2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 77 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 18th highest complaint count among 23 C-Class model years with reports.
Of the 2004 reports, 3 involved a crash and 8 involved a fire. 4 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
13 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Oct 9, 2020, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ C230. THE CONTACT STATED HE NOTICED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE HEAD LIGHTS WAS MELTED. THE CONTACT STATED HE REPLACED THE BULB HIMSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 87,000.
Electrical system, Oct 19, 2017, fire
I WAS DRIVING ON THE I-95 AT 60 MPH AND TURNED ON MY AIR CONDITIONER WHEN SMOKE BEGAN TO COME OUT OF THE VENTS. I SHUT OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER AND THE SMOKE STOPPED. I VISITED WITH MY PARENTS AND AS I STARTED THE CAR AND IT WAS IDLING, I TURNED ON THE AIR CONDITIONER AND SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM THE VENTS AGAIN AND FLAMES APPEARED UNDER THE DASHBOARD. I WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE AND PULLED THE FUSE BOX COVER OFF AND FOUND THE FUSE BOX WAS WHERE THE FIRE HAD STARTED. THERE WAS A PAPER WITH FUSE SIZES AND LOCATIONS PUT (BY MERCEDES) IN BETWEEN THE FUSES WHICH HAD BEEN SINGED, AND PART OF THE FUSE BOX AND SOME OF THE FUSES HAD MELTED. I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND A COMPLAINT ON A MERCEDES FORUM WHERE THIS HAD HAPPENED TO ANOTHER 2004 MERCEDES C230.
Electrical system, Seats, Nov 18, 2016, fire
PASSENGER SEAT CAUGHT FIRE WHEN USING THE SEAT HEATER. FIRE PROTRUDED THROUGH THE SIDE SEAT PANEL AND BURNED DRIVER AND CLOTHING. THE DRIVER WAS OPERATING THE CAR FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES ON A CITY STREET AND PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. PORTIONS OF THE SEAT MELTED.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Aug 29, 2014, fire
AFTER DRIVING 1 MILE FROM HOME, THE AIR CONDITIONED SYSTEM SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT FROM THE DRIVER'S VENT INTO THE CABIN. I LEFT THE CAR UNINJURED AND CALLED 911. FIREMEN CAME 10 MINUTES LATER AND I COULD SEE FLAMES COMING THROUGH THE LEFT VENT. THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD MELTED COMPLETELY, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED, AND MY INSURER DECLARED THE CAR A TOTAL LOSS. I'M GLAD THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURY, THOUGH THE INCIDENT WAS REALLY SCARY. I HAD RECENTLY TAKEN MY CAR (3 MONTHS AGO) TO THE MERCEDES DEALER FOR A SERVICE THAT COST ME MORE THAN $6,000, AND THE CAR WAS SUPPOSED TO RUN LIKE NEW. THE AC HAD NEVER FAILED BEFORE THIS. *TR
Electrical system, Air bags, Seat belts, May 27, 2013
THE SRS AND NUMEROUS OTHER MALFUNCTIONS COME ON. THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS ALONG WITH THE BLINKERS ARE TURN ON AND OFF BY THEMSELVES. AT FIRST TURNING THE CAR OFF THE MALFUNCTIONS WENT AWAY ONLY TO COME BACK A FEW MINUTES LATER. I FIND THIS TO BE VERY DANGEROUS SINCE THE AIR BAGS, SEAT-BELTS WONT WORK IN A ACCIDENT. ALONG WITH IF LIGHTS GO OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE BEFORE AFTER PAYING THOUSAND TO HAVE IT FIXED IT REAPPEARS AFTER A YEAR. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND IT SEEMS THAT EVERYONE IS HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM DUE TO FAULTY WIRE AND SENSOR. *TR
Electrical system, Structure, Apr 15, 2013, fire
