2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Complaint Log

DRIVING IN TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY I WAS DOING ABOUT 70 MPH AND SUDDENLY I FELT HARD JOLT AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SLIP AND SWERVE. THERE HAD BEEN SNOW STORM THE NIGHT BEFORE AND THE ROADS WERE WET. I MANAGE TO CONTROL THE CAR AND PULL OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE TRANSMISSION HAD SHIFTED DOWN FOR SOME REASON, CAUSING THE WHEELS TO SLIP. SHIFTED THE CAR TO P AND BACK TO D BUT THE CAR HAD NO POWER. SHIFTED A FEW MORE TIMES AND FINALLY I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE INTO WORK BUT THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUED SHIFTING UP AND DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY. SLIPPED AND SWERVED A FEW MORE TIMES. UPON RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ONLINE FOUND THAT THIS IS A REPEATING ISSUE ACROSS MULTIPLE MERCEDES BENZ MODELS. I AM ALSO LEARNING THAT THIS PROBLEM MAY COST UPWARDS OF $2,000 TO REPAIR. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I CALLED MB CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY DO NOT ADMIT TO ANY PROBLEM WITH THEIR TRANSMISSIONS DESPITE THE MULTIPLE INSTANCES POSTED OVER THE NET. I AM ALSO NOW SEEING THAT THE STABILITY CONTROL PROGRAM IS NOT WORKING NOR IS THE MANUAL SHIFT FEATURE THAT THIS CAR CAME WITH THAT ALLOWS ME TO MANUALLY SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION UP OR DOWN. I PUT THE CAR IN D AND CANNOT SHIFT UP OR DOWN NOR DO I SEE A SPECIFIC GEAR SELECTED ON THE DASH BOARD. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS EITHER A COMPUTER OR ELECTRONIC PROBLEM. I FIRST NOTICED AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO AT 60,000 MILES WHEN I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND COULD NOT GET GOING AGAIN ONCE THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN. THE CAR WAS IN D BUT LEFT AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE RPM'S RAMPED UP BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. HAD TO SHIFT TO P AND BACK TO D TO GET GOING AGAIN. I DID NOT SEE THIS PROBLEM AGAIN AFTER THAT WHICH IS THE REASON I DID NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT UP UNTIL NOW THAT I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT.

MY FAMILY AND I WERE HIT IN A CAR ACCIDENT HEAD ON BY A DRIVER GOING APPROX. 60 MPH. OUR MERCEDES BENZ C230'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR WAS EQUIPPED WITH 6 AIR BAGS AND NOT 1 DEPLOYED. WE HAVE CONTACTED MERCEDES BUT TO NO AVAIL. WE WOULD LIKE SOME HELP AS WHAT TO DO TO MAKE SURE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN TO ANOTHER FAMILY AND THEY MAY NOT BE AS "LUCKY" AS WE WERE. *TR

IN SEPT 2008 I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED MERCEDES BENZ C230 SEDAN ALONG WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR AN ADDITIONAL EXPENSE THE CAR HAD APPROX 32K ON IT AT TIME OF PURCHASE, IT NOW IS AT APRROX 62K ALL SERVICE ACTIONS HAVE BEEN PERFORMED BY THE LOCAL MB DEALERSHIP AND THE CAR ONLY HAS THE OEM EQUIPMENT IT WAS MANUFACTURED WITH. ON THE 28TH OF OCT 2010 I HAD RETURNED TO WORK PARKED THE CAR AND ABOUT 15 MINS AFTER IT WAS SHUT OFF I WAS SUMMONED BY A COWORKER THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE, I IMMEDIATELY OPENED THE HOOD, EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND DISCONNECTED THE CARS BATTERY AS HAVING A MECHANICAL BACKGROUND IN BOTH AUTOMOTIVE & AVIATION. I NOTIFIED MY INSURANCE COMPANY TO HAVE THE CAR TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR ASSESSMENT OF THE PROBLEM, I WAS CALLED THE MORNING OF NOV 2, 2010 BY THE DEALERSHIPS SERVICE DEPT THAT MY CLAIM ADJUSTER HAD ARRIVED AND WAS ASKED TO AUTHORIZE TEAR DOWN OF THE CAR AND THAT IT HAD APPEARED THAT THE CARS ALTERNATOR WIRE HARNESS HAD COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE CARS EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHICH LED TO THE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY THAT THIS WAS CLASSIFIED AS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR IN WHICH I AM IN TOTAL DISAGREEMENT WITH ESPECIALLY SINCE MERCEDES OF ALBUQUERQUE HAS PERFORMED ALL MAINTENANCE SINCE THE TIME OF PURCHASE. THIS NOW IS BEING PUT ON ME FOR THE EXPENSES. IN MY PAST 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE HAVE NEVER HEARD OF AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE OF THIS NATURE WITH A WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE. UPDATED 12/07/10 *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ C320. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,253. UPDATED 12/30/10 *BF UPDATED 01/10/11

