2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 140 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 14th highest complaint count among 23 C-Class model years with reports.
Of the 2005 reports, 17 involved a crash and 10 involved a fire. 17 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints: power train
13 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Electrical system, Service brakes, Aug 15, 2020
ON THE HIGHWAY CAR SHUT DOWN SHOP SAID THE W SHAPED FUEL TANK FAILED TO SEND FUEL FROM PASSENGER SIDE TO THE DRIVER SIDE. ALSO NUMEROUS TIME SPEED HAS ACCELERATED INDEPENDANTLY BUMPED IN PARKING LOT NO AIR BAG DEPLOYED SEAT MALFUNCTIONS WHEN MOVING IT ITS STUCK AND CROOKED CANT REACH PEDALS AND LOSS OF POWER EVEN AFTER FUEL REPAIRS BEFORE AS WELL. SUNROOF MOTOR WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO AND CONSTANT FUSES BLOWING AND LIGHTS ALL THE TIME. DOOR LOCKS ALSO GET STUCK. BATTERY ALSO DRAINS ITSELF ALL THE TIME AND HAS BAD CYLINDERS. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BUT THANKS FOR THE BENZ ITS OTHERWISE GREAT WHAT A JOKE.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Jul 2, 2019
THE BATTERY KEEP DRAINING WHICH MAKE THHE CAR IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE
Power train, Air bags, Apr 20, 2018
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ C230. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE FAILURE, THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED MERCEDES-BENZ OF WESTWOOD AT 781-688-1000 AND WAS ADVISED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V81000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE SAME DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 114,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Steering, Suspension, Power train, Sep 11, 2014
THE BACK COIL SPRING BROKE AT THE SAME TIME FEW MONTHS AGO ON THE SAME SPOTE THE POWER TRAIN DRIVE ACTING UP. THE SECTION WHERE THE CRUISE CONTROL AND BLINKER IS MOUNTED ON IS LOSE THE WHOLE SECTION BUT MERCEDES SAID THEY COULDN'T MAKE SCREWED CLOSER TOGETHER STEERING GEARBOX). *TR
Power train, Jul 2, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ C230. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A SUDDEN INCREASE OF ENGINE RPMS AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL INDEPENDENTLY. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A DIFFERENT OCCASION WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SENSOR, GASKETS AND CAM SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 131,000.
Power train, Apr 27, 2013
I PULLED UP TO A STOP SIGN AND AS I PRECEDED TO ACCELERATE IT WAS VERY SHAKY AND UNWILLING TO ACCELERATE. IT WOULD NOT BRAKE 20 MPH. I THEN PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE CAR DOWN AND WAITED TO RESTART. AFTER THE RESTART IT BEHAVE AS NORMAL BUT IF I ACCELERATED TO MUCH IT WOULD BEGIN TO SHAKE AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ANYMORE. AFTER SOME RESEARCH ON THE FORUMS I DISCOVER A MASS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS THAT MATCH MY DESCRIPTION TO A T AND DESCRIBE ISSUES WITH A CAM BEARING, A TRANSMISSION PLATE, OR BOTH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Jun 4, 2012
WHILE DRIVING EXPERIENCED SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ENGINE WOULD REV NORMALLY BUT VEHICLE ACTED AS IF IN NEUTRAL. I WAS ABLE TO MOVE OVER TO SIDE OF FREEWAY SAFELY. PLACED CAR IN PARK AND THEN SHIFTED BACK INTO DRIVE, AND CAR BEHAVED NORMALLY. AFTER DOING RESEARCH, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. ACCORDING TO, HTTP://JAYAUTO.WORDPRESS.COM, MERCEDES IS IN A FIGHT WITH ITS OWN SUPPLIERS BECAUSE THEY PRODUCE A LOW-QUALITY PART. IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH YOUR 7-SPEED TRANSMISSIONS, PLEASE REPORT IT TO: NHTSA. ONLY THIS ORGANIZATION CAN ENFORCE MERCEDES TO DO A TRANSMISSION RECALL. IN 2011, MERCEDES MADE THEIR BIGGEST PROFIT IN THEIR HISTORY. HOWEVER, I DON'T THINK THEY WILL USE IT TO FIX THEIR ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION. *TR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, May 15, 2012
