2005 Mercedes-Benz C230 Owner Complaints

The SAM system failed and car would not start !It took months to be diagnosed by 3 different mechanics! The message said quite often that the Air bags have been deployed !The dealer could not determine the issue! There have been various recalls on the Takata air bags stating my C230 2005 Kompressor is included in the recall over the last few years and when I put in the vin it says my car is not included! My mechanic said I should take it to the dealer before someone is killed. All I want now is to have these airbags replaced! Thank you [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11578847

Incident

Jan 1, 2015

Vehicle began smoking on highway. No check engine or indicator of any fault codes. No previous coolant or oil leaks, or fuel leaks appeared to be visible or of issue. Vehicle had to be pulled over on side of highway as smoke began to became increasing with darker color from the engine bay, then making its way into the inner cabin Of the vehicle. Within a minute the full engine and front end of vehicle was engulfed in flames. Occupant was barley able to get out due to the vehicles dark smoke which caused disorientation for the driver. A good samaritan removed driver from vehicle and approximately 2 minutes later the entire car and cabin was engulfed in flames. Car was deemed a total loss with front end, cabin, and areas near the back seat/ window were burned to complete bare metal. Emergency personnel numerous times mentioned how lucky occupant was since these types of vehicle fires are typically fatal followed by the speed of fire it had spread throughout the process when engulfed.

NHTSA ID

11522575

Incident

May 16, 2023

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR TO WORK AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW IT SLOWED DOWN ONLY GOING 40MPH. THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND NOW IT WANT GO IN REVERSE. THE ELECTRICAL HAS WENT OUT FOR MOVING THE HEADREST UP AND DOWN, MOVING THE SEAT FORWARD N BACKWARDS. THE BATTERY KEEP DRAINING, THIS IS THE 3RD NEW BATTERY I HAD TO BUY. IT'S STILL BEGING DRAIN. THE SUNROOF WILL NOT OPEN ALL ELECTRICAL HAS WENT OUT IN THAT AREA. IT HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO OPEN. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR HAS WENT OUT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAIS IT WASN'T NOTHING THEY CAN DO SINCE THERE WASN'T NO RECALL FOR THIS MODEL

NHTSA ID

11470526

Incident

Jun 22, 2022

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ C230. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO A SHOPPING CENTER AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS REAR-ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSING THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THE CONTACT'S FOREHEAD STRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, RIGHT BREAST, AND RIGHT LEG. THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUFFERED AN INJURY TO THE HEAD, BACK, AND RIGHT LEG. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS SOUGHT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 127,000.

NHTSA ID

11394653

Incident

Feb 25, 2020

Mileage

127,000 mi

LA TELA DEL TECHO SE DESPEG DE REPENTE Y PUEDE CAER ENCIMA DEL CONDUCTOR Y PASAJEROS .HE PREGUNTADO A OTRAS PERSONAS QUE TIENEN EL MISMO MODELO Y ME DICEN QUE TAMBIN LES A PASADO LO MISMO O SEA DEBE SER DEFECTO DE FABRICA

NHTSA ID

11353423

Incident

Jan 10, 2015

Mileage

89,000 mi

I PURCHASED THE CAR AND ABOUT 1 WEEK LATER THE BATTERY HAD DRAINED. I PURCHASED A NEW ONE THEN ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER IT DRAINED AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. IT KEEPS DRAINING NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I REPLACE IT. I HAVE ONLY PUT ABOUT 200 MILES ON THE CAR SINCE I PURCHASED IT YEARS AGO BECAUSE OF THIS. I REPLACED THE TIRES ONCE AND THE BATTERY NUMEROUS TIMES. I PAID $6,500.00 FOR A CAR I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE.

NHTSA ID

11351726

Incident

Oct 29, 2016

Mileage

111,000 mi

ON THE HIGHWAY CAR SHUT DOWN SHOP SAID THE W SHAPED FUEL TANK FAILED TO SEND FUEL FROM PASSENGER SIDE TO THE DRIVER SIDE. ALSO NUMEROUS TIME SPEED HAS ACCELERATED INDEPENDANTLY BUMPED IN PARKING LOT NO AIR BAG DEPLOYED SEAT MALFUNCTIONS WHEN MOVING IT ITS STUCK AND CROOKED CANT REACH PEDALS AND LOSS OF POWER EVEN AFTER FUEL REPAIRS BEFORE AS WELL. SUNROOF MOTOR WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO AND CONSTANT FUSES BLOWING AND LIGHTS ALL THE TIME. DOOR LOCKS ALSO GET STUCK. BATTERY ALSO DRAINS ITSELF ALL THE TIME AND HAS BAD CYLINDERS. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BUT THANKS FOR THE BENZ ITS OTHERWISE GREAT WHAT A JOKE.