TAIL LIGHT BULB CARRIER HOUSINGS HAVE BURN/MELT MARKS FROM OVERHEATING. ONE CARRIER HAS MELTED COMPLETELY THROUGH. OCCASIONAL BURNING SMELL NOTED. BULBS CONSTANTLY GO OUT SINCE THEY DO NOT HOLD IN CARRIER PROPERLY. REQUIRES READJUSTING BULB OR USING ELECTRICAL TAPE TO PROPERLY SECURE BULB TO CARRIER HOUSING. THERE IS A RECALL FOR 2008 TO 2011 C SERIES MODELS - SAME ISSUE IS BEING SEEN ON A 2005 C SERIES. *TR

MB C240 - WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 35-40MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL ABRUPTLY SWERVED TO THE LEFT. ROAD WAS EVEN AND NO POTHOLES. I HAD TO PULL IT TO THE RIGHT TWICE BEFORE I WAS BACK ON MY LANE. LUCKY NO OPPOSITE TRAFFIC. I BOUGHT MY C240 IN 2005 AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED.*TR

A O-RING CONNECTED TO THE TRANSMISSION STARTED LEAKING OUT TRANSMISSION FLUID AFTER MY WIFE DROVE THE CAR IN THE SNOW, THE BACK TIRES HAD SOME TRACTION PROBLEM DUE TO THE WET SNOW EARLIER. ONCE THE CAR REACHED HOME, TRANSMISSION OIL WAS DRIPPING ONTO THE GARAGE FLOOR. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 25K ON IT, IN MINT CONDITION. SHE WAS TOLD BY OUR NEIGHBOR THAT SHE SHOULD NOT DRIVE IT UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS FIXED. THE WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP AND FIXED IN JANUARY WHEN I RETURNED FROM MY OVERSEE MISSION. THE MERCEDES SHOP INDICATED IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE O-RING DESIGN AND THAT A BETTER REPLACEMENT O-RING WAS INSTALLED FOR A HEFTY PRICE SINCE THE WARRANTY ON THE CAR ENDED THE PRIOR MONTH. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE WEB TO SEE IF THIS PROBLEM WAS COMMON GIVEN IT WAS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE O-RING. TO MY SURPRISE I FOUND THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT MERCEDES BENZ REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE. HAD SHE BEEN DRIVING THE CAR SHE COULD HAVE ENDED UP DAMAGING THE TRANSMISSION AND WORSE GOTTEN STRANDED SOMEWHERE. I THINK THIS DEFECT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED FURTHER TO ENSURE SAFETY OF THE DRIVERS OF THE VEHICLE GIVEN THIS WAS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. OTHERS ON THE WEB HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *TR

MY DRIVER'S SEAT WARMER CAUGHT FIRE YESTERDAY WHILE IN USE. IT STARTED WITH SMOKE COMING FROM THE BACKREST PORTION OF THE SEAT AFTER SWITCHING THE HEATER ON, AND THEN BEGAN TO FLAME. I TURNED OFF THE WARMER SWITCH AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. I NOW HAVE A HOLE IN THE BACKREST WHERE THE FIRE STARTED. *TR

