RoadVitals

2005 Mercedes-Benz C320 Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
15
Latest Feb 2, 2021
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Nov 5, 2005

What this page shows

Our database holds 15 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2005 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.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–15 of 15

ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Feb 2, 2021

WHILE DRIVING, MY SON WAS USING THE HEATED SEAT FUNCTION AND NOTICED A BURNING SMELL, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT WAS SMOKING, WHICH BURNED A HOLE IN THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE SEAT BACK AND ALSO BURNED A HOLE IN THE BACK OF MY SONS SWEATSHIRT.

NHTSA ID
11394282
Incident
Oct 30, 2020
Mileage
110,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 2, 2019

THE BATTERY KEEP DRAINING WHICH MAKE THHE CAR IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE

NHTSA ID
11228915
Incident
May 12, 2019
Filed Jun 16, 2019

A SMALL SPRING INSIDE THE DOOR LOCK BREAKS WHICH KEEPS THE DOOR FROM OPENING ONCE LOCKED. I HAVE SEEN MANY REPAIR HOW TO VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. IF A PERSON IS IN AN ACCIDENT AND NEEDS TO EXIT THE CAR QUICKLY, THIS BROKEN LOCK CAN KEEP THEM STUCK INSIDE THE CAR UNABLE TO ESCAPE.

NHTSA ID
11220438
Incident
Feb 10, 2019
Mileage
105,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 22, 2019

I WENT TO CHANGE MY LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BULB AND FOUND THE WIRING INSULATION ALL FLAKING OFF TO ABOUT SIX INCHES FROM THE BULB CONNECTOR. I SEARCHED ON LINE AND FOUND OTHERS COMPLAINING OF THIS SAME THING. I SUSPECT SINCE THESE WIRES ARE HIDDEN INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, THE PROBLEM IS MUCH MORE COMMON.

NHTSA ID
11181940
Incident
Feb 22, 2019
Mileage
205,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jan 15, 2019

I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY I HEARD THIS LOUD EXPLOSION. MY EARS WERE RINGING AND I FELT AS IF IT WAS RAINING BUT ONLY GLASS. LUCKILY IT DID NOT GET INTO MY EYES AND I STOPPED THE VEHICLE SAFELY AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT EVERYTHING IS INTACT AND I DID NOT HIT ANY OTHER OBJECT; HOWEVER, MY SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED. I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, MERCEDES BENZ, AND THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THEY SAID THAT IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. MY CONCERN IS RELATED TO SAFETY AND I REALLY THINK THAT MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

NHTSA ID
11170162
Incident
Jan 15, 2019
Mileage
171,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 15, 2018

I HAVE GOT ANYTHIN G IN MAIL I LIKE TO KNOW IF IT'S ON THE RECALL LIST THE LIGHTS COMES ON AND OFF SRS..

NHTSA ID
11111447
Incident
Jul 12, 2018
Mileage
122,000 mi
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Jun 8, 2017

I OWN A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ C320 FOR THREE YEARS AND ALWAYS HAVE ISSUES WITH THE SOFTWARE, THE ENGINE KEEPS SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING, AND THE STEERING WHEEL GET LOCKED, NO MATTER WHERE I AM AT, A CITY STREETS OR A HIGHWAY. MANY PHONE CALLS TO MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER AND THE HEADQUARTER, THEY DIDN'T TRY TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES I'M HAVING WITH MY CAR!!! MERCEDES-BENZ WANTS PEOPLE EITHER FORGET ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUE! DIE NATURALLY OR SELL THEIR CARS.

NHTSA ID
10993929
Incident
Jul 3, 2014
Mileage
136,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 2, 2016

RECALL

NHTSA ID
10872261
Incident
Jun 2, 2016
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 13, 2014

THERE NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING DONE TO ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM WITH HEADLIGHTS. ALMOST EVERY AUTO MANUFACTURE IS MAKING THERE HEADLIGHTS OUT OF MATERIAL THAT CLOUDS UP AFTER A COUPLE OF YEAR. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT HAS CONTINUED FOR MORE YEARS THAN IT SHOULD HAVE. WHEN THE LIGHTS CLOUD UP THEY BECOME VERY DIM AND CAST SHADOW ON IMAGES THAT THEY SHOULD BE ILLUMINATING. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS IN RURAL AREAS AND HIGHWAYS THAT ARE NOT LIGHTED. LIGHTS ARE AS IMPORTANT AS THE OTHER SAFETY ITEMS IN A VEHICLE. IS THE FIX REALLY TO HAVE SOMEONE BUFF AND POLISH THEM A COUPLE TIMES A YEAR, $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ ALL MANUFACTURES *TR

NHTSA ID
10632938
Incident
Sep 11, 2014
Mileage
87,467 mi
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Oct 22, 2012
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ C320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS AN OVERPOWERING BURNING ODOR PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE FROM THE DRIVERS SEAT. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A QUARTER SIZE HOLE THAT HAD BURNED THROUGH THE CONTACT'S LEFT PANT LEG. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,500.

NHTSA ID
10481440
Incident
Oct 22, 2012
Mileage
75,500 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 4, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ C320. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WITHIN TWENTY SECONDS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE TWO INSTANCES OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND ALSO A MECHANIC SHOP AND NEITHER FACILITY WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,500.

NHTSA ID
10394208
Incident
Apr 2, 2011
Mileage
84,500 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 27, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ C320. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,253. UPDATED 12/30/10 *BF UPDATED 01/10/11

NHTSA ID
10357768
Incident
Sep 10, 2010
Mileage
34,253 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Oct 18, 2009
Fire reported

MY DRIVER'S SEAT WARMER CAUGHT FIRE YESTERDAY WHILE IN USE. IT STARTED WITH SMOKE COMING FROM THE BACKREST PORTION OF THE SEAT AFTER SWITCHING THE HEATER ON, AND THEN BEGAN TO FLAME. I TURNED OFF THE WARMER SWITCH AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. I NOW HAVE A HOLE IN THE BACKREST WHERE THE FIRE STARTED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10288850
Incident
Oct 17, 2009
Mileage
37,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 30, 2006

I OWN A 2005 E320 CDI MERCEDES DIESEL. THE CAR GIVES OFF BLACK SMOKE (INTERMITTENTLY) AND A BLACK TAR LIKE SUBSTANCE (BLACK SOOT) POURS OUT OF MY EXHAUST SYSTEM. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO MERCEDES AND THEY STATE, "THE CAR IS OPERATING WITHIN FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS." THE DEALERSHIP (SKYLAND AUTOMOTIVE, ASHEVILLE, NC) STATES THAT IT IS DUE TO POOR QUALITY DIESEL FUEL. I HAVE CONSIDERED LEGAL ACTION UNDER THE NC LEMON LAW, BUT WOULD RATHER HAVE THE PROBLEM SOLVED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10158520
Incident
Jan 15, 2006
Mileage
6,240 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 5, 2005

I HAVE HAD 2 INSTANCES WHERE I START DRIVING AND THE CAR LOSES POWER AND THEN WILL REGAIN POWER. IT IS WITHIN THE FIRST 5-10 MINUTES OF DRIVING AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS. SERVICE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND PROBLEM. 4 OTHER FRIENDS HAVE INDICATED THEY ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH LOSS OF POWER. MOST ARE THE SAME MODEL. *JB

NHTSA ID
10141825
Incident
Oct 24, 2005

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.

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .