RoadVitals

2003 Mercedes-Benz C240 Fuel system Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Fuel system reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Nov 22, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
40%
of 20 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C240 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming fuel system

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Fuel system
Filed Nov 22, 2016

AFTER FILLING MY GAS TANK, THERE'S A VERY STRONG RAW GAS ODOR INSIDE THE CAR WHILE DRIVING, AND WHEN PARKED. SEEMS STRONGER IN THE BACKSEAT. I SEE THERE'S A EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS ISSUE FROM MERCEDES BENZ ON THE E CLASS FOR MY YEAR (2003). THAT WARRANTY EXTENSION SHOULD HAVE COVERED ALL CLASSES WITH SIMILAR DESIGN OR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE FUMES ARE SO STRONG I AM AFRAID ANY SPARK COULD IGNITE THE VAPORS. I REALLY NEED YOUR HELP! IF MERCEDES BENZ ACKNOWLEDGED PROBLEMS WITH MY YEAR (2003), IT SHOULD INCLUDE MY C CLASS UNLESS THEY CAN ESTABLISH THE ISSUES ARE TOTALLY UNRELATED IN NATURE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE.

NHTSA ID
10927575
Incident
Nov 22, 2016
Mileage
196,000 mi
ElectricalFuel systemExterior lighting
Filed Oct 6, 2016
1 injury reported

I BOUGHT THE CAR YESTERDAY, AND TODAY REALIZED THE CAR IS LEAKING FUEL, POOLING UNDER THE BACK SEAT AND SPILLING OUT UNDER THE CAR. THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WILL NOT WORK; WE TRIED 3 BULBS. THE PANEL DISPLAYS A MESSAGE STATING ONE OF THE TAG LIGHTS IS OUT, BUT IT ACTUALLY WORKS.

NHTSA ID
10914366
Incident
Oct 6, 2016
Mileage
134,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Mar 29, 2016

I OWN A A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ C240. THE FOLLOWING DAY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REFUELED, THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR. IT HAS HAPPEN SUDDENLY OUT OF NOWHERE AFTER MY OTHER ELECTRICAL FAILURES OF SHOWING UP IN MY MALFUNCTION PANEL, IN WHICH I HAVE A COMPLAINT. THE SRS THEN THE ESP NOW. THEN THE FUEL SMELL. I SEEM TO NOTICE IT MORE WHEN I WOULD IDLE HEATING UP THE CAR IN THE WINTER, THEN WHEN I JUST TURN IT ON AND DRIVE. I NOTICE IT AT STOP LIGHTS AS WELL. IF THERE IS ANY RECALL ON ANY MERCEDES THAT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THIS OR ANY ISSUE, IT SHOULD FALL ACROSS THE LINE OF OTHER YEARS AND MODELS AS WELL. SAFETY IS THE ISSUE AND QUALITY IS WHY WE CHOOSE A CERTAIN MAKE.

NHTSA ID
10852305
Incident
Dec 16, 2015
Mileage
168,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistanceFuel system
Filed Mar 29, 2016

TAKATA RECALL. CARS WITH THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE PART OF THE RECALL. I HAVE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AS THE 7TH COMPLAINER.CASE #10574681. SRS LIGHT CAME ON WITH 1 MALFUNCTION. THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM. I TOOK IT TO THE WORKSHOP TO HAVE THE SCAN CODES CHECKED. THE CODE READER SAID THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH ONE OF THE AIRBAGS. THE MECHANIC THINKS THAT THE AIRBAGS ARE DISABLED. BUT THE OWNERS MANUAL SAYS THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT AN AIRBAG COULD GO OFF WHILE DRIVING. I JUST READ THAT MERCEDES INCLUDED 814000 VEHICLES IN THE RECALL. MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED. I THINK THAT THIS CAR MIGHT NOT BE SAFE TO DRIVE. WOULD YOU PLEASE HELP OUT AND HAVE AN INVESTIGATION. THANKS IN ADVANCE. (THIS I COPIES AND PASTED FROM A RECENT CONSUMER) I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING ABOUT CHECKING ON MY MERCEDES UNTIL I GOT A RECALL LETTER FROM BMW 2 DAYS AGO AND THOUGHT WOW. I NEED TO CHECK NO THE BENZ. I HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. FIRST THE SRS LIGHT. CODES ARE READING SAFETY RESTRAINT AND WONT TURN OFF. THEN I HAVE MY ESP LIGHT THAT CAME ON AND WHEN READ ON THE COMPUTER, IT HAD READ THAT THIS WAS ALSO SHOWING UP AS A LONG TERM PROBLEM IN THE HISTORY OF THIS CARS COMPUTER SYSTEM. I CAN PULL EVERY PAPER WORK EVER DONE TO THIS CAR. I AM THE SECOND OWNER AND MY CLOSE FRIEND IS THE FIRST OWNER, WHO BOUGHT IT AFTER LAW SCHOOL. I HAVE OWNED IT 5 YEARS. THIS MADE NERVOUS, SO I BOUGHT ANOTHER CAR. A BMW AND KEPT THIS ONE, BECAUSE SHE IS A GREAT CAR. HOWEVER, MERCEDES OR SOMEONE BETTER INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE THAT SEEMS TO BE RECALLED IN A BIASED MANNER AND IN SAFETY AND DEATH POSSIBILITIES, MERCEDES NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR LOYAL CUSTOMERS.MY ENTIRE FAMILY OWNS AND BUYS THESE AND NEVER CHANGED, BECAUSE ALL OF OUR GERMAN MADE AND SHIPPED CARS HAVE BEEN THE BEST SINCE 1980 OF OUR 1ST ONE WE PURCHASED. I BOUGHT A BMW. NEVER AGAIN. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ASAP, THIS IS DANGEROUS. I OWN 2 DANGEROUS EXPENSIVE CARDS.

NHTSA ID
10852304
Incident
Sep 9, 2015
Mileage
168,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 18, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ C240. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 103,000.

NHTSA ID
10765214
Incident
Sep 10, 2015
Mileage
103,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 4, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ C240. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS REFUELED, A STRONG FUEL ODOR EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

NHTSA ID
10723410
Incident
Apr 30, 2015
Mileage
102,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 1, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ C240. THE FOLLOWING DAY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REFUELED, THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR AND THERE WAS A LARGE PUDDLE OF FUEL UNDER THE REAR CENTER OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA ID
10722566
Incident
Oct 15, 2014
Mileage
100,000 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Mar 26, 2015

I DON'T KNOW THAT MY CAR WAS A RECALL AND WHEN I FIRST GOT IT MY GAS GAUGE WHEN OUT AND STUFF START TO GO BAD. THE CAR PLACE I PURCHASE THE CAR FROM KNEW ALL THIS STUFF AND DON'T INFORM ME AT ALL. I KNOW I BOUGHT A USED CAR BUT I WAS HOPE THEY WILL LET ME KNOW . NOW THAT MY WARRANTY UP THEY IS GIVING THE RUN ALWAYS . WHAT SHOULD ABOUT IT . SO WHEN I GO PUT GAS IN MY CAR I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH GAS IT IS IN MY CAR BECAUSE MY GAS READ AND METER IN THE CAR DON'T WORK AND ALSO HAVE A SHORT IN IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10702064
Incident
Feb 17, 2015

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .