2003 Mercedes Benz C240: complaints, problems and recalls

CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED DEALERSHIP BOUGHT MERCEDES BENZ 2003 C-240 4-MATIC. PURCHASED WITH 41K MILES IN 2008. APPROXIMATELY 6/2013 THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON STATING 1 MALFUNCTION ON THE CLUSTER RELATING TO RESTRAINT SYSTEM. ADVISED OF NUMEROUS CASES OF THIS DEFECT IN MODEL YEAR 2003. DUE TO WARRANTY EXPIRATION THE ISSUE HAS YET TO HAVE PROFESSIONAL DIAGNOSTICS. THE LIGHT AND CLUSTER NOTIFICATION REMAINS TO DATE AT 76K MILES. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 69,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10574681 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS ALWAYS GETTING AN ERROR MESSAGE TELLING ME MY REAR LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. I EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN MY TRUNK, WHICH CAUSED THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY AND THE ENTIRE LEFT SIDE OF MY CAR CAUGHT FIRE. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. CAR WOULD NOT START, TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN. CAR WAS TOTALED BY DEALER AND INSURANCE COMPANY. I KNOW THERE IS A RECALL NOTICE FOR NEW C CLASS CARS, BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT I EXPERIENCED, I BELIEVE OLDER MODELS MAY ALSO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10586324 at NHTSA ↗

DEC 2013, WITH "OUR NEW" 2003 MB C240 TRAVELING 55MPH ON CRUISE, I ACCELERATED, "POOF". MY BROTHER DRIVING BEHIND US DISAPPEARED IN A CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE FROM MY EXHAUST. HE HAD TO PULL OVER, HE COULD NOT SEE THE ROAD. THE "CLOUD OF SMOKE" APPEARS EVERY TIME I USE THE CC OR MAINTAIN A CONSTANT SPEED FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME. ON A RECENT TRIP OF 2000 MILES, IT CONSUMED 7 QTS OF OIL. WITH ONLY 75K MILES, ITS HARDLY BROKEN IN. THE PROBLEM IS "SLUDGE" BUILT UP INSIDE THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF A "POOR" ENGINE DESIGN. THERE IS/WAS AN "ACTIVE CLASS…

Owner-reported narrative. 75,263 miles reported. Look up ODI 10641363 at NHTSA ↗

I DON'T KNOW THAT MY CAR WAS A RECALL AND WHEN I FIRST GOT IT MY GAS GAUGE WHEN OUT AND STUFF START TO GO BAD. THE CAR PLACE I PURCHASE THE CAR FROM KNEW ALL THIS STUFF AND DON'T INFORM ME AT ALL. I KNOW I BOUGHT A USED CAR BUT I WAS HOPE THEY WILL LET ME KNOW . NOW THAT MY WARRANTY UP THEY IS GIVING THE RUN ALWAYS . WHAT SHOULD ABOUT IT . SO WHEN I GO PUT GAS IN MY CAR I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH GAS IT IS IN MY CAR BECAUSE MY GAS READ AND METER IN THE CAR DON'T WORK AND ALSO HAVE A SHORT IN IT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10702064 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ C240. THE FOLLOWING DAY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REFUELED, THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR AND THERE WAS A LARGE PUDDLE OF FUEL UNDER THE REAR CENTER OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10722566 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ C240. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS REFUELED, A STRONG FUEL ODOR EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 102,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10723410 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ C240. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 103,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 103,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10765214 at NHTSA ↗

TAKATA RECALL. CARS WITH THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE PART OF THE RECALL. I HAVE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AS THE 7TH COMPLAINER.CASE #10574681. SRS LIGHT CAME ON WITH 1 MALFUNCTION. THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM. I TOOK IT TO THE WORKSHOP TO HAVE THE SCAN CODES CHECKED. THE CODE READER SAID THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH ONE OF THE AIRBAGS. THE MECHANIC THINKS THAT THE AIRBAGS ARE DISABLED. BUT THE OWNERS MANUAL SAYS THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT AN AIRBAG COULD GO OFF WHILE DRIVING. I JUST READ THAT MERCEDES INCLUDED 814000 VEHICLES IN THE RECALL. MY CAR IS NO…

Owner-reported narrative. 126,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10837624 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.