Look up ODI 10198454 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10198649 · 2007-08-06 (August 6, 2007)
WHILE DRIVING WITH A/C SET ON "AUTO" THE A/C SYSTEM WOULD SUDDENLY TURN OFF BY ITSELF AND WOULD TURN OF REPEATEDLY WHEN STARTED AGAIN. DURING SUCH EPISODES THE A/C WOULD ACT ERRATIC WITH FANS TURNING ON AND OFF AT DIFFERENT OUTLETS, CYCLES BETWEEN HEATING AND COOLING, AND MAKES HISSING SOUNDS. THIS WOULD OCCUR MANY TIMES A DAY ON A DAILY BASIS IN SUMMER WEATHER (EXCEPT WHEN THE CAR IS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, IT SEEMS). IT TOOK ABOUT 2 YEARS FOR THE DEALER TO FINALLY FIX THE PROBLEM SINCE THEY COULD NOT AVOID ADMITTING ITS EXISTENCE AFTER I HAD VID…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,073 miles reported. Look up ODI 10198649 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10198750 · 2007-08-07 (August 7, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES C240. SHE STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FAST ENOUGH TO SAFELY MERGE IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD BE UNABLE TO ASSIST HER AND THEY WOULD NOT ACCEPT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WOULD FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE DUE TO HER VEHICLE BEING A LEMON. THE FAILURE WAS 77 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,900.
Owner-reported narrative. 77 miles reported. Look up ODI 10198750 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10253108 · 2008-12-29 (December 29, 2008)
2003 MERCEDES C240 STALLS IMMEDIATELY AFTER PROLONGED TURNPIKE TRAVEL ( 1.5 HOURS) AT EXIT RAMP TO AN ARTERIAL ROADWAY. THIS INCREASES REAREND ACCIDENT POTENTIAL. MERCEDES CHECKED VEHICLE BUT NO REPORT CODES INDICATED. SUGGESTED THAT IT MAY BE COMPUTER OF SENSOR RELATED. MERCEDES SUGGESTED PULLING OVER FOR 30 MIN. TO LET COMPUTER RESET. FIRST INCIDENT 12/17/08 SECOND INCIDENT 12/28/08. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 70,003 miles reported. Look up ODI 10253108 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10261485 · 2009-03-10 (March 10, 2009)
MY 2003 C240 MERCEDES PILOT BUSHING IS EXPERIENCING HEAVY OIL LEAK - THERE IS A CURRENT RE-CALL ON SAME ISSUE WITH OTHER MODELS. THE DEALER I USE TO SERVICE MY CARE, REFUSE TO REPAIR BECAUSE THEY SAID MY MODEL IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RE-CALL. 2ND ISSUE - MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE IS BROKEN BECAUSE OF MANUFACTURE DEFECTS . SOMETIMES HARD TO OPEN AND HAVE TO USE OTHER DOOR TO GET INTO CAR, DEALER REFUSE TO REPLACE THE DEFECT HANDLE WITH GOOD HANDLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10261485 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10404062 · 2011-06-01 (June 1, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ C240. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM SUDDENLY STOPPED CAUSING HIM TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD THE PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT WHICH CAUSED HER HEAD TO HIT THE WINDSHIELD. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE PASSENGER WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR A HEAD INJURY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTA…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10404062 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.