2006 Mercedes-Benz C230 Engine Problems

Engine misfires while driving. OBD 2 codes P0016 and P0017 indicates bad balance shaft. Common defect in these cars. Very expensive repair needed.

NHTSA ID

11666455

Incident

Jun 12, 2025

The contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz C230. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started leaking oil. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 172,000.

NHTSA ID

11601571

Incident

Aug 18, 2023

Mileage

172,000 mi

The car randomly misfires and goes into limp mode with a flashing check engine light. This has occurred on roadways and the vehicle loses all engine power. My engine code, 272920 30 183997272.920, falls into a known range of balance shaft gear problems with this motor. There was previously a settlement by the manufacturer to repair the motor but I was unaware of this settlement before purchasing this vehicle as there was no official recall. I am being told the repair requires pulling the motor out which is quite a high cost. The problem has been confirmed by an independent mechanic inspecting the camshaft timing. There were no other indicators of this failure before the check engine light came on and flashed.

NHTSA ID

11590772

Incident

May 24, 2024

Engine pulley noises

NHTSA ID

11521923

Incident

Jul 3, 2009

To whom this may,I been having problems with check engine light keep coming on,I'm paying alot of money on this car,it could be that recall hose on back order causing that check engine light to come on,please HELP!!!!!!

NHTSA ID

11501709

Incident

Jan 13, 2023

My Engine light came on and I took it to Star Motors. They reported two codes, 1200 and 1208. This means a bad Balance Shaft. This balances the engine and controls the timing belt. I had three choices they said, Repair it for $5,900.00 ....Yes that's right. Sell the car or drive it till it dies. I asked what that meant. They said the car will just stop, freeze and size up, it could happen at anytime. So I'm driving a time bomb basically..

NHTSA ID

11490895

Incident

Oct 18, 2022

The timing chain failed without warning causing the vehicle to cut off while driving 75 mph on the highway. The service engine soon late was not on at all so there was no warning that something was wrong with the vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11474709

Incident

Jul 18, 2022

The intake manifold has a plastic tumble flap mechanism. This commonly breaks in most of these Mercedes Benz vehicles. The main problem is the high cost of repair due to it's location in the engine under a complex wiring harness. Mercedes has never issued a recall, but this problem can lead to catastrophic engine failure. This problem is very well documented on many websites.

NHTSA ID

11470020

Incident

Jun 20, 2022

SOMETIMES, ENGINES YELLOW LIGHT IS ON, AND CAR HAD A LITTLE SHAKING, AND LAKES ARE SOFT WHEN BRAKING,. AND THE CAR WINDOW ASIDE OF FRONT GUEST STOPS MOVING UP AND DOWN.

NHTSA ID

11297688

Incident

Dec 11, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ C230. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND 'CAM SHAFT BALANCE CALIBRATION, SENSOR ONE AND SENSOR B' APPEARED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GARAGE ISLA VERDE (AVENIDA BALDORIOTY DE CASTRO, KL 10.3, CAROLINA, PR 00979) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BALANCE CAMSHAFT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT OWNED TWO OTHER MERCEDES BENZ C230S, WHICH ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000. *TR*JB

NHTSA ID

11258513

Incident

Sep 14, 2019

Mileage

131,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ C230WZ. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME. THE DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID

11180063

Incident

Feb 1, 2012

Mileage

110,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL" 2006 MERCEDES BENZ C230 I WAS DRIVING HOME AND MY CAR STARTED MISFIRING REALLY BAD, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STARTED FLICKERING AND STAYED ON AND THE LIGHTS IN THE CAR ON THE DASH AND ON THE RADIO STARTED TO FLICKER ON AND OFF AND THEN THE CAR JUST WAS LIMP IT WOULDN'T EVEN PICK UP SPEED IT WAS SLOWING DOWN ON THE FREEWAY WITH VERY BUSY TRAFFIC .I WAS SCARED FOR MY LIFE AND MY FRIEND THAT WE WERE GOING TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC . I TRIED TO HURRY HOME BUT IT WAS WOULD NOT PICK UP SPEED IT KEEP GOING SLOWER AND SLOWER AND WHEN WE HAD TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP DUE TO TRAFFIC IT ACTUALLY TURNED COMPLETELY OFF TWICE AND I WAS SO SCARED THAT AN ACCEIDENT WOULD HAPPEN IT WAS MISFIRING AND JUST A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE THIS SHOULD BE SOME KIND OF RECALL OR SOMETHING THEY NEED TO LOOK INTO IT ABC FIX IT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR WORSE .

