2003 Mercedes-Benz AMG C32 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 AMG C32, 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
- Fuel system350.0%
- Electrical116.7%
- Engine116.7%
- Powertrain (other)116.7%
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
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND IT SUDDENLY TURNED OFF ON ME. I TRIED TO START IT AGAIN BUT IT WOULD CRANK BUT NOT TURN ON. I HAD A LIL LESS THAN HALF A TANK OF GAS BUT THERE WAS NO GAS BEING DELIVERED TO THE ENGINE. AFTER INSPECTING THE FUEL SENDING UNIT I NOTISED THAT THE PLASTIC AROUND THE WIRE CONNECTOR PINS WAS A BIT MELTED AND THERE WAS A SMALL HOLE THAT WENT STRAIGHT TROUGH THE SENDING UNIT COVER. I REPLACED THE SENDING UNIT BUT THE MELTING STILL CONTINUES. IT SEEMS LIKE THE WIRE GETS TOO HOT AND THE PLASTIC MELTS AROUND THE PINS. IM AFRAID THIS CAN EVEN CAUSE A FIRE SINCE ALL THE FUEL IS JUST INCHES BELLOW IT.
FUEL IS LEAKING FROM THE SENDING UNIT OF THE VEHICLE AND DOWN ONTO THE REAR WHEELS DIFFERENTIAL, THE VEHICLES FUEL TANK AND SENDER UNIT HAD BEEN REPLACED BY MERCEDES UNDER WARRANTY ON 11/25/03 MILEAGE IN 43088 MILEAGE OUT 43092 AT THE HOEHN CARLSBAD CA DEALER SHIP: INVOICE NUMBER 465553. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED AGAIN AND I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS ISSUE IS NOT A LIMITED ISSUE TO MY VEHICLE BUT ONE THAT HAS IMPACTED ALL C CLASS AND E CLASS VEHICLES AND HAS AN ESTIMATED REPAIR COST OF $2,073.30. HOW IS DAIMLER AG ALLOWED TO SELL THESE VEHICLES THAT POSE AN EXTREME RICK THE PUBLIC AND PROPERTY IN THE US. I HAVE BEEN TOLD MY VEHICLE IS NOW NO LONGER COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY AND I WILL HAVE TO FOOT THE BILL TO REPAIR THIS OBVIOUS DESIGN FLOOR AND SUBSEQUENT MALFUNCTION THAT POSSES A LIFE THREATENING RISK TO ME AND MY FAMILY IF NOT RESOLVED ASAP. I DREAD TO THINK ABOUT ALL THE PRESENT MERCEDES C-CLASS AND E-CLASS OWNERS DRIVING AROUND IN A TICKING TIME BOMB JUST WAITING TO GO OFF, THERE MUST BE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES THAT HAVE DEFECTIVE FUEL SENDING UNITS/GAS TANKS LEAKING GAS DOWN AND AROUND HOT EXHAUST PIPES OF THEIR VEHICLES AND THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS PERENNIALLY LIFE THREATENING MALFUNCTION BECAUSE DAIMLER AG HAS NOT RECALLED ALL VEHICLES OUTFITTED WITH RECOGNIZED DEFECTIVE FUEL SENDING UNITS/GAS TANKS AND RESOLVED THE TICKING TIME BOMBS. IT'S OBVIOUS TO ME WHATEVER ATTEMPT DAIMLER AG HAS TAKEN IS NOT ENOUGH TO MITIGATE ANY FURTHER DEFECTIVE FUEL SENDING UNITS/GAS TANKS. PLEASE ADVISE ON ANY WHETHER WE HAVE ANY RE-CAUSE WITH DAIMLER AG OR MERCEDES U.S.A TO GET THIS FRIGHTENING ISSUE RESOLVED FOR NOT ONLY ME BUT ALSO THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN MOTORIST PRESENTLY DRIVING TICKING BOMBS. YOU MAY CONTACT ME ON DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER TO DISCUSS THIS ISSUE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
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 WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND IT SUDDENLY TURNED OFF ON ME. I TRIED TO START IT AGAIN BUT IT WOULD CRANK BUT NOT TURN ON. I HAD A LIL LESS THAN HALF A TANK OF GAS BUT THERE WAS NO GAS BEING DELIVERED TO THE ENGINE. AFTER INSPECTING THE FUEL SENDING UNIT I NOTISED THAT THE PLASTIC AROUND THE WIRE CONNECTOR PINS WAS A BIT MELTED AND THERE WAS A SMALL HOLE THAT WENT STRAIGHT TROUGH THE SENDING UNIT COVER. I REPLACED THE SENDING UNIT BUT THE MELTING STILL CONTINUES. IT SEEMS LIKE THE WIRE GETS TOO HOT AND THE PLASTIC MELTS AROUND THE PINS. IM AFRAID THIS CAN EVEN CAUSE A FIRE SINCE ALL THE FUEL IS JUST INCHES BELLOW IT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
