2002 Mercedes-Benz C230 Electrical Problems

There is an old recall campaign for the Camshaft Seal, # 2009100001. This car is among those affected by this problem and should be covered for issues and repairs.

NHTSA ID

11492467

Incident

Jul 8, 2021

TAKATA RECALL ESL (ELECTRIC STEERING LOCK) COMPONENTS THE MOTOR FAILS TO UNLOCK THE STEERING THE FIRST TIME, BUT WORK IN FOLLOWING ATTEMPTS. SOME TIMES IT TAKES 1 TO 4 HOURS FOR ESL TO UNLOCK. THIS HAPPENS ONLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED WEATHER OVERNIGHT OR JUST COMING OUT OF THE STORE SHOPPING.

NHTSA ID

11217203

Incident

Apr 15, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ C230. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 15-20 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE ABS AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRE HARNESS MELTED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000.

NHTSA ID

10969417

Incident

Mar 2, 2017

Mileage

12,000 mi

THE POWER SEAT MODULES CONTINUOUSLY DRAIN THE BATTERY CAUSING DEAD BATTERY WITHIN 24-48 HOURS. THE SEATS MUST BE UNPLUGGED TO STOP THE PROBLEM. MERCEDES DEALERSHIP WANTS $100 TO DIAGNOSE AND $1,500 PER SEAT MODULE. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ONLINE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM MAKING THIS A DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10597448

Incident

Jun 1, 2007

Mileage

50,000 mi

BOTH FRONT POWER SEAT MODULES DRAIN BATTERY WHEN CAR IS OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10442789

Incident

Dec 15, 2011

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C 230. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WIRING AND SEVERAL OTHER WIRES WERE BURNED. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT IF THE FUEL TANK HAD BEEN FULL OF GASOLINE, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE FAILURE WAS NOT CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

NHTSA ID

10350278

Incident

Aug 1, 2010

Mileage

99,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY OUT OF STATE AT APPROX. 60MPH CAR SUDDENLY BUCKED AND ALL POWER CUT OUT, ALL LIGHTS ON CONTROL PANEL LIT UP- HIT CLUTCH AND GAS, VEHICLE RESTARTED. NEAREST DEALER WOULD NOT SEE ME FOR 2 WEEKS, DEALER IN ANOTHER STATE DID DIAGNOSTIC ESTIMATED REPAIR AT CLOSE TO $4,000; ALREADY GAVE OVER $1800 AS DOWNPAYMENT TOWARD PARTS. REPAIR ? SCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEEK. READ OTHER COMPLAINTS, BELIEVE MANUFACTURER SHOULD TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY HERE, AND WANT REASSURANCE IF REPAIR DOES NOT WORK I WILL NOT BE CONTINUOUSLY CHARGED WHILE THEY REPLACE EVERYTHING UNTIL THE GET IT RIGHT. SAID COMPUTER DID NOT READ A DEFECT. CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED BY DEALERS ONLY AT EVERY RECOMMENDED SERVICE MILESTONE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10214361

Incident

Jan 8, 2008

Mileage

56,000 mi

MY 2002 MERCEDES C230 KOMPRESSOR KEEPS DRAINING THE BATTERY. I HAVE HAD THE BATTERY AND THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED. NO ONE, INCLUDING THE DEALER CAN DETERMINE WHAT IS CAUSING THE DRAIN. ONLINE FORUMS FROM MERCEDES OUTLINE THAT THIS IS A REGULAR ISSUE THAT MERCEDES IS AWARE OF, BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10197692

Incident

May 14, 2007

Mileage

43,000 mi

ERROR MESSAGE APPEARING ON MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY STATING THAT "UNDER VOLTAGE CONSUMER DEFECTIVE!" ALONG WITH A "BATTERY/ALTERNATOR VISIT WORKSHOP" ERROR. TAKING THE CAR TO A SERVICE STATION INDICATES THAT THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR IS FAULTY. CURRENTLY THERE IS A RECALL FOR ALL MERCEDES MODELS EXCEPT MINE IN THE USA. EVENTUALLY THE BATTERY BECAME DISCHARGED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10157618

Incident

May 15, 2006

Mileage

47,320 mi

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING ONTO A RAMP, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM HAD FUNCTION ERRATICALLY. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE RIGHT REAR BRAKES CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE INTO THE CURB. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THIS DEFECTIVE PART IS LIFE THREATENING. SCC

NHTSA ID

10001971

THE C230 COUPE SHUT OFF WHILE ON HIGHWAY

NHTSA ID

10002629

Incident

Jan 6, 2001

Mileage

2,000 mi

I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE IN FOR REPEATED REPAIR: 1-7-02 TO 1-14-02, 2-14-01 TO 2-19-02, 3-4-02 TO 3-7-02, 5-2-02 TO 5-3-02, 5-21-02 TO 5-28-02, AND THE DEALER HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR SHUTTING OFF ON ME. THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE CAR WUILL SHUT OFF ON THE HIGHWAY, IN TRAFFIC, GOING UP A HILL, THEN THE DASHBOARD WILL LIGHT UP, MENTIONING SYSTEM FAILURE. I HAVE USED THE SOS BUTTON IN MY CARE REPEATEDLY TO GET HELP, BUT THAT IS STILL NOT GOOD ENOUGH. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ USA, AND MERCEDES IN STUTTGART GERMANY. I HAVE PUT THEM ON NOTICE TO PURCHASE THE CAR BACK FROM ME, AND THEY HAVE A WEEK AND A HALF LEFT TO RESPOND. I TRY TO NOT TO DRIVR THE CAR A LOT, WHICH DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF PURCHASING A NEW VEHICLE, BUT FRANKLY, I AM SCARED THAT SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN, BECAUSE IT HAS SHUT OFF ON ME ON I75 GOING 60 PLUS MILES AN HOUR. IT IS CERTAINLY A SAFETY HAZARD.*AK

NHTSA ID

766457

Incident

Jan 7, 2002

INITIALLY THE ENGINE FAILED AND THE CAR LOST POWER, IN TRAFFIC, DURING A TURN. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART IMMEDIATELY, AND THE ELECTRONIC MESSAGE CENTER INDICATED THERE WAS "NO MALFUNCTION" OCCURRING. UPON ARRIVAL AT MY DESTINATION THE ENGINE FAILED AFTER BEING PLACED IN PARK, AS I CONSIDERED BACKING INTO THE DRIVEWAY. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE CAR AT LEAST 4 TIMES ON 3 DIFFERENT DAYS, AND CAN OFFER NO EXPLANATION FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PERFORMANCE.*AK

NHTSA ID

766410

Incident

Aug 18, 2002