2003 Mercedes Benz C230: complaints, problems and recalls

THIS IS A NEW MERCEDES-BENZ C230 COMPRESSOR ENGINE WITH ONE THOUSAND MILES. LAST MONTH A SULFUR SMELL EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST WHILE WARMING. I WAS TOLD THIS IS NORMAL. THREE TIMES THIS WEEK ON IGNITION THE CAR SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE CAR IS DRIVABLE AND I HAVE RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER. THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO FIX IT. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 1,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010422 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE VISITING SOUTH EASTERN UTAH IN A PERIOD OF ONE WEEK THERE WAS NO THROTTLE RESPONSE ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THROTTLE RESPONDED ON THE THIRD PRESS OF GAS PEDAL ON EACH OCCASION. CAR HAD ONLY 7,500 MILES ON IT. ON FIRST OCCASION, THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF GAS INSIDE THE CAR. DASH BOARD INDICATOR DID NOT SHOW ANY MALFUNCTION DURING ANY OF THESE OCCASIONS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 7,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021285 at NHTSA ↗

I BOUGHT MY MERCEDES C230 KOMPRESSOR 9 DAYS AGO. IT HAS ONLY 380 MILES ON IT. 2 DAYS IN A ROW WHEN THE CAR IS PLACED INTO DRIVE THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY. MERCEDES IS GOING TO ATTEMPT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. SS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 380 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030281 at NHTSA ↗

VEHILE IS AN AUTOMATIC. VEHICLE "JERKS" HARD WHEN LIGHTLY APPLYING GAS. THIS CAN BE COMPARED TO STARTING IN FIRST GEAR (MANUAL TRANSMISSION) WHEN NOT FULLY DEPRESSING THE CORRECT COMBINATION OF GAS AND CLUTCH. THIS HAPPENS WHEN TRAVELING FROM A DEAD STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE. HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR MISSES IN HITTING OTHER VEHICLES.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 80 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030924 at NHTSA ↗

2003 C230 HAS TRANSMISSION THAT JERKS, AND REQUIRES EXCESSIVE EFFORT TO GET VEHICLE TO MOVE WHEN IN REVERSE, ALSO HAS WEAK RIM DESIGN, AND BEND EASILY, HIT POT HOLE ON HIGHWAY AND BENT FRONT RIM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 380 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043736 at NHTSA ↗

THIS IS A 2003 C230 KOMPRESSOR; MANUAL TRANSMISSION. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON; IN FOR SERVICE 4 TIMES; CYLINDER HEAD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED/ VALVES NOT SEATED PROPERLY. NOW MB SAYS THEY CAN'T FIND PARTS.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066315 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER DISAPPOINTED WITH HER PROBLEMATIC, UNRELIABLE AND POTENTIALLY UNSAFE VEHICLE. *PH THE WINDOW SEALS SCRATCHED THE GLASS TINT. THE RADIO RECEPTION WAS POOR AND THE KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM ONLY WORKED AT CLOSE RANGE. THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THE TINT WAS LIKELY THE CAUSE OF THE POOR RECEPTION AND INABILITY TO USE THE ENTRY SYSTEM AT FURTHER DISTANCES. THE DEALER INSTALLED SCRAPER SEALS TO ALLEVIATE THE SCRATCHING. THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF FIVE TIMES IN A 45 MIN PERIOD AND ALL THE SERVICE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10066620 at NHTSA ↗

1)7/29/03 A.PURCHASE OF CAR B.SALESMAN TOLD ME THAT AM THE ONLY CAR HE HAS FOR THE C2 CONVENIENCE PACKAGE. HE ALSO WENT ON TO SAY THAT THIS PARTICULAR CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH A WHEELS PACKAGE. WHEN I ENQUIRED WHAT IT WAS, HE SAID IT IS A PREMIUM DESIGN, WHICH ENABLES ME TO HANDLE TURNS BETTER. I WAS NOT ENTIRELY EXCITED AT THE OFFER, BUT SINCE THE DEALERSHIP SAID CARS COME WITH PRE-DESIGNED PACKAGES, I HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR WITH THE WHEELS PACKAGE, IF I WANTED THE OTHER EXTRAS I WAS LOOKING FOR. 2)01/15/04 A.FIRST OCCURRENCE OF CAR TIR…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10072563 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2019-12-20 (December 20, 2019)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly resulting in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V918-4126.pdf

Consequence: A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020040011.

Reported: 2022-12-23 (December 23, 2022)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and may detach.

Consequence: A detached sunroof panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall expands NHTSA recall number 19V-918. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2023010004, 2023010005, and 2023010006.

Reported: 2024-11-19 (November 19, 2024)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and can detach.

Consequence: A detached sunroof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 22V-954. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024120001/2/3.