2002 Mercedes-Benz C230 Engine 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

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

ON JUNE 9, 2011 I DROVE TO SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA TO VISIT MY COUSIN WHEN I GOT THERE I WENT TO LOCK MY DOORS BUT THE LOCK KEPT JUMPING UP AND DOWN. IT FINALLY LOCKED AFTER 12 ATTEMPTS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY QUOTED ME A PRICE OF $3500.00 TO REPLACE THE REGULATOR. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED ON JULY 18, 2011 WITH MY BRAKES.THE BREAK WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND $795.00 THEY CLAIMED I NEEDED FOR BOTH BRAKES AND ROTORS WHICH I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND SINCE 6 MONTHS PRIOR THE ROTORS HAD BEEN REPLACED. I AGAIN HAD TO HAVE THE ROTORS AND BREAKS REPLACED IN JULY 2012 AS WELL AS THE BACK BREAKS BUT THIS TIME I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER PLACE OTHER THAN THE DEALER AND HERE IT IS 2014 AND THEY ARE STILL HOLDING AND THE COST WAS $495.00 FOR BOTH FRONT AND BACK AS WELL 4 NEW MICHELIN TIRES THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE ME $495.00 FOR THE BACK ALONE. THE THIRD INCIDENT OCCURRED IN LAS VEGAS I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND THE CAR SHUT OFF. IT STARTED BACK RIGHT AWAY BUT I HAD A TEN HOUR DRIVE TO MAKE IT HOME AND THIS WORRIED ME. THE FOURTH INCIDENT WAS WITH THE SUNROOF I WENT TO THE CAR WASH AND THE WAX THAT WAS USED CAUSED THE SUNROOF TO STICK AFTER IT DRIED AND LATER THE MOTOR WENT OUT BECAUSE OF MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO OPEN THE ROOF, THE DEALER QUOTED ME A PRICE OF $5000.00 TO REPAIR IT. LAST BUT NOT LEAST THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE DRIVERS SEATBELT AND BACK SEATBELT ON DRIVERS SIDE WERE DEFECTIVE AND IF I HAD AN ACCIDENT THE AIR BAGS MIGHT NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEATBELTS MIGHT NOT HOLD, THIS WILL COST ME $700.00 TO HAVE FIXED. I DON'T HAVE A MONEY TREE GROWING IN MY YARD. ALSO MY REAR TAILLIGHT KEPT GOING OUT AND WHAT WE FOUND WAS THAT THE ENTIRE CASING HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED. THE ENTIRE UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE PAID MORE IN REPAIRS ON THIS CARS THAN I PAID IN GROCERIES OVER THE PASS FIVE YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10648269

Incident

Jun 9, 2011

Mileage

79,231 mi

I BOUGHT A CAR AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON, ITS A 2002 C230 KOMPRESSOR 2 DOOR, AND THE DEALER SAID ITS A SENSOR FROM THE SUPERCHARGER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10280485

Incident

Jul 21, 2009

Mileage

83,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C230. ON OCTOBER 15, 2008, WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED TO 15 MPH ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE GARAGE. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR FAILED AND COOLANT FLUID PENETRATED THE TRANSMISSION RESERVED FLUID. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE RADIATOR AND CLEANED THE TRANSMISSION AT THE COST OF $5,000. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL EVENTUALLY ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,146 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 59,000. UPDATED 02/24/09. *LJ UPDATED 02/25/09. *JB

NHTSA ID

10247836

Incident

Oct 15, 2008

Mileage

56,146 mi

I OWN A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ C230, WHICH HAS NOW HAD 2 SEVERE ISSUES WITH IT. THE FIRST ISSUE IS THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - THE SEAT CONTROL MODULES GO FAULTY AND START DRAINING THE BATTERY EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. IF YOU HAVE A BATTERY DRAIN, THIS IS THE LIKELY CULPRIT. I HAVE REPLACED THE SEAT CONTROL MODULES A TOTAL OF 3 TIMES. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ACCORDING TO INTERNET BOARDS. THE 2ND PROBLEM IS THAT OIL STARTED TO LEAK ALL OVER THE WIRES. AGAIN ANOTHER COMMON PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE INTERNET BOARDS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10230906