NHTSA ID

11349353

Incident

Aug 22, 2019

Mileage

170,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ C230. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUNROOF TRACK DETACHED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE FROM THE SUNROOF. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V918000 (VISIBILITY) WHICH INFORMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. NEITHER A DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11309962

Incident

May 1, 2018

HI MY NAME IS [XXX] I OWN THE VEHICLE DESCRIBE AND PROVIDED THE VIN NR I WENT TO THE MERCEDES BENZ OF PORTLAND OR SITUATED IN 1605 S.W NAITO PKWY PORTLLAND OREGON ON THE DATE OF 3 OCTOBER 2019 BECAUSE THIS CAR HAVE A S.R.S RECALL THEY MAKE ME WAITING FROM 10;16 TO 15;41 BUT THEY DU NOT WANT TO SOLVE ALL THE RECALL FOR FREE MOTIVATED THE COMPANY THEY DO NOT ALLOW TO CHANGE EVERY SENSOR FOR FREE BECAUSE ON THE COST TOO BIG !!! THE CAR HAVE SEVERAL ISSUE SINCE THAT AND I AM ON DISABILITY I CAN CHANGE THOSE ISSUE BY MYSELF PLEASE TAKE NOTE AND HELPING ME >THANK YOU VERY MACH [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC *TR *JS

NHTSA ID

11308340

Incident

Oct 3, 2019

Mileage

72 mi

I HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE SAFETY AIR BAG RECALL HOWEVER, I HAVE JUST FOUND OIL IN MY WIRING HARNESS. MY CAR IS IDLING VERY ROUGH AND STALLING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, I RECEIVED 8 CODES. I HAVE OIL IN MY CAMSHAFT WIRING HARNESS, MY PISTON 1 FUEL INJECT, SPARK PLUGS, AND FRONT OF THE ENGINE WHERE CAMSHAFT ADJUSTER MAGNETS ARE COVERED IN BLACK SLUDGE OIL. ANOTHER MERCEDES OWNER TOLD ME THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO HIS CAR AND WAS "PIGTAILED" THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE FOR THIS TYPE OF CAR 2005 C230 KOMPRESSOR SPORT THE RECALL NUMBER IS #200910001. I WOULD LIKE FOR THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE, I NEED A GOVERNMENT LETTER TO BE APPROVED. MAY YOU PLEASE ASSIST ME WITH THIS REQUEST?

NHTSA ID

11185733

Incident

Feb 20, 2019

Mileage

110,000 mi

I WAS INVOLVED IN A 1 VEHICLE ACCIDENT WHERE THE DRIVER, LEFT CURTAIN AND LEFT SIDE AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. UPON CLOSE EXAMINATION OF THE FAILING DRIVER'S AIRBAG, I FOUND OBVIOUS SIGNS OF PERFORATIONS AND BURN-THROUGH. I WAS INJURED ON MY CHIN, FACE AND FOREHEAD. THIS AIRBAG WAS JUST RECENTLY REPLACED UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGN AT THE END OF OCTOBER THIS YEAR, PART OF THE TAKATA ORDEAL.

NHTSA ID

11154382

Incident

Nov 15, 2018

Mileage

90,000 mi

AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ENGINE STARTED VIBRATING AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR ENGINE STOPPED SUDDENLY. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO MY MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE TIMING CHAIN CAM SPROCKET TEETH WERE WORN OUT CAUSING THE TIMING CHAIN TO JUMP AND DESTROY THE ENGINE. RESEARCH SHOWED THIS IS COMMON FACTORY DEFECT WITH THESE ENGINES SINCE MERCEDES USED SOFT METAL FOR THE SPROCKETS CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR. I CONTACTED MERCEDES AND THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NO OPEN RECALL OR CLASS ACTION SUIT FOR THIS YEAR/MODEL AND RECOMMENDED THE CAR BE TOWED TO A MERCEDES DEALERSHIP FOR EVALUATION. MY LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER INFORMED ME THEY REQUIRE $200 FEE TO INSPECT THE CAR AND THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE WILL COST ME $10,000-15,000. THE CARE IS 13 YEARS OLD AND HAS 135,000 AND OUT OF WARRANTY. HOW IS IT THAT MERCEDES CAN ADVERTISE THEIR SLOGAN "THE BEST OR NOTHING" WHEN THEY MANUFACTURE ENGINES THAT ARE DESTROYED AT SUCH RELATIVE LOW MILEAGE? I WAS LUCKY NOT TO HAVE A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE ROAD AND WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO STOP THE CAR WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED WITHOUT INJURING MYSELF OR OTHERS.

