RoadVitals

1999 Mercedes-Benz C230

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.
29
Latest Nov 22, 2020
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.
6
7 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 29 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 Mercedes-Benz C230, most frequently naming the fuel system, brakes and visibility categories. 14 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

  • Fuel system617.1%
  • Brakes617.1%
  • Visibility411.4%
  • Airbags411.4%
  • Electrical38.6%
  • Suspension38.6%
  • Driver assistance25.7%
  • Engine25.7%

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

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 29
Visibility
Filed Nov 22, 2020

WHILE DRIVING ON 11/21/2020 AT ABOUT 930AM ON NORTHBOUND I-75 DOING ABOUT 70MPH AS THE REST OF TRAFFIC IN GEORGIA WHEN MY SUNROOF (NOT OPENED) SUDDENLY DETACHED AND BLEW OFF THE VEHICLE. I INITIALLY HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND WASN'T AT FIRST WHAT HAPPENED. I LOOKED UP AND SUNROOF PANEL WITH THE GLASS WAS GONE. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO VEHICLES AROUND ME SO AS FAR AS I KNOW NO ONE WAS HIT OR INJURED. I EVENTUALLY PULLED OVER AND LOOKED AT THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE AND THE SUNROOF PANEL WAS GONE. I FINISHED BY BUSINESS THAT MORNING AND RETUNED HOME SAFELY TO OUR HOME IN OCALA, FL.

NHTSA ID
11375770
Incident
Nov 21, 2020
Mileage
185,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 2, 2014
Crash reported2 injuries reported

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON 75 NORTH WHERE SPEED IS 65MPH AT LUNCH HOUR AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE CAR STARTED TO DECELERATE FROM 65 MILES AN HOUR TO ZERO IN SECONDS THE CAR STOPPED, I SAW MY LIFE BEFORE MY EYES IN MY REARVIEW MIRA AS CARS AND SEMI TRUCKS WERE SWERVING FROM PLOWING INTO ME AT 65 MPH TO 75 MPH...I ONLY HAD SECONDS TO REMOVE MYSELF FROM THE VEHICLE TO SAFETY WHERE I SAW A JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE PLOW INTO MY CAR AT HIGH SPEED I ONLY HAD SECONDS TO REMOVE MYSELF FROM MY CAR AND ESCAPE TO SAFETY AND RUN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD YEAH GUARD RAIL AS I WATCHED IN HORROR MY CAR BEING PLOWED INTO LIKE AN ACCORDION AND CUT IN HALF. I HAVE HAD THIS SAME INCIDENT HAPPENED TO ME WHILE MY CAR WAS BEING SERVICED AT THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AND THEY GAVE ME A LOANER CAR 2013 TO DRIVE AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE NEW LOANER CAR FROM THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP, I WAS LUCKY AS I WAS DRIVING A LOANER WHEN IT STOPPED ACCELERATING IT JUST STARTED DECELERATING AS I WAS NEAR AN INTERSECTION TO COAST TO SAFETY I BELIEVE THIS IS AN OCCURRENCE AND CAN HAPPEN TO OTHERS THAT ARE DRIVING THESE CARS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10562545
Incident
Jan 28, 2014
Mileage
14,600 mi
Suspension
Filed Aug 14, 2013

