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
140 reports, newest first.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Tires, Jun 29, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ C230. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 9,000 MILES. IN ADDITION, BOTH REAR TIRES WERE REPLACED AT 13,000 MILES BECAUSE THEY WERE WORN OUT. THE TIRES CURRENTLY NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE PURCHASE DATE AND TIRE INFORMATION WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 19,775 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.
Air bags, Aug 22, 2006, crash
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UPON SHIFTING THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD INTO A TREE WITHOUT WARNING; AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THERE WAS MODERATE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE POLICE WERE ALERTED AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP FOR REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE DAMAGE. A NHTSA RECALL, #05V560000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING, THE AIRBAGS HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS AWAITING INSPECTION BY A MANUFACTURING REPRESENTATIVE.
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Aug 13, 2006
PROBLEM STARTS WITH A HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION AND LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING. AFTER SHUTTING ENGINE OFF, THEN UPON STARTING VEHICLE, ENGINE WOULD START TO SHAKE AND STUMBLE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. VEHICLE ENGINE SOUNDS AS IF IT GOING TO BLOW UP AND HAS NO POWER AND STALLS BECOMES UNDRIVEABLE. IF YOU SHUT ENGINE OFF AGAIN AND RESTART SOMETIMES CAR CAN BE DRIVEN EVEN THOUGH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON. IT ALWAYS SHOWS THE SAME CODES FOR REPAIR. CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO DEALER 2 TIMES AND DRIVEN OVER 4 ADDITIONAL TIMES. EACH TIME THE CODE COMES UP AS A COIL DEFECT AND DEALER HAS REPLACED COIL #2 SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO COIL BEING BURNT ALONG WITH CLEANING AND/OR REPLACEMENT OF SPARK PLUGS ONLY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM RECUR WITHIN HOURS OR DAYS. THEY STILL HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. DEALER GAVE ME SAME MODEL LOANER VEHICLE WHICH I HAD TO RETURN WITHIN HOURS DUE TO SAME PROBLEMS. *NM
Air bags, Jul 27, 2006
I HAVE A MERCEDES BENZ C230. SATURDAY MY AIR BAG DEPLOYED IN THE PASSENGER SIDE BACK SEAT AFTER LEAVING MR. BUBBLES CARWASH. MY FIANCEE DROVE MY CAR TO THE MERCEDEDS DEALERSHIP NEARBY AND THEY SHUT OFF AIRBAG SYSTEM UNTIL I COULD BRING MY CAR IN FOR INSPECTION. MONDAY MORNING I CALLED TO HAVE MY CAR SCHEDULED FOR MAINTENANCE ON TUESDAY FOR THE DEPLOYED AIR BAG TO BE REPAIRED AND FOR THE SYSTEM RESTRAINT MALFUCTION LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD TO BE REPAIRED. THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THAT THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE TIRE SO THEY WERE NOT GOING TO WARRANTY THIS PROBLEM. TO BE HONEST, I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH THAT. WHY WOULD AN AIR BAG DEPLOY EVEN IF THERE WAS A TIRE PROBLEM? I AM SCARED TO DEATH TO GO OVER A SPEED BUMP AT THIS POINT. *NM
Air bags, Jun 19, 2006
I RECEIVED A NOTICE IN APRIL THAT MY CAR WAS RECALLED BECAUSE OF AIR BAG SAFETY ISSUES. MERCEDES HAS NOT RECTIFIED THE SITUATION. *JB
Air bags, May 30, 2006
IN MARCH 2006, WE RECEIVED SAFETY RECALL NOTICE #2006-020005 FOR OUR 2005 MERCEDES C230, FOR AN ISSUE WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE. OVER THE LAST 70 DAYS, I HAVE CALLED LEITH MERCEDES IN RALEIGH, NC FIVE TIMES TO SCHEDULE THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIR UNDER THIS RECALL AND I AM TOLD THE PARTS ARE STILL ON BACKORDER FROM GERMANY AND IT WILL BE 6 TO 8 WEEKS BEFORE THEY CAN CONDUCT THE REPAIR. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, May 30, 2006
I OWN A 2005 E320 CDI MERCEDES DIESEL. THE CAR GIVES OFF BLACK SMOKE (INTERMITTENTLY) AND A BLACK TAR LIKE SUBSTANCE (BLACK SOOT) POURS OUT OF MY EXHAUST SYSTEM. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO MERCEDES AND THEY STATE, "THE CAR IS OPERATING WITHIN FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS." THE DEALERSHIP (SKYLAND AUTOMOTIVE, ASHEVILLE, NC) STATES THAT IT IS DUE TO POOR QUALITY DIESEL FUEL. I HAVE CONSIDERED LEGAL ACTION UNDER THE NC LEMON LAW, BUT WOULD RATHER HAVE THE PROBLEM SOLVED. *JB
Air bags, May 11, 2006, crash
SUBMISSION FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF PAYMENT FOR DAMAGED TO C230 2005 MERCEDES BENZ IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT THE TIME OF ACCIDENT CERTIFIED MAIL. *TS THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE AIR BAGS IN THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FAILED PRIOR TO THE CONSUMER RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE. *NM
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 25, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER A FEW MINUTES. OTHER TIMES THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP A TOTAL OF EIGHT TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP MADE UNKNOWN REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER, HOWEVER THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER ACCURATELY DETERMINED AND NONE OF THE UNKNOWN REPLACEMENT PARTS REMEDIED THE PROBLEM.
