2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Engine Problems

HARMONIC BALANCER /CRANK PULLEY WOBBLING VERY BAD . AFRAID IT WILL COME APART AND CAUSE CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE WHILE MY KIDS ARE DRIVING. MERCEDES COVERED THIS PART UNDER SAME ENGINE FAMILY BUT ONLY FROM MODEL YEARS 1998-2001. WOULD LIKE THEM TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SAME FAULTY PART AS THE OTHERS.

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME FROM WORK AND HEADING UPHILL. MY AUTOMATIC AIR CONDITIONING CLICKED OFF, AND THEN I NOTICED A STRONG CHEMICAL SMELL. SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER MY HOOD. THERE WAS NO SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER, SO I DROVE ANOTHER 1/4 MILE UNTIL I CRESTED THE HILL AND CAME TO A DIP. I NOTICED FLAMES COMING TOWARD ME FROM BETWEEN THE DRIVER DOOR AND THE DASH. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED MY CAR OVER AND PUT IT IN PARK, GRABBED MY STUFF AND GOT OUT. THE CAR COMPLETELY BURNED UP. I GET MY CAR REGULARLY MAINTENANCED BY THE DEALER, AND IT SAID I HAD 1800 OR 1900 MILES UNTIL MY NEXT SERVICE. *TR

DEC 2013, WITH "OUR NEW" 2003 MB C240 TRAVELING 55MPH ON CRUISE, I ACCELERATED, "POOF". MY BROTHER DRIVING BEHIND US DISAPPEARED IN A CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE FROM MY EXHAUST. HE HAD TO PULL OVER, HE COULD NOT SEE THE ROAD. THE "CLOUD OF SMOKE" APPEARS EVERY TIME I USE THE CC OR MAINTAIN A CONSTANT SPEED FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME. ON A RECENT TRIP OF 2000 MILES, IT CONSUMED 7 QTS OF OIL. WITH ONLY 75K MILES, ITS HARDLY BROKEN IN. THE PROBLEM IS "SLUDGE" BUILT UP INSIDE THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF A "POOR" ENGINE DESIGN. THERE IS/WAS AN "ACTIVE CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT": IN 2003, BY "O'KEEFE", TO REPAIR/REPLACE ALL 1998-2001 MB MOTORS WITH THIS SLUDGE BUILD UP. DAIMLER CHRYSLER "DID NOT" FIX THE DEFECTS IN THE ENGINE DESIGN, THEY SIMPLY SHIFTED THE "PROBLEM" TO THE OWNERS BY TELLING THEM WHICH BRAND OF OIL TO USE. IF YOU "GOOGLE" MERCEDES WITH "SLUDGE/CONSUMPTION" OR SMOKING, YOU WILL FIND SCORES OF MB VEHICLES NEWER THAN 2001 THAT STILL EXHIBIT THESE SAME SMOKING/ SLUDGE PROBLEMS EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE COMPLIED WITH ALL OF THE NEW MB MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS. SO THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER "FIXED". IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN EXPANDED! THE PROBLEM STEMS FROM THE SLUDGE BUILT UP IN THE MOTOR (INSIDE VALVE COVERS AND OIL DRAIN GALLERY'S). IT DOES NOT ALLOW OIL PUMPED UP TO LUBRICATE THE ROCKERS/ CAMS TO RETURN BACK DOWN TO THE "SUMP". THIS "EXCESS/TRAPPED" OIL HAS NO WHERE TO GO, IT SLOWLY SEEPS INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WHERE IT COLLECTS, WHEN THE VACUUM IS RIGHT, GETS SUCKED INTO INTAKE RUNNERS, SENT TO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBERS, IGNITED AND EXPELLED AS EXHAUST, OVERWHELMING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. THERE ARE 2 PROBLEMS: 1) RIDICULOUS AMOUNTS OF UNWANTED ILLEGAL/EMISSIONS 2) THE IMMEDIATE "PERIL" OF ANYONE TRAVELING BEHIND YOU BEING INSTANTLY "BLINDED" AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ALL MB VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR MOTORS SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY TESTED & REPAIRED! *TR

I HAVE A 2003 C 320 MBNZ, THE RADIATOR LEAKS INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE RADIATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS LEAKING RADIATOR FLUID DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION, AND IT HAS TO BE REPLACED. THIS PROBLEM CAUSED A LACK OF POWER AND THEREFORE A LOSS OF ACCELERATION. IT HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY WARNING, LEAVING YOU VULNERABLE DUE TO THE LOSS OF POWER, A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR HAS ONLY 50026 MILES ON IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ C240. THE CONTACT STATED THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM THE RADIATOR INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED HER THAT SHE HAD TO FLUSH THE RADIATOR AND THE TRANSMISSION OR REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER. IF THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED BY FLUSHING THE SYSTEM, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR OVER $2,000 AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THERE WEE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES RELATED TO HER VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 08/31/11 *BF THE CONSUMER HAS TRADED THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 09/07/11.*JB

