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2004 Mercedes Benz C230

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Mercedes Benz C230 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 39.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

22 reports with mileage · 9 unknown

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 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports4 fire reports0 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

6 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

THIS CAR IS A MONEY PIT! I BOUGHT 2004 C230 KOMPRESSOR USED IN 2007. TO DATE I HAVE SPENT WELL OVER $8500 IN REPAIRS AND THE CAR IS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH ITS LATEST AFFLICTION..A COMPLETELY BLOWN ENGINE. IT IS A USELESS PIECE OF JUNK AND I AM OUT THE $25,000 I ORIGINALLY PAID FOR IT, PLUS THE ADDITIONAL $8500 I HAVE PUT I…

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THIS CAR IS A MONEY PIT! I BOUGHT 2004 C230 KOMPRESSOR USED IN 2007. TO DATE I HAVE SPENT WELL OVER $8500 IN REPAIRS AND THE CAR IS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH ITS LATEST AFFLICTION..A COMPLETELY BLOWN ENGINE. IT IS A USELESS PIECE OF JUNK AND I AM OUT THE $25,000 I ORIGINALLY PAID FOR IT, PLUS THE ADDITIONAL $8500 I HAVE PUT INTO IT. THIS IS HOW MERCEDES BENZ TAKES CARE OF BUSINESS? SOMETHING HAS DRASTICALLY CHANGED. MY DAD HAS HAD 2 MERCEDES OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS...THEY RAN PERFECTLY UNTIL HE SOLD THEM. HE JUST BOUGHT A BRAND NEW S-SERIES (2012) AND IT HAS ALREADY BEEN IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES. THE CARS ARE MADE CHEAP AND EVERYTHING IN THE INTERIOR IS PLASTIC, NOT WOOD AS IT SHOULD BE. MERCEDES, YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF HOW FAR YOU HAVE LET YOUR STANDARDS FALL, IT IS A DISGRACE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10454370

44,600 miles · Oct 28, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ C230. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE OIL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE O2 SENSOR. THE O2 SENSORS WERE PLACED AUGUST 2009 BY THE DEALER; THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE ENGINE OIL BEGAN LEAKING ON THE SENSORS AGAIN SO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TH…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ C230. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE OIL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE O2 SENSOR. THE O2 SENSORS WERE PLACED AUGUST 2009 BY THE DEALER; THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE ENGINE OIL BEGAN LEAKING ON THE SENSORS AGAIN SO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAMSHAFT, WIRING HARNESS AND O2 SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 44,600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 71,000.

NHTSA ODI #10362802

55,000 miles · Aug 24, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering

MERCEDES C230 KOMPRESSOR. THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE ALTERNATOR BELT HAS BROKE 3 TIMES! WHEN THE BELT SLIPPED IT AFFECTED THE POWER STEERING AND I WAS UNABLE TO STEER! VERY SCARY, LUCKILY I WAS DRIVING UNDER 25 MPH AT THE TIME. THERE MUST BE A DEFAULT IN THE DESIGN FOR THIS TO KEEP HAPPENING! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10351492

80,000 miles · Mar 30, 2010
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

THIS IS A 2004 MERCEDES C230. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. I WENT TO DEALER WITHIN 15 MILES OF WARNING LIGHT COMING ON. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK AND THAT IT HAD DRIPPED OVER THE WIRING HARNESS. IT WOULD COST $3,500 TO REPAIR. I HAVE NEVER MISSED A MAINTENANCE ON THIS CAR. THEY SAID THE THIS HAPPENS BECAUSE OF WHERE …

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THIS IS A 2004 MERCEDES C230. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. I WENT TO DEALER WITHIN 15 MILES OF WARNING LIGHT COMING ON. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK AND THAT IT HAD DRIPPED OVER THE WIRING HARNESS. IT WOULD COST $3,500 TO REPAIR. I HAVE NEVER MISSED A MAINTENANCE ON THIS CAR. THEY SAID THE THIS HAPPENS BECAUSE OF WHERE THE O2 SENSOR IS LOCATED. THIS IS A DEFECT AND DESIGN FLOW CREATED BY MB. THEY SHOULD DO A RECALL TO PROTECT THE WIRING HARNESS

NHTSA ODI #10322904

55,150 miles · Apr 30, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

THIS IS A 2004 MERCEDES C230. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. I WENT TO DEALER WITHIN 5 MILES OF WARNING LIGHT COMING ON. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK AND THAT IT HAD DRIPPED OVER SEVERAL COMPONENTS AND THE WIRING HARNESS. I WOULD COST $3,500 TO REPAIR BUT THEY ABSORBED THE LABOR COST AND IT SHOULD COST ABOUT $2,000. I…

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THIS IS A 2004 MERCEDES C230. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. I WENT TO DEALER WITHIN 5 MILES OF WARNING LIGHT COMING ON. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK AND THAT IT HAD DRIPPED OVER SEVERAL COMPONENTS AND THE WIRING HARNESS. I WOULD COST $3,500 TO REPAIR BUT THEY ABSORBED THE LABOR COST AND IT SHOULD COST ABOUT $2,000. I HAVE NEVER MISSED A MAINTENANCE ON THIS CAR. THEY SAID THE THIS HAPPENS BECAUSE OF WHERE THE O2 SENSOR THAT LEAKED IS. IT SEEMS ODD TO HAVE MINOR ISSUE CAUSE SUCH ENORMOUS DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10267393

46,000 miles · Dec 5, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

MERCEDES BENZ C230 KOMPRESSOR SPORT SEDAN BEGAN TO LEAK OIL INTO THE CAM MAGNET SENSOR WHICH LEAD TO THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS, COSTING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO REPLACE. MB HAS KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM IN THE 111 AND 271 SERIES OF ENGINE FOR MANY YEARS. COSTING THE CONSUMER HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY FOR A PROBLEM THEY HA…

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MERCEDES BENZ C230 KOMPRESSOR SPORT SEDAN BEGAN TO LEAK OIL INTO THE CAM MAGNET SENSOR WHICH LEAD TO THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS, COSTING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO REPLACE. MB HAS KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM IN THE 111 AND 271 SERIES OF ENGINE FOR MANY YEARS. COSTING THE CONSUMER HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY FOR A PROBLEM THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT. NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR FLAKING OR SHOWING SIGNS OF LEAKING OIL UNTIL ITS TOO LATE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10250881

Official recalls

3

24V874000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

Nov 19, 2024

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and can detach.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A detached sunroof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 22V-954. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024120001/2/3.

22V954000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

Dec 23, 2022

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and may detach.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A detached sunroof panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall expands NHTSA recall number 19V-918. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2023010004, 2023010005, and 2023010006.

19V918000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

Dec 20, 2019

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly resulting in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V918-4126.pdf

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020040011.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.