Incident

Jun 1, 2008

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER 1,000 MILES AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR USED. THE CAR HAD 47,000 MILES. THE ENGINE WAS NOT PERFORMING AS WELL AS IT HAD BEEN. THE DEALER RAN A DIAGNOSTIC WHICH REVEALED SIX SENSORS HAD FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACING. UPON SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION THE DEALER FOUND THAT OIL HAD LEAKED INTO THE SENSORS WIRING HARNESS AND CONTAMINATED THE SENSORS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10185800

Incident

Nov 11, 2006

Mileage

47,300 mi

I LEASED A MERCEDES BENZ C230 COMPRESSOR FOR MY DAUGHTER IN 2001. THE SUN ROOF DIDN'T SLIDE BACK ON THE EXTERIOR OR THE INTERIOR. THE DEALER DISMANTLED THE SUN ROOF. MERCEDES REFUNDED THE FIRST MONTH'S LEASE PAYMENT SINCE SHE DID NOT HAVE USE OF THE VEHICLE FOR THE FIRST MONTH. AFTER ONE YEAR THE SUN ROOF NEEDED ADDITIONAL REPAIR. AT 31,000 MILES - THE POWER STEERING FAILED THE BRAKES FAILED AND WERE REPLACED THE DIFFERENTIAL BROKE THE SUN ROOF ONCE AGAIN WASN'T WORKING... THE INTERIOR SLIDING MECHANISM FAILED FOR THE THIRD TIME IN 2 AND 1/2 YEARS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BECAUSE THE COOLANT SENSOR FAILED, THE CAR OVERHEATED BUT THE SENSOR REGISTERED COOL. CURRENTLY AT 37,000 MILES - THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE TAKEN APART BECAUSE IT WASN'T SHIFTING GEARS. THE MOTOR ON THE DRIVER'S POWER WINDOW BROKE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE LEFT TURN HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE FLASHER BROKE. WHILE THEY WERE FIXING THE TRANSMISSION THEY SOMEHOW DAMAGED THE REAR WINDOW AND THE REAR WINDSHIELD IS NOW BEING REPLACED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL COMING ON OCCASIONALLY. MERCEDES CEASED TO MANUFACTURE THIS VEHICLE IN 2005. MY DAUGHTER SPOKE TO THE REGIONAL REP., HE WAS UNRESPONSIVE, RUDE AND HUNG UP ON HER. I HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE IN THIS VEHICLE AND I HAVE EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT IT WILL CONTINUE TO BREAK DOWN AND JEOPARDIZE MY DAUGHTER'S SAFETY. THE ENGINE COULD BREAK DOWN BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE SENSOR THAT THEY CANNOT SEEM TO FIX. THE INCIDENT DATE THAT FOLLOWS IS THE DATE OF THE MOST RECENT PROBLEM .. THE TRANSMISSION AND THE REAR WINDOW. *NM

NHTSA ID

10136535

Incident

Sep 5, 2005

Mileage

1,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. THEN, VEHICLE RESTARTED ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION NUMEROUS TIMES. MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10084056

Incident

Dec 15, 2003

Mileage

170,000 mi

AFTER DRIVING THE CAR 90 MILES ON THE HIGHWAY, I WAS IN LOCAL TRAFFIC ABOUT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHEN THE CAR STALLED. I NEEDED TO RESTART THE CAR BEFORE IT WOULD RUN BRIEFLY AND THEN STALL AGAIN. IT KEPT STALLING IN TRAFFIC BEFORE I COULD PULL OVER AND HAVE IT TOWED IN FOR SERVICE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10066391

Incident

Apr 16, 2004

Mileage

25,500 mi

THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IGNITED AND CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO CONTENTS NEXT TO VEHICLE IGNITING. *MR THE DEALER, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SUGGESTED THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DUE TO "FIX A FLAT." THE MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED DUE TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WHICH WAS DIRECTLY UNDER THE AREA THAT BURNED. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10027029

Incident

Apr 16, 2003

Mileage

22,000 mi

ENGINE FAILS IN TRAFFIC AND STOPS, STARTS BACK UP IMMEDIATELY. I HADN'T REPORTED EARLIER CASES BECAUSE I ASSUMED IT WAS ME GETTING USE TO A NEW CAR. THIS IS A STANDARD TRANSMISSION VEHICLE WITH SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT GEARING THAN I AM USE TO. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10023084

Incident

Jun 15, 2003

THE CAR STALLED ON ME TWICE. ONE TIME ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 65 M/H. THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND CAME BACK ON. THE SECOND TIME ON A STREET ROAD GOING 25M/H. THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED IT BOTH TIMES AND THEY SAID THE COMPUTER SHOWS NO MALFUNCTIONS AND THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT THE CAUSE. HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE.

