FaultScore

Mercedes Benz C230 transmission problems

119 of the 883 complaints filed about the Mercedes Benz C230 are about the transmission — 13% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2007.

119

Complaints

13%

Share of all complaints

2

Crashes

0

Fires

Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year

1997 C230 1 0.8%
1998 C230 5 4.2%

Median failure at 95,000 miles

1999 C230 1 0.8%
2000 C230 9 7.6%

Median failure at 73,400 miles

2002 C230 3 2.5%

Median failure at 56,146 miles

2003 C230 10 8.4%

Median failure at 10,000 miles

2004 C230 3 2.5%

Median failure at 41,222 miles

2005 C230 8 6.7%

Median failure at 98,000 miles

2006 C230 28 23.5%

Median failure at 80,156 miles

2007 C230 51 42.9%

Median failure at 65,661 miles

What owners said

2006 Mercedes Benz C230 at 200,000 miles Rancho Cucamonga, CA

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz C230. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate above 35 MPH with the traction control warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle started to stall while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the mechanic linked the failure to Technical Service Bulletin Number: LI03.30-P-050027. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was no longer covered under the service bulletin. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

NHTSA complaint #11629747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Mercedes Benz C230 at 131,629 miles Frazier Park, CA

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz C230. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the transmission failed to shift, and the transmission appeared to be frozen in the 2nd gear. The contact stopped and turned off the vehicle and shifted into park (P); when the vehicle was restarted and shifted into drive (D), the vehicle was lunging and jerking. The contact stated that it was difficult to shift from drive (D) to park (P) or reverse (R), because the vehicle would lunge in the direction the transmission was shifted. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact had researched online and related the failure to the transmission control module sensor. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 131,629.

NHTSA complaint #11520135 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mercedes Benz C230 San Francisco, CA

POWER TRAIN

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.

2006 Mercedes Benz C230 at 5 miles SAN Antonio, TX

POWER TRAIN

MY CAR HAS A COMPUTER SYSTEM PROBLEM. IT HAS TO BE RESET TO WHERE IT WONT ERASE WHAT IS ALREADY ON THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. I CAN'T DRIVE IT BECAUSE ITS STALLING OR IT SHAKES TO MUCH WHEN U ARE STOPED AT A RED LIGHT IT GIRKS ALOT AND I CAN'T DRIVE IT CUZ IT DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF POWER TO GET SPEED WHEN USING IT ON THE HIGHWAY I HAVE HAD A SECOND OPINION ON WHAT IS WRONG WITH AND ITS THE COMPUTER SYSTEM SO PLEASE HELP I NEED ASSISTANCE MY HUSBAND AND I ARE DISABLED ALSO THE SPEEDOMETERS IS NOT WORKING.

NHTSA complaint #11396734 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mercedes Benz C230 at 184,000 miles Barstow, CA

POWER TRAIN

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.

2005 Mercedes Benz C230 at 170,000 miles Fort Smith, AR

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #11349353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Mercedes Benz C230 at 178,000 miles Barnesville, PA

POWER TRAIN

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.

2006 Mercedes Benz C230 at 150,000 miles FT Worth, TX

POWER TRAIN

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 .

NHTSA complaint #11164310 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Mercedes Benz C230 at 114,000 miles Walpole, MA

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #11089136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mercedes Benz C230 at 37,000 miles Potomac, MD

