2004 Mercedes Benz C CLASS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
15 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
21,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 15 complaints (13.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 13.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 13.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 6.7% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 6.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 6.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Power Train: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Air Bags:Side/Window: 1; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 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 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 8 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 | 7 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
2004: 7; 2005: 2; 2006: 1; 2007: 2; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10056660 · 2004-02-06 (February 6, 2004)
THIS DEFECT/CONCERN IS A GENERAL SAFETY COMPLAINT WITH RESPECT TO ALL VEHICLES WHICH SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY ENACTMENT OF STANDARDS TO BE USED BY ALL MANUFACTURERS. MAINLY THE STANDARDIZATION OF THE LOCATION AND FUNCTION OF KEY CONTROLS AND SWITCHES ON ALL AUTOMOBILES. IN TODAYS DRIVING, DRIVERS ARE PLACED BEHIND THE WHEEL OF UNFAMILIAR VEHICLES ALL THE TIME AS TRAVEL AND BUSINESS PUTS THEM IN RENTAL CARS. WITH EACH VEHICLE HAVING DIFFERENT LOCATIONS FOR LIGHT SWITCHES, FLASHERS, WINDSHEILD WIPERS/WASHERS, DIMMERS AND CRUISE CONTROLS. DRIVERS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10056660 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065713 · 2004-04-07 (April 7, 2004)
THE RIGHT REAR TIRE HAS A SPLIT ABOUT 1.5 INCHES LONG PROCEEDING DIAGONALLY THROUGH THE TREAD TO NEAR THE SIDEWALL. THERE IS NO OTHER DAMAGE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE NEAR THE SPLIT OR EVIDENCE OF CONTACT WITH ANYTHING. I DRIVE LONG DISTANCES OFTEN AND WONDER IF THIS IS SOME TYPE OF DANGEROUS DEFECT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10065713 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10073225 · 2004-05-27 (May 27, 2004)
NEW 2004 C230K COUPE. DRIVERS SEAT HAD SLIGHT ROCKING MOTION FORWARD AND BACK FROM THE DAY OF PURCHASE. NOTIFIED DEALER - SAID WAS NORMAL. ROCKING MOTION GOT WORSE AND AGAIN NOTIFIED DEALER AT 5000 MILES ON ODOMETER. DEALER SAID SEAT ADJUSTER WAS COMING LOOSE FROM SEAT FRAME, APPARENTLY THE BOLTS HAD "WALLOWED OUT" IN THE HOLES AND THE TWO PIECES COULD HAVE COME APART FROM EACH OTHER. MY WORRY WAS THAT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT IT COULD HAVE SEPARATED AND A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH COULD HAVE OCCURED SINCE THE PART I WAS SITTING IN WAS NO…
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10073225 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10087132 · 2004-08-03 (August 3, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 30-35 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE SIDE, AND THE SIDE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10087132 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10087821 · 2004-08-12 (August 12, 2004)
WILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER NOTICED STEAM COMING FROM THE HOOD AND BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE ,BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10087821 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089776 · 2004-08-25 (August 25, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED STEAM COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER, LIFTED UP THE HOOD, AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE ENGINE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10089776 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10100612 · 2004-11-27 (November 27, 2004)
EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE I HAVA HAD PROBLEMS WITH IS FEATURES. POWER SEATS THAT MOVE BY THEMSELVES, AUTOMATIC DIMMING MIRRORS THAT TURN PITCH BLACK IN MIDDLE OF DAY, POWER TILT STEERING WHEEL THAT HAS UNPREDICITIBLE MOVES. AUTO WINDSHIELD WIPERS THAT DONT FUCNTION PROPERLY IN HEAVY DOWN POURS. THE SEATS ARE POWER AND THEY WILL MOVE ALL BY THEMSLEVES AND MOVE THE DRIVER EITHER INTO THE STEERING WHEEL OR PULL THE DRIVER BACK FROM THE WHEEL AND PEDALS. THE RAIN WIPERS DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, DURNING HEAVY DOWNPOURS THEY JUST STOP W…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10100612 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10129944 · 2005-07-25 (July 25, 2005)
I WAS TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY (APPROXIMATE SPEED 60 MPH) WHEN I HEARD SOMETHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD OF MY 2004 MERCEDES C240. THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE SIGNS OF DAMAGE. HOWEVER, ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER AFTER I HAD MADE STOP AND LATER RETURNED TO THE CAR I NOTICED A 12 INCH CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. I BELIEVE THERE IS A SERIOUS DESIGN DEFECT WITH THE WINDSHIELDS IN MERCEDES. A CO-WORKER OF MINE HAS HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD IN HER 2004 C320 MERCEDES TWICE WITHIN THE PAST 18 MONTHS. THE SERVICE REPS HAVE TOLD HER THAT THIS HAPPENS ON THE TIME, E…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10129944 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
03V534000 · Seat Belts
Reported: 2003-12-19 (December 19, 2003)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, SOME SEAT BELT BUCKLES MAY HAVE A BURR ON A METAL COMPONENT OF THE LOCKING MECHANISM. THE PRESENCE OF THE BURR COULD PREVENT THE SEAT BELT FROM LOCKING UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 22, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
NHTSA campaign record ↗