2001 Mercedes-Benz C320 Engine Problems

THE "MULTI FUNCTION DISPLAY" (MFD) SCREEN IN THE DASH FADES WITH INTERIOR HEAT (IN SUMMER) AND EVENTUALLY FAILS OVER TIME. THE MFD DISPLAYS ALL CRITICAL VEHICLE OPERATION INFORMATION (SUCH AS COOLANT TEMPERATURE WARNINGS, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL ACTIVATION, ETC.), AND ALL NOTIFICATION OF VEHICLE FAULT CODES THAT OCCUR. WITHOUT THE INFORMATION VISIBLE, THE OWNER CAN'T KNOW IF THERE IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. THERE ARE NO MECHANICAL GAUGES SERVING AS BACK-UP. FURTHER, THE VEHICLE ODOMETER IS ONLY VISIBLE IN THE MFD. WITHOUT AN OPERATING MFD, THE OWNER CANNOT VIEW, OR CERTIFY THE CORRECT ODOMETER MILEAGE, REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW WHEN SELLING THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER OR SUBSEQUENT OWNER. THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN FAULT ACROSS SEVERAL MERCEDES MODELS. DEALERS OFFER TO REPLACE THE MFD, AT CONSIDERABLE OWNER EXPENSE. HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE ODOMETER ISSUE, I BELIEVE THAT MERCEDES SHOULD FIX THE DISPLAY AT ZERO COST TO THE CONSUMER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10617540

Incident

Jul 22, 2014

Mileage

90,000 mi

ON THE FIRST OCCASION (DECEMBER 16, 2010), MY MERCEDES C320 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE CAR ENGINE SHUT OFF AS I WAS DRIVING 57 MPH ON THE FREEWAY DURING MORNING RUSH HOUR. THERE WERE SEVERAL CARS AND TRACTOR TRAILERS BEHIND ME WHEN THE CAR SHUT OFF AS I WAS DRIVING. THE INCIDENT WAS TERRIFYING, AS NO WARNING LIGHTS (NOTHING) CAME ON IN THE CAR. LUCKILY, OTHER DRIVERS SAW ME IN DISTRESS AND I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER OVER THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE SIDE STRIP. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO PHOENIX MOTORS (MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP) WHEREAS THEY INDICATED AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT HAD GONE BAD. HOWEVER, I LATER LEARNED THIS DIAGNOSIS WAS INCORRECT, BECAUSE SEVEN MONTHS LATER THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN AGAIN AS I WAS DRIVING. ANOTHER INCIDENT TOOK PLACE WHERE I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR MOBILITY WHILE DRIVING 60MPH ON THE FREEWAY, BECAUSE THE ENGINE WENT DEAD. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUTTING DOWN THE ENGINE WITHOUT WARNING TO THE DRIVER CAN CAUSE A DEADLY CRASH. PRESENTLY (DECEMBER 21, 2011), MY CAR IS IN THE HANDS OF PHOENIX MOTORS AGAIN, HOWEVER, THEY HAVE YET TO DETERMINE WHY THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENT IS SHUTTING DOWN THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING. I AM REQUESTING NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER, BECAUSE THIS TYPE OF DEFECT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO DESTROY INNOCENT LIVES WHILE DRIVING. AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT SHUTTING DOWN AN ENGINE WHILE DRIVING IS SERIOUS AND DEADLY. PLEASE, PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. I WAS LUCKY IN BOTH INCIDENTS, BECAUSE AN ANGEL WAS WATCHING OVER ME. I COULD HAVE EASY BEEN INJURED OR KILLED, NOT TO MENTION OTHERS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. IN BOTH INCIDENTS A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED TO TOW THE VEHICLE. *KB

NHTSA ID

10441923

Incident

Dec 20, 2010

Mileage

70,000 mi

ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT FULL THROTTLE AT STOP LIGHT,TESTED AND HAD A FAULTY ELECTRONIC ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEALER AND MERCEDES BENZ REFUSED ANY WARRANTY REPAIR AND WERE NOT INTERESTED IN SEEING THE FAULTY PART. I HAVE KEPT THE FAULTY PART PENDING FURTHER INVESTIGATION. I AM UPSET THAT TOYOTA MUST FIX A DANGEROUS SITUATION BUT MERCEDES GETS AWAY WITH IT,AS I KNOW A FRIEND WITH A 2000 S430 THAT HAD THE EXACT SAME FAULT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10439354