POWER TRAIN

2016 I TOOK MY 2007 MERCEDES BENZ C230, INTO MERCEDES BENZ TO SEE WHY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. MY CAR WAS PURCHASED WITH 37K MILES ON IT AT THE TIME I PURCHASED IT. HOW COULD SUCH A MAJOR ISSUE, ARISE IN CAR SO EARLY IN IT'S LIFE. MERCEDES STATED, THAT THEY MAKE THE BEST QUALITY OF CARS IN THE WORLD! THEY STAND BY THIS SLOGAN. HOWEVER, WHY WOULD SUCH A MAJOR ISSUE OCCUR IN A CAR WITH SUCH LOW MILES/USAGE? AS I UNDERSTAND IT, MATTERS OF THIS MAGNITUDE IDEALLY DOES NOT OCCUR IN SUCH A QUALITY CAR, LET ALONE IN THE CARS INFANT STAGE OR WOULD LIKELY HAPPEN AT ALL! I WAS TOLD SOMETIME AGO THAT MERCEDES KNEW OF THIS ISSUE. I ALSO SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED SO MANY OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AROUND THE WORLD. MERCEDES HAS REFUSED TO CORRECT, ITS DEFECT IT WAS WELL AWARE OF! WHO ALLOWS MERCEDES BENZ, THE PLATFORM TO SEE THESE CARS TO CONSUMERS, WITHOUT RESOLVING THE ISSUE. CONSIDERING A PERSON'S FINANCIAL INVESTMENT IN THEIR PURCHASE! CAN SOMEONE HELP ME, UNDERSTAND HOW THIS HAS HAPPENED.

NHTSA complaint #11055097 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Mercedes Benz C230 at 41,060 miles Kailua,, HI

POWER TRAIN

TAKATA RECALL- WENT IN FOR RECALL SRS LIGHT TURNED ON.DEALER SAID IT WOULD COST 150- TO FIND OUT PROBLEM, I'VE SAID ISN' THE SRS LIGHT IS THE AIRBAG UNIT? HE SAID NO MECHANIC IS GOING WORK IF THE RED LIGHT IS ON, UNLESS THE RED LIGHT NOT THERE.SO I'VE ASKED WHAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS ALONG THE WAY? HE SAID SORRY, THEN( I RESCHEDULED IN 5 DAYS. I TOOK CAR HOME TO GET SRS-REDLIGJT OFF.) AT HONOLULU, MERCEDES BENZ.

NHTSA complaint #11045685 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mercedes Benz C230 at 145,000 miles Cathedral City, CA Crash 1 injured

POWER TRAIN

MAJOR PROBLEMS DRIVE TRAIN SENORS AIR BAGS

NHTSA complaint #11044853 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mercedes Benz C230 at 120,000 miles SAN Antonio, TX

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ C230. WHEN SLOWING DOWN THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND HESITATED TO STOP. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS COMING TO A STOP. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION LOST POWER AND WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA complaint #10995517 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mercedes Benz C230 at 63,000 miles Fort Walton Beach, FL

POWER TRAIN

THE CAR STAYS IN FIRST GEAR AND I HAVE TO STOP AND PULL OVER. PUT IT IN PARK AND IT JERKS VERY BADLY GOING INTO PARK. THEN I PULL OFF THE ROAD, STOP, TURN IT OFF AND BACK ON. THEN EVERYTHING GOES BACK TO NORMAL, UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN. I READ ON-LINE OF MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE AND THERE IS NO RECALL. IMO THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH LOVED ONES IN THIS CAR. MY DEALERSHIP IS REAPIRING THE TRANSMISSION AS I WRITE FOR $1400+. I THOUGHT MERCEDES MEANT HIGH QUALITY/RELIABILITY. AT LEAST THEY CAN ADMIT THEIR MISTAKE AND FIX IT FOR THE PEOPLE SUFFERING BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. MY CAR ONLY HAS 63,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP IAW SERVICE MANUAL.

NHTSA complaint #10993820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mercedes Benz C230 at 115,000 miles Fullerton, CA

POWER TRAIN

AT 115,000 MILES THE VEHICLE STARTED EXPERIENCING ISSUES SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE OR DRIVE. ONCE IN REVERSE OR DRIVE, IT WON'T SHIFT BACK INTO PARK. THE CAR MUST BE TURNED OFF IN NEUTRAL POSITION OR WAIT UP TO 5 MINUTES BEFORE SHIFTING BACK INTO PARK. ONCE ENGAGED IN REVERSE OR DRIVE THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION'S OPERATION.

NHTSA complaint #10903569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mercedes Benz C230 at 65,661 miles Heathsville, VA

POWER TRAIN

2007 MERCEDES C230 WITH 65661 MILES BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. TOWED TO A MERCEDES DEALER WHERE THEY SAID IT WAS A MASS AIR SENSOR AND 1000.00 BILL. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS SAME PROBLEM, LOSS OF POWER AND UNABLE TO SHIFT. NOW THEY REPLACED THE CONDUCTOR PLATE IN THE TRANSMISSION-1300.00 BILL. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS SPECIFIC YEAR MAKE MODEL FOR MERCEDES NOT TO HANDLE.

NHTSA complaint #10896548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mercedes Benz C230 at 118,000 miles Hanahan, SC

POWER TRAIN

MY CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE GOING DOWN THE STREET, HAD TO HAVE HER TOWED TO STARMOTORS, THE CODE CAME UP AS INTERNAL SPEED SENSOR AND TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE, IT IS KNOWN TO MBUSA ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY NEED TO FIX IT AND NOT COST OUT OF MY POCKET

NHTSA complaint #10883332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mercedes Benz C230 at 100,000 miles Riveria Beach, FL

POWER TRAIN

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 100,OOO MILES CAR WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING GOING AT A RATE OF 40 MILES PER HOUR ON A BUISY HIGHWAY MOTORIST STRANDED WITH A WALKING DISABILITY, ESP LIGHT CAME ON WHEN TRYING TO PUT CAR IN DRIVE WOULD NOT HAD TO BE TOWED NOW AT MERCEDES DEALERSHIP NORTH PALM BEACH , DEALER SHIP ADVISED WOULD COST 12,OOO.OO TO REPAIR RECALL WAS TOO LATE TO FILE DEADLINE 2-15-16.

NHTSA complaint #10861416 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mercedes Benz C230 at 100 miles Rivera Beach, FL

POWER TRAIN

TAKATA AIRBAG REPLACING DUE TO RECALL AND TRANSVERSE CASE IS DEFECTIVE WAS TOLD BY MERCEDES BENZ OF NORTH PALM BEACH FLA THAT IT WOULD COST OVER 12,OOO.OO TO GET CAR FIXED AT 40 MILES PER HOUR CAR FAILED WITHOUT WARNING VERIFY INFO WITH ROB AT MERCEDES DEALERSHIP 561-203-8958 WAS TOLD BY BETTER BUSINESS BREAU TO TRY AND CONTACT YOU ALL FIRST , IM SAD BECAUSE OF ME BEING UNABLE TO AFFORD THIS CAR REPAIR BILL DUE TO NO FAULT OF MY OWN

NHTSA complaint #10861417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mercedes Benz C230 at 1 miles Canoga Park, CA

POWER TRAIN

MY VEHICLE BECAME STUCK ON ONE GEAR AS I ENTERED THE FREEWAY. I HAD MY KIDS WITH ME AND I HAD TO PULL OVER THE SHOULDER. AFTER TURNING IT OFF AND ON AGAIN, IT RESET ITSELF. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES NOW. NOW ITS HAPPENING ON STOP LIGHTS AS I TRY TO ACCELERATE, IT FEELS ITS DRAGGING AND CARS BEHIND ME ARE HONKING AT ME TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY. IT IS UNSAFE AND I CANT AFFORD TO FIX IT OR BUY ANOTHER ONE. I RESEARCHED AND FOUND MUCH MORE PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. WHY HAS NO ONE DONE ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE? MY WIFE DRIVES THIS CAR AND I AM NOT SURE IF SHE WILL RESPOND IN THE SAME FASHION AS I DID WHEN PRESENTED WITH THIS DANGEROUS EVENT IF IT OCCURS. I WANTED SOMEONE WITH SOME CLOUT TO KNOW ABOUT THIS JUST IN CASE A DISASTER OCCURS I KNOW WHO TO GO AFTER. PLEASE MAKE MERCEDES BENZ RESPONSIBLE AND FIX THIS FREE OF CHARGE. THIS IS MY ONLY CAR AND IT WAS NOT CHEAP AND NOW TO PAY FOR A PROBLEM I AM SURE THEY KNOW IS A PROBLEM....ITS RIDICULOUS. PLEASE HELP BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. JUST LOOK UP 2007 MERCEDES BENZ C230 STUCK ON GEAR AND YOU WILL SEE HOW BIG THIS ISSUE IS. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN JANUARY 2016.

NHTSA complaint #10850123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Mercedes Benz C230 problems