2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Engine Problems

Vehicle began smoking on highway. No check engine or indicator of any fault codes. No previous coolant or oil leaks, or fuel leaks appeared to be visible or of issue. Vehicle had to be pulled over on side of highway as smoke began to became increasing with darker color from the engine bay, then making its way into the inner cabin Of the vehicle. Within a minute the full engine and front end of vehicle was engulfed in flames. Occupant was barley able to get out due to the vehicles dark smoke which caused disorientation for the driver. A good samaritan removed driver from vehicle and approximately 2 minutes later the entire car and cabin was engulfed in flames. Car was deemed a total loss with front end, cabin, and areas near the back seat/ window were burned to complete bare metal. Emergency personnel numerous times mentioned how lucky occupant was since these types of vehicle fires are typically fatal followed by the speed of fire it had spread throughout the process when engulfed.

AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ENGINE STARTED VIBRATING AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR ENGINE STOPPED SUDDENLY. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO MY MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE TIMING CHAIN CAM SPROCKET TEETH WERE WORN OUT CAUSING THE TIMING CHAIN TO JUMP AND DESTROY THE ENGINE. RESEARCH SHOWED THIS IS COMMON FACTORY DEFECT WITH THESE ENGINES SINCE MERCEDES USED SOFT METAL FOR THE SPROCKETS CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR. I CONTACTED MERCEDES AND THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NO OPEN RECALL OR CLASS ACTION SUIT FOR THIS YEAR/MODEL AND RECOMMENDED THE CAR BE TOWED TO A MERCEDES DEALERSHIP FOR EVALUATION. MY LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER INFORMED ME THEY REQUIRE $200 FEE TO INSPECT THE CAR AND THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE WILL COST ME $10,000-15,000. THE CARE IS 13 YEARS OLD AND HAS 135,000 AND OUT OF WARRANTY. HOW IS IT THAT MERCEDES CAN ADVERTISE THEIR SLOGAN "THE BEST OR NOTHING" WHEN THEY MANUFACTURE ENGINES THAT ARE DESTROYED AT SUCH RELATIVE LOW MILEAGE? I WAS LUCKY NOT TO HAVE A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE ROAD AND WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO STOP THE CAR WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED WITHOUT INJURING MYSELF OR OTHERS.

WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. WE HAD JUST LEFT HOME ABOUT TWO MINUTES BEFORE. WITH EXTREME DIFFICULTY IN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, WE DRIFTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN RESTARTED THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE, ONCE HAVING JUST REVERSED OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND THEN DRIVING FORWARD OUT OF THE PARKING LOT AT VERY SLOW SPEED AND THEN AGAIN WHEN REVERSING OUT OF THE GARAGE. AT OTHER TIMES, WHEN FIRST STARTING UP THE CAR IN THE GARAGE AND TURNING THE KEY, THERE HAS BEEN NO IGNITION INITIALLY. *TR

1.8L 4 CYLINDER SUPERCHARGED. TEETH ON CAM GEARS BROKEN OFF AND WORN DOWN TO THE POINT OF THE VEHICLE JUMPING TIMING. AND DAMAGING VALVES AND OTHER MAJOR COMPONENTS. COST OF PARTS QUOTES FROM THE LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER, 900.00 PER GEAR, TIMING CHAIN 330.00 NOT INCLUDING ANY LABOR, IF ANY OTHER COMPONENTS WERE DAMAGED MORE PARTS ARE REQUIRED. REASON FOR THIS HAPPENING IS DUE TO MERCEDES USING A THIN BICYCLE LIKE CHAIN FOR TIMING. STRETCHES BEYOND SAFE LIMITS IN 50K OF MILES. LOOSE CHAIN EVENTUALLY BREAKS AND/OR DAMAGES CAM GEAR TEETH AND OTHER COMPONENTS. MANY INCIDENTS OF THIS CAN BE FOUND AT MBWORLD.ORG AND BENZWORLD.ORG. *TR

THE CAM SHAFT GEARS HAVE WORN OUT PRE-MATURELY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JUST DIE AND NOT RESTART LEAVING MY WIFE STRANDED. THIS IS A DIRECT CAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE PART, THE GEAR WAS NOT HARDENED PROPERLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ C240. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ C320. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WITHIN TWENTY SECONDS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE TWO INSTANCES OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND ALSO A MECHANIC SHOP AND NEITHER FACILITY WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,500.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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 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

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

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