I HAVE 2003 MERCEDES BENZ C230. WHENEVER I WOULD START THE VEHICLE IT WOULD GIVE ME JERK OR MAKE NOISE AND FINALLY JUST BEFORE TAKING IT TO A DEALER IT STALLED. I HAD IT TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL SHOP, WHICH SUGGESTED THAT THE PROBLEM IS MUCH LARGER AND NEEDS THE ATTENTION OF THE MANUFACTURER AND HENCE TO TAKEN TO THE DEALER. IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE TIMING CHAIN WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE LOCAL SHOP OWNER SAID THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH MAJOR COST TO FIX. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE IS NOT REPAIRED AS THE COST OF FIX IS AS LARGE AS THE CARS CURRENT VALUE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 68,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ C230. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER SHE WOULD START THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD JERK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR WAS LEAKING AND THE TIMING CHAIN WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

LEAK ON THE ANTIFREEZE COOLANT TANK WHERE THE THIN HOSE CONNECTS TO THE COOLANT TANK ON TOP, THE STEEL TUBE THAT IS MOLDED INTO THE PLASTIC SLIPPED OUT AND THE PLASTIC PART CRACKED CREATING A LEAK. THE ANTIFREEZE MAY LEAK AND ACCUMULATE UNDER THE CAR, IT CAN DAMAGE THE ENGINE, ALSO IT CAN LEAK WHILE DRIVING CAUSING HAZARDOUS / SLIPPERY CONDITIONS, ALSO CHILDREN OR PETS / ANIMALS MAY DRINK THE LEAKED ANTIFREEZE. THIS IS DANGEROUS. *TR

THE CAM SENSORS ON THE MERCEDES M271 ENGINE LEAK OIL WHICH SPREADS TO OTHER COMPONENTS VIA THE WIRE HARNESSES CONNECTED TO CAM SENSORS. OIL CONTAMINATION WILL DAMAGE OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS (NAMELY THE ECU AND EXHAUST OXYGEN SENSORS) IF THE CAM SENSORS AND WIRE HARNESSES ARE NOT REPLACED. A NEW CAM SENSOR AND WIRE HARNESS HAS BEEN DESIGNED AS THE CORRECTIVE ACTION. THE DEFECTIVE CAM SENSOR AND WIRE HARNESS WERE USED ON THE PREVIOUS ENGINE DESIGN (M111). THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR M111 ENGINE BUT NOT THE M271 ENGINE. MERCEDES REFUSES TO RECALL THIS DEFECTIVE DESIGN ON THE M271 ENGINE CAUSING OWNERS TO PAY FOR THE $900 PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE. WITHOUT THIS REPAIR THE ECU (PART COST $2000) AND OXYGEN SENSORS (QTY 2 @ $238 EA) WILL BE EVENTUALLY DAMAGED AND WILL NEED TO BE REMOVED AND REPLACED. WITHIN THE PAST WEEK, PAID MORE THAN $ 2,400.00 TO REPLACE 2 CAM SENSORS, 2 OXYGEN SENSORS, AND WIRING HARNESS. REPAIR SHOP SAYS THAT THIS IS A DEFECT THAT MB HAS KNOWN ABOUT FOR YEARS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ C230. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPAIRED THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND THE ENGINE CAM SHAFT ADJUSTMENT SOLENOID, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

ENGINE HARNESS AND CAMSHAFT SOLENOIDS CONTAMINATED DUE TO LEAKING OIL WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF O2 SENSORS. *TR

C230K COUPE AT 73,000 MILES WITH SUDDEN VALVE GUIDES WORN BAD CYLINDER,COMPRESSION LOSS RECENTLY IN APRIL I WAS CALLED INTO MBZ FOR A RECALL ON A VACUUM HOSE, HERE I AM A FEW MONTHS LATER AND I'M DRIVING AND MY CAR STARTS SHAKING ,IDLING STRANGE AND THEN I TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE FIGURED IT AT FIRST GLANCE IT MAY BE WORN VALVE GASKET SEALS AND I SAID OK LET'S CHANGE THEM AND PUT IN NEW PLUGS TOO...THEN HE CHECKS THE COMPRESSION AND DISCOVERS THAT IT IS HALF OF WHAT IT SHOULD BE, WHAT? WHY SHOULD THE CYLINDER HEADS BE WORN AND NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR NEARLY $3000, ...THIS SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING TOO MANY OWNERS OF THIS MODEL ON HERE AND MBZFORUMS FOR THIS 2003-2005 YEARS. LOSS OF COMPRESSION IN ONE OR MORE CYLINDERS. THIS SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED BY MBZ AS A DEFECT AND SINCE WHEN DO THESE ENGINES FAIL AT 50,000OR EVEN 80,000? I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE PAID FOR BY THEM, THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING AT THIS MILEAGE!! DEFECT,FLAW IN DESIGN...THEY NEED TO STEP UP AND ADMIT IT AT MERCEDES HEADQUARTERS. PLEASE HELP US OWNERS , THEY ARE GETTING AWAY WITH THIS, MENTIONING VACUUM HOSE RECALLS ON THIS 2003 YEAR BUT SOME DEALERS HAVE RECOGNIZED THAT THESE ENGINES ARE DEFECTIVE AND A RECALL NEEDS TO BE DONE ON THESE VALVE GUIDES/CYLINDER HEADS. WHY IS IT THAT THERE IS AN INCONSISTENCY ON HOW THIS PROBLEM IS RECOGNIZED BY THE DEALER AND HANDLED. SOME ON THE FORUMS HAVE SAID THAT THE DEALER SCREWED THEM IF THE 50,000 WARRANTY IS OVER AND OTHERS HAVE HAD THE PARTS ONLY PAID FOR BY THE DEALER AND OTHERS HAVE HAD THE WHOLE THING PAID!! TOO MANY OF THESE C230K ENGINE CYLINDERS/VALVE GUIDES ARE GOING BAD, THEY ARE DEFECTIVE AND MBZ SHOULD BE CORRECTING THIS. I SHOULD NOT PAY $3000 TO REBUILD ENGINE THAT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED ON SCHEDULE AND FOR A CAR THAT IS AT ONLY 73,000 MILES THANKS *TR