I WAS INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT AT A STOPLIGHT. WHILE WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO TURN GREEN, MY CAR ACCELERATED AND I RAN INTO THE BACK OF A PICKUP TRUCK. THE TRUCK DID NOT HAVE A SCRATCH ON IT. I HAD $OVER $8,000 DAMAGE. THE WHOLE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS DAMAGED (SMASHED UP INTO THE WINDSHIELD). THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP AND REPAIRED. I NOW FIND OUT 3/15/2014 THE CAR HAS A BENT K-FRAME NOT TO MENTION THE WORK WAS SHODDY ON THE BODY WORK. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY MORE ACCIDENTS. I HAD JUST PURCHASED THE CAR THE MONTH BEFORE AS A USED VEHICLE. I WANT TO KNOW WHY THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER DID NOT NOTICE THE BENT K FRAME. I NOW HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO FIND A USED K FRAME AND PAY FOR THE LABOR. I HAVE DRIVEN THIS CAR CONTINUOUSLY SINCE HAVING IT REPAIRED. I MOVED FROM NEW JERSEY TO SOUTH CAROLINA DRIVING THIS CAR. SOMETHING COULD HAVE HAPPENED. FORTUNATELY I'VE BEEN LUCKY BUT WHAT HAPPENS NOW, MY NEW TIRES IN THE REAR (WHICH I THINK MAY HAVE BEEN LIKE THIS WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR) WEAR OUT WITHIN 6 MONTHS AND I OFTEN WONDERED WHY. THE CAR SHAKES (THE K FRAME) AND THE STEERING WHEEL HAS A LOT OF PLAY IN IT WHICH I WAS TOLD WILL ALWAYS BE LIKE THAT UNLESS I GET IT REPAIRED. I HAVE PUT AN INSURMOUNTABLE OF MONEY INTO THIS CAR AND I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED. IF IT WASN'T FOR THE AUTO SHOP WHO PUT MY NEW TIRES ON LAST WEEK, I WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL I'VE BEEN CHEATED AND THIS CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOTALED AND I GIVEN ANOTHER CAR! NOW I CANNOT AFFORD TO GET ANOTHER CAR RIGHT NOW AND I'M SCARED TO DRIVE IT. *TR

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ONE TIRE BECAUSE OF A SIDEWALL SEPARATION RIP. NOW I HAVE DISCOVERED THE SAME DEFECT ON TWO OTHER TIRES. THE TREAD IS GOOD AND THERE IS NO REASON WHY IT SHOULD BE SEPARATING. THESE TIRES NEED TO BE RECALLED. THE TIRES IN QUESTION ARE 225/45 R17 AND 245/45 R17. *TR

FRONT AIRBAG MALFUNCTON. *TR

TL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ C230. THE CONTACT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING AND LOSES POWER. THE HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND THE MECHANIC NOTICE THE CYLINDERS WERE MISS FIRING SO THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE COILS TO THE SPARK PLUGS. A MONTH LATER THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING AND LOSING POWER SO THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THE CYLINDERS HAD A LOSS OF COMPRESSION. THE MECHANIC RE-MANUFACTURER THE CYLINDER HEADS IN THE ENGINE. TWO YEAR LATER THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES ARE OCCURRING IN THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE CYLINDER AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THEY'VE HAVEN'T HEARD OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS PARTICULAR YEAR MAKE MODEL. THE CONTACT HAS NOTICE OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE CYLINDER HEAD ON THE INTERNET. THE CONTACT STATED THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000. JO

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ C240. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE INOPERATIVE. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE AIR BAGS MAY NOT PROPERLY DEPLOY. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE SEAT. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE RECURRED. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND IS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

CHECK VALVE ON THE M271 MOTOR IN MY 2005 C230 HAS A DEFECT ALLOWING THE SUPERCHARGED AIR TO ENTER INTO THE CRANKCASE OF THE ENGINE PUSHING OIL INTO IT AND IT CAUSED A MISFIRE READING, LOSS OF POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO GO ON. THE CAMPAIGN I FOUND IDENTICAL TO MY PROBLEM IS NUMBER IS 2008020002. HOWEVER IT'S REPAIR COVERAGE IS ONLY ASSOCIATED WITH A RANGE OF VIN #'S THROUGHOUT 2003-2005 WHICH MY CAR IS A 2005, BUT THE CAMPAIGN IS NOT LISTED UNDER MY VIN#. *TR

I OWN A 2005 MERCEDES C230. THE WAY THE CAR IS DESIGNED CAUSES EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE TIRES. I HAVE REPLACE THEM EVERY 10,000 MILES AND MUST BE CONSTANTLY VIGILANT ABOUT MONITORING THEIR WEAR. WHEN I HAVEN'T THE CAR HAS SLID DURING THE RAIN BECAUSE OF BAD TRACTION ALMOST CAUSING WRECKS. *TR

FIRST, MY STEERING WHEEL WIRE WAS REPLACED FROM A FAULTY SRS LIGHT COMING ON AND THE ESP LIGHT COMING ON. I HAD TO PAY FOR ALL OF THIS. NEXT, EUROMOTOR CARS SAID THE STEERING WHEEL COLLAR WAS BROKE. I HAVE NEVER HAD THAT FIXED BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME AND I FELT THEY SHOULD REPLACE THE COLLAR SINCE THEY REPLACED THE STEERING WIRE. NOW MY CAR DOES NOT START AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DOES NOT LIGHT UP. I CANNOT UNLOCK THE DOORS WITH THE REMOTE KEY AND I CANNOT UNLOCK THE TRUNK OF THE CAR. MY CAR JUST SITS BECAUSE I FEEL I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY OF THIS ANY MORE. I HAVE PUT $6,800 IN REPAIRS IN THIS CAR. I DO NOT WANT TO PAY FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE. I FEEL MY CAR IS UNSAFE. MY CAR WAS FIRST SERVICED AT HERB GORDON'S AUTO GROUP IN SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND. I WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THE SERVICE SO I DECIDED TO TRY EUROMOTORS AND THE SERVICE WAS WORSE. THEY CONTINUE TO PUT IN CODES SO THERE WILL NOT BE A RECALL AND THE CONSUMER HAS TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. PLEASE HELP IN RESOLVING SOME OF THE ISSUES I HAVE HAD WITH THIS 2005 C230 KOMPRESSOR MERCEDES BENZ. I WOULD ALSO LIKE FOR THIS CAR TO BE ENTERED INTO THE RECALL FOR THE STEERING WIRE REPAIR JUST AS THE E320. I PURCHASED THE CAR WITH 4,000 MILES ON IT IN 10/2005. THANK YOU. *TR

I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG RELEASE MECHANISM; OF MY CAR A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ C55 AMG, IS DEFECTIVE. I WAS INVOLVED IN 2 ACCIDENTS, 1ST A RIGHT FRONTAL WITH SEVERE DAMAGE NEEDING $26,000 IN REPAIRS, AND THE 2ND A LEFT FRONTAL THAT CAUSED SO MUCH DAMAGE THAT MY INSURER MAY TOTAL THE VEHICLE. THE 2ND ACCIDENT CAUSED MULTIPLE FRACTURES IN MY NECK VERTEBRAE AND COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL OR LEFT ME QUADRIPLEGIC BUT DUE TO MULTIPLE NEUROSURGERIES BY THE EXPERT IN THE FIELD, I SURVIVED. IN NEITHER ACCIDENT DID THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY AND I AM STRONGLY CONCERNED THAT THE RELEASE MECHANISM IS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE IS STILL AT THE REPAIR YARD AWAITING A DECISION TO REPAIR OR SALVAGE(NO WORK HAS BEEN DONE YET) SINCE THE 2ND ACCIDENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ C230. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AXLE WAS CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE TIRES. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER AND ROLLED AND CRASH DOWN AND THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR WAS CONSIDERED TOTALED. SUSTAINED SEVERAL INJURIES FROM AIR BAG NOT DEPLOYING. *TR

MUSTY SMELL IN THE AIR CONDITIONER , AND I HAVE TAKEN M THE VEHICLE TO DEALER THREE TIMES IN BOERNE TEXAS. THEY HAVE TEMPORARILY ELIMINATED THE SMELL ALTHOUGH IT CONTINUED TO RETURN. THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANT, Y BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO PERMANENT SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. THE WARRANTY WILL EXPIRE IN 3 MONTHS, AND I WOULD LIKE THE PROBLEM TO BE RESOLVED PRIOR TO WARRANTY EXPIRATION. *AK

AIRBAGS FOR C-55 AMG FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING TWO SEPARATE HIGH-IMPACT FRONTAL IMPACTS (DURING WHICH THE CAR WAS NEARLY TOTALED EACH TIME) THE CONSUMERS FATHER WAS SEVERELY INJURED IN THE 2ND CAR ACCIDENT. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ C230. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 9,000 MILES. IN ADDITION, BOTH REAR TIRES WERE REPLACED AT 13,000 MILES BECAUSE THEY WERE WORN OUT. THE TIRES CURRENTLY NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE PURCHASE DATE AND TIRE INFORMATION WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 19,775 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ C230. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CAMSHAFT SOLENOID HAD LEAKED OIL INTO THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE SRS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SEAT BELT HARNESS AND FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WIRING TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 47,668.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UPON SHIFTING THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD INTO A TREE WITHOUT WARNING; AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THERE WAS MODERATE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE POLICE WERE ALERTED AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP FOR REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE DAMAGE. A NHTSA RECALL, #05V560000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING, THE AIRBAGS HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS AWAITING INSPECTION BY A MANUFACTURING REPRESENTATIVE.

I HAVE A MERCEDES BENZ C230. SATURDAY MY AIR BAG DEPLOYED IN THE PASSENGER SIDE BACK SEAT AFTER LEAVING MR. BUBBLES CARWASH. MY FIANCEE DROVE MY CAR TO THE MERCEDEDS DEALERSHIP NEARBY AND THEY SHUT OFF AIRBAG SYSTEM UNTIL I COULD BRING MY CAR IN FOR INSPECTION. MONDAY MORNING I CALLED TO HAVE MY CAR SCHEDULED FOR MAINTENANCE ON TUESDAY FOR THE DEPLOYED AIR BAG TO BE REPAIRED AND FOR THE SYSTEM RESTRAINT MALFUCTION LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD TO BE REPAIRED. THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THAT THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE TIRE SO THEY WERE NOT GOING TO WARRANTY THIS PROBLEM. TO BE HONEST, I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH THAT. WHY WOULD AN AIR BAG DEPLOY EVEN IF THERE WAS A TIRE PROBLEM? I AM SCARED TO DEATH TO GO OVER A SPEED BUMP AT THIS POINT. *NM

PROBLEM STARTS WITH A HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION AND LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING. AFTER SHUTTING ENGINE OFF, THEN UPON STARTING VEHICLE, ENGINE WOULD START TO SHAKE AND STUMBLE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. VEHICLE ENGINE SOUNDS AS IF IT GOING TO BLOW UP AND HAS NO POWER AND STALLS BECOMES UNDRIVEABLE. IF YOU SHUT ENGINE OFF AGAIN AND RESTART SOMETIMES CAR CAN BE DRIVEN EVEN THOUGH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON. IT ALWAYS SHOWS THE SAME CODES FOR REPAIR. CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO DEALER 2 TIMES AND DRIVEN OVER 4 ADDITIONAL TIMES. EACH TIME THE CODE COMES UP AS A COIL DEFECT AND DEALER HAS REPLACED COIL #2 SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO COIL BEING BURNT ALONG WITH CLEANING AND/OR REPLACEMENT OF SPARK PLUGS ONLY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM RECUR WITHIN HOURS OR DAYS. THEY STILL HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. DEALER GAVE ME SAME MODEL LOANER VEHICLE WHICH I HAD TO RETURN WITHIN HOURS DUE TO SAME PROBLEMS. *NM

