RoadVitals

2003 Mercedes-Benz 240

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.
27
Latest Mar 28, 2012
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.
5

Overview

Our database contains 27 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz 240, most frequently naming the electrical, fuel system and engine 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

  • Electrical617.6%
  • Fuel system617.6%
  • Engine514.7%
  • Airbags25.9%
  • Brakes25.9%
  • Other / unspecified25.9%
  • Powertrain (other)25.9%
  • Suspension25.9%

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

View all 27
Suspension
Filed Mar 28, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ C240. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN AND SUDDENLY THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE THREE WHEEL ASSEMBLY BOLTS FRACTURED. THE PARTS WERE ORDERED AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED WHEN THE PARTS BECAME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 163,000.

NHTSA ID
10453319
Incident
Mar 27, 2012
Mileage
163,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 17, 2012

AFTER PURCHASING CAR IN 2007 USED WITH 60K MILES, TAKING VEHICLE IN FOR ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, DRIIVNG ONLY 40K OVER 4 YEARS,THE VEHECLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10452045
Incident
Nov 17, 2011
Mileage
100,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Aug 31, 2010

RIGHT FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLY FELL APART. WE HAD JUST GOT OFF OF I-90 WHEN I PULLED INTO MCDONALD'S AND THE FRONT WHEEL DISENGAGED AS THE AXLE COMPLETELY FELL APART. *TR

NHTSA ID
10353012
Incident
Dec 27, 2007
Mileage
108,782 mi
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Jul 2, 2010

THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLES ON THE INSIDE BROKE ON MY 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ C240 4MATIC WHEN I SIMPLY WENT TO THE OPEN THE DOOR. I HAD TO SUPER GLUE THEM BACK ON SO I COULD GET OUT OF THE CAR. IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY BECAUSE IT IS CONSIDERED "COSMETIC" DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10341121
Incident
Mar 5, 2009
Fuel system
Filed Jul 2, 2010

MY 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ C240 4MATIC WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER FOR A 4TH TIME ON 7/8/09 FOR INOPERABLE FUEL GAUGE (FUEL TANK STAYED ON EMPTY EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS GAS IN THE TANK). THIS TIME THE TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALER CONTACTED THE MERCEDES-BENZ TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER (TAC) IN GERMANY TO OBTAIN PASSWORD FOR SPECIAL CODING REGARDING FUEL GAUGE IN CLUSTER AND PROGRAM. THIS PROBLEM IS STILL ON-GOING AND TO-DATE HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. (SEE ADDITIONAL COMPLAINTS WITH OTHER DATES). *TR

NHTSA ID
10341100
Incident
Jul 8, 2009
Mileage
78,132 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jul 2, 2010

MY 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ C240 4MATIC WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER FOR A 3RD TIME ON 1/27/09 FOR INOPERABLE FUEL GAUGE (FUEL TANK STAYED ON EMPTY EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS GAS IN THE TANK). THIS TIME THE DEALER PERFORMED CODING TO THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER - 67A GLITTLE (SEE ADDITIONAL COMPLAINTS WITH OTHER DATES). *TR

NHTSA ID
10341098
Incident
Jan 27, 2009
Mileage
74,239 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jul 2, 2010

MY 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ C240 4MATIC WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER FOR A 2ND TIME ON 10/06/08 (2ND TIME PROBLEM REPORTED) FOR INOPERABLE FUEL GAUGE (FUEL TANK STAYED ON EMPTY EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS GAS IN THE TANK). THIS TIME THE PROGRAMMING WAS CHANGED IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (SEE ADDITIONAL COMPLAINTS WITH OTHER DATES). *TR

NHTSA ID
10341094
Incident
Oct 6, 2008
Mileage
70,992 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jul 2, 2010

MY 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ C240 4MATIC WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER ON 9/23/08 (1ST TIME OF PROBLEM REPORTED) FOR INOPERABLE FUEL GAUGE (FUEL TANK STAYED ON EMPTY EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS GAS IN THE TANK). THE AUXILIARY PUMP, MOUNTING PLATE, AND SEAL RING WERE REPLACED (SEE OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH LIST OF ADDITIONAL DATES). *TR

NHTSA ID
10341093
Incident
Sep 23, 2008
Mileage
70,684 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

SB-91-60-193

AIR BAGS

MERCEDES: AIRBAG DURABILITY AND RELIABILITY. AIR BAG SRS CONTROL MODULE (N2/2) DOES NOT HAVE A SET SHELF LIFE AND WILL NORMALLY BE RELIABLE FOR THE LIFE OF A VEHICLE. WITH 164, 216 221, 251 AND NEWER, THE AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT CAN BE RESET FIVE TIMES. WITH MODES 202, 210 AND NEWER, THE AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT CAN BE RESET THREE TIMES. EARLIER MODELS WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THEIR AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT AND TRIGGERED RESTRAIN COMPONENTS CHANGED ONLY AFTER AN ACCIDENT. NO MODELS OR MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE

PMAYB 8210610

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

MODEL 240; HEAD LAMPS/ FOG LAMPS FOGGED. *PE

9160111

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

SRS LAMP ILLUMINATED AND DTC 9021 AND/OR 9027 STORED. *TT

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 240 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2003Viewing270039.5
2002260043.9
2001220037.9
1999100—
1995200—
1994000—
1988001—
1987001—
1986001—
1985001—
1984001—
1983200—
1980100—
1979100—

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.