NHTSA ID

11128521

Incident

Sep 3, 2018

Mileage

135,000 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ C230. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS RANDOMLY FLASHING, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. IN ADDITION, REGARDLESS IF A PASSENGER WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR KEPT FLASHING ON AND OFF. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER (ATLANTA CLASSIC CARS, 1705 BOGGS RD, DULUTH, GA 30096, (888) 512-1933) STATED THAT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE DIAGNOSED FIRST TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11114778

Incident

Mar 25, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ C230. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTIFICATION IN MARCH OF 2018. THE DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF BEVERLY HILLS, 9250 BEVERLY BLVD, BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90210) STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEIR SYSTEM WAS DOWN AND WERE UNABLE TO LOOK UP THE RECALL. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11114143

Incident

Mar 4, 2018

TAKATA RECALL. I CALLED MERCEDES BENZ OF USA ON APRIL 24, 2018 TO REQUEST INFORMATION AS TO WHEN THE VEHICLE IDENTIFIED ABOVE WOULD BE SCHEDULED TO HAVE ITS AFFECTED AIRBAGS REPLACED. THEIR RESPONSE INDICATES THAT I AM IN FOR A VERY LONG WAIT. THEIR PRIORITY OF REPLACEMENT FOCUSES ON VEHICLES IN HUMID ENVIRONMENTS. THE VEHICLE DESCRIBED ABOVE WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED IN AND SPENT A SIGNIFICANT PERIOD OF TIME IN BOSTON. MA. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT POSSIBLY BEING MORTALLY WOUNDED BY THE CURRENT AIRBAG IN AN OTHERWISE NON-FATAL ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

11090180

Incident

Apr 24, 2018

Mileage

138,000 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ C230. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE FAILURE, THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED MERCEDES-BENZ OF WESTWOOD AT 781-688-1000 AND WAS ADVISED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V81000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE SAME DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 114,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11089136

Incident

Jan 16, 2018

Mileage

114,000 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ C230. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) OVER A YEAR AGO. THE DEALER (CARLTON MOTORCARS, 2446 LAURENS RD, GREENVILLE, SC 29607, (864) 213-8000) STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE AND WAS UNABLE TO VERIFY WHEN THEY WOULD BE SUPPLIED FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR RECENTLY ILLUMINATED. INITIALLY, THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD NEED TO PAY $200 TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED BEFORE ORDERING THE PART TO PROVIDE THE REMEDY FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT BEING CHARGED A DIAGNOSTIC FEE AFTER HAVING TO WAIT FOR MORE THAN A YEAR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11083419

Incident

Feb 1, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ C230. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF PALM SPRINGS, 4095 E PALM CANYON DR, PALM SPRINGS, CA 92264, (760) 328-6525) STATED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND DID NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WOULD BE SUPPLIED FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE ON A NATIONAL BACKORDER. THE DEALER ONLY STATED THAT THE PARTS MAY BECOME AVAILABLE WITHIN 30 TO 90 DAYS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11083102

Incident

Mar 1, 2018

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ C230. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED BECAUSE THE INTERIM RECALL NOTICE STATED THAT THE REMEDY AND PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SUPPLY THE REMEDY AND PARTS TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11061625

Incident

Dec 18, 2017

RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN JANUARY 2017 THAT STATED "REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION". JUST RECEIVED ANOTHER DATED DECEMBER 2017 THAT STATED "VISIT WWW.MBUSA.COM/RECALLS" FOR MORE INFO, THIS PAGE IS "NOT AVAILABLE" ON THIS DATE(12/27/2017).

NHTSA ID

11056745

Incident

Dec 27, 2017

TAKATA RECALL --- RECALL HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED IN OVER A YEAR .....AIRBAG MANUFACTURER FILING CHAPTER 11. I HOLD MERCEDES BENZ RESPONSIBLE

NHTSA ID

11056698

Incident

Dec 26, 2017

Mileage

140,700 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ C230WZ. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. *TT UPDATED 8/28/18*JB

NHTSA ID

11055784

Incident

Feb 11, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ C230. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (HOUSE OF IMPORTS, 6862 AUTO CENTER DR, BUENA PARK, CA 90621) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11053508

Incident

Feb 11, 2016

TAKATA RECALL - MERCEDES DOES NOT HAVE A SUITABLE REPLACEMENT PART AND DOES NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WILL.

NHTSA ID

11045627

Incident

May 1, 2016

TAKATA RECALL - NO MERCEDES DEALERS HAVE YET TO RECEIVE ANY REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR THE MERCEDES PASSENGER CARS.

NHTSA ID

11045625

Incident

Nov 13, 2017