RoadVitals

2001 Mercedes-Benz 230

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
3
Latest Dec 24, 2013
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2001 Mercedes-Benz 230, most frequently naming the airbags, brakes and electrical categories. 3 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Airbags120.0%
  • Brakes120.0%
  • Electrical120.0%
  • Exterior lighting120.0%
  • Seat belts120.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 24, 2013

I SEE THAT YOU ARE INVESTIGATING FAILURES OF REAR LIGHTS ON MERCEDES C-CLASS CARS MADE BETWEEN 2008 AND 2011 POSSIBLY CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE ELECTRICAL CONTACT. EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE REAR LIGHTS (BREAK LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, AND TURN SIGNALS) ON MY 2002 MERCEDES C230 FAILED. THE DEALER FOUND A BURNED UP ELECTRICAL CONTACT WHICH WAS REPLACED. THIS COULD BE COINCIDENCE, BUT IT COULD MEAN THAT YOUR MODEL YEAR RANGE IS TOO SMALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10557164
Incident
Mar 1, 2013
Mileage
125,000 mi
BrakesElectrical
Filed Mar 27, 2008
Fire reported

THERE WAS A RECALL ON A TAIL LAMP ON THE MERCEDES SLK 230. PRIOR TO THE RECALL MY TAIL LAMP CAUGHT FIRE AND MELTED THE ENTIRE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY. WATER GOT IN TO THE TAIL LAMP AND LEAKED TO THE WIRING OF THE ERP PUMP BELOW THE TAIL LAMP IN THE TRUNK. WIRES SHORTED AS A RESULT AND ERP PUMP NOW NEEDS REPLACING. MERCEDES WILL NOT REPLACE THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE FAULTY TAIL LAMP THAT CAUGHT FIRE PRIOR TO THE RECALL. HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE CORROSION NOW IN THE WIRING OF THE ERP PUMP COULD SPARK AND IGNITE THE FUEL TANK ALSO LOCATED DIRECTLY BELOW THE WIRING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10222476
Incident
Mar 25, 2008
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Aug 8, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE TURNING VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. PROBABLE SPEED 55 - 60 MPH, MOSTLY IMPACTED ON FRONT, BUT SIDE AS WELL. NEITHER FRONT OR SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITH OWNER RECEIVIING HEAD INJURIED DUE TO SEAT BELT NOT HOLDING. DRIVER WAS THROWN AROUND INSIDE VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
8015860

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

463040

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

FLOW NOISES FROM AREA OF POWER STEERING PUMP AND/OR FOAMING OF POWER STEERING OIL IN RESERVOIR. *TT

8235428

VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES

WINDSHIELD WASHER NOZZLES HEATING INOPERATIVE. *TC

5465130

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

PARKTRONIC TRIGGERS WITHOUT OBVIOUS CAUSE AT FRONT BUMPER IN MERCEDES MODEL NUMBERS 171/211/230. *TC

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mercedes-Benz 230 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2004600—
2003500—
2002400—
2001Viewing300—
1999800—
1988101—
1987001—
1986001—
1985001—
1984001—
1978010—
1977010—
1974100—
1968020—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.