Incident

Dec 7, 2011

MALFUNCTIONING SEAT CONTROL MODULES DRAIN BATTERY IN 2001 C320 MERCEDES BENZ. NOT LONG AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR IN JANUARY 2008 WITH 51,000+ MILES, I PAID $175 DOLLARS FOR A NEW MBZ BATTERY, BEFORE ASKING DEALERSHIP TO DISCONNECT SEAT CONTROL MODULES. I WAS NOT PREPARED TO PAY $1200 TO REPLACE MODULES. JUNE 25, 2010, MY 2001 C320 STOPPED DURING A TRIP TO PHOENIX, AZ FROM CALIFORNIA, DUE TO FUEL PUMP GOING OUT. MY 79 YEAR-OLD MOTHER AND I WAITED IN 100+ DEGREE WEATHER FOR A TOW, WHICH TOOK 3 HOURS TO GET TO PHOENIX MBZ DEALERSHIP. OAKLAND SERVICE REP NEVER SUGGESTED REPLACING, ALTHOUGH THE CAR WAS SERVICED DURING THE SUGGESTED MILEAGE FOR REPLACEMENT. THE PHOENIX DEALERSHIP INITIALLY REPLACED ORIGINAL FUEL FILTER, AND NEVER THOUGHT TO CHECK IF ORIGINAL FUEL PUMP NEEDED REPLACING. ON JUNE 28, 2010, MY CAR STOPPED AGAIN ON THE RETURN TRIP TO CA, AND WE WERE TOWED BACK TO AZ, WHERE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE INCIDENT COST ME ALMOST $2,000.00 MORE THAN I PLANNED TO SPEND, WHILE ATTENDING MY GRADUATION CEREMONIES IN ARIZONA. CONSIDERING THE EXPENSE TO MAINTAIN A MERCEDES, AS WELL AS THE COST OF THE CAR, YOU WOULD THINK THE SERVICE STAFF WOULD BE MORE PROACTIVE WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE. I SUGGEST MERCEDES CREATE A BETTER WARNING SYSTEM FOR EQUIPMENT FAILURES LIKE THE SEAT CONTROL MODULES AND FUEL PUMP. I ALSO SUGGEST MERCEDES CONSIDER LOWERING THEIR SERVICE PRICES, SO THE AVERAGE "JOANNA" CAN PAY THE MAINTENANCE TO KEEP A DEPENDABLE CAR. THE VALVE COVER GASKETS WERE LEAKING OIL AND TRANSMISSION ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WAS LEAKING. UPDATED IVOQ 09/10/10 *TR

NHTSA ID

10352334

Incident

Jun 25, 2010

Mileage

102,211 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES C320. WHILE DRIVING 68 MPH WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE STALLED, LOST POWER AND WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL. HE WAS ABLE TO DROVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE USING A LOT OF FORCE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A MERCEDES DEALER WHERE THEY DIAGNOSIS INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY CRANK POSITION SENSOR AND THE COMPUTER SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE FAULTY SENSOR WAS REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,151 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,488. UPDATED 3/30/10 *CN THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE STALLED, THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 06/25/10.*JB

NHTSA ID

10313066

Incident

Dec 10, 2007

Mileage

31,151 mi

MY 2001 MERCEDES C320 HAS DIED COMPLETELY WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WILL RESTART AND RUN FINE AFTER THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10310826

Incident

Feb 12, 2010

Mileage

78,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ C320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AND WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE WARRANTY. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES EXCEEDED 100 DEGREES, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUTTER. WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM RAPIDLY DRAINS THE BATTERY. ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES WITHOUT RESOLUTIONS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,079 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 2/5/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR MASS SENSOR WAS REPALCED. UPDATED 02/10/09. *JB

NHTSA ID

10253394

Incident

Jun 20, 2001

Mileage

1,079 mi

HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED ON THIS CAR ON MAY 2007 AT 46,697 MILES, NOW AT 51,800 MILES OIL IS LEAKING AGAIN. SAME THING FOR A SUSPENSION NOISE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10250023

