Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 22 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C320. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–22 of 22
The secondary instrument fuse block located on the driver's side of the dashboard erupted in flame while the vehicle was being driven, endangering its occupant, causing significant damage to its interior, and resulting in a local law enforcement "traffic hazard" determination.
The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz C320. The contact stated that the sunroof had failed to open, and the sunshade cover failed to close, causing the sunrays to penetrate the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where an unknown assessment was made. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that the horn was inoperable. The SRS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with front driver's side air bag failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 124,000.
The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz C320. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V954000 (Visibility) however, the contact was advised by the dealer that he needed to open and close the sunroof to perform the recall however, if the motor failed the contact would pay for the repair of the motor. The contact called the manufacturer and was provided with the same information. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz C320. The contact stated that the moonroof made an abnormal sound and failed to open properly. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the moonroof was permanently sealed. The contact received NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V954000 (Visibility) and the dealer confirmed that the VIN was included in the recall; however, the dealer informed the contact that the failure was unrelated to the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.
"CHECK COOLANT LEVEL" LEVEL WARNING SIGN WAS ON. APPARENTLY, THERE IS LEAKING OF COOLANT SOME WHERE. IT WAS AT THE WATER PUMP, WHICH WAS REPLACED ON JUNE 20, 2019. IT HAPPENS AGAIN NOW, ABOUT 9 MONTHS LATER.
MERCEDES BENZ POSSIBLE RECALL / EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR FUEL SYSTEM... INVOLVING A C CLASS 2003 WITH SAME ENGINE AS THE E CLASS. THE CAR FUEL SYSTEM IS TOTALLY MESSED UP, WILL ONLY FILL A HALF TANK AND RUNS OUT OF GAS BECAUSE THE FUEL TANK SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. CAR WILL NOT FILL. ONLY ONE TANK TAKING AND SENDING FUEL APPARENTLY. DASH IS MESSED UP, LIGHTS OUT, FUEL SYSTEM TOTALLY MESSED UP. I ALMOST WENT OFF A CLIFF IN THE CAR, SLID BACKWARDS ON A HILLSIDE WHEN THE CAR RAN OUT OF FUEL UNEXPECTEDLY. NO GAS, NO POWER, MY CAR WENT BACKWARDS, BRAKES NOT WORKING, I WENT INTO A DITCH AND ALMOST INTO A STEEP HILLSIDE, VERY SCARY. A CAR BRANCH SAVED MY DEMISE, HOLDING THE TOP OF THE CAR AND KEPT ME FROM GOING DOWN INTO A RAVENE. DENT ON THE BACK ROOF IS STILL THERE. MERCEDES BENZ REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY PROBLEMS ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEM IS APPARENTLY PROLIFIC IN CARS THIS YEAR AND TYPE. SAME FUEL SYSTEM ON A C320 AS AN E320 SAME YEAR. SAME ENGINE TOO. MY MECHANICS ARE BAFFLED, NO ONE CAN FIX IT, MERCEDES SHOPS DON'T WANT TO HELP, NO ONE CAN HELP.
THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLE IS LOOSE AND THE AIRBAG SRS LIGHT CAME ON. THE SRS MESSAGE SAID URGENT GO TO MARKET PLACE.
BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK. SHE ATTEMPTED TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION, HER FOOT WENT TO THE FLOOR WHILE BRAKING, RED LIGHT AND WARN BUZZER WENT OFF... NO BRAKES. LUCKILY AND THANK GOD, SHE AVOIDED BEING T-BONED IN THE INTERSECTION AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT INTO A PARKING LOT AND DOWN SHIFT TO USE E-BRAKE. THE CAR HAS ONLY 70,000MILES ON IT. THE REPAIR OF THE SYSTEM SOUNDS LIKE IT IS $2500+. NOT HAPPY AT ALL SINCE MB KNOWS IT IS A PROBLEM AND SHOULD HAVE A REPLACEMENT BRAKING SYSTEM FOR IT OR REPAIR. THIS IS NOT JUST A OLD MASTER CYLINDER GOING OUT. THIS IS A WHOLE SENSOR UNIT FAILING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ C320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD AND CHEST INJURIES WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ C320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUPPLEMENT RESTRAINT SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 174,254.
