2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine and engine cooling is the leading concern among 106 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 16th highest complaint count among 23 C-Class model years with reports.
Of the 2003 reports, 4 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 5 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints
106 reports, newest first.
Electrical system, Jan 29, 2026, fire
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.
Electrical system, Air bags, Aug 6, 2024
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.
Tires, Mar 28, 2024
The PRINX tires and the dealer - Mavis Tires, Auburn Avenue, Columbus, Georgia, are equally to blame for the flat I had in traffic endangering myself and other motorists with Brand New Prinx Tires, and also the skid I had at an intersection in Columbus Georgia. It's the old story of Chinese aftermarket parts that do not fit causing accidents. Prinx pushes Mavis to make sales of their 205/55/16 even though my Mercedes C240 door panel sticker shows the brands Mercedes lists for safety as in climates averaging 39 degrees and above for traction size 225/50/16 has to be placed in the rear (205 only on the front) and I did by buying more tires I didn't need and that stopped the skidding. MAVIS also installed the Prinx tires pretending to have replaced the dry-rotted stems, I had a flat at an intersection endangering other drivers, my wheel was also damaged. I have replaced the other stems and the rear tires which did not fit and had poor traction, but MAVIS will not exchange with me for a proper fit. I think Mavis should be fined as they are endangering motorists by not replacing dry-rotted stems to pinch pennies and deliberately placing tires on the rear despite the door sticker warning for size and fit and brand. The Prinx tires are also low on the ground like a go-cart, making the car harder to maneuver. The Better Business Bureau has so many complaints against Mavis Tire, home office New York, that I didn't bother. Air Force Veteran [XXX] , [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Visibility/wiper, Oct 16, 2023
The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz C230. The contact stated that the windshield wipers inadvertently stopped working. The contact jiggled the windshield wiper arm, and the windshield wipers wiped the windshield twice and then stopped operating. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called an independent mechanic, who replaced the calipers, but no assistance was provided regarding the windshield wipers. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 166,000.
Visibility, Jul 13, 2023
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.
Structure, Mar 17, 2023
2003 MERCEDES BENZ C240. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO RUST ISSUE WITH VEHICLE.
Visibility, Feb 23, 2023
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.
Visibility, Jan 5, 2023
The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz C230. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V954000 (Visibility) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Electrical system, Jun 11, 2021
There is an open recall on my brand of Mercedes-Benz but my Vin number isn’t included it’s on the sunroof where it stays open or it could possibly fly off it gets off track or whatever happens well mine will not go down I have to manually open it or manually close it it is a safety issue because it will refuse to go down completely and will be shaking while I am driving it puts me and others at risk but the dealership is refusing to fix it under A recall even though my brand and type is included in the recall
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, May 14, 2021
MY PANORAMIC ROOF IS MALFUCTIONING AND IS SUCK SLIGHTLY OPEN WONT CLOSE OR BUDGE AND NOW I'M HAVING MULITPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES MY LIGHTS ARE FLICKERING CIGARETTE LIGHTER DOESNT WORK MY AC WORKS SOMETIMES BUT THEN IT DOESN'T AND OTHER THINGS AS WELL. THERE IS AN OPEN RECALL ON THE PANORAMIC ROOFS WITH MY MAKE AND MODEL BUT MY VIN NUMBER ISNT SHOWING UP..
