Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 3 of 7 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
7 reports
159,400 miles · Mar 1, 2009
Suspension
SPRING PERCH (MOUNT) FOR THE FRONT SPRING ON DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED DUE TO CORROSION CAUSING SPRING TO BE EJECTED UNDER THE CAR AND FENDER TO DROP ONTO TIRE. CORROSION IS UNDETECTABLE BY NORMAL INSPECTION BECAUSE MANUFACTURER USES A HEAVY, RUBBERIZED COATING ON UNDERBODY PARTS. CAR WAS TRAVELING AT LOW SPEED SO DAMAGE WAS MINIMAL…
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SPRING PERCH (MOUNT) FOR THE FRONT SPRING ON DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED DUE TO CORROSION CAUSING SPRING TO BE EJECTED UNDER THE CAR AND FENDER TO DROP ONTO TIRE. CORROSION IS UNDETECTABLE BY NORMAL INSPECTION BECAUSE MANUFACTURER USES A HEAVY, RUBBERIZED COATING ON UNDERBODY PARTS. CAR WAS TRAVELING AT LOW SPEED SO DAMAGE WAS MINIMAL. AT HIGHER SPEEDS, CONSEQUENCES COULD BE SEVERE. INVESTIGATION REVEALS THAT THIS IS BECOMING A FAIRLY COMMON OCCURRENCE ON MERCEDES BENZ W202 AND W210 CHASSIS. FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED, BUT IS BELIEVED TO REQUIRE REMOVAL OF REMNANTS OF THE OLD PERCH, GRINDING OF THE FRAME TO REMOVE CORROSION, AND WELDING A NEW PERCH ONTO THE FRAME. THE SPINDLE ASSEMBLY AND CONTROL ARMS WILL HAVE TO BE DISASSEMBLED TO ACCOMPLISH THIS AND THEN REASSEMBLED AND THE SUSPENSION REALIGNED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10260354
52,000 miles · Dec 31, 2006
Air BagsCrashInjury
MERC. BENZ 1999 C230 COMPRESSOR, THE CAR ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES BUT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10177411
123,000 miles · Jul 25, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
I OWN A 1999 MERCEDES C43, I LIKE MANY OTHERS HAVE A HIGH FAILURE RATE OF THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSORS ON OUR VEHICLES. THIS PART WHEN FAULTY WILL NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO START WHEN THE CAR IS WARM. WHEN THE CAR SITS FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME TO "COOL DOWN" THE CAR WILL START. I WAS AT THE DEALER TODAY, AND THEY ARE AWARE T…
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I OWN A 1999 MERCEDES C43, I LIKE MANY OTHERS HAVE A HIGH FAILURE RATE OF THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSORS ON OUR VEHICLES. THIS PART WHEN FAULTY WILL NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO START WHEN THE CAR IS WARM. WHEN THE CAR SITS FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME TO "COOL DOWN" THE CAR WILL START. I WAS AT THE DEALER TODAY, AND THEY ARE AWARE THIS IS A HIGH FAILURE ITEM ON THIS MODEL. AS WELL AS THE CLK430, AND S430. BUT NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED. THERE ISN'T ANY SIGN THAT THIS PART IS FAILING, ON SOME INSTANCES THE CAR JUST STALLS WHILE DRIVING. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS. I AM NOW AWAITING THE PART TO COME IN, AND WILL HAVE IT REPLACED ON THURSDAY THE 27TH. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10163463
Mileage unknown · May 2, 2002
Electrical System
MFR# 2001120004 & NHTSA# 01 V 366 000/BATTERY: CONSUMER STATES DEALER (PARK PLACE MOTORS;HOUSTON,TX; PHONE# 713/986-6400) NOT HONORING RECALL, NO PARTS AVAILABLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB
NHTSA ODI #8009010
Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 2002
Electrical System
THE CONSUMER TOOK HIS VEHICLE IN FOR A RECALL# 20012004 FOR HIS BATTERY. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BROWN MERCEDES BENZ ROUTE 250 EAST PANTOPS CHARLOTTESVILLE VIRGINIA (804 817 3380). MR JACKSON EXPERIENCE PROBLEM WITH HIS VEHICLE SHUTTING DOWN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. NLM
NHTSA ODI #8006448
Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 2002
Electrical System
THE CONSUMER RECIEVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE RECALL NUMBER IS #2001120004. NLM
NHTSA ODI #8006436
Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
HAD THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE WHEN BRAKES FAILED TO FUNCTION WHILE ON AN INCLINE. HAD LITTLE BRAKING POWER ON STRAIGHT AWAY. MANUFACTURER KNOWS OF BRAKE PROBLEM. THE DEALER/MECHANIC ARE AWARE OF PROBLEM, BUT NOTHING WAS BEING DONE. *AK
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HOPPECKE BATTERIES. THE BATTERY MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE COULD BE LESS THAN NEEDED TO MAINTAIN PROPER ELECTROLYTE LEVELS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE LOW ELECTROLYTE LEVELS RESULT IN ACCELERATED BATTERY GRID GROWTH, INCREASED POTENTIAL FOR INTER-CELL RUPTURE AND SPARKING, AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A BATTERY EXPLOSION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BATTERIES, INCLUDING FLUID LEVELS. SOME BATTERIES MAY BE REPLACED IF NECESSARY, ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. IN ADDITION TO THE BATTERY INSPECTION, THE ADDITION OF LABELS IN THE VEHICLE OWNER'S MANUAL AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT WILL BE INCLUDED TO CONSPICUOUSLY REMIND OWNERS AS WELL AS DEALER AND SERVICE PERSONNEL OF THE NEED TO PERFORM BATTERY MAINTENANCE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 20, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2
PE03058 · Engine Crankshaft Pulley Failure
Opened Dec 17, 2003 · Closed Apr 22, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:belts And Associated Pulleys
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE THAT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER-STEERING ASSIST.ODI HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 546 NON-DUPLICATIVE REPORTS THAT ALLEGE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE ON ALL MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLES USING THE SUBJECT COMPONENT.THE SUBJECT COMPONENT FAILURES ARE PROGRESSIVE IN NATURE AND ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINTS AND WARRANT CLAIMS INVOLVED A FAILURE THAT HAD PROGRESSED FAR ENOUGH TO EFFECT POWER STEERING PERFORMANCE (6 OF 55 ODI COMPLAINTS REFERENCE INCREASED STEERING EFFORT).THERE HAVE BEEN NO CRASHES OR INJURIES RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE SUMMARY REPORT ATTACHED FOR FURTHER DETAIL.
PE01029 · Battery Explosion
Opened Jul 31, 2001 · Closed Dec 13, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
No summary supplied.
1999 Mercedes Benz C Class Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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