Tires, Mar 3, 2006
WITHOUT ANY ACCIDENT I NOTICED A HUGE BUBBLE ON THE LEFT SIDE FRONT TIRE AND RIGHT FRONT DOES NOT HOLD AIR. I DID NOT HIT ANY POTHOLES AND DON'T DRIVE FAST AT ALL. CONTACTED DEALER AS CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY I HAVE ONLY 4600 MILES. DEALER REFUSED TO CHANGE TIRE FOR FREE AND REFUSED TO CONSIDER TIRE DEFECTIVE. TIRES ARE VERY BAD QUALITY AND / ORE DEFECTIVE AS HAVING NEW CAR WITH 4600 MILES SHOULD NOT WEAR TIRE TO SUCH EXTEND TO HAVE BUBBLES. DEALER CLAIMED THAT BUBBLES ONLY HAPPEN WHILE CAR HITS HOLE IN THE ROAD HOWEVER SUCH A NEW TIRES SHOULD WITHSTAND NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. TO HAVE BUBBLE ON THE CAR POSE DANGER TO MY LIFE AS HAVING A BRAND NEW CAR I SHOULD NOT BE INSPECTING TIRES FOR DAMAGE. *NM
Structure, Vehicle speed control, Jan 18, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE ROOF AT THE ANTENNA. THIS CAUSES CONDENSATION TO LEAK INTO THE TRUNK. THIS IN TURN CAUSES CONDENSATION TO GO THROUGH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND CAUSES ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS REPAIRED. THE CRUISE CONTROL IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS SET OR AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL RESET INTERMITTENTLY. THIS CAUSES SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP DROVE THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ALSO, WHEN THE SUN IS REFLECTING ON THE WINDSHIELD IT CAUSES A GLARE, MAKING VISIBILITY TO BE IMPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED WITH NO RESPONSE. *NM UPDATED 02/27/06. *JB
Air bags, Nov 12, 2005, crash
1) 2005 MB C230K 4 DOOR SEDAN VEHICLE - ON BOARD COMPUTER REPORTED SRS FAILURE. 2) VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP TO ADDRESS SRS FAILURE REPORTED BY COMPUTER. DEALERSHIP REPORTEDLY REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. FAILURE NOTICE NO LONGER BEING REPORTED BY ON BOARD COMPUTER. 3) FRONT SIDE COLLISION OCCURRED TODAY 11/12/05 - WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROX. 35 MPH - NO AIRBAGS, INCLUDING SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG, DEPLOYED ON MY VEHICLE, BUT BOTH DEPLOYED ON THE OTHER VEHICLE. NOTE MY VEHICLE, DUE TO IMPACT, WAS TURNED 90 DEGREES FROM IMPACT TO FRONT OF MY VEHICLE - POLICE OFFICER REPORTED INCIDENT FROM HIS EXPERIENCE DEFINITELY SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED SIDE, POSSIBLY FRONT, AIRBAG ON MY CAR. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 5, 2005
I HAVE HAD 2 INSTANCES WHERE I START DRIVING AND THE CAR LOSES POWER AND THEN WILL REGAIN POWER. IT IS WITHIN THE FIRST 5-10 MINUTES OF DRIVING AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS. SERVICE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND PROBLEM. 4 OTHER FRIENDS HAVE INDICATED THEY ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH LOSS OF POWER. MOST ARE THE SAME MODEL. *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
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 8, 2004, fire
WHIEL DRIVING, THE CONSUMER STARTED TO SMELL GAS IN THE CAR, THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD, LEFT THE CAR RUNNING, POPPED THE HOOD AND FIRE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. INSURANCE CO. FARMERS, ROBERT GONZALES 956-454-2046*JB