FUEL IS LEAKING FROM THE SENDING UNIT OF THE VEHICLE AND DOWN ONTO THE REAR WHEELS DIFFERENTIAL, THE VEHICLES FUEL TANK AND SENDER UNIT HAD BEEN REPLACED BY MERCEDES UNDER WARRANTY ON 11/25/03 MILEAGE IN 43088 MILEAGE OUT 43092 AT THE HOEHN CARLSBAD CA DEALER SHIP: INVOICE NUMBER 465553. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED AGAIN AND I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS ISSUE IS NOT A LIMITED ISSUE TO MY VEHICLE BUT ONE THAT HAS IMPACTED ALL C CLASS AND E CLASS VEHICLES AND HAS AN ESTIMATED REPAIR COST OF $2,073.30. HOW IS DAIMLER AG ALLOWED TO SELL THESE VEHICLES THAT POSE AN EXTREME RICK THE PUBLIC AND PROPERTY IN THE US. I HAVE BEEN TOLD MY VEHICLE IS NOW NO LONGER COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY AND I WILL HAVE TO FOOT THE BILL TO REPAIR THIS OBVIOUS DESIGN FLOOR AND SUBSEQUENT MALFUNCTION THAT POSSES A LIFE THREATENING RISK TO ME AND MY FAMILY IF NOT RESOLVED ASAP. I DREAD TO THINK ABOUT ALL THE PRESENT MERCEDES C-CLASS AND E-CLASS OWNERS DRIVING AROUND IN A TICKING TIME BOMB JUST WAITING TO GO OFF, THERE MUST BE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES THAT HAVE DEFECTIVE FUEL SENDING UNITS/GAS TANKS LEAKING GAS DOWN AND AROUND HOT EXHAUST PIPES OF THEIR VEHICLES AND THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS PERENNIALLY LIFE THREATENING MALFUNCTION BECAUSE DAIMLER AG HAS NOT RECALLED ALL VEHICLES OUTFITTED WITH RECOGNIZED DEFECTIVE FUEL SENDING UNITS/GAS TANKS AND RESOLVED THE TICKING TIME BOMBS. IT'S OBVIOUS TO ME WHATEVER ATTEMPT DAIMLER AG HAS TAKEN IS NOT ENOUGH TO MITIGATE ANY FURTHER DEFECTIVE FUEL SENDING UNITS/GAS TANKS. PLEASE ADVISE ON ANY WHETHER WE HAVE ANY RE-CAUSE WITH DAIMLER AG OR MERCEDES U.S.A TO GET THIS FRIGHTENING ISSUE RESOLVED FOR NOT ONLY ME BUT ALSO THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN MOTORIST PRESENTLY DRIVING TICKING BOMBS. YOU MAY CONTACT ME ON DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER TO DISCUSS THIS ISSUE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
FUEL IS LEAKING FROM THE SENDING UNIT OF THE VEHICLE AND DOWN ONTO THE REAR WHEELS DIFFERENTIAL, THE VEHICLES FUEL TANK AND SENDER UNIT HAD BEEN REPLACED BY MERCEDES UNDER WARRANTY ON 11/25/03 MILEAGE IN 43088 MILEAGE OUT 43092 AT THE HOEHN CARLSBAD CA DEALER SHIP: INVOICE NUMBER 465553. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED AGAIN AND I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS ISSUE IS NOT A LIMITED ISSUE TO MY VEHICLE BUT ONE THAT HAS IMPACTED ALL C CLASS AND E CLASS VEHICLES AND HAS AN ESTIMATED REPAIR COST OF $2,073.30. HOW IS DAIMLER AG ALLOWED TO SELL THESE VEHICLES THAT POSE AN EXTREME RICK THE PUBLIC AND PROPERTY IN THE US. I HAVE BEEN TOLD MY VEHICLE IS NOW NO LONGER COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY AND I WILL HAVE TO FOOT THE BILL TO REPAIR THIS OBVIOUS DESIGN FLOOR AND SUBSEQUENT MALFUNCTION THAT POSSES A LIFE THREATENING RISK TO ME AND MY FAMILY IF NOT RESOLVED ASAP. I DREAD TO THINK ABOUT ALL THE PRESENT MERCEDES C-CLASS AND E-CLASS OWNERS DRIVING AROUND IN A TICKING TIME BOMB JUST WAITING TO GO OFF, THERE MUST BE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES THAT HAVE DEFECTIVE FUEL SENDING UNITS/GAS TANKS LEAKING GAS DOWN AND AROUND HOT EXHAUST PIPES OF THEIR VEHICLES AND THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS PERENNIALLY LIFE THREATENING MALFUNCTION BECAUSE DAIMLER AG HAS NOT RECALLED ALL VEHICLES OUTFITTED WITH RECOGNIZED DEFECTIVE FUEL SENDING UNITS/GAS TANKS AND RESOLVED THE TICKING TIME BOMBS. IT'S OBVIOUS TO ME WHATEVER ATTEMPT DAIMLER AG HAS TAKEN IS NOT ENOUGH TO MITIGATE ANY FURTHER DEFECTIVE FUEL SENDING UNITS/GAS TANKS. PLEASE ADVISE ON ANY WHETHER WE HAVE ANY RE-CAUSE WITH DAIMLER AG OR MERCEDES U.S.A TO GET THIS FRIGHTENING ISSUE RESOLVED FOR NOT ONLY ME BUT ALSO THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN MOTORIST PRESENTLY DRIVING TICKING BOMBS. YOU MAY CONTACT ME ON DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER TO DISCUSS THIS ISSUE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *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 .