There are 8 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Classin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Our car was recalled on 07/03/2008, recall #08V303000, for problems relating to a number of types of mechanical and electrical malfunctions. One was the "(3) OBD SYSTEM MAY CAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE INCORRECTLY; AND (4) THE SPEEDODOMETER MAY BE OUT OF TOLERANCE" This vehicle has had a malfunctioning "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT", that needs to be corrected. It prevents the car from being properly registered, and the warning being on is a distraction to drivers. It has been unresolved by Mercedes and by other mechanics who could not make the proper repair of the "Check Engine Light" issue that was listed in the recall. Mercedes has failed to make the repair, associated with this recall and states that the recall #08V303000 of 07/03/2008 is expired. The car had had recent additional recall work done, and this problem was brought up, but not addressed nor corrected by Mercedes. There has been difficulty in our obtaining Connecticut vehicle emissions approval, and Connecticut registration renewal due to the unaddressed problem by Mercedes. We cannot re-register the vehicle out of Connecticut until this issue is resolved. If we chose the sale of the vehicle, we would have to provide the purchaser a clear and registerable vehicle. Without your assistance in the resolution of this matter that would be impossible to do.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ C230. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO USE THE REMOTE KEYFOB WHICH FAILED TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FLETCHER JONES MOTORCARS OF FREMONT (5760 CUSHING PARKWAY, FREMONT, CA 94538, (510) 623-1111) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO ELECTRICAL RECEPTION BETWEEN THE ANTENNAE LOCATED IN THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE AND THE KEYFOB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEYFOB WORKED WHEN PLACED CLOSE TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000.
Steering column is locked. The car will not start.
THE WIRE HARNESS INSULATION WITHIN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLE IS DISINTEGRATING LEAVING THE WIRE, IT'S DESIGNED TO PROTECT, BARE AND EXPOSED TO CONTACT WITH ADAJACENT WIRE ALSO MISSING INSULATION AND NOW BARE. THIS HAS CREATED AN UNSAFE CONDITION WHICH WILL RESULT IN SHORT CIRCUITING, LOSS OF HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION, POSSIBLE FIRE AND CIRCUITS DAMAGE.
HELLO THERE, THIS IS MY VEHICLE INFORMATION 2006 MERCEDES BENZ C230 SPORT VIN : (XXXXX) AND THIS IS THE NHTSA RECALL NUMBER : 16V081 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER : 2018030001 I HAVE STARTED A RESEARCH AFTER I HAVE EXPERIENCED TOO MANY ISSUES WITH ELECTRICAL WIRING & HEADLAMPS, TAILGATE LIGHTS, STOP LIGHTS, PARKING LIGHTS AND THE MALFUNCTION ON THE HORN WHICH HAS STOPPED WORKING SINCE 2/2/2019. I HAVE ALSO BEING PULLED OVER BY POLICE OFFICERS STATING THAT THE MALFUNCTION ON MY TAIL GATE LIGHTS AND STOP / BRAKE LIGHTS AND ALSO HEADLAMPS MUST BE REPAIRED ASAP, I DID BOUGHT NEW BULBS AND REPLACED THE OLD BULBS ON BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS AND BRAKE/ STOP & PARKING LIGHTS BUT THEY ONLY WORK WELL FOR A FEW DAYS BUT THEN THEY JUST STOP WORKING OR WORK INTERMITTENTLY .... I HAVE RECEIVED A TRAFFIC VIOLATION TICKET ON 12/28/2018 AFTER SEVERAL PULLED OVER FROM THE SAME POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS AS THEY DO NOT BELIEVE THAT I INDEED HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS AFOREMENTIONED ( I HAVE ATTACHED THE RECEIPT FOR THAT VIOLATION ). THE ISSUE THAT WORRIES ME THE MOST IS THE HONK FAILURE AND THE DRIVER PASSENGER AIRBAG RECALL, THOSE ARE A VERY SENSITIVE SAFETY MATTER AND I PLEASE WANT TO GET HELP TO GET THIS FIX. I HAVE ALREADY CONTACT 2 MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIPS HERE IN CALIFORNIA ( DOWNTOWN LA MOTORS & RUSNAK MERCEDES BENZ OF ARCADIA, CA ).... AT THIS TIME I HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY REPLY TO MY CALLS AND EMAILS, AND I AM REALLY WORRY ABOUT IT BECAUSE THIS IS THE ONLY VEHICLE I HAVE AND DRIVE TO COMMUTE TO WORK AND TO PLEASURE ON WEEKENDS WHEN I TAKE WITH ME MY 10 YEARS OLD SON, AND THAT IS THE PART THAT WORRIES ME THE MOST, I DO NOT WANT TO RISK MY SON IN AN EVENT OF A FRONTAL CRASH WITH THE AIRBAGS FAILURE, THAT CAN CAUSE THE AIRBAG TO EXPLODE WITH SHATTER DEBRIS THAT CAN SERIOUSLY INJURE MY SON AND MYSELF AND EVEN CAUSE DEATH... PLEASE HELP ME TO GET THIS REPAIRS DONE. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
EIS AND ESL GO BAD, CAR WILL NOT START DUE TO STEERING WHEEL LOCKING.
I BOUGHT THE C230 AT ONE YEAR OLD. I HAD E PERIENCED TWO TIMES THATWHILE FREEWAY DRIVING ALL POWER WOULD BE LOST. PULLED OVER AND PUT IN PARK, REV ENGINE A BIT BUT RPM'S WOULD NOT MOVE. FAST FORWARD TO DECEMBER 2008 I SOLD CAR GO MY MOM BECAUSE I HAD A BABY AND CAR WAS TOO SMALL. MY MOM SINCE HAVING CAR HAS LOST POWER WHILE FREEWAY DRIVING A TOTAL OF SIX TIMES NOW. VERY DANGEROUS AS THERE IS NO "CODE" OR "ERROR" FOR MECHANIC WHEN DIAGNOSING, NOR IS BENZ ACKOWLEDING GHE ISSUE.
I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES WHERE I PUT IN THE CAR KEY TO START THE CAR, YES IT STARTS UP BUT THE GAS GAUGE ,SPEEDOMETER, AND THE REST ON THE DASH GO TO ALL THE WAY DOWN AND DON'T MOVE, THEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON. SOMETIMES THE CAR DOESN'T START AS WELL . I'VE GONE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BUY A NEW KEY THINKING IT WAS THE KEY BUT STILL THE SAME PROBLEM. I SAW THAT MOST OF THE C CLASS HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUES I'M HAVING BUT THEY DIDN'T RECALL THE C230. I BELIEVE YOU GUYS SHOULD DO BETTER INVESTIGATION NEXT TIME BECAUSE I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO REPAIR SOMETHING THAT CAME DEFECTIVE. ALSO I'VE NOTICED THAT THE 2006 C CLASS ALSO HAS A RECALL FOR THE AIRBAG WHICH I'VE HAS THE ESN OR ESP LETTERS POPPING UP ON NY DASHBOARD STATING SOMETHING ABOUT THE AIRBAG YET MY VEHICLE ISN'T ELIGIBLE FOR THAT RECALL AS WELL AND I ASK MYSELF WHY? IF THEY SAME PROBLEMS I'M HAVING ARE EXACTLY THE SAME I'M HAVING WITH THE RECALLED VEHICLE. *TR
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 26, 2026