NHTSA ID

10019193

Incident

Apr 5, 2003

Mileage

5,000 mi

PROBLEMS BEGAN AT 10,000 MILES AUG 2002. BROUGHT CAR TO DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES SINCE OCT 2002 AND DEALERSHIP SAY THEIR DIAGNOSTIC TESTS SHOW NO PROBLEM AND THE STALLING/ROUGH IDLE IS NORMAL. THEY CAN'T FIND ANY ISSUES. *JB CAR STALLS (DEPENDING ON THE WEATHER)- WORSE ON HUMID DAYS, BUT EVERYDAY RUNS REALLY ROUGH UPON START UP. 50% OF THE TIME WILL COMPLETELY STALL. OTHER 50% IF I GAS THE CAR, IT RUNS REALLY ROUGH, BUT GETS ME OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. CAR ROUGHLY SWITCHES TO DRIVE. VERY LITTLE POWER WHEN SWITCHING TO DRIVE AND DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE CAR REDLINES UNTIL I GET TO ABOUT 20 MPH AND DOESN'T SEEM TO SWITCH TO SECOND (I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC) UNTIL I GET TO 20-25. POWER STEERING IS NOT WORKING ON COLD DAYS- VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN WHEEL UNTIL CAR GETS WARMED UP. EVEN ON DAYS WHEN ITS 40 DEGREES F. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN IT HAS BEEN COLDER THAN 15 DEGREES, THE STEERING WHEEL IS COMPLETELY UPSIDE DOWN AND YOU WOULD THINK THE CAR WOULD NOT DRIVE STRAIGHT- IT DOES!- WHICH MEANS THE STEERING WHEEL AND POWER STEERING IS NOT WORKING OR MY CAR WOULD NOT BE GOING STRAIGHT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHICH WAY MY TIRES ARE FACING! THE WORST AND MOST DANGEROUS PART OF THIS IS: ON 4 OCCASIONS SINCE DECEMBER 2002 UNTIL FEBRUARY 2003, WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT APPROX 55 MPH, WENT OVER A SLIGHT BUMP IN THE ROAD AND COMPLETELY LOST POWER IN THE VEHICLE AND ALL WARNING LIGHTS (EVERY SINGLE ONE) CAME ON. CAR IMMIDIATELY HALTED TO ABOUT 3 MPH, THE CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST RAREENDED ME. I HAD MY FOOT ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE GAS (I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD) AND THE POWER CAME BACK ON WITHIN 30 SECONDS, AND I ALMOST RARE-ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHEN MY CAR SURGED FORWARDED.

NHTSA ID

10008357

Incident

Aug 22, 2002

Mileage

10,000 mi

ENGINE STALLED (QUIT RUNNING) WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT APPROX. 62 MPH. THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD BEEN ENGAGED AND I BRAKED MODERATELY TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN WHEN THE ENGINE DIED. I MANAGED TO PULL THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND ATTEMPTED APPROX 4 - 6 TIMES TO RESTART. THE ENGINE FIRED BUT WOULD NOT RUN. FINALLY, AFTER APPROX. 30 SECONDS THE ENGINE FIRED AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AWAY. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER BUT THE DEALER HAS NOT CONTACTED ME YET TO SCHEDULE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION BY MERCEDES TO CORRECT. DT

NHTSA ID

768990

Incident

Oct 26, 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

WHILE DRIVING AT 85 MPH VEHICLE SHUTDOWN WITHOUT ANY WARNING, IT STARTED BACK UP AFTER 5 SECONDS, THEN SHUT OFF AGAIN. HAD VEHICLE TOWED. CONTACTED DEALER.CAUSE UNKOWN.*AK *YH

NHTSA ID

8017407

Incident

Aug 27, 2002

VEHICLE STALLS AND HESITATES AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP. BUT, IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST REVEALED ITSELF IT WOULD ONLY STALL WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. IT PROGRESSED TO THE ENGINE STOPPING COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING SPEEDS OF 25 MPH OR MORE. THE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE SUNROOF SHADE IS NOT OPENING PROPERLY. THE TRIM WAS REPAIRED. *JG

NHTSA ID

8015837

Incident

Oct 1, 2001

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THROUGH A PUDDLE, THAT WAS ABOUT 3-5 INCHES HIGH, VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED.*AK

NHTSA ID

896182

Incident

Aug 30, 2001