2005 Mercedes-Benz C230 Engine Problems

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

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

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

1.8L 4 CYLINDER SUPERCHARGED. TEETH ON CAM GEARS BROKEN OFF AND WORN DOWN TO THE POINT OF THE VEHICLE JUMPING TIMING. AND DAMAGING VALVES AND OTHER MAJOR COMPONENTS. COST OF PARTS QUOTES FROM THE LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER, 900.00 PER GEAR, TIMING CHAIN 330.00 NOT INCLUDING ANY LABOR, IF ANY OTHER COMPONENTS WERE DAMAGED MORE PARTS ARE REQUIRED. REASON FOR THIS HAPPENING IS DUE TO MERCEDES USING A THIN BICYCLE LIKE CHAIN FOR TIMING. STRETCHES BEYOND SAFE LIMITS IN 50K OF MILES. LOOSE CHAIN EVENTUALLY BREAKS AND/OR DAMAGES CAM GEAR TEETH AND OTHER COMPONENTS. MANY INCIDENTS OF THIS CAN BE FOUND AT MBWORLD.ORG AND BENZWORLD.ORG. *TR

NHTSA ID

10481337

Incident

Oct 15, 2012

Mileage

120,000 mi

THE CAM SHAFT GEARS HAVE WORN OUT PRE-MATURELY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JUST DIE AND NOT RESTART LEAVING MY WIFE STRANDED. THIS IS A DIRECT CAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE PART, THE GEAR WAS NOT HARDENED PROPERLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10417894

Incident

Aug 1, 2011

Mileage

109,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ C230. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CAMSHAFT SOLENOID HAD LEAKED OIL INTO THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE SRS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SEAT BELT HARNESS AND FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WIRING TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 47,668.

NHTSA ID

10369462

Incident

Oct 6, 2006

Mileage

47,668 mi

TL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ C230. THE CONTACT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING AND LOSES POWER. THE HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND THE MECHANIC NOTICE THE CYLINDERS WERE MISS FIRING SO THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE COILS TO THE SPARK PLUGS. A MONTH LATER THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING AND LOSING POWER SO THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THE CYLINDERS HAD A LOSS OF COMPRESSION. THE MECHANIC RE-MANUFACTURER THE CYLINDER HEADS IN THE ENGINE. TWO YEAR LATER THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES ARE OCCURRING IN THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE CYLINDER AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THEY'VE HAVEN'T HEARD OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS PARTICULAR YEAR MAKE MODEL. THE CONTACT HAS NOTICE OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE CYLINDER HEAD ON THE INTERNET. THE CONTACT STATED THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000. JO

NHTSA ID

10360260

Incident

Jun 14, 2008

Mileage

104,000 mi

FIRST, MY STEERING WHEEL WIRE WAS REPLACED FROM A FAULTY SRS LIGHT COMING ON AND THE ESP LIGHT COMING ON. I HAD TO PAY FOR ALL OF THIS. NEXT, EUROMOTOR CARS SAID THE STEERING WHEEL COLLAR WAS BROKE. I HAVE NEVER HAD THAT FIXED BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME AND I FELT THEY SHOULD REPLACE THE COLLAR SINCE THEY REPLACED THE STEERING WIRE. NOW MY CAR DOES NOT START AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DOES NOT LIGHT UP. I CANNOT UNLOCK THE DOORS WITH THE REMOTE KEY AND I CANNOT UNLOCK THE TRUNK OF THE CAR. MY CAR JUST SITS BECAUSE I FEEL I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY OF THIS ANY MORE. I HAVE PUT $6,800 IN REPAIRS IN THIS CAR. I DO NOT WANT TO PAY FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE. I FEEL MY CAR IS UNSAFE. MY CAR WAS FIRST SERVICED AT HERB GORDON'S AUTO GROUP IN SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND. I WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THE SERVICE SO I DECIDED TO TRY EUROMOTORS AND THE SERVICE WAS WORSE. THEY CONTINUE TO PUT IN CODES SO THERE WILL NOT BE A RECALL AND THE CONSUMER HAS TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. PLEASE HELP IN RESOLVING SOME OF THE ISSUES I HAVE HAD WITH THIS 2005 C230 KOMPRESSOR MERCEDES BENZ. I WOULD ALSO LIKE FOR THIS CAR TO BE ENTERED INTO THE RECALL FOR THE STEERING WIRE REPAIR JUST AS THE E320. I PURCHASED THE CAR WITH 4,000 MILES ON IT IN 10/2005. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10358849

