2003 Mercedes-Benz 230 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2003 Mercedes-Benz 230, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags233.3%
- Electrical116.7%
- Fuel system116.7%
- Interior & seats116.7%
- Visibility116.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE A 2003 MERCEDES C230 WITH 80K MILES, THE CAR WOULD STOP RUNNING EITHER WHILE IDOL OR DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, REPLACED O2 SENSOR, NEXT WEEK SAME PROBLEM, REPLACED 02 SENSOR AGAIN, IT DIED AGAIN WHILE AT THE DEALER, DEALER THEN EXPLAINED THE OIL HARNESS LEAKED INTO THE 02 SENSOR AND KNOCKED OUT THE CAM SENSORS AND CRANK SENSOR AS WELL, SO THEY REPLACED THOSE PARTS PLU THE HARNESS AND SUBHARNESS. I UNDERSTAND FROM 2007-2008 MERCEDES SERVICE BLOGS THAT "SEEMS TO HAPPENING ON THE M271 MOTOR'S (2003-2005 C230); THE CAM SENSORS LEAK OIL WERE THE WIRE GOES INTO THE SENSOR, THEN THE OIL TRAVELS DOWN TO THE O2 SENSOR AND KILLS IT; IF OIL GETS IN THE HARNESS AND DAMAGES THE O2 SENSORS, NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE O2 SENSOR BUT THAT ENTIRE SECTION OF WIRING HARNESS; PREVENTION IS THE KEY...ALSO, MB HAS A HARNESS THAT IS SUPPOSED TO PREVENT THE OIL FROM GETTING IN THE REST OF THE HARNESS..." SO MY QUESTION IS WHY HASN'T MERCEDES (MB) BEEN REQUIRED TO RECALL THIS PART BEFORE IT CAUSES MORE SERIOUS PROBLEMS, SUCH AS AN ACCIDENT FROM STALLING OR AN AUTO FIRE? *TR
THE AIR BAGS ARE DEPLOYING. SO FAR NO INJURIES. THE AIR BAGS HAVE DEPLOYED ON TWO SERVICE TECHS. AND ONE TOW TRUCK DRIVER. DEPLOYMENT IS DO TO A DEFECT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE A 2003 MERCEDES C230 WITH 80K MILES, THE CAR WOULD STOP RUNNING EITHER WHILE IDOL OR DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, REPLACED O2 SENSOR, NEXT WEEK SAME PROBLEM, REPLACED 02 SENSOR AGAIN, IT DIED AGAIN WHILE AT THE DEALER, DEALER THEN EXPLAINED THE OIL HARNESS LEAKED INTO THE 02 SENSOR AND KNOCKED OUT THE CAM SENSORS AND CRANK SENSOR AS WELL, SO THEY REPLACED THOSE PARTS PLU THE HARNESS AND SUBHARNESS. I UNDERSTAND FROM 2007-2008 MERCEDES SERVICE BLOGS THAT "SEEMS TO HAPPENING ON THE M271 MOTOR'S (2003-2005 C230); THE CAM SENSORS LEAK OIL WERE THE WIRE GOES INTO THE SENSOR, THEN THE OIL TRAVELS DOWN TO THE O2 SENSOR AND KILLS IT; IF OIL GETS IN THE HARNESS AND DAMAGES THE O2 SENSORS, NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE O2 SENSOR BUT THAT ENTIRE SECTION OF WIRING HARNESS; PREVENTION IS THE KEY...ALSO, MB HAS A HARNESS THAT IS SUPPOSED TO PREVENT THE OIL FROM GETTING IN THE REST OF THE HARNESS..." SO MY QUESTION IS WHY HASN'T MERCEDES (MB) BEEN REQUIRED TO RECALL THIS PART BEFORE IT CAUSES MORE SERIOUS PROBLEMS, SUCH AS AN ACCIDENT FROM STALLING OR AN AUTO FIRE? *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
GAS CAP COVER CENTRAL SYSTEM DID NOT RELEASE ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS . THE MANUAL PROVIDES EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE BUT NONE EXISTS NOTWITHSTANDING GOUGING OF ARM ON EXPOSED SHARP INTERNAL FENDER-TRUNK SCREWS . MERCEDES COMPLAINT OFFICE INSISTS TRUNK RELEASE EXISTS. FINALLY NEW COUNTRY MB DEALER, HARTFORD, CT SERVICE MGR AND CHIEF MECHANIC ADMIT TO ERRONEOUS INFO IN MANUAL AS DID ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE PREVIOUSLY - EVEN AFTER CONTACTING MB ENGINEERING I WAS ABLE TO PROVE THIS DEFECT EXISTS. CAUSING LIKELIHOOD OF INJURY TO ANYONE FOLLOWING MANUAL INSTRUCTION RE REACHING INTO TRUNK PANEL COVERING WHERE EXPOSED 1 INCH SCREWS EXIST IN PRECISE AREA OF INSTRUCTION INFO - WHICH CAUSED MY INJURY. THERE WAS NO EMERGENCY RELEASE PROVIDED NOR DID ONE EXIST ON A REPLACED ACTUATOR - WHICH I RETAINED . EVEN IF ONE EXISTED - THE OPERATOR MUST REACH IN ABOUT 2-3 FEET ENTIRE LENGTH OF ARM BEFORE REACHING ACTUATOR - INHERENT DANGEROUS MANUFACTURE DEFECT. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
MERCEDES 230 C KOMPRESSOR. LIFTED HOOD AFTER 'CHECK ENGINE' LIT UP. AS HOOD WAS BEING LIFTED THE SPRING LOADED PASSENGER SIDE HOOD LATCH RELEASE FLEW OUT WITH TREMENDOUS FORCE - STRIKING NOSE AND EYEGLASSES - DROPPED HOOD INSTANTLY - YANKING RIGHT SHOULDER CAUSING INJURY REQUIRING ONGOING MEDICAL TREATMENT ALONG WITH PERMANENT SCAR ON NOSE. MERCEDES INSPECTED PART BUT NEVER PROVIDED ;TECHNICAL REPORT REGARDING DEFECTIVE PART WHICH UTILIZED PLASTIC INSERT. *LN
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY 2003 MERCEDES C230 MOONROOF BROKE COMPLETELY BY SUMMER 2009. I EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE MOONROOF SQUEAKING/RATTLING FROM THE FIRST DAY I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS SERVICED A NUMBER OF TIMES AND OTHER TIMES THE MECHANIC WOULD SAY THEY COULDN'T RECREATE THE NOISE AND THEN IT FINALLY WOULDN'T OPEN ANYMORE. MERCEDES WANTS AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT TO REPAIR IT (APPROX. $4,500). *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .