There are 8 owner-reported fuel system complaints for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Classin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
AFTER FILLING MY GAS TANK, THERE'S A VERY STRONG RAW GAS ODOR INSIDE THE CAR WHILE DRIVING, AND WHEN PARKED. SEEMS STRONGER IN THE BACKSEAT. I SEE THERE'S A EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS ISSUE FROM MERCEDES BENZ ON THE E CLASS FOR MY YEAR (2003). THAT WARRANTY EXTENSION SHOULD HAVE COVERED ALL CLASSES WITH SIMILAR DESIGN OR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE FUMES ARE SO STRONG I AM AFRAID ANY SPARK COULD IGNITE THE VAPORS. I REALLY NEED YOUR HELP! IF MERCEDES BENZ ACKNOWLEDGED PROBLEMS WITH MY YEAR (2003), IT SHOULD INCLUDE MY C CLASS UNLESS THEY CAN ESTABLISH THE ISSUES ARE TOTALLY UNRELATED IN NATURE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE.
I OWN A A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ C240. THE FOLLOWING DAY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REFUELED, THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR. IT HAS HAPPEN SUDDENLY OUT OF NOWHERE AFTER MY OTHER ELECTRICAL FAILURES OF SHOWING UP IN MY MALFUNCTION PANEL, IN WHICH I HAVE A COMPLAINT. THE SRS THEN THE ESP NOW. THEN THE FUEL SMELL. I SEEM TO NOTICE IT MORE WHEN I WOULD IDLE HEATING UP THE CAR IN THE WINTER, THEN WHEN I JUST TURN IT ON AND DRIVE. I NOTICE IT AT STOP LIGHTS AS WELL. IF THERE IS ANY RECALL ON ANY MERCEDES THAT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THIS OR ANY ISSUE, IT SHOULD FALL ACROSS THE LINE OF OTHER YEARS AND MODELS AS WELL. SAFETY IS THE ISSUE AND QUALITY IS WHY WE CHOOSE A CERTAIN MAKE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ C240. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 103,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ C240. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS REFUELED, A STRONG FUEL ODOR EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ C240. THE FOLLOWING DAY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REFUELED, THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR AND THERE WAS A LARGE PUDDLE OF FUEL UNDER THE REAR CENTER OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
FUEL IS LEAKING FROM THE SENDING UNIT OF THE VEHICLE AND DOWN ONTO THE REAR WHEELS DIFFERENTIAL, THE VEHICLES FUEL TANK AND SENDER UNIT HAD BEEN REPLACED BY MERCEDES UNDER WARRANTY ON 11/25/03 MILEAGE IN 43088 MILEAGE OUT 43092 AT THE HOEHN CARLSBAD CA DEALER SHIP: INVOICE NUMBER 465553. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED AGAIN AND I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS ISSUE IS NOT A LIMITED ISSUE TO MY VEHICLE BUT ONE THAT HAS IMPACTED ALL C CLASS AND E CLASS VEHICLES AND HAS AN ESTIMATED REPAIR COST OF $2,073.30. HOW IS DAIMLER AG ALLOWED TO SELL THESE VEHICLES THAT POSE AN EXTREME RICK THE PUBLIC AND PROPERTY IN THE US. I HAVE BEEN TOLD MY VEHICLE IS NOW NO LONGER COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY AND I WILL HAVE TO FOOT THE BILL TO REPAIR THIS OBVIOUS DESIGN FLOOR AND SUBSEQUENT MALFUNCTION THAT POSSES A LIFE THREATENING RISK TO ME AND MY FAMILY IF NOT RESOLVED ASAP. I DREAD TO THINK ABOUT ALL THE PRESENT MERCEDES C-CLASS AND E-CLASS OWNERS DRIVING AROUND IN A TICKING TIME BOMB JUST WAITING TO GO OFF, THERE MUST BE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES THAT HAVE DEFECTIVE FUEL SENDING UNITS/GAS TANKS LEAKING GAS DOWN AND AROUND HOT EXHAUST PIPES OF THEIR VEHICLES AND THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS PERENNIALLY LIFE THREATENING MALFUNCTION BECAUSE DAIMLER AG HAS NOT RECALLED ALL VEHICLES OUTFITTED WITH RECOGNIZED DEFECTIVE FUEL SENDING UNITS/GAS TANKS AND RESOLVED THE TICKING TIME BOMBS. IT'S OBVIOUS TO ME WHATEVER ATTEMPT DAIMLER AG HAS TAKEN IS NOT ENOUGH TO MITIGATE ANY FURTHER DEFECTIVE FUEL SENDING UNITS/GAS TANKS. PLEASE ADVISE ON ANY WHETHER WE HAVE ANY RE-CAUSE WITH DAIMLER AG OR MERCEDES U.S.A TO GET THIS FRIGHTENING ISSUE RESOLVED FOR NOT ONLY ME BUT ALSO THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN MOTORIST PRESENTLY DRIVING TICKING BOMBS. YOU MAY CONTACT ME ON DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER TO DISCUSS THIS ISSUE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
THE FUEL TANK ON MY 2003 C32 LEAKED. THE SYMPTOM WAS A STRONG GAS ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC, AND HE DIAGNOSED IT AS A LEAKING FUEL TANK. WHEN HE REMOVED IT, HE SHOWED IT TO ME AND I SAW THE PART THAT WAS CRACKED, WHICH WAS BELOW THE REAR SEAT OF THE CAR. THERE APPEARS TO BE A WIDELY KNOWN MALFUNCTION WITH FUEL TANKS FOR MERCEDES. THIS WAS A VERY STRESSFUL EVENT, ESPECIALLY WITH FUEL LEAKING OUTSIDE THE CAR AND NOT KNOWING WHAT COULD HAPPEN (FIRE RISK, ETC). *TR
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THE AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILED TWICE IN THE PAST TEN MONTHS. THE ONBOARD COMPUTER SAID SRS WARNING DID NOT DRIVE AT THAT TIME,. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THERE WAS A CODE RESET IN THE COMPUTER. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN, AND THEY REPLACED A FUSE BOX IN THE DASHBOARD. THE GAS GAUGE HAS ALSO GONE OUT TWICE IN ONE MONTH. THE DEALERSHIP DRAINED THE GAS AND RESET A COMPUTER CODE. WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN THEY HAD TO REPLACE A PART IN THE GAS TANK AND RESET THE COMPUTER CODE AGAIN. BOTH ITEMS WERE WORKING CORRECTLY AT THIS TIME.*AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026