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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
112,667 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2003 Mercedes-Benz C230 engine problems

engine problem

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2003 Mercedes-Benz C230 Owner Comments

problem #3

Aug 162019

C230

  • 178,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

At 178,000 miles the timing chain tensioner failed while the car driving approximately 25 mph and allowed the timing chain to skip several teeth leaving the car stranded and potentially causing thousands of dollars worth of damage to the engine internals. The car was dealer serviced since new and always had maintenance on time. There is thousands of people online that have had the exact same issue and Mercedes Benz usa refuses to do anything about it yet they acknowledge they made them wrong because they have updated the chains and tensioners.

- Barnesville, PA, USA

problem #2

Jan 292010

C230

  • miles
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.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #1

Jun 032014

C230

  • 160,000 miles
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.

- Cameron Park, CA, USA

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