MY 18YR OLD COLLEGE STUDENT WAS DRIVING BACK FROM HER SUMMER CLASSES AT AND THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND SHE HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVOID AN CAR ACCIDENT ....I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO DO NOW CAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED ACCORDING TO WHAT I'VE BEEN READING ...SOMETHING ABOUT TRANS SLIPPING WITH FAULTY 0894 CODE AND A BLOWN K-1 CLUTCH WHICH SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM,,,WHEN I GOT THE CAR HOME AND I DROVE IT THE CAR WAS LOSING POWER FOR SOME REASON PLEASE HELP....I'M A SINGLE RETIRED MOTHER WHOM IS JUST TRYING TO EDUCATE MY DAUGHTER BUT WITHOUT A DEATH...THIS CAR IS REALLY DANGEROUS WHAT SHOULD I DO ???????AND I JUST GOT THE CAR OUT OF THE SHOP TWO DAYS AGO FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT JUST SO MY DAUGHTER CAN ATTEND SUMMER COLLEGE CLASSES. *JS
Power train, Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 5, 2011
DRIVING IN TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY I WAS DOING ABOUT 70 MPH AND SUDDENLY I FELT HARD JOLT AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SLIP AND SWERVE. THERE HAD BEEN SNOW STORM THE NIGHT BEFORE AND THE ROADS WERE WET. I MANAGE TO CONTROL THE CAR AND PULL OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE TRANSMISSION HAD SHIFTED DOWN FOR SOME REASON, CAUSING THE WHEELS TO SLIP. SHIFTED THE CAR TO P AND BACK TO D BUT THE CAR HAD NO POWER. SHIFTED A FEW MORE TIMES AND FINALLY I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE INTO WORK BUT THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUED SHIFTING UP AND DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY. SLIPPED AND SWERVED A FEW MORE TIMES. UPON RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ONLINE FOUND THAT THIS IS A REPEATING ISSUE ACROSS MULTIPLE MERCEDES BENZ MODELS. I AM ALSO LEARNING THAT THIS PROBLEM MAY COST UPWARDS OF $2,000 TO REPAIR. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I CALLED MB CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY DO NOT ADMIT TO ANY PROBLEM WITH THEIR TRANSMISSIONS DESPITE THE MULTIPLE INSTANCES POSTED OVER THE NET. I AM ALSO NOW SEEING THAT THE STABILITY CONTROL PROGRAM IS NOT WORKING NOR IS THE MANUAL SHIFT FEATURE THAT THIS CAR CAME WITH THAT ALLOWS ME TO MANUALLY SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION UP OR DOWN. I PUT THE CAR IN D AND CANNOT SHIFT UP OR DOWN NOR DO I SEE A SPECIFIC GEAR SELECTED ON THE DASH BOARD. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS EITHER A COMPUTER OR ELECTRONIC PROBLEM. I FIRST NOTICED AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO AT 60,000 MILES WHEN I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND COULD NOT GET GOING AGAIN ONCE THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN. THE CAR WAS IN D BUT LEFT AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE RPM'S RAMPED UP BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. HAD TO SHIFT TO P AND BACK TO D TO GET GOING AGAIN. I DID NOT SEE THIS PROBLEM AGAIN AFTER THAT WHICH IS THE REASON I DID NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT UP UNTIL NOW THAT I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT.