IN MARCH 2006, WE RECEIVED SAFETY RECALL NOTICE #2006-020005 FOR OUR 2005 MERCEDES C230, FOR AN ISSUE WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE. OVER THE LAST 70 DAYS, I HAVE CALLED LEITH MERCEDES IN RALEIGH, NC FIVE TIMES TO SCHEDULE THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIR UNDER THIS RECALL AND I AM TOLD THE PARTS ARE STILL ON BACKORDER FROM GERMANY AND IT WILL BE 6 TO 8 WEEKS BEFORE THEY CAN CONDUCT THE REPAIR. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER A FEW MINUTES. OTHER TIMES THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP A TOTAL OF EIGHT TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP MADE UNKNOWN REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER, HOWEVER THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER ACCURATELY DETERMINED AND NONE OF THE UNKNOWN REPLACEMENT PARTS REMEDIED THE PROBLEM.

I RECEIVED A NOTICE IN APRIL THAT MY CAR WAS RECALLED BECAUSE OF AIR BAG SAFETY ISSUES. MERCEDES HAS NOT RECTIFIED THE SITUATION. *JB

WITHOUT ANY ACCIDENT I NOTICED A HUGE BUBBLE ON THE LEFT SIDE FRONT TIRE AND RIGHT FRONT DOES NOT HOLD AIR. I DID NOT HIT ANY POTHOLES AND DON'T DRIVE FAST AT ALL. CONTACTED DEALER AS CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY I HAVE ONLY 4600 MILES. DEALER REFUSED TO CHANGE TIRE FOR FREE AND REFUSED TO CONSIDER TIRE DEFECTIVE. TIRES ARE VERY BAD QUALITY AND / ORE DEFECTIVE AS HAVING NEW CAR WITH 4600 MILES SHOULD NOT WEAR TIRE TO SUCH EXTEND TO HAVE BUBBLES. DEALER CLAIMED THAT BUBBLES ONLY HAPPEN WHILE CAR HITS HOLE IN THE ROAD HOWEVER SUCH A NEW TIRES SHOULD WITHSTAND NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. TO HAVE BUBBLE ON THE CAR POSE DANGER TO MY LIFE AS HAVING A BRAND NEW CAR I SHOULD NOT BE INSPECTING TIRES FOR DAMAGE. *NM

I OWN A 2005 E320 CDI MERCEDES DIESEL. THE CAR GIVES OFF BLACK SMOKE (INTERMITTENTLY) AND A BLACK TAR LIKE SUBSTANCE (BLACK SOOT) POURS OUT OF MY EXHAUST SYSTEM. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO MERCEDES AND THEY STATE, "THE CAR IS OPERATING WITHIN FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS." THE DEALERSHIP (SKYLAND AUTOMOTIVE, ASHEVILLE, NC) STATES THAT IT IS DUE TO POOR QUALITY DIESEL FUEL. I HAVE CONSIDERED LEGAL ACTION UNDER THE NC LEMON LAW, BUT WOULD RATHER HAVE THE PROBLEM SOLVED. *JB

1) 2005 MB C230K 4 DOOR SEDAN VEHICLE - ON BOARD COMPUTER REPORTED SRS FAILURE. 2) VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP TO ADDRESS SRS FAILURE REPORTED BY COMPUTER. DEALERSHIP REPORTEDLY REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. FAILURE NOTICE NO LONGER BEING REPORTED BY ON BOARD COMPUTER. 3) FRONT SIDE COLLISION OCCURRED TODAY 11/12/05 - WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROX. 35 MPH - NO AIRBAGS, INCLUDING SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG, DEPLOYED ON MY VEHICLE, BUT BOTH DEPLOYED ON THE OTHER VEHICLE. NOTE MY VEHICLE, DUE TO IMPACT, WAS TURNED 90 DEGREES FROM IMPACT TO FRONT OF MY VEHICLE - POLICE OFFICER REPORTED INCIDENT FROM HIS EXPERIENCE DEFINITELY SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED SIDE, POSSIBLY FRONT, AIRBAG ON MY CAR. *JB