Incident

May 6, 2007

Mileage

46,700 mi

BEGINNING ON 10/18/01 TO PRESENT, THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP 34 DIFFERENT TIMES FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: (1) REMOTE INOP - 10/18/01; (2) REMOTE INOP - 11/14/01; (3) REPLACED REMOTE - 12/3/01; (4) REMOTE INOP - 12/11/01; (5) REPLACED FRONT PADS & SENSORS - 12/26/02; (6) REPLACED RIGHT FRONT DOOR WINDOW MOTOR - 4/24/03; (7) REPLACED REMOTES - 5/15/03; (8) REPLACED CRANKSHAFT SENSOR & CONNECTOR MODULE - 12/2/03; (9) REPLACED FAULTY REAR SAM CONTROL MODULE - 12/2/03; (10) REPLACED A/C PRESSURE SWITCH - 12/2/03; (11) REPLACED AIR MASS METER SENSOR - 12/11/03; (12) REPLACED RIGHT DOOR WINDOW REGULATOR - 1/5/04; (13) REPLACED REAR SHADE ROLLER BLIND - 1/5/04; (14) REPLACED SIDE BAG CONNECTOR ALL DOORS - 1/9/04; (15) REPLACED RIGHT FRONT DOOR WINDOW SEAL - 2/27/04; (16) REPLACED OIL LEVEL SENSOR & RESEALED OIL PAN - 4/28/04; (17) REPLACED SWAY BAR BUSHING AND CASTER ARMS - 4/28/04; (18) RESEALED ELEC PLUG FOR TRANS - 4/28/04; (19) REPLACED RIGHT REAR DOOR LINKAGE AND KNOB - 7/22/04; (20) REPLACED A/C BLOWER & FAN SPEED REGULATOR - 8/23/04; (21) REPLACED RIGHT REAR DOOR WINDOW REGULATOR - 8/23/04; (22) REPLACED MOUNTING CLIPS & BEARINGS DRIVER SEAT - 8/23/04; (23) REPLACED RIGHT REAR DOOR WINDOW MOTOR - 2/7/05; (24) LOW OIL LIGHT ON, CHANGED OIL & FILTER - 2/7/05; (25) REPLACED OIL SENDING UNIT - 3/17/05; (26) REPLACED RIGHT FRONT SEAT CONTROL MODULE - 5/20/05; (27) REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND REGULATOR - 5/20/05; (28) REPLACED DRIVER SIDE SEAT CLAMPS & PINS - 5/20/05; (29) REPLACED BRAKE PADS, SHOES, ROTORS AND DISC - 5/20/05; (30) REPLACED LEAKING TRANS PLUG AND LEAKING PAN GASKET - 5/20/05; (31) FUEL GAUGE INOP - 6/27/05. AT PRESENT "REMOTE WILL NOT OPEN TRUNK & MALFUNCTION (ELECT STAB PROG ESP) IS ON. I HAVE ASKED THAT VEHICLE BE REPLACED WITH A RELIABLE VEHICLE OF SAME TYPE AND MILEAGE, HQ MERCEDES LLC HAS REFUSED ON 2 OCCASIONS. I HAVE CONTACT WITH THE DEPT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS.*JB

NHTSA ID

10139391

Incident

Oct 18, 2001

LOW OIL LIGHT COMES ON WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVEN FOR 1 HOUR OR MORE CONTINUOUSLY. PROBLEM STARTED AT 41,458 MILES AND STILL EXIST AT 64,892. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP (DICK DYER & ASSOCIATES, COLUMBIA, SC) FIVE (5) TIMES FOR THIS RECURRING PROBLEM. DURING EACH VISIT, DEALER EITHER ADDED UP TO A QUART OF OIL OR DID A COMPLETE OIL CHANGE. DEALER CANNOT CORRECT OR FIND THE CAUSE.*JB

NHTSA ID

10139388

Incident

Feb 27, 2004

Mileage

41,458 mi

WHILE DRIVING 65-70 MPH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR LOCATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10092634

Incident

Aug 24, 2004

Mileage

57,000 mi

THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10012433

Incident

Mar 20, 2003

Mileage

55 mi