ON A 2003 C 320 MBNZ, THE RADIATOR NOW LEAKS INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS GOING TO REQUIRE THE RADIATOR TO BE REPLACED AND FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO BE FLUSHED. THIS LEAKING RADIATOR FLUID COULD HAVE ALREADY DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION, AND IF SO, IT WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES A LACK OF POWER AND THEREFORE A LOSS OF ACCELERATION. IT HAPPENS WITHOUT ANY WARNING, OFTEN LEAVING YOU VULNERABLE DUE TO THE LOSS OF POWER, A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ C230. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, IT SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ENGINE OIL WAS LEAKING AND DAMAGED THE WIRING HARNESS AND OXYGEN SENSOR. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $2,000. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 40,000.

2003 MERCEDES C240 STALLS IMMEDIATELY AFTER PROLONGED TURNPIKE TRAVEL ( 1.5 HOURS) AT EXIT RAMP TO AN ARTERIAL ROADWAY. THIS INCREASES REAREND ACCIDENT POTENTIAL. MERCEDES CHECKED VEHICLE BUT NO REPORT CODES INDICATED. SUGGESTED THAT IT MAY BE COMPUTER OF SENSOR RELATED. MERCEDES SUGGESTED PULLING OVER FOR 30 MIN. TO LET COMPUTER RESET. FIRST INCIDENT 12/17/08 SECOND INCIDENT 12/28/08. *TR

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE O2 SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AND THE ENGINE HARNESS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS BECAUSE THE CAM SENSOR LEAKED AND PUSHED OIL INSIDE THE HARNESS AND NOW THERE IS OIL FLOWING IN THE HARNESS. THIS MEANS EVERYWHERE THERE IS A CONTACT OF THE HARNESS THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THERE IS OIL ON IT. THIS SEEMS TO HAVE BECOME A COMMON ISSUE NOW AND MERCEDES IS IGNORING IT. I HAVE NOTICED THAT I AM GETTING BAD MILEAGE BECAUSE OF THE BAD O2 SENSOR. THE IRONY IS THAT THE DEALER WILL FIX IT WITH THE SAME EXACT PART NUMBER ONLY TO HAVE IT LEAK AGAIN IN 4 YEARS. *TR

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON, THE NEXT DAY I GO TO INDEPENDENT MERCEDES SHOP. THEY TELL ME MY O2 SENSORS ARE BAD. THE REASON THAT THEY ARE BAD BECAUSE OF THE CAM SENSOR AT THE TOP END OF THE MOTOR WAS LEAKING. THE WHOLE TIME IT WAS LEAKING I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW. THEN THE BAD NEW EVERYTHING HAS BEEN COATED IN OIL SUCH AS O2 SENSORS THAT IS IT GIVES OUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE ENGINE HARNESS IS ALSO COATED IN OIL. *TR

CAMSHAFT MAGNET LEAKING PUSHING OIL THROUGH ENGINE HARNESS" HARNESS, ECU, O2 SENSORS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. $3,700. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ C230. THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. SOMETIMES AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, IT WOULD FAIL AND NOT RESTART. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE PCV HOSE. THE COST FOR THE REPAIR WAS $404.27. THE SAME DAY THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, IT FAILED WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT. THE FOLLOWING DAY, SHE RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR COST WAS $389.82. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,022 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,646. UPDATED 05/05/08. *LJ UPDATED 05/05/08 *JB

THIS HAPPENED IN MY 2003 C320 AT 54,000 MILES. I INITIALLY NOTICED A LIGHT RUBBING OR GRINDING WHILE ACCELERATING, WITH LIGHT VIBRATION. AT THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED A NEW TORQUE CONVERTER, NEW RADIATOR, AND A FLUID FLUSH. THE RADIATOR FLUID WAS MIXING WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. AFTER THOSE REPAIRS, MY C320 WAS STILL SHIFTING HARD AND THE GRINDING NOISE WAS STILL THERE. IT TURNS OUT THE TRANSMISSION WAS RUINED AS WELL. TWO REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSIONS WERE NEEDED UNTIL IT WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THE MIXED FLUIDS ARE NOT UNCOMMON IN THIS MODEL AND YET MBUSA HAS MADE VERY LITTLE EFFORT TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS. *TR