NUMEROUS THINGS HAVE HAPPENED. THE CAR HAS 124,000 RIGHT NOW. THIS IS THE BIGGEST LEMON EVER!! -CAR CAUGHT FIRE AT MERCEDES - A/C BLOWER SHORTED OUT, CAUSING FUSE BOX TO CATCH FIRE AND BURNT UNDERNEATH DASH. THEY INFORMED ME THE TECHNICIAN RECEIVED MINOR BURNS WHEN TRYING TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. -NEW ALARM SIREN (IT WOULD GO OFF RANDOMLY) -2 ALTERNATORS (VOLTAGE REGULATOR GOES BAD) -NEW DOOR LOCK ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS -NEW RF SENSOR ON DRIVER DOOR FOR THE KEY-LESS REMOTE -2 NEW THERMOSTATS -1 DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE -2 PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLES AND NOW BROKE FOR 3RD TIME -REAR GLASS WAS REPLACED BECAUSE WHEN REAR DEFROSTER WAS TURNED ON IT WOULD MAKE FM RADIO STATIC. IT DOES IT AGAIN NOW. -FRONT FOG LIGHT GLASS CRACKED IN HALF - BOUGHT NEW ONE AND DID IT AGAIN -CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON NOW AND O2 SENSOR BAD. -REAR SCREEN SHADE IT STUCK UP. WONT GO DOWN. -KEY-LESS REMOTE ANTENNA IS BROKE -3 BRAKE SYSTEMS IN FRONT -1 BRAKE IN REAR -SUNROOF WORKS BUT THE ARM THAT POPS UP BROKE -MIDDLE CONSOLE BUTTONS GET STUCK SOMETIMES. MB HAS TO POP THEM BACK OUT. -STRUT STABILIZER BAR BROKE -TRANSMISSION MOUNT AND FRONT ARM BUSHINGS WERE ALL REPLACED. -LCD ON DASH HAS A BLUR LINE GOING THROUGH IT. -BOSE SPEAKERS WERE REPLACED AND NOW ALL BUSTED AGAIN. EXTERIOR - VERY SEXY CAR AND THAT'S ALL IT HAS. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Jul 8, 2012, fire
I HAVE BLACK MERCEDES C230 KOMPRESSOR SPORTS SEDAN 2004 MODEL. CAR WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW AT MERCEDES AUTHORIZED DEALER. THERE IS NO MODIFICATION MADE TO THIS CAR AND ALL THE SERVICING DONE AT MERCEDES AUTHORIZED DEALER SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR. IT HAD ONLY 58000 MILES. LAST B SERVICING WHICH CHECKED ANY SAFETY RELATED ISSUES AND INCLUDES REGULAR MAINTENANCE, WAS DONE AT AUTHORIZED DEALER ON 02/18/2012. NO ISSUE WAS INFORMED ON 02/18/2012 TO US BY MERCEDES AUTHORIZED DEALER SERVICING DEPARTMENT. ON 06/21/2012, WHEN I WAS DRIVING THIS CAR FROM WORK TO HOME, I TURNED ON A/C, A/C SHUTDOWN AND I STARTED SMELLING SMOKE. ON LEFT SIDE OF MY CAR THERE IS A/C VENT AND I SAW FIRE INSIDE THE HOOD THROUGH THAT VENT.I PULLED OVER CAR RIGHT AWAY AND ELECTRICITY WENT OUT WITH IN 1 MIN OF MY PULLING OVER AND WITHIN 4 MIN, WHOLE CAR WAS BURNING. MY CAR IS NOW TOTALED. THIS POSES FOLLOWING SECURITY CONCERNS: 1. MERCEDES C230 2004 IS MADE OF HIGHLY INFLAMMABLE MATERIAL AND DRIVER AND USERS OF CAR HAS VERY LESS CHANCE TO SURVIVE IF THERE IS FIRE. 2. MERCEDES C230 2004 MODEL A/C UNIT IS NOT OF HIGHEST QUALITY AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS FAULTY. BOTH OF ABOVE ISSUES POSES VERY SERIOUS SECURITY RISKS TO PUBLIC AND IT NEEDS THROUGH INVESTIGATION. I CONTACTED MERCEDES HEAD QUARTER FOR INVESTIGATION AND MERCEDES DECLINED TO INVESTIGATE. GEICO STATED IN REPORT THAT HOOD IS STUCK AND CAUSE OF FIRE IS UNKNOWN. GEICO INSURANCE COMPANY AUTHORIZED MERCEDES ENGINEERS TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER UPON MY REQUEST AND MERCEDES USA DOES NOT WANT TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER. I HAVE PICTURES OF BURNT CAR AND CAN SHARE IF IT HELPS IN INVESTIGATION TO RULE OUT ABOVE 2 CONCERNS. WE DO NOT WANT OTHERS TO GO THROUGH SAME ORDEAL AS WE WENT THROUGH. *TR UPDATED 06/13/13*LJ UPDATED 06/17/2013 *JS
Electrical system, Jan 11, 2012, fire
LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN ACKERMAN ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT REGARDING AN ISSUE WITH HIS 2004 MERCEDES BENZ C230 *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING, DUE TO A CATASTROPHIC ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. *JB
