Owners filed 8 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electronic stability control (esc). It has been recalled 3 times.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Visibility
2
0
0
0
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
2
0
0
0
Structure › Body
1
0
0
0
Engine
1
0
0
0
Electrical System
1
0
0
0
Air Bags
1
0
0
1
3 safety recalls
Part 573 reports
Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly24V874000
Filed Nov 19, 202433,456 vehiclesMercedes-Benz Usa, Llc
Defect. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and can detach.
Risk. A detached sunroof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 22V-954. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024120001/2/3.
Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly22V954000
Filed Dec 23, 2022131,653 vehiclesMercedes-Benz Usa, Llc
Defect. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and may detach.
Risk. A detached sunroof panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall expands NHTSA recall number 19V-918. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2023010004, 2023010005, and 2023010006.
Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly19V918000
Filed Dec 20, 2019747,928 vehiclesMercedes-Benz Usa, Llc.
Defect. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly resulting in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V918-4126.pdf
Risk. A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020040011.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Visibility
Filed May 17, 2023140,000 milesTX
The contact owns a 2001 Mercedes-Benz C240. The contact stated that he was made aware of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 191V18000 (Visibility) after the vehicle was taken through inspection. Additionally, the contact stated that the sliding roof failed to close as designed. As a result, the contact had to remotely open and close the sliding sunroof repeatedly until properly closed. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the vehicle was denied the recall repair however, the contact stated that the vehicle had not been inspected. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage 140,000.
Structure › Body
Filed Mar 8, 202187,400 milesNY
THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF ON MY 2001 MERCEDES BENZ C240 SHATTERED OR EXPLODED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT A HIGHWAY SPEED OF 55 MPH. IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT AND THE GLASS WAS SHATTERED OVER THE PASSENGER AND REAR SEATS. NO ONE WAS SITTING IN THOSE SEATS FORTUNATELY. MERCEDES DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL OR WARRANTY FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE TO DATE. I WILL HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET $1500.
Visibility
Filed Jun 16, 2020MD
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ C240. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V918000 (VISIBILITY) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *BF CONSUMER STATED WHENEVER SUNROOF IS OPEN NOISE COULD BE HEARD.*JB
Engine
Filed Mar 31, 2019TX
MY 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ C240 ENGINE COOLING OR SUCTION FAN RUNS CONSTANTLY AT HIGH SPEED NONSTOP AT STARTUP UNTIL VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT / MODULE (ECU / ECM) OR COOLING / SUCTION FAN WAS BAD AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. I REPLACED THE ECU 5 TIMES AND THE COOLING / SUCTION FAN ONCE RELYING ON DEALER'S DIAGNOSES. MY C240 WOULD WORK FOR A WHILE BUT THE FAN WOULD MALFUNCTION AGAIN RUNNING CONSTANTLY AT HIGH SPEED. I NOTIFIED MERCEDES BENZ USA OF MULTIPLE FAN MALFUNCTIONS AND THE DEALER'S INABILITY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD TO FIND ANOTHER DEALERSHIP IF PROBLEM REOCCURRED. THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED 4 MONTHS LATER WHICH I TOOK C240 TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. THIS OTHER DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THAT THE ECU WAS BAD AND FOUND A 2004 TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) P-B-20.40/26A THAT ADDRESSES THE SPECIFIC ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE. TSB STATES PROBLEM MAY BE CAUSED BY THE WIRING HARNESS BETWEEN THE ECU AND ENGINE FAN OR THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT FAN END STAGE MALFUNCTIONING. THERE MAYBE A CODE P2073 (004). THE ADAPTER WIRING HARNESS PART NUMBER IS A209 540 56 35. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE TSB WHICH SAYS TO CHECK WIRE CONTINUITY, REPLACE ECU, AND INSTALL HARNESS ADAPTER ONLY. MY FAN WAS ALSO REPLACED ALTHOUGH TSB DID NOT STATE TO REPLACE FAN. NO ADDITIONAL TEST WAS PERFORMED TO SHOW THAT FAN WAS BAD. IT WAS REPLACED TO WARRANT THE ECU. MERCEDES-BENZ USA SAYS MY C240 IS NOT COVERED BY TSB P-B-20.40/
Air Bags1 injured
Filed Jan 9, 201828,520 milesCA
IN DECEMBER 2017, I WAS DRIVING ALONG A CITY STREET WHEN THE DRIVER'S FRONT AIRBAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. MY CAR WAS WELL-MAINTAINED, WITH MILEAGE OF 28,520. IT APPEARS THE SUSPENSION (LOWER BALL JOINT) ON THE RIGHT SIDE FAILED, CAUSING THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE TO BLOW OUT AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE LEFT FRONT TIRE AS WELL. THERE WAS NO COLLISION, YET THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITH AN EXTREMELY LOUD BANG THAT SERIOUSLY DAMAGED MY HEARING, PERHAPS PERMANENTLY. AN ONLINE SEARCH INDICATES THAT MERCEDES HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH AIRBAGS DEPLOYING UNNECESSARILY, BUT I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE OF A RECALL.*JS
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Jul 14, 20171 milesNJ
ESP LIGHT, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FADING, ACCELERATION SENSOR AND MULTIPLE LEAKS IN THE ENGINE, POWER STEERING, AXEL SEAL, SPARK PLUGS VALVE LEAKS, OIL LEAKS, TRANS BELL. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT IN FOR AN ESP LIGHT THAT TURNS ON ONCE THE CAR IS IN MOTION, A BURNING SMELL THAT COMES THROUGH THE CAR. MULTIPLE LEAKS DISCOVERED AND THE CLUSTER LIGHTING ALSO FADES OUT ONCE THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR A WHILE MAKING THE READINGS UNREADABLE. BENZEL AND BUSCH GENERATED A DIAGNOSTIC THAT DISCOVERED MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. MBUSA WAS ALSO NOTIFIED OF THE CONCERNS WITH THE ESP LIGHT, THE FADING OF THE INSTRUMENTS AND THE MULTIPLE LEAKS FOR A CAR THAT HAS LESS THAN 55K AND HAS HAD ALL PROPER MAINTENANCE DONE. THEY REFUSED TO CONSIDER ALTHOUGH OTHER VEHICLES SAME YEAR AND MODEL HAD HAD RECALLS FOR SOME OF THESE ITEMS.
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Apr 8, 2016107,000 milesFL
NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, THEN VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY SLAMS ON BRAKES (SOMETIMES ALL 4 WHEELS, SOMETIMES ONLY 1 WHEEL--WHICH CAUSES VEHICLE TO YAW). AT FIRST, THIS PROBLEM WOULD ONLY OCCUR AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 40 MINUTES. NOW IT CAN HAPPEN UP TO 3 MINUTES AFTER STARTING VEHICLE. ON 1 OCCASION SYSTEM CAUSED THE WHEELS TO SKID FOR ABOUT ONE SECOND, WHICH MADE ME LOSE TRACTION. PROBLEM HAPPENS ONLY WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. INDEPENDENT OF WHETHER ON HIGHWAY OR IN A TURN.
Electrical System
Filed Nov 12, 2014170,000 milesCA
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ C 240. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ESP CONTROL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Nov 19, 2024. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.