THE GEAR SHIFT DOES NOT STAY MOUNTED IN THE CAR. IT CONSTANTLY COMES OUT OF THE BOARD. IT COMES UP WHEN I AM CHANGING GEARS.

I HAVE HAD 2 INSTANCES WHERE I START DRIVING AND THE CAR LOSES POWER AND THEN WILL REGAIN POWER. IT IS WITHIN THE FIRST 5-10 MINUTES OF DRIVING AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS. SERVICE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND PROBLEM. 4 OTHER FRIENDS HAVE INDICATED THEY ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH LOSS OF POWER. MOST ARE THE SAME MODEL. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ C230. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAD AMBIENT LIGHTING. DURING THE DAYTIME, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS DIFFICULT TO READ. AT NIGHT, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL COULD BE READ CLEARLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,000. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ

SUBMISSION FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF PAYMENT FOR DAMAGED TO C230 2005 MERCEDES BENZ IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT THE TIME OF ACCIDENT CERTIFIED MAIL. *TS THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE AIR BAGS IN THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FAILED PRIOR TO THE CONSUMER RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE ROOF AT THE ANTENNA. THIS CAUSES CONDENSATION TO LEAK INTO THE TRUNK. THIS IN TURN CAUSES CONDENSATION TO GO THROUGH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND CAUSES ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS REPAIRED. THE CRUISE CONTROL IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS SET OR AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL RESET INTERMITTENTLY. THIS CAUSES SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP DROVE THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ALSO, WHEN THE SUN IS REFLECTING ON THE WINDSHIELD IT CAUSES A GLARE, MAKING VISIBILITY TO BE IMPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED WITH NO RESPONSE. *NM UPDATED 02/27/06. *JB

MY MERCEDES BENZ C230 KOMPRESSOR STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS AT 4400 MILES, IT HAS A HESITATION PROBLEM. IT NOW HAS 42,000 MILES AND STILL HAS HESITATION. ITS BEEN IN THE SHOP 7 TIMES FOR THE SAME SITUATION. THEY TRIED TO BLAME IT ON WATER IN THE FUEL, BUT IT CONTINUES TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. OVER THE SEVEN ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE, THE PROBLEMS STILL PERSISTS. THE HESITATION IS CONSISTED OF STOPPING AND GOING, JERKING THE VEHICLE WHEN TRANSMISSION FROM GEAR TO GEAR. ITS A FUEL RELATED PROBLEM. MY FIANCE AND I HAVE BEEN IN TO MANY CLOSE CALLS WITH ACCIDENTS. THE SCARE OF MY CAR IS IF I REALLY NEED TO AVOID BEING IN A ACCIDENT WITH SWERVING, WILL I HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT? RIGHT NOW I DON'T. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY, FUEL SENSORS, FUEL PUMP, CAN'T USE PREMIUM GAS RECOMMENDED BY GERMANY TAC LINE, A LOT OF CARBON BUILD-UP IN THE FOURTH CYLINDER, GAS TANK AND I THINK THAT'S IT. *JB

VEHICLE WAS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID, AND AIR PRESSURE WAS DEFECTIVE ALL OF THESE DEFECTS WERE DISCOVERED BY THE DEALER. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED IT WOULD NOT START.*AK

WHIEL DRIVING, THE CONSUMER STARTED TO SMELL GAS IN THE CAR, THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD, LEFT THE CAR RUNNING, POPPED THE HOOD AND FIRE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. INSURANCE CO. FARMERS, ROBERT GONZALES 956-454-2046*JB