THE RIGHT SUSPENSION APRON RUSTED, SNAPPED UPWARD, AND THE SPRING FELL OUT THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR. IT IS NOT DRIVABLE BECAUSE THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE CAR IS ALMOST ON THE GROUND. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER, AND ASKED THEM TO INVESTIGATE WHY THIS HAPPENED. THEY SAID THAT THERE IS DANGER OF THE OTHER SPRING ALSO FALLING OUT. THE DEALER BELIEVES THAT THE APRON FAILED DUE TO THE AGE OF THE CAR AND THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. THEY STATED THAT IT WAS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THE VEHICLE, AND THEY DID NOT BELIEVE IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. I, HOWEVER, DISAGREE. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING ON-LINE OF THE SAME SUSPENSION PROBLEM WITH THE E-CLASS FROM 1994 TO 1999 AND THE C-CLASS FROM 1998 TO 2000, THE YEARS WHEN THIS PARTICULAR SUSPENSION DESIGN WAS USED. MERCEDES NO LONGER USES THIS SUSPENSION DESIGN ON NEWER VEHICLES. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE SUSPENSION DUE TO IT POOR DESIGN, AND THAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO BE AWARE OF THIS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT MERCEDES SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. THERE ARE CARS ON THE ROAD THAT ARE MUCH OLDER, WITH MUCH HIGHER MILEAGE, THAT HAVE INTACT SUSPENSIONS. LUCKILY, MY CAR WAS NOT RUNNING AT THE TIME. IF I HAD BEEN ON THE ROAD, ESPECIALLY ON THE HIGHWAY, LIVES COULD HAVE BEEN LOST. I COULD JUST QUIETLY REPAIR THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, I FEEL IT IS MY DUTY TO REPORT WHAT I BELIEVE IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY PROBLEM FOR THE YEARS THIS SUSPENSION DESIGN WAS USED. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE DAMAGED PARTS/SUSPENSION IF YOU NEED TO SEE THEM.

NHTSA ID
10535616
Incident
Jul 14, 2013
Mileage
130,142 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 21, 2011
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ C230. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED CHEST AND BRUISING, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA ID
10436541
Incident
Oct 18, 2011
Mileage
68,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 31, 2011
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ C230. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF HER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT BUMPER WAS DAMAGED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES OVER HER ENTIRE BODY AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP BUT THE AIR BAGS WAS NEVER CHECKED FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

NHTSA ID
10433668
Incident
Oct 15, 2011
Mileage
67,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Oct 28, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ C230. THE CONTACT HEARD A BANGING NOISE WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. UPON EXAMINATION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS RESTING ON THE FRONT TIRE. SHE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING MOUNT FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO SEVERE RUSTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE HAD RUSTED SEVERELY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 140,000.

NHTSA ID
10362763
Incident
Oct 27, 2010
Mileage
140,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 22, 2007
Crash reportedFire reported2 injuries reported

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 1999 MERCEDES C230 AT 35MPH THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE SLIPPED AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER A NUMBER OF TIMES IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT AND AN INSURANCE REPORT. THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR IN THE FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10179361
Incident
Dec 28, 2006
Mileage
52,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 3, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE AT AN IDLE, THERE WAS VIBRATION IN THE VEHICLE. ALSO, WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THERE WAS A HESITATION. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSOR, BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO DETERMINED THE INNER COOLING SYSTEM WAS LEAKING OIL ONTO THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. THE INNER COOLER SYSTEM, VALVE, MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, AND OXYGEN SENSOR WERE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
10172575
Incident
Nov 3, 2006
Mileage
128,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

LI54.30-P-072145

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

NTG5.5: Incorrect time shown on instrument cluster, COMAND display, and analog clock

LI42.47-P-067502

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC); SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

If the customer brakes sharply from a speed of > 30mph, without ABS intervention, there is a single cracking noise from the area of the ESP hydraulic unit

LI27.50-P-071658

POWER TRAIN

Harsh engagement when changing gear range from P to D or R

LI33 30-P-056665

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; SUSPENSION

Throttle lift-off clunking noises at drive shafts of front axle

LI91 45-P-066075

SEAT BELTS

Seat belt extender toothed rack sluggish or makes noises

LI32.25-P-061137

SUSPENSION:FRONT; SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT; SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER

Clunking noise from front axle suspension strut or rear axle shock absorber on short strokes of the damper

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 C230 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
20072125154.0
20061165154.3
2005854160.9
2004313049.8
2003513047.1
2002542053.2
2001400—
2000290039.8
1999Viewing290039.5
1998390034.6
1997700—

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.