2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Fuel/propulsion system is the leading concern among 280 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 10th highest complaint count among 23 C-Class model years with reports.
Of the 2007 reports, 11 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 13 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints
280 reports, newest first.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 20, 2012
DTC 1208 CODE APPEARS. DUE TO POSITIONING OF TIMING CHAIN RELATIVE TO CRANKSHAFT. ENGINE M272 CAUSED BY WORN SPROCKET ON THE BALANCE SHAFT OF ENGINE. MERCEDES HAS REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE BUT HAS MODIFIED THIS PROBLEM ON NEWER VEHICLES. THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE ON THIS ENGINE, AND SHOULD BE PART OF A NATIONAL RECALL COMPAIGN. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF COMPLAINTS OVER THIS AND I BELIEVE THERE IS CURRENTLY A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT ABOUT THIS. *KB
Fuel system, Gasoline, Mar 10, 2012
THE LEFT SIDE FUEL SENDING UNIT IS LEAKING GAS. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Feb 13, 2012
VEHICLE SEEMS TO RUN FINE BUT AFTER A COLD MORNING START THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTICS (TOTALING $105.00) IT WAS REVEALED THAT THE CODE RENDERING THE BALANCE SHAFT OR POSSIBLE BAD SENSOR WAS THE REASON FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING. THE ESTIMATE COST FOR THIS REPAIR IS RANGING FROM 5 TO 6 GRAND. THIS IS HIGHLY UNACCEPTABLE FOR A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 45,000 MILES. 2007, MERCEDES BENZ, C230, BLACK ON BLACK, THAT HAS BEEN STORED FOR A MAJORITY OF ITS EXISTENCE BECAUSE I AM DEPLOYED OVERSEAS DOES NOT SEND A GOOD IMPRESSION WHEN THE COMPANY WILL NOT ADMIT THAT THERE IS A DEFINITE PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE TYPE. IN TODAY'S ECONOMY, CONSUMERS SPEND A LITTLE MORE TO REASSURE THIS TYPE OF REPAIR IS AVOIDED BY PURCHASING A MORE RELIABLE SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION. I GUESS I SHOULD HAVE PURCHASED A CHEVY OR FORD, AT LEAST THEN I WOULD BE EXPECTING THIS TYPE OF NONSENSE. *TR
Seats, Jan 30, 2012
THE SEAT HEATER/WARMER BURNED A HOLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE LEATHER SEAT. *TT
Power train, Jan 7, 2012
VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. RPMS WERE AT SHIFT LEVEL, THEN ENGINE SHUT DOWN. RESTARTED AND REVVED ENGINE, LOUD WAILING SOUND. CAR WAS TOWED TO MERCEDES BENZ, THEY SAID TRANSMISSION PUMP BAD AS WELL AS TRANSMISSION, NEEDS REPLACING. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 1, 2012
THE BALANCE CAMSHAFT CAM BROKE BECAUSE OF SOFT METAL USED CAUSING TIMING OFF IN ENGINE AND KILLING ENGINE LOST CONTROL OF CAR WHEN IT SHUT OFF LUCKILY I COASTED IT TO SIDE OF ROAD MERCEDES KNOWS OF THESE PROBLEMS IS A LAW SUIT AGAINTS THEM BUT NOTHING BEING DONE. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 26, 2011
ALTHOUGH I NO LONGER HAVE THE VEHICLE AS IT WAS LEASED, AROUND A YEAR, A YEAR AND 4 MONTHS AGO, MY MERCEDES BENZ WAS MAKING A WEIRD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AS WELL SO MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD BEEN ON FOR WEEKS/MONTHS. WHEN I TOOK IT INTO A MB DEALERSHIP THEY HAD TO FIRST GET MY APPROVAL TO TAKE APART THE ENGINE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, OF COURSE I SAID OK SINCE IT WAS A LEASED CAR. ONCE THEY FOUND OUT THE PROBLEM THEY SUGGESTED I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE BASED ON A PROBLEM W/ THE CYLINDERS AND THAT THE FACT I HADN'T GIVEN THE VEHICLE THE PROPER OIL CHANGES, HOWEVER I BELIEVE IT WAS A PROBLEM CAUSED BY THE BALANCE SHIFT GEARS. SO THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS GOING TO COST ME AROUND $7000 TO FIX THE PROBLEM BY PUTTING IN A BRAND NEW ENGINE, I ASKED IF MB COULD HELP W/ THE COST BUT THEY REFUSED, CLAIMING THAT SINCE I DIDN'T HAVE A RECORD OF SUFFICIENT OIL CHANGES THEY WOULDN'T HELP....SO I HAD A TOW TRUCK PICK UP THE CAR FROM THE MB DEALERSHIP AND TAKE IT TO ANOTHER SHOP WHERE THEY FOUND AN ENGINE AND PUT IT IN FOR A LITTLE LESS, I HAD TO HAVE IT DONE SINCE IT WAS LEASED AND I HAD TO RETURN IT BACK TO MB. I HOPE THAT MB TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Oct 5, 2011
THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ASKING ME TO GO TO THE NEXT GAS STATION AND CHECK OIL. WHEN I TOOK TO THE NEXT DAY TO A MECHANIC AND UPON A THOROUGH DIAGNOSTICS, I WAS TOLD THAT THE BALANCE SHAFT (IN TAKE CAMSHAFT CODE 1208) AND EXHAUST CAMSHAFT, CODE 1200 NEED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR AND FAULTY PARTS. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Sep 19, 2011
STRONG RAW FUEL ODOR WAS NOTICED AFTER FILL UP ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT BOTH THE FUEL PUMP HOUSING AND THE FUEL SENDER HOUSINGS WERE CRACKED ALLOWING RAW FUEL TO LEAK OUT. THIS IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE E CLASS RECALL. THIS RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE THE C CLASS AS WELL AS THIS CAR HAS AN IDENTICAL FAILURE MODE. *KB
Visibility, Sep 12, 2011
WINDSHIELD WIPER RESERVOIR AND CONNECTIONS ARE PRONE TO LEAKS DUE DESIGN DEFECT OBSTRUCTING DRIVERS VIEW OF THE ROAD/ABILITY TO DRIVE VEHICLE SAFELY BECAUSE OF INABILITY TO CLEAN DIRTY WINDSHIELD. NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF THIS PROBLEM ON THE FOLLOWING WEB SITES: HTTP://MBWORLD.ORG/FORUMS/C-CLASS-W203/368995-DISAPPEARING-WINDSHIELD-WASHER-FLUID-WHOS-DRIKING.HTML HTTP://WWW.BENZWORLD.ORG/FORUMS/W203-C-CLASS/1599909-C230-WINDSHIELD-FLUID-TANK-LEAK.HTML. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 1, 2011
WE HAVE A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ C230 SPORT. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE USED WITH 32000 MILES ON IT WE STARTED HAVING BALANCE SHAFT PROBLEMS. SINCE THEN WE HAVE HAD THE BALANCE SHAFT SENSOR, AND MAGNETS REPLACES ALONG WITH THE CRANK CASE SENSOR. THE VEHICLES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL COMING ON AND WE ARE NOW BEING TOLD THE BALANCE SHAFT SOLENOIDS NEED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 30, 2011
FC 1208 COMPLAINT FOR ENGINE/ENGINE COOLING; A BALANCE SHAFT ISSUE. *TR
Power train, Aug 17, 2011
MY 2007 C230 AUTOMATIC SPORT SEDAN THAT I PURCHASED PRE-OWNED AND CERTIFIED FROM AN AUTHORIZED MB DEALER IN 2009 HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASE. I HAVE EXPERIENCED EXTREME LOSS OF ACCELERATION AND RUNNING AT A HIGH RPM. IT FIRST OCCURRED A FEW WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I WAS ENTERING A PARKING GARAGE WITH A STEEP HILL AND AS I DROVE UP HILL, THE CAR STRUGGLED TO ACCELERATE WHILE THE RMP RAN HIGH. I FEARED THE VEHICLE WAS ABOUT TO ROLL BACKWARD AND I QUICKLY APPLIED THE BRAKES, PLACED THE CAR IN PARK WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE. I TURNED IT OFF AND RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE INTO THE GARAGE. I TOOK THE CAR TO MB SERVICE AND AFTER THEY TRIED TO SAY IT WAS NOTHING WITHOUT REVIEWING THE VEHICLE, THEY FINALLY AGREED TO DO A DIAGNOSIS. I WAS ADVISED THEY FOUND A FAULTY SENSOR AND IT WAS REPAIRED. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY RESIDENTIAL BUILDING AS I ATTEMPTED TO BACK INTO MY PARKING SPACE. THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE AND THE RMP RAN HIGH. TURNING IT AND RESTARTING AGAIN REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. THE THIRD AND FORTH TIME IT OCCURRED ON THE HIGH WAY DURING MY NORMAL COMMUTE TO AND FROM WORK. THE ISSUE RE-APPEARED IN BUSY TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND THE RPM RAN HIGH. EACH TIME IT HAS OCCURRED, I HAVE HAD TO PULL OVER, TURN THE CAR OFF, LET IT SIT, THEN WHEN I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, IT WAS FINE AND I DROVE OFF WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON LINE AND HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE 2006 2007 C230'S WITH THE SAME OR SIMILAR PROBLEM DESCRIBED AND IT APPEARS TO BE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THERE IS CLEARLY A DEFECT GOING ON AND I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A RECALL INVESTIGATION THROUGH THE NHTSA. UPDATED 11/01/11
Electrical system, Jul 20, 2011
AUTOMOBILE LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. UNABLE TO EASILY BRAKE, STEER OR RESTART BECAUSE OF FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. THE SWITCH HAD LOCKED AND WAS NOT OPERABLE ALMOST CAUSING ME TO COLLIDE WITH OTHER AUTOMOBILES. *KB
Engine and engine cooling, May 28, 2011
MY MERCEDES C280 4MATIC, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT 62,000 MILES, DIAGNOSED WITH A FAULTY "ENGINE BALANCE SHAFT" WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST AROUND $6,000 TO FIX AND IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS. PART SHOULD BE RECALLED ! VERY DANGEROUS, AND WAY TOO COMMON TO NOT BE FAULT OF MERCEDES. *TR
Electrical system, May 10, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ C230. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE SPEEDOMETER WAS INOPERABLE AND THE ESP BAS CONTROL WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HER VIN HAD NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V303000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THEY PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC WHICH CONFIRMED THAT THE CONTROL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 69,000.