Visibility, Oct 6, 2020
2003 MERCEDES BENZ C240. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SUNROOF GLASS BONDING SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ROOF CONTIUOUSLY BECAME RUSTED DUE TO A WATER LEAK. *JS
Visibility, Jun 1, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ C240. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V918000 (VISIBILITY) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN MERCEDES-BENZ OF CHARLOTTESVILLE (1381 RICHMOND RD, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA 22911, (434) 290-4156) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Structure, May 27, 2020
AS A TIME MY VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE RENEWAL WITH CALIFORNIA DMV , THE RECALL PART HAS NOT BEEN AVAILABLE FROM MERCEDES MANUFACTURE. MERCEDES BENZ DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY FUTURE TIME FRAME FOR THE RECALL PART THAT WILL EFFECTS ON MY VEHICLE REGISTRATION RENEWAL WITH DMV (IT ALSO MEANS MY RENEWAL WITH DMV WILL BE ON HOLD AND I DON NOT HAVE ANY OTHER VEHICLE TO DRIVE IF IT HAPPENS BY THE TIME THE CURRENT VEHICLE REGISTRATION EXPIRED). I ALREADY CONTACTED WITH LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER AND MERCEDES BENZ US BUT THEY CAN NOT DO ANYTHING WITH THE RECALL ANY TIME SOON BEFORE MY CURRENT REGISTRATION ENDS. MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY USING AND HAVE NO ISSUE BUT I NEED TO REDEEM A RECALL PART SO I CAN GET A NEW VEHICLE REGISTRATION AT DMV. *TR
Power train, Engine, Apr 11, 2020
AT 178,000 MILES THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED WHILE THE CAR DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND ALLOWED THE TIMING CHAIN TO SKIP SEVERAL TEETH LEAVING THE CAR STRANDED AND POTENTIALLY CAUSING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE INTERNALS. THE CAR WAS DEALER SERVICED SINCE NEW AND ALWAYS HAD MAINTENANCE ON TIME. THERE IS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ONLINE THAT HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE AND MERCEDES BENZ USA REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT YET THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THEY MADE THEM WRONG BECAUSE THEY HAVE UPDATED THE CHAINS AND TENSIONERS.
Power train, Engine, Mar 12, 2020
"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.
Tires, Jun 3, 2018
THE BACK SIDE OF THE TIRES CRACK OPEN AROUND THE RIM.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 31, 2017, crash
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.
Engine, Jul 25, 2017
HARMONIC BALANCER /CRANK PULLEY WOBBLING VERY BAD . AFRAID IT WILL COME APART AND CAUSE CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE WHILE MY KIDS ARE DRIVING. MERCEDES COVERED THIS PART UNDER SAME ENGINE FAMILY BUT ONLY FROM MODEL YEARS 1998-2001. WOULD LIKE THEM TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SAME FAULTY PART AS THE OTHERS.
Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 8, 2017
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND IT SUDDENLY TURNED OFF ON ME. I TRIED TO START IT AGAIN BUT IT WOULD CRANK BUT NOT TURN ON. I HAD A LIL LESS THAN HALF A TANK OF GAS BUT THERE WAS NO GAS BEING DELIVERED TO THE ENGINE. AFTER INSPECTING THE FUEL SENDING UNIT I NOTISED THAT THE PLASTIC AROUND THE WIRE CONNECTOR PINS WAS A BIT MELTED AND THERE WAS A SMALL HOLE THAT WENT STRAIGHT TROUGH THE SENDING UNIT COVER. I REPLACED THE SENDING UNIT BUT THE MELTING STILL CONTINUES. IT SEEMS LIKE THE WIRE GETS TOO HOT AND THE PLASTIC MELTS AROUND THE PINS. IM AFRAID THIS CAN EVEN CAUSE A FIRE SINCE ALL THE FUEL IS JUST INCHES BELLOW IT.
Air bags, Feb 5, 2017
TAKATA RECALL SRS WARNING LIGHT ON
Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 22, 2016
AFTER FILLING MY GAS TANK, THERE'S A VERY STRONG RAW GAS ODOR INSIDE THE CAR WHILE DRIVING, AND WHEN PARKED. SEEMS STRONGER IN THE BACKSEAT. I SEE THERE'S A EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS ISSUE FROM MERCEDES BENZ ON THE E CLASS FOR MY YEAR (2003). THAT WARRANTY EXTENSION SHOULD HAVE COVERED ALL CLASSES WITH SIMILAR DESIGN OR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE FUMES ARE SO STRONG I AM AFRAID ANY SPARK COULD IGNITE THE VAPORS. I REALLY NEED YOUR HELP! IF MERCEDES BENZ ACKNOWLEDGED PROBLEMS WITH MY YEAR (2003), IT SHOULD INCLUDE MY C CLASS UNLESS THEY CAN ESTABLISH THE ISSUES ARE TOTALLY UNRELATED IN NATURE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 6, 2016
I BOUGHT THE CAR YESTERDAY, AND TODAY REALIZED THE CAR IS LEAKING FUEL, POOLING UNDER THE BACK SEAT AND SPILLING OUT UNDER THE CAR. THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WILL NOT WORK; WE TRIED 3 BULBS. THE PANEL DISPLAYS A MESSAGE STATING ONE OF THE TAG LIGHTS IS OUT, BUT IT ACTUALLY WORKS.
Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 29, 2016
I OWN A A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ C240. THE FOLLOWING DAY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REFUELED, THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR. IT HAS HAPPEN SUDDENLY OUT OF NOWHERE AFTER MY OTHER ELECTRICAL FAILURES OF SHOWING UP IN MY MALFUNCTION PANEL, IN WHICH I HAVE A COMPLAINT. THE SRS THEN THE ESP NOW. THEN THE FUEL SMELL. I SEEM TO NOTICE IT MORE WHEN I WOULD IDLE HEATING UP THE CAR IN THE WINTER, THEN WHEN I JUST TURN IT ON AND DRIVE. I NOTICE IT AT STOP LIGHTS AS WELL. IF THERE IS ANY RECALL ON ANY MERCEDES THAT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THIS OR ANY ISSUE, IT SHOULD FALL ACROSS THE LINE OF OTHER YEARS AND MODELS AS WELL. SAFETY IS THE ISSUE AND QUALITY IS WHY WE CHOOSE A CERTAIN MAKE.
Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 29, 2016
TAKATA RECALL. CARS WITH THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE PART OF THE RECALL. I HAVE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AS THE 7TH COMPLAINER.CASE #10574681. SRS LIGHT CAME ON WITH 1 MALFUNCTION. THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM. I TOOK IT TO THE WORKSHOP TO HAVE THE SCAN CODES CHECKED. THE CODE READER SAID THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH ONE OF THE AIRBAGS. THE MECHANIC THINKS THAT THE AIRBAGS ARE DISABLED. BUT THE OWNERS MANUAL SAYS THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT AN AIRBAG COULD GO OFF WHILE DRIVING. I JUST READ THAT MERCEDES INCLUDED 814000 VEHICLES IN THE RECALL. MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED. I THINK THAT THIS CAR MIGHT NOT BE SAFE TO DRIVE. WOULD YOU PLEASE HELP OUT AND HAVE AN INVESTIGATION. THANKS IN ADVANCE. (THIS I COPIES AND PASTED FROM A RECENT CONSUMER) I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING ABOUT CHECKING ON MY MERCEDES UNTIL I GOT A RECALL LETTER FROM BMW 2 DAYS AGO AND THOUGHT WOW. I NEED TO CHECK NO THE BENZ. I HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. FIRST THE SRS LIGHT. CODES ARE READING SAFETY RESTRAINT AND WONT TURN OFF. THEN I HAVE MY ESP LIGHT THAT CAME ON AND WHEN READ ON THE COMPUTER, IT HAD READ THAT THIS WAS ALSO SHOWING UP AS A LONG TERM PROBLEM IN THE HISTORY OF THIS CARS COMPUTER SYSTEM. I CAN PULL EVERY PAPER WORK EVER DONE TO THIS CAR. I AM THE SECOND OWNER AND MY CLOSE FRIEND IS THE FIRST OWNER, WHO BOUGHT IT AFTER LAW SCHOOL. I HAVE OWNED IT 5 YEARS. THIS MADE NERVOUS, SO I BOUGHT ANOTHER CAR. A BMW AND KEPT THIS ONE, BECAUSE SHE IS A GREAT CAR. HOWEVER, MERCEDES OR SOMEONE BETTER INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE THAT SEEMS TO BE RECALLED IN A BIASED MANNER AND IN SAFETY AND DEATH POSSIBILITIES, MERCEDES NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR LOYAL CUSTOMERS.MY ENTIRE FAMILY OWNS AND BUYS THESE AND NEVER CHANGED, BECAUSE ALL OF OUR GERMAN MADE AND SHIPPED CARS HAVE BEEN THE BEST SINCE 1980 OF OUR 1ST ONE WE PURCHASED. I BOUGHT A BMW. NEVER AGAIN. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ASAP, THIS IS DANGEROUS. I OWN 2 DANGEROUS EXPENSIVE CARDS.
Air bags, Feb 26, 2016
THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLE IS LOOSE AND THE AIRBAG SRS LIGHT CAME ON. THE SRS MESSAGE SAID URGENT GO TO MARKET PLACE.