Electrical system, Apr 26, 2010
THE CAM SENSORS ON THE MERCEDES M271 ENGINE LEAK OIL WHICH SPREADS TO OTHER COMPONENTS VIA THE WIRE HARNESSES CONNECTED TO CAM SENSORS. OIL CONTAMINATION WILL DAMAGE OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS (NAMELY THE ECU AND EXHAUST OXYGEN SENSORS) IF THE CAM SENSORS AND WIRE HARNESSES ARE NOT REPLACED. A NEW CAM SENSOR AND WIRE HARNESS HAS BEEN DESIGNED AS THE CORRECTIVE ACTION. THE DEFECTIVE CAM SENSOR AND WIRE HARNESS WERE USED ON THE PREVIOUS ENGINE DESIGN (M111). THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR M111 ENGINE BUT NOT THE M271 ENGINE. MERCEDES REFUSES TO RECALL THIS DEFECTIVE DESIGN ON THE M271 ENGINE CAUSING OWNERS TO PAY FOR THE $900 PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE. WITHOUT THIS REPAIR THE ECU (PART COST $2000) AND OXYGEN SENSORS (QTY 2 @ $250 EA) WILL BE EVENTUALLY DAMAGED AND WILL NEED TO BE REMOVED AND REPLACED. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Mar 30, 2010
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
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Visibility, Equipment, Equipment adaptive/mobility, Jul 3, 2009
I OWN A 2004 MB C320 AND I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN IT REACHED 40,000 MILES THE CAR ITSELF STARTED MALFUNCTIONING FROM THE REAR WINDOW SHADE WOULDN'T GO DOWN FOR WHICH I ONLY USE OCCASIONALLY; THE AIR CONDITIONING WOULD TURN ON AND OFF; THE TEMP GAUGE IS INACCURATE; THE PASSENGER VISOR CAME OFF; THE CENTER CONSOLE WOULDN'T SHUT CLOSE AND THE. I WENT TO MB FOR THE YEARLY SERVICE- APRIL 2009 AND THEY WANTED $1300.00 FOR THE WINDOW SHADE; I THINK $500 FOR THE CENTER CONSOLE AND $125 FOR THE VISOR. AND THEY ALSO WANTED $800 FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC CHECK FOR THE BLOWER AND I HAVE TO PAY WHATEVER PARTS THAT NEEDS REPLACING. NOW THE CAR IS ALMOST 60,000 MILES AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME LAST WEEK. I NOTICE THE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN I START THE ENGINE AND IT FAILS TO TURNOVER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD EVENTUALLY GO OUT. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN YESTERDAY WHEN IT DIDN'T START THE FIRST TIME, THE CEL CAME ON. I CHECKED THE GAS CAP AND IT LOOKS TIGHT TO ME. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE RADIATOR WOULD MAKE A VERY LOUD AND UNUSUAL NOISE WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED. I THOUGHT I MADE A RIGHT DECISION OF BUYING A MERCEDES BENZ DUE TO THE FACT THE CAR HAVE A GREAT REPUTATION. WITH THE ECONOMY NOWADAYS AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THE MB SERVICE ARE CHARGING I THINK IT'S RIDICULOUS FOR A FAIRLY NEW CAR. *TR
Electrical system, Aug 19, 2008
I HAVE A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ C230. THE ALARM SOUNDS CONTINUOUSLY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE KEY WILL NOT DISABLE IT. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES BUT I SEEM TO FIND LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET BLOGS REGARDING OTHER CUSTOMERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. WHAT IS OUR RIGHT AS A CONSUMER? SHOULD THERE BE A RECALL TO GET THIS CORRECTED? *TR
Electrical system, Apr 10, 2007, fire
I HAVE A 2004 MERCEDES C230 COMPRESSOR. YESTERDAY, I DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND AFTERWARDS LEFT IT PARKED. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. IT ENGULFED THE WHOLE VEHICLE IN SMOKE AND DAMAGED MOST OF THE INTERIOR. THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR CAME ,AND STATED THAT IT WAS FROM THE ELECTRICAL WIRES INSIDE THE DASHBOARD. *AK