164 of the
883 complaints filed about the Mercedes Benz C230
are about the engine —
19% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2006.
Hi my name is [XXX] my son's name is [XXX] we bought the car and had no problems tell recently my brother n his associates have been making it a part of there day to day basis to spice the wires to the ecu and the fuel tank and transmission was stolen now they put a stolen one in my car and it's messed up my ability to go over 20 or shift and my esp and abs srs lights are just going off like a Christmas tree . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11678634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11601571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11590772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Balance shaft and idle gear sprocket failure causing engine to misfire when idle or from warm start and cause idling during acceleration. Safety could be an issue if it causes greater internal damage or if the failure to accelerate fully may impact my ability to avoid an unsafe situation. Problem has been confirmed by a repair shop and has been admitted to be a common issue with M272 engine due to metallurgy defect during manufacture. This issue was part of a class action lawsuit against Mercedes Benz USA, which resulted in limited compensation to few people but a safety investigation was not conducted. MIL lamp does indicate an issue (P0016, P0017).
NHTSA complaint #11583902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vehicle began smoking on highway. No check engine or indicator of any fault codes. No previous coolant or oil leaks, or fuel leaks appeared to be visible or of issue. Vehicle had to be pulled over on side of highway as smoke began to became increasing with darker color from the engine bay, then making its way into the inner cabin Of the vehicle. Within a minute the full engine and front end of vehicle was engulfed in flames. Occupant was barley able to get out due to the vehicles dark smoke which caused disorientation for the driver. A good samaritan removed driver from vehicle and approximately 2 minutes later the entire car and cabin was engulfed in flames. Car was deemed a total loss with front end, cabin, and areas near the back seat/ window were burned to complete bare metal. Emergency personnel numerous times mentioned how lucky occupant was since these types of vehicle fires are typically fatal followed by the speed of fire it had spread throughout the process when engulfed.
NHTSA complaint #11522575 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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!!!!!!
NHTSA complaint #11501709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On Oct 25, 2022 while returning home from Denver International Airport the check engine light illuminated on the dash of my Mercedes Benz. The car was exhibiting increasing power loss and rough running which increased while driving north on Interstate 25 in heavy morning traffic. I was in doubt that he car would make it home. The car has been diagnosed subsequently the the Mercedes Benz m272 engine nance shaft gear problem with estimated cost to repair of US $6300.00. The car is definitely not dependable to drive with this problem due to the likelihood of failure in traffic.
NHTSA complaint #11496890 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
There is an old recall campaign for the Camshaft Seal, # 2009100001. This car is among those affected by this problem and should be covered for issues and repairs.
NHTSA complaint #11492467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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..
NHTSA complaint #11490895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11474709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR TO WORK AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW IT SLOWED DOWN ONLY GOING 40MPH. THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND NOW IT WANT GO IN REVERSE. THE ELECTRICAL HAS WENT OUT FOR MOVING THE HEADREST UP AND DOWN, MOVING THE SEAT FORWARD N BACKWARDS. THE BATTERY KEEP DRAINING, THIS IS THE 3RD NEW BATTERY I HAD TO BUY. IT'S STILL BEGING DRAIN. THE SUNROOF WILL NOT OPEN ALL ELECTRICAL HAS WENT OUT IN THAT AREA. IT HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO OPEN. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR HAS WENT OUT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAIS IT WASN'T NOTHING THEY CAN DO SINCE THERE WASN'T NO RECALL FOR THIS MODEL
NHTSA complaint #11470526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11470020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2007 Mercedes-Benz C230. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the balance shaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.
NHTSA complaint #11459167 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Have a code p0016 p0017 I replace the camshaft balance sensor but it’s not that. I found out it’s balance shaft and I found out a lot of the people have the same problem
NHTSA complaint #11432854 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Me, [XXX], and my ex-wife went to buy this car from a auto auction, plate where out state, but I figure wouldn't cost me much to register, bought it February 6, 2021 and I am kind of short in money to register car but then couple week after driving check engine pop up so I had free check engine by auto zone parts, so then it wasn't serious needed change oil change and filters, so I drove more so everything was going good ready for smoke check, but i didn't have the money so I ask my ex-wife to let me borrow money around May of month, so I was driving to her home, and out of no where I got hit in the front driver side lower fender from some silver low profile car, I was going 30's mile street but when I got hit by anomies driver the driver side bag pop up and also the passenger side too!! I was stunt and confused, wasn't a hard hit, driver that hit me run off, I pulled over the side of street. Couple light show up in dash board I don't recall what they said. I called my lawyer an he mention there was problems and recalls in a TAKATA air bag deploying. I did a research and sure enough my car had takata air bags. I contact to this number [XXX] Executive Referral Manager Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC One Mercedes-Benz Drive Sandy Springs, GA 30328-4312 Phone: 800-367-6372 ext. [XXX] Fax: 770-705-0152 On June 11, 2021. I made the report, on June 16, 2921 they sent a email that they will fallow up and investigate, I did sent pictures and mileage 150,000 around there so am still waiting for their action. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #11423310 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PURCHASED A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ C230 SPORT FROM A PRIVATE SELLER. I SOON LEARNED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN LIMP MODE. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION CONDUCTOR PLATE. AFTER HOURS OF RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED SEVERAL OWNERS OF A MERCEDES WITH THE 772.9 TRANSMISSION HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. I ENDED UP PAYING $2500 FOR A NEW TCU FROM MERCEDES BENZ.
NHTSA complaint #11360040 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CAR REACHED 110,000 MILES AND THE BALANCE SHAFT IN MY M272 IS WORN OUT I ALWAYS TAKE IT TO GET IT SERVICED I FOUND OUT OTHERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND CREATED A FACEBOOK GROUP I JUST DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD REPLACE IT WITH THE SAME QUALITY BALANCE SHAFT IF IT CONTINUES TO FAIL PREMATURELY EVENTUALLY I'LL RUIN MY ENTIRE ENGINE WHICH I THOUGHT OF MERCEDES TO BE QUALITY PLEASE HELP VIN# [XXX] REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #11325764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AT 178,000 MILES THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED WHILE THE CAR DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND ALLOWED THE TIMING CHAIN TO SKIP SEVERAL TEETH LEAVING THE CAR STRANDED AND POTENTIALLY CAUSING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE INTERNALS. THE CAR WAS DEALER SERVICED SINCE NEW AND ALWAYS HAD MAINTENANCE ON TIME. THERE IS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ONLINE THAT HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE AND MERCEDES BENZ USA REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT YET THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THEY MADE THEM WRONG BECAUSE THEY HAVE UPDATED THE CHAINS AND TENSIONERS.
NHTSA complaint #11320853 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.