Visibility, Mar 24, 2011
COMBINATION PROBLEM THE WIPERS ARE NOT COMMONLY AVAILABLE OUTSIDE OF THE DEALER. THEY HAVE A FITTER THAT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE USUAL SUPPLY OF REPLACEMENTS. THERE ARE NO DEALERS IN THE COLUMBIA GORGE. A DAUGHTER HAD ONE OF HER WIPERS ICE UP AND FALL OFF WHILE TRAVERSING THE COLUMBIA GORGE ONE SNOWY EVE. SHE REPLACED IT AT A ROADSIDE SERVICE STATION. THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE IF IT HAD HAPPENED WITH THIS MERCEDES. HAVING A BAD WIPER BLADE IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE WITH ME.
Electrical system, Sep 10, 2010, fire
2007 MERCEDES BENZ CLASS WAS PARKED FOR 1 HOUR IN PARKING LOT AND IT SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE. DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY ABS SYSTEM ENGAGING WHILE PARKED AND NOT DISENGAGING, OR IT STARTED IN HARNESS OR MODULE. *TR
Power train, Jun 23, 2010
ON AT LEAST FIVE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN UNABLE TO ADVANCE OUT OF FIRST GEAR OR EXCEED 25 MPH DESPITE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. THIS HAS PRESENTED A SAFETY ISSUE FOR IT HAS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND MIGHT AS ONE IS ENTERING A HIGHWAY OR EXPRESSWAY WITH VEHICLES RAPIDLY APPROACHING FROM BEHIND. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Apr 20, 2010
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION,THREE INSTANCES. *TR
Electrical system, Oct 23, 2009
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ C280. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 19000.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Feb 23, 2009
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND STALLED WITH NO WARNING. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE NEAREST DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL SENSOR FAILED DESPITE THE FACT THAT THERE WAS STILL ALMOST ONE QUARTER OF A TANK OF GAS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL SENSOR. RESEARCH ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE REVEALED THAT THERE WAS A PART 573 DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT FILED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND A MANUFACTURER'S CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS ISSUED #2008070001. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BY THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION HAD I BEEN TRAVELING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY INSTEAD OF A LOCAL STREET AT THE TIME OF THE EVENT. *TR
Fuel system, Other, Jun 27, 2008
ENGINE FAILED TO START; WOULD CRANK, BUT WOULD NOT START. KEY HAD TO BE RETURNED TO OFF POSITION TO STOP CRANKING ACTION. MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR CLAIMS TEH FUEL PUMP WAS AT FAULT.
Vehicle speed control, Jun 13, 2008
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE BRAKE WAS ENGAGED. *TR
Air bags, Jun 3, 2008
I WAS ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING TO WORK WITH A CO-WORKER WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IN MY 2007 C230 DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NOT A COLLISION OR CONTACT WITH MY VEHICLE AT ALL. THE BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ARM REST STRUCK MY PASSENGER RIGHT ARM QUITE VIOLENTLY CAUSING HER PAIN FOR 4 DAYS AND THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG CONSTRICTED AND PUT A 4 INCH CUT ON MY NECK. WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MERCEDES OF LAGUNA NIGUEL WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW ONLY 2 MONTHS AGO THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR THE AIRBAGS SITTING SMALL SCRATCHES ON BOTH PASSENGER SIDE RIMS AND THEIR CLAIM OF THE TIRES BUBBLING AND PROOF THE VEHICLE WAS IN A COLLISION. HOWEVER 10 DAYS PREVIOUSLY I HAD ACCIDENTALLY SCRAPED THE VEHICLES RIMS WHILE PARKING. I CAN ASSURE YOU THIS VEHICLE WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WHEN I WENT IN FOR REPAIRS TO THE AIRBAGS AND THE EVENTS I HAVE DESCRIBED ARE EXACTLY AS THEY OCCURRED. THE DEALERSHIP ASKED ME TO CONTACT MY INSURANCE COMPANY, WHICH I DID, HOWEVER I RELAYED THE SAME INFORMATION TO THEM AS I AM RELAYING TO YOU. I AM OUTRAGED AT THE DEALERSHIP AND FEEL THEY SHOULD REPAIR THE FAULTY AIRBAGS ON THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR