2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 183 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 13th highest complaint count among 23 C-Class model years with reports.
Of the 2006 reports, 10 involved a crash. 14 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints: engine
72 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Jun 12, 2025
Engine misfires while driving. OBD 2 codes P0016 and P0017 indicates bad balance shaft. Common defect in these cars. Very expensive repair needed.
Engine, May 29, 2025
The balance shaft sprocket in this car needs to be recalled. It has has known issues since it came out nearly 20 years ago. It can cause your whole engine to blow if not fixed. The fix is often more than the value of the car, around $7000. It is ridiculous. The part was not properly heat treated during manufacture which causes it to fail prematurely at the expense of the owner.
Engine, Jul 12, 2024
The contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz C230. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started leaking oil. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 172,000.
Engine, May 25, 2024
The car randomly misfires and goes into limp mode with a flashing check engine light. This has occurred on roadways and the vehicle loses all engine power. My engine code, 272920 30 183997272.920, falls into a known range of balance shaft gear problems with this motor. There was previously a settlement by the manufacturer to repair the motor but I was unaware of this settlement before purchasing this vehicle as there was no official recall. I am being told the repair requires pulling the motor out which is quite a high cost. The problem has been confirmed by an independent mechanic inspecting the camshaft timing. There were no other indicators of this failure before the check engine light came on and flashed.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Dec 13, 2023
Our car was recalled on 07/03/2008, recall #08V303000, for problems relating to a number of types of mechanical and electrical malfunctions. One was the "(3) OBD SYSTEM MAY CAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE INCORRECTLY; AND (4) THE SPEEDODOMETER MAY BE OUT OF TOLERANCE" This vehicle has had a malfunctioning "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT", that needs to be corrected. It prevents the car from being properly registered, and the warning being on is a distraction to drivers. It has been unresolved by Mercedes and by other mechanics who could not make the proper repair of the "Check Engine Light" issue that was listed in the recall. Mercedes has failed to make the repair, associated with this recall and states that the recall #08V303000 of 07/03/2008 is expired. The car had had recent additional recall work done, and this problem was brought up, but not addressed nor corrected by Mercedes. There has been difficulty in our obtaining Connecticut vehicle emissions approval, and Connecticut registration renewal due to the unaddressed problem by Mercedes. We cannot re-register the vehicle out of Connecticut until this issue is resolved. If we chose the sale of the vehicle, we would have to provide the purchaser a clear and registerable vehicle. Without your assistance in the resolution of this matter that would be impossible to do.
Engine, May 14, 2023
Engine pulley noises
Steering, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jan 13, 2023
To whom this may,I been having problems with check engine light keep coming on,I'm paying alot of money on this car,it could be that recall hose on back order causing that check engine light to come on,please HELP!!!!!!
Engine, Oct 25, 2022
My Engine light came on and I took it to Star Motors. They reported two codes, 1200 and 1208. This means a bad Balance Shaft. This balances the engine and controls the timing belt. I had three choices they said, Repair it for $5,900.00 ....Yes that's right. Sell the car or drive it till it dies. I asked what that meant. They said the car will just stop, freeze and size up, it could happen at anytime. So I'm driving a time bomb basically..
Engine, Jul 19, 2022
The timing chain failed without warning causing the vehicle to cut off while driving 75 mph on the highway. The service engine soon late was not on at all so there was no warning that something was wrong with the vehicle.
Engine, Jun 20, 2022
The intake manifold has a plastic tumble flap mechanism. This commonly breaks in most of these Mercedes Benz vehicles. The main problem is the high cost of repair due to it's location in the engine under a complex wiring harness. Mercedes has never issued a recall, but this problem can lead to catastrophic engine failure. This problem is very well documented on many websites.
Power train, Engine, Nov 6, 2021
I have a 2006 Mercedes C280 which I purchased almost a year ago with 57,000 miles. It currently has 73,000 miles and is having major mechanical problems which have been life threatening due to when and where they occur. 1. Loss of transmission upon acceleration. If I pull over, turn it off and restart, it will shift fine until it decides it wants to do it again and I either lose the ability to shift, or it goes into limp mode without a Check engine light. This has happened on the freeway, heavy traffic, and have been several close calls. The shop said the codes were for transmission malfunction and valve body malfunction. Just out of nowhere. 2. Check engine light goes on and off repeatedly and The plastic intake manifold needs to be replaced because it is one of the defects Mercedes was sued for on this particular year, model, and engine. All of the oxygen sensors are going out as well and that is just the start. The cost for the part alone is in the $1000 range. My mechanic said the best is yet to come and explained around my current mileage on up is when most of the damage takes place with the valves and whatever else happened with this engine. I'm not sure exactly what all the problems were but he said to take it to the junkyard and was very serious which infuriates me because it's a beautiful car and I couldn't in good conscience sell it to anyone. Mercedes is fully aware of this but not a lot of people benefited from the settlement. The same problems are known by all owners and German mechanics.
Engine, Jul 5, 2021
We have 71,000 miles on our 2006 Mercedes Benz C280. Before Christmas, the engine light starts going on and the engine starts sounding rough and jerking. We take it into Mercedes Benz and they diagnose a cam shaft issue. It turns out all 2006 Mercedes Benz C280 have the same problem with the same mileage. This car is a safety hazard and needs to be recalled.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Mar 26, 2021
WHILE TRYING TO MERGE ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR RESPONSE SLOWLY WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE TO HIGHWAY SPEED THE ENGINE OVER REV'S BUT NO POWER THE SAME HAPPENS WHEN CHANGING LANES. WHILE REVERSING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY THE CAR LOCKED UP BOTH THE ENGINE AND STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT I HAD TO TURN IN ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES AND THE PUT IT BACK IN DRIVE BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO FINALLY REVERSE THIS INCIDENT PLACED MY LIFE IN DANGER BECAUSE WHEN THE CAR LOCKED UP HALF OF IT WAS ON THE DRIVEWAY AND THE OTHER HALF IN THE STREET IMPEDING TRAFFIC. I AM NERVOUS ABOUT DRIVING THIS CAR BECAUSE IT DOESN'T RESPOND AS QUICKLY AS IT SHOULD WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Engine, Jan 7, 2020
SOMETIMES, ENGINES YELLOW LIGHT IS ON, AND CAR HAD A LITTLE SHAKING, AND LAKES ARE SOFT WHEN BRAKING,. AND THE CAR WINDOW ASIDE OF FRONT GUEST STOPS MOVING UP AND DOWN.
Engine, Sep 27, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ C230. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND 'CAM SHAFT BALANCE CALIBRATION, SENSOR ONE AND SENSOR B' APPEARED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GARAGE ISLA VERDE (AVENIDA BALDORIOTY DE CASTRO, KL 10.3, CAROLINA, PR 00979) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BALANCE CAMSHAFT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT OWNED TWO OTHER MERCEDES BENZ C230S, WHICH ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000. *TR*JB
Engine, Feb 14, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ C230WZ. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME. THE DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Steering, Power train, Engine, Dec 31, 2018
TAKATA RECALL" 2006 MERCEDES BENZ C230 I WAS DRIVING HOME AND MY CAR STARTED MISFIRING REALLY BAD, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STARTED FLICKERING AND STAYED ON AND THE LIGHTS IN THE CAR ON THE DASH AND ON THE RADIO STARTED TO FLICKER ON AND OFF AND THEN THE CAR JUST WAS LIMP IT WOULDN'T EVEN PICK UP SPEED IT WAS SLOWING DOWN ON THE FREEWAY WITH VERY BUSY TRAFFIC .I WAS SCARED FOR MY LIFE AND MY FRIEND THAT WE WERE GOING TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC . I TRIED TO HURRY HOME BUT IT WAS WOULD NOT PICK UP SPEED IT KEEP GOING SLOWER AND SLOWER AND WHEN WE HAD TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP DUE TO TRAFFIC IT ACTUALLY TURNED COMPLETELY OFF TWICE AND I WAS SO SCARED THAT AN ACCEIDENT WOULD HAPPEN IT WAS MISFIRING AND JUST A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE THIS SHOULD BE SOME KIND OF RECALL OR SOMETHING THEY NEED TO LOOK INTO IT ABC FIX IT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR WORSE .
Engine, Nov 14, 2018
ACCORDING TO THE MERCEDES-BENZ M272 AND M273 ENGINE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, THESE ENGINES ARE EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE GEARS IN THEIR BALANCE SHAFTS (IN THE CASE OF THE M272 ENGINES) OR WITH DEFECTIVE IDLE GEARS (IN THE CASE OF THE M273 ENGINES) THAT WEAR OUT PREMATURELY, EXCESSIVELY AND WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MALFUNCTION, THE 'CHECK ENGINE LIGHT' TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE TO MISFIRE AND/OR STOP DRIVING.