Incident

Jan 26, 2008

CHECK VALVE ON THE M271 MOTOR IN MY 2005 C230 HAS A DEFECT ALLOWING THE SUPERCHARGED AIR TO ENTER INTO THE CRANKCASE OF THE ENGINE PUSHING OIL INTO IT AND IT CAUSED A MISFIRE READING, LOSS OF POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO GO ON. THE CAMPAIGN I FOUND IDENTICAL TO MY PROBLEM IS NUMBER IS 2008020002. HOWEVER IT'S REPAIR COVERAGE IS ONLY ASSOCIATED WITH A RANGE OF VIN #'S THROUGHOUT 2003-2005 WHICH MY CAR IS A 2005, BUT THE CAMPAIGN IS NOT LISTED UNDER MY VIN#. *TR

NHTSA ID

10221564

Incident

Mar 8, 2008

Mileage

56,000 mi

MUSTY SMELL IN THE AIR CONDITIONER , AND I HAVE TAKEN M THE VEHICLE TO DEALER THREE TIMES IN BOERNE TEXAS. THEY HAVE TEMPORARILY ELIMINATED THE SMELL ALTHOUGH IT CONTINUED TO RETURN. THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANT, Y BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO PERMANENT SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. THE WARRANTY WILL EXPIRE IN 3 MONTHS, AND I WOULD LIKE THE PROBLEM TO BE RESOLVED PRIOR TO WARRANTY EXPIRATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

10196695

Incident

Jul 17, 2007

Mileage

20,000 mi

PROBLEM STARTS WITH A HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION AND LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING. AFTER SHUTTING ENGINE OFF, THEN UPON STARTING VEHICLE, ENGINE WOULD START TO SHAKE AND STUMBLE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. VEHICLE ENGINE SOUNDS AS IF IT GOING TO BLOW UP AND HAS NO POWER AND STALLS BECOMES UNDRIVEABLE. IF YOU SHUT ENGINE OFF AGAIN AND RESTART SOMETIMES CAR CAN BE DRIVEN EVEN THOUGH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON. IT ALWAYS SHOWS THE SAME CODES FOR REPAIR. CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO DEALER 2 TIMES AND DRIVEN OVER 4 ADDITIONAL TIMES. EACH TIME THE CODE COMES UP AS A COIL DEFECT AND DEALER HAS REPLACED COIL #2 SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO COIL BEING BURNT ALONG WITH CLEANING AND/OR REPLACEMENT OF SPARK PLUGS ONLY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM RECUR WITHIN HOURS OR DAYS. THEY STILL HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. DEALER GAVE ME SAME MODEL LOANER VEHICLE WHICH I HAD TO RETURN WITHIN HOURS DUE TO SAME PROBLEMS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10165348

Incident

Jul 21, 2006

Mileage

1,900 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER A FEW MINUTES. OTHER TIMES THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP A TOTAL OF EIGHT TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP MADE UNKNOWN REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER, HOWEVER THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER ACCURATELY DETERMINED AND NONE OF THE UNKNOWN REPLACEMENT PARTS REMEDIED THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10156068

Incident

Apr 25, 2006

Mileage

20,252 mi

WHIEL DRIVING, THE CONSUMER STARTED TO SMELL GAS IN THE CAR, THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD, LEFT THE CAR RUNNING, POPPED THE HOOD AND FIRE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. INSURANCE CO. FARMERS, ROBERT GONZALES 956-454-2046*JB

NHTSA ID

10095506

Incident

Sep 29, 2004