I HAVE A 2003 C 320 MBNZ, THE RADIATOR LEAKS INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE RADIATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS LEAKING RADIATOR FLUID DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION, AND IT HAS TO BE REPLACED. THIS PROBLEM CAUSED A LACK OF POWER AND THEREFORE A LOSS OF ACCELERATION. IT HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY WARNING, LEAVING YOU VULNERABLE DUE TO THE LOSS OF POWER, A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR HAS ONLY 50026 MILES ON IT. *TR
2003 MERCEDES C320. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A SAFETY RECALL TRANSFER CASE *TGW THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT DUE TO THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE, THEY WOULD NOT BE WILLING TO ASSIST WITH ABSORBING SOME OF THE COST FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES C320. WHEN DRIVING OVER A POT HOLE OR BUMP IN THE ROAD AT SPEEDS OF 20 MPH AND HIGHER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HEARD A LOUD "METAL TO METAL" NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED UNDER THE FACTORY WARRANTY. FOUR YEARS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT TECHNICIAN WHO REPLACED THE BUSHINGS FOR THE SECOND TIME AS WELL AS THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE POWER SEAT FAILED AND WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER, HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIRS TO THE SEAT WERE MADE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE FOR HIS PARTICULAR YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE RIGHT FRONT TURN SIGNAL ALSO FAILED. HE ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE THE BULB BUT TO NO AVAIL. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT TECHNICIAN, IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES C320. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE RADIO OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. IN ORDER TO AVOID DRAINING THE BATTERY, SHE HAD TO REMOVE THE FUSE. ALSO, IN WARM TEMPERATURES, THE POWER LOCKS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. UPON LOCKING THE DOORS, THEY WOULD UNLOCK WITHOUT INTENT. SHE HAD TO ENGAGE THE POWER LOCKS SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THEY WOULD ACTUALLY STAY LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE WHO STATED THAT THE RADIO WOULD BE REPAIRED AT HER EXPENSE. NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
ON A 2003 C 320 MBNZ, THE RADIATOR NOW LEAKS INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS GOING TO REQUIRE THE RADIATOR TO BE REPLACED AND FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO BE FLUSHED. THIS LEAKING RADIATOR FLUID COULD HAVE ALREADY DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION, AND IF SO, IT WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES A LACK OF POWER AND THEREFORE A LOSS OF ACCELERATION. IT HAPPENS WITHOUT ANY WARNING, OFTEN LEAVING YOU VULNERABLE DUE TO THE LOSS OF POWER, A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TR
CAR SEAT AND STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T ADJUST WITH THE KEY PUT IN THE IGNITION..THIS WENT ON FOR THREE DAYS...THEN THE CAR DIED..HAD TO GET A JUMP..THE SERVICE REP SAYS THE MODEL# 320 C HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT MODULE FAILING ON THE PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE..WHEN THE CAR WAS JUMPED ALL ELECTRICAL WAS WORKING PROPERLY AND FIND...TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT YES THE PASSENGER SEAT MODULE WAS BAD AND ALSO NEEDED A NEW BATTERY..THEY ALSO STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SEAT MODULE COULD GO OUT WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS...THE CAR ONLY HAS 13,703 MILES ON IT AND THIS PROBLEM IS BEEN KNOWN TO MB USA YET IS NOT ADDRESSED. *TR
I PURCHASE MY 2003 MERCEDES FROM CARMAX IN 2 YEARS AGO. IT HAD 45,000 MILES WHEN I PURCHASED IT. FROM THE TIME I PURCHASE THIS CAR I HAD TO REPLACE THE SUNROOF MOTOR, REPLACE THE SHOCKS, REPLACE THE TRUCK LOCK, REPLACE THE FUEL TANK, AND I HAD SOME TRANSMISSION WORK DONE. MY BIGGEST PROBLEM IS HAVING TO REPLACE THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS EVERY 6 MONTHS. I SUSPECT THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, BUT CANNOT COMPLETELY PROVE IT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. WITH 1 YEAR, I HAD TO REPLACE THE BULBS 3 TIMES. I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT LOW BEAM BULBS AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS. THIS IS SURPRISING SINCE THIS CAR (UNDER MY OWNERSHIP) HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED I PURCHASED THIS CAR! *TR
DURING THE FIVE YEARS WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR IT HAS HAD NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. ON AT LEAST 5 OCCASIONS ALL FUNCTION OF THE DASHBOARD WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THE CAR WAS RESTARTED EVERYTHING WAS FINE. SEAT CONTROLS HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES, AND THEY STILL OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY. THERE IS A SHORT SOMEPLACE, AND THE DEALER KEEPS SAYING THEY CAN'T FIX IT IF THEY CAN'T SEE IT. *TR
THIS HAPPENED IN MY 2003 C320 AT 54,000 MILES. I INITIALLY NOTICED A LIGHT RUBBING OR GRINDING WHILE ACCELERATING, WITH LIGHT VIBRATION. AT THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED A NEW TORQUE CONVERTER, NEW RADIATOR, AND A FLUID FLUSH. THE RADIATOR FLUID WAS MIXING WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. AFTER THOSE REPAIRS, MY C320 WAS STILL SHIFTING HARD AND THE GRINDING NOISE WAS STILL THERE. IT TURNS OUT THE TRANSMISSION WAS RUINED AS WELL. TWO REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSIONS WERE NEEDED UNTIL IT WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THE MIXED FLUIDS ARE NOT UNCOMMON IN THIS MODEL AND YET MBUSA HAS MADE VERY LITTLE EFFORT TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS. *TR
THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED TO FUNCTION. IT DIDN'T REGISTER THE CORRECT GAS LEVEL IN THE TANK. THE DIGITAL CONSOLE LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED. IT WOULD EITHER NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED OR WHEN ILLUMINATED IT WILL SUDDENLY GO OUT. THE VEHICLE HESITATED UPON ACCELERATION WHEN DRIVEN FOR LONG DISTANCES. *NLM
THE POWER STEERING WAS TIGHT AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL. *JB *TT
THE THROTTLE LINKAGE AND CONTROL PEDAL MALFUNCTION NEARLY RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE BRAKES HAD TO BE VIOLENTLY APPLIED WITH BOTH FEET TO PREVENT THE SURGING VEHICLE FROM REAR-ENDING A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF MINE AT A TRAFFIC INTERSECTION.*AK
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.
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