Engine, Oct 4, 2018
COMPLAINT SUMMARY: IN THIS SETTLEMENT THE PLAINTIFFS ALLEGE THAT MERCEDES PRODUCED CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE GEARS IN THEIR BALANCE SHAFTS (IN THE EVENT OF THE M272 ENGINES) OR WITH DEFECTIVE IDLE GEARS (IN THE CASE OF THE M273 ENGINES). THESE DEFECTIVE GEARS WEAR OUT PREMATURELY, EXCESSIVELY, AND WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MALFUNCTION, THE ?CHECK ENGINE LIGHT? TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE TO HAVE SYMPTOMS SUCH AS MISFIRING OR CATASTROPHIC STOPS. CASE NAME: MAJEED SEIFI, ET AL. V. MERCEDES BENZ USA LLC CASE NO. 3:12-CV-05493 U.S. DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA. CONTACT: MERCEDES ENGINE DEFECT SETTLEMENT ADMINISTRATOR P.O. BOX 43351 PROVIDENCE, RI 02940-3351 EMAIL: ADMIN@BALANCESHAFTSETTLEMENT.COM PD: MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM, WITH DEFECTIVE FACTORY GEAR IN THEIR BALANCE SHAFTS. VEHICLE MAKE MODEL YEAR MERCEDES BENZ C350 2006 VIN: (XXXX) GENERATED AT CNHTSA.GOV 1 / 1 (XXXXXXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Engine, Jun 24, 2018
IN THIS SETTLEMENT THE PLAINTIFFS ALLEGE THAT MERCEDES PRODUCED CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE GEARS IN THEIR BALANCE SHAFTS (IN THE EVENT OF THE M272 ENGINES) OR WITH DEFECTIVE IDLE GEARS (IN THE CASE OF THE M273 ENGINES). THESE DEFECTIVE GEARS WEAR OUT PREMATURELY, EXCESSIVELY, AND WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MALFUNCTION, THE 'CHECK ENGINE LIGHT' TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE TO HAVE SYMPTOMS SUCH AS MISFIRING OR CATASTROPHIC STOPS. CASE NAME: MAJEED SEIFI, ET AL. V. MERCEDES BENZ USA LLC CASE NO. 3:12-CV-05493 U.S. DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA. CONTACT: MERCEDES ENGINE DEFECT SETTLEMENT ADMINISTRATOR P.O. BOX 43351 PROVIDENCE, RI 02940-3351 EMAIL: ADMIN@BALANCESHAFTSETTLEMENT.COM MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM, WITH DEFECTIVE FACTORY GEAR IN THEIR BALANCE SHAFTS.
Engine, Sep 15, 2017
BALANCE SHAFT ENGINE ISSUES, STRETCHED TIMING CHAIN, BALANCE SHAFT SPROCKETS. THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ABOUT THIS THAT NO ONE MADE US AWARE OF AND THE REPAIRS HAD TO BE COMPLETED BY MAY 13, 2015 TO BE PART OF THE CLASS ACTION. NOW, BECAUSE WE DROVE IT SO FEW MILES IN THE PAST, THE ISSUES HAVE JUST APPEARED. WE HAVE JUST 76,000 MILES ON IT AND WERE TOLD THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE ENGINE APART TO REPLACE THE CAMSHAFT BEARINGS BECAUSE THEY HAVE WORN DUE TO THE OTHER ISSUES. ALONG WITH THAT WE NEEDED A NEW HEAD AND GASKET AND CAMSHAFT SOLENOIDS. THIS IS ESTIMATED TO COST US $10,000.00. WE OF COURSE AREN'T GOING TO DO THE REPAIRS NOW. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS SO PEOPLE LIKE US THAT DON'T DRIVE A LOT OF MILES DON'T GET RIPPED OFF. THIS IS A MERCEDES THAT SHOULD HAVE EASILY RUN FOR OVER 200,000 MILES. NOW IT'S JUNK.
Engine, Jan 23, 2017
ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON WHEN RPM REACHED 2,000 AND HAS STAYED ON EVER SINCE. DIAGNOSTICS MADE AT A PROFESSIONAL MECHANICS INDICATED A BALANCE SHAFT PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS 68,400 MILES.
Engine, May 25, 2016
ENGINE DIAGNOSIS WARNING LAMP LIGHT UP, FAULT CODES 1200 AND 1208 STORED IN MOTOR ELECTRONICS CONTROL UNIT. CAUSE: BALANCE SHAFT SPROCKET (ENGINE M272) WORN SPROCKET DAMAGE PROFILE. ENGINE CHECK LIGHTS CAME ON AND B-SERVICE LIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY.. ENGINE- M272.
Engine, May 23, 2016
MY FAN ON ,YCAR WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 70,000 MILES MY AIR WENT OUT...I DROVE APPROX 5 MILES TO THE STORE AND WAS ON MY WAY BACK HOME WHENI NOTICED MY AIR WAS NOT WORKING. A MESAGE CAME ON TO TAKE TO THE SHOP.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Apr 29, 2016
VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON WITH A P0015 CODE WHICH INDICATES A CAMSHAFT PROBLEM. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOUND ONLINE REGARDING SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL FOR THIS VEHICLE. IT COULD CAUSE THE CAR TO STALL, NOT SHIFT GEARS AND OTHER ISSUES SUDDENLY.