Steering, Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Other, Power train, Electrical system, Air bags, Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Oct 2, 2010
FIRST, MY STEERING WHEEL WIRE WAS REPLACED FROM A FAULTY SRS LIGHT COMING ON AND THE ESP LIGHT COMING ON. I HAD TO PAY FOR ALL OF THIS. NEXT, EUROMOTOR CARS SAID THE STEERING WHEEL COLLAR WAS BROKE. I HAVE NEVER HAD THAT FIXED BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME AND I FELT THEY SHOULD REPLACE THE COLLAR SINCE THEY REPLACED THE STEERING WIRE. NOW MY CAR DOES NOT START AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DOES NOT LIGHT UP. I CANNOT UNLOCK THE DOORS WITH THE REMOTE KEY AND I CANNOT UNLOCK THE TRUNK OF THE CAR. MY CAR JUST SITS BECAUSE I FEEL I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY OF THIS ANY MORE. I HAVE PUT $6,800 IN REPAIRS IN THIS CAR. I DO NOT WANT TO PAY FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE. I FEEL MY CAR IS UNSAFE. MY CAR WAS FIRST SERVICED AT HERB GORDON'S AUTO GROUP IN SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND. I WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THE SERVICE SO I DECIDED TO TRY EUROMOTORS AND THE SERVICE WAS WORSE. THEY CONTINUE TO PUT IN CODES SO THERE WILL NOT BE A RECALL AND THE CONSUMER HAS TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. PLEASE HELP IN RESOLVING SOME OF THE ISSUES I HAVE HAD WITH THIS 2005 C230 KOMPRESSOR MERCEDES BENZ. I WOULD ALSO LIKE FOR THIS CAR TO BE ENTERED INTO THE RECALL FOR THE STEERING WIRE REPAIR JUST AS THE E320. I PURCHASED THE CAR WITH 4,000 MILES ON IT IN 10/2005. THANK YOU. *TR
Power train, Aug 27, 2010
A O-RING CONNECTED TO THE TRANSMISSION STARTED LEAKING OUT TRANSMISSION FLUID AFTER MY WIFE DROVE THE CAR IN THE SNOW, THE BACK TIRES HAD SOME TRACTION PROBLEM DUE TO THE WET SNOW EARLIER. ONCE THE CAR REACHED HOME, TRANSMISSION OIL WAS DRIPPING ONTO THE GARAGE FLOOR. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 25K ON IT, IN MINT CONDITION. SHE WAS TOLD BY OUR NEIGHBOR THAT SHE SHOULD NOT DRIVE IT UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS FIXED. THE WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP AND FIXED IN JANUARY WHEN I RETURNED FROM MY OVERSEE MISSION. THE MERCEDES SHOP INDICATED IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE O-RING DESIGN AND THAT A BETTER REPLACEMENT O-RING WAS INSTALLED FOR A HEFTY PRICE SINCE THE WARRANTY ON THE CAR ENDED THE PRIOR MONTH. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE WEB TO SEE IF THIS PROBLEM WAS COMMON GIVEN IT WAS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE O-RING. TO MY SURPRISE I FOUND THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT MERCEDES BENZ REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE. HAD SHE BEEN DRIVING THE CAR SHE COULD HAVE ENDED UP DAMAGING THE TRANSMISSION AND WORSE GOTTEN STRANDED SOMEWHERE. I THINK THIS DEFECT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED FURTHER TO ENSURE SAFETY OF THE DRIVERS OF THE VEHICLE GIVEN THIS WAS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. OTHERS ON THE WEB HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Power train, Oct 4, 2007
MY MERCEDES BENZ C230 KOMPRESSOR STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS AT 4400 MILES, IT HAS A HESITATION PROBLEM. IT NOW HAS 42,000 MILES AND STILL HAS HESITATION. ITS BEEN IN THE SHOP 7 TIMES FOR THE SAME SITUATION. THEY TRIED TO BLAME IT ON WATER IN THE FUEL, BUT IT CONTINUES TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. OVER THE SEVEN ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE, THE PROBLEMS STILL PERSISTS. THE HESITATION IS CONSISTED OF STOPPING AND GOING, JERKING THE VEHICLE WHEN TRANSMISSION FROM GEAR TO GEAR. ITS A FUEL RELATED PROBLEM. MY FIANCE AND I HAVE BEEN IN TO MANY CLOSE CALLS WITH ACCIDENTS. THE SCARE OF MY CAR IS IF I REALLY NEED TO AVOID BEING IN A ACCIDENT WITH SWERVING, WILL I HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT? RIGHT NOW I DON'T. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY, FUEL SENSORS, FUEL PUMP, CAN'T USE PREMIUM GAS RECOMMENDED BY GERMANY TAC LINE, A LOT OF CARBON BUILD-UP IN THE FOURTH CYLINDER, GAS TANK AND I THINK THAT'S IT. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Nov 16, 2004
VEHICLE WAS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID, AND AIR PRESSURE WAS DEFECTIVE ALL OF THESE DEFECTS WERE DISCOVERED BY THE DEALER. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED IT WOULD NOT START.*AK