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: service brakes
6 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Seat belts, Service brakes, Nov 11, 2018
I HAVE A MERCEDES BENZ C230 THE LIGHT IS ON BUT THE SRS IS ON GIVE MESSAGE THAT SAID DRIVE TO A WORK SHOP
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Service brakes, Sep 22, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ C240. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SINK INTO THE FLOOR CREATING AN EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCE. THE FAILURE NEARLY CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF A SECOND VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED CAUSING BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
Steering, Service brakes, Oct 25, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ C320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AS THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SHOULDER AND POWERED OFF THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,580 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Apr 6, 2012
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
Suspension, Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Visibility, Latches/locks/linkages, Seats, Other or unspecified, Sep 24, 2007
2004 MERCEDES C240 WITH SUNROOF AND OVERHEAD CONTROL PANEL. CUSTOMER STATES THAT AFTER THE CAR WAS SUPPOSED TO BE REPAIRED THE VEHICLE ACQUIRED OTHER PROBLEMS ALONG WITH A LOOSE SEAT THAT MOVES WHILE DRIVING. *KB THE SUNROOF WOULDN'T CLOSE ON AUTO MODE, THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER WAS INOPERABLE, THE ALARM DIDN'T SOUND, THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR LOCK WAS DEFECTIVE, THE BRAKES SQUEAKED, THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK COMING FROM THE OIL PAN, THE TRANSMISSION LEAKED, THE THRUST ARM BUSHINGS FAILED, THE RIGHT SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER WAS COMING APART, THE RIGHT FRONT WINDOW MADE A LOUD SQUEAK, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE DRIVERS SEAT DIDN'T TILT UP OR DOWN. THE PANIC FEATURE ON THE VEHICLE DIDN'T WORK, BOTH REMOTE KEYS DIDN'T LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DOORS.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, May 21, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ C230. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED ON FOUR OCCASIONS. AFTER THE FIRST FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY FAILURE. AFTER THE SECOND FAILURE, THE DEALER CHANGED THE BRAKES. DURING THE THIRD FAILURE, THE CONTACT WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE SKID IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND WOULD NOT STOP. THE DEALER WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND SOME PARTS WERE REPLACED. DURING THE FOURTH FAILURE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE WHILE IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND THE CONTACT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED AAA. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER PARKED IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND A HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICER PUSHED HER VEHICLE TOWARDS THE TOW TRUCK, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BUMP INTO THE REAR OF THE TRUCK. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 19,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.