NHTSA ID

11164310

Incident

Dec 22, 2018

Mileage

150,000 mi

ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON WHEN RPM REACHED 2,000 AND HAS STAYED ON EVER SINCE. DIAGNOSTICS MADE AT A PROFESSIONAL MECHANICS INDICATED A BALANCE SHAFT PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS 68,400 MILES.

NHTSA ID

10947226

Incident

Jan 17, 2017

Mileage

68,400 mi

ENGINE DIAGNOSIS WARNING LAMP LIGHT UP, FAULT CODES 1200 AND 1208 STORED IN MOTOR ELECTRONICS CONTROL UNIT. CAUSE: BALANCE SHAFT SPROCKET (ENGINE M272) WORN SPROCKET DAMAGE PROFILE. ENGINE CHECK LIGHTS CAME ON AND B-SERVICE LIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY.. ENGINE- M272.

NHTSA ID

10870871

Incident

Feb 16, 2016

Mileage

79,306 mi

MY FAN ON ,YCAR WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 70,000 MILES MY AIR WENT OUT...I DROVE APPROX 5 MILES TO THE STORE AND WAS ON MY WAY BACK HOME WHENI NOTICED MY AIR WAS NOT WORKING. A MESAGE CAME ON TO TAKE TO THE SHOP.

NHTSA ID

10870376

Incident

May 10, 2016

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ C230. WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND THE RPMS REVVED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

NHTSA ID

10825406

Incident

Feb 8, 2016

Mileage

74,000 mi

MY FIRST INCIDENCE WAS DRIVING AND THE STEERING WOULD ALL OF A SUDDEN GET STIFF LIKE IT NEEDED POWER STEERING FLUID OR SOMETHING. CHECK IT WASN'T THE FLUID (THIS HAPPENED A FEW MONTH AGO I THOUGHT HMMM PROBABLY JUST SOMETHING FREAKY) THEN 1/8/16 RIDING DOWN THE BUSY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY THE CAR ACCELERATION JUST LEFT. I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR BUT NO SPEED. IT WAS EXTREMELY SCARY. I HAD THE CAR CHECKED OUT...IT'S THE CLASSIC PROBLEM I NEVER HEARD OF UNTIL TODAY. ( INTAKE MANIFOLD TUMBLE FLAP) SOME PLASTIC JUNK ON AN EXPENSIVE CAR. IF I WANTED A JUNK CAR I WOULD'VE WENT TO THE "JUNK YARD" PAID LIKE 250. AND BE DONE WITH IT. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED AND ANGRY. I'M GLAD MY KIDS WASN'T IN THE CAR AND IT WASN'T A HORRIFIC OUTCOME. NOW I CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITH THE CAR RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT'S EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR FOR SUCH A CHEAP PIECE THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE NEVER BEEN ON IT AND BECAUSE #1 I'M ON A FIXED INCOME #2 I STILL HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. BUT WHAT DOES MB CARE ABOUT THAT....ITS JUST A PRODUCT TO THEM, A MONEY MAKER.

NHTSA ID

10821913

Incident

Jan 8, 2016

Mileage

100,000 mi

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. I HAD IT LOOKED AT BY MY MECHANIC. HE CONFIRMED THAT IT IS THE BALANCE SHAFT. THIS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND MANY MERCEDES 230 MODELS HAVE THIS MANUFACTURER'S PROBLEM BECAUSE THE PIECE WAS CHEAPLY MADE. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH YOUR MERCEDES C230 2006 AND 2007 MODELS. IN 2008 C230 MODEL THIS WAS REPLACED WITH A QUALITY BALANCE SHAFT PIECE WHICH ELIMINATED THE PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE FOR MERCEDES CORPORATION TO PAY FOR THE FULL COST OF MY REPAIR BECAUSE IT IS A MANUFACTURED FAULTY PIECE USED IN THE 2006 AND 2007C230 MODELS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW DETAILS TO GET THIS PAID FOR. THANK YOU!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10807328

Incident

Nov 24, 2015

Mileage

105,000 mi

ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THERE IS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE PLASTIC ACTUATING RODS BROKE CAUSING THE INTERNAL FLAPPERS TO STICK OUT. THIS CAN SUCK INTO THE ENGINE AND CAUSE MAJOR DAMAGE TO VALVES AND ENGINE HEAD. MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD NOT HAVE USED PLASTIC RODS THAT BREAK. MERCEDES SHOULD REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AS NO COST TO THE CUSTOMER.

NHTSA ID

10786035

Incident

Oct 21, 2015

Mileage

103,835 mi

I BOUGHT THE C230 AT ONE YEAR OLD. I HAD E PERIENCED TWO TIMES THATWHILE FREEWAY DRIVING ALL POWER WOULD BE LOST. PULLED OVER AND PUT IN PARK, REV ENGINE A BIT BUT RPM'S WOULD NOT MOVE. FAST FORWARD TO DECEMBER 2008 I SOLD CAR GO MY MOM BECAUSE I HAD A BABY AND CAR WAS TOO SMALL. MY MOM SINCE HAVING CAR HAS LOST POWER WHILE FREEWAY DRIVING A TOTAL OF SIX TIMES NOW. VERY DANGEROUS AS THERE IS NO "CODE" OR "ERROR" FOR MECHANIC WHEN DIAGNOSING, NOR IS BENZ ACKOWLEDING GHE ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10779561

Incident

Sep 5, 2015

Mileage

68,450 mi

MY CAR ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN JUNE OF 2014. I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR COMPANY. THEY EXPLAINED AT THAT TIME THAT I MAY BE DEALING WITH A BALANCE SHAFT ISSUE. AS THE MONTHS PROGRESS, MY ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE ENGINE LIGHT EVENTUALLY WOULD NOT GO OFF. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THEY CONFIRM THAT IT WAS A BALANCE SHAFT ISSUE AND THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURERS PROBLEM. I CALLED AND EMAILED MERCEDES BENZ FOR ASSISTANCE SINCE IT WAS NOT NEGLIGENT ON MY PART THAT THIS ISSUE OCCURRED. AFTER MAKING SEVERAL PHONES AND E-MAILING THE CEO, THEY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO GET IT CHECKED BY A MERCEDES BENZ DEALER TO CONFIRM THE ISSUE. I MADE THE APPOINTMENT WITH THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALER IN DECEMBER 2014 AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS A BALANCE SHAFT ISSUE AND THAT IT WOULD COST AROUND $5,000 TO REPAIR. I CALLED MERCEDES BENZ BACK TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE AND THEY EXPLAINED THAT SINCE THE CAR HAD NO RECALLS AND THAT IT WAS NOT A NEW CAR, THEY WOULD PAY 10% OF THE REPAIR COST. I EXPLAINED THAT I DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AND THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS SINCE IT IS A MANUFACTURERS PROBLEM. TO DATE , I AM WITHOUT A CAR TO DRIVE BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. ANY ASSISTANCE THAT YOU CAN GIVE IN THIS MATTER IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10682680

Incident

Nov 24, 2014

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

10648266

Incident

Jun 9, 2011

Mileage

79,231 mi

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON MY C230 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ THEREFORE I'D TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THE MB MECHANIC STATED I HAVE A BAD BALANCE SHAFT THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACE. THE MB REPAIR SHOP QUOTED ME OVER $6000 TO REPAIR A DEFECTIVE BALANCE SHAFT. THE ENGINE WILL NOT START WITH THIS DEFECTIVE PART, AND/OR THE CAR WILL STOP BECAUSE OF THE FAILED PART WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10643043

Incident

Sep 13, 2014

Mileage

128,479 mi

TL* THE CONTACTS OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES C230. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE BODY WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

NHTSA ID

10594199

Incident

May 27, 2014

Mileage

78,000 mi

"ATTEMPTING TO SPEED UP FROM STOP TO 45 MPH AND RPMS ROSE ABOVE 5000 TO 6000 AND CAR WOULD NOT SPEED UP PAST 35 MPH. I TRIED FLOORING THE ACCELERATOR BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. NO RESPONSE AT ALL PAST 35 MPH". MY CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE AS IT SHOULD. I WENT TO A AUTO SHOP AND THEY SAID I HAVE AN INTAKE MANIFOLD PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10561067

Incident

Dec 13, 2013

Mileage

100,000 mi