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.
Battery goes dead after a few days: Major cause is electrical power drain due to faulty units, major cause but not only cause is the seat control module unit. Quick fix is to disconnect to eliminate power drain but this causes other safety features to go dormant. I have read more than 100 reports on benzworld.org on the very same issue with little or no solution from dealerships. Its a major and common problem and should be recalled before people get hurt.
2002 Mercedes Benz C320 station wagon: Failure to keep a charge in the battery, and apparently the solution is to disconnect the power seats and then recharge the battery. But then the power seats are inoperable, unless you get these replaced. Apparently, this is a common problem.
Seat controller modules, they constantly drain the battery when the car is off. This is a very very common problem with Mercedes C class. The controller drains the car battery to the point were the car cannot start, and continues to do this if the car is not driven everyday. Obviously having a car battery get sucked below 3V is not healthy for the battery, and in the end everyone with this problem has to replace their battery many many times.
Left rear of car sinks after sitting for more than 8 hours. Mercedes Benz has repaired many times but the problem still comes back. Repaired measures include replacing valves associated with the abc suspension, the abc pump has also been replaced and have also flushed the abc fluid and replaced the filter on many occasions. However, the problem has not gone away. Sometimes when the car is sitting for more than a day the active body control alarm comes on in the instrument cluster. I have not observed any abc fluid loss.
- Austin, TX, USA
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The battery in my 2002 Mercedes Benz C320 died in late February 2008. Diagnostics were done and the battery was replaced by by chandler Mercedes Benz via roadside service. In late March I got into the car to go to work and the battery was dead; called roadside service. Chandler mb arrived and jump-started the car. May 5th I got in my car to go to work and again, the battery was dead. Chandler mb roadside service again jump-started the car which was then delivered to their service department. The battery was checked and there was nothing wrong with it. Further diagnostics revealed that the driver's side power seat module was draining the battery. I requested a battery that could power the car. Was told there is no battery that will power the car, the power seat module must be replaced to the tune of $398 plus labor. I did further research and discovered that this is a very widespread problem in the Mercedes C320, in fact Mercedes Benz is now installing a different module in the 2002 C320's due to the extent of the problem. It seems to me that when I buy a Mercedes Benz with a Mercedes Benz battery and a Mercedes Benz installed power seat module, there should be sufficient power to drive my car. Asking me to pay over $400 to replace their own part because it draws too much power from their own battery and then not manufacturing a battery that will provide the required power, is very convenient for Mercedes Benz and a great way to make some very easy money, but when I pay $35,000 in consideration for a car and they provide me a car that does not have enough power to run, I believe there is some fraud going on and from my research it appears that it is on a very widespread basis. Just the fact that Mercedes has acknowledged the problem by switching to a different module, indicates they are aware that their original part is defective and I believe it's their responsibility to bear the cost to replace it with their replacement module.
My wife drove the car in the morning, no problem. Early afternoon, she left to pick up our child, while leaving the neighborhood. The vehicle starting sending warning signs came on the dash that had never been seen before. Then thick smoke came out from under the steering wheel. My wife had to open her window. She then turned around to go back home prior to leaving the community. On the way back the car slammed on brakes by itself and cut itself off and said the vehicle had 7 faults. Ran up to a neighbors home, upon returning the vehicle was engulfed in flames and became a total loss. Police and fire marshal came to inspect the vehicle. Since then, we have had to track down merecedes Benz and basically have had no customer support whatsoever. We located the vehicle for Mercedes as they took their sweet time. They did get an inspector there to view the vehicle but have yet to hear anything from them regarding this matter. We have contacted an attorney to protect us and want Mercedes to be held liable for this incident. Something was very wrong and we are grateful that no one was hurt.
Both internal seat control modules have electrical fault. Test code 8E3L-K8nnq. Found 1.66 amp of draw (out of spec. Range) amp drop when disconnected: Passenger side to:.1114 and driver side: 0.59 milliamps. 1/13 alarm sounds and battery dies. Technician replaces battery, but warns likely to happen again-many cases. 1/16 same problem. Car taken to other M-B dealership. Diagnosed as above. Replaced both modules 1/25. Dealership had trouble getting part due to unusually high volume for this repair. 18 modules gone or on reserve in one week in santa monica alone. Mercedes corporate office unresponsive. Carmax denies known fault, but reports customer with same complaint previous week.
2002 C320 Mercedes Benz wagon car stalled in traffic without warning in center lane on busy street -- and would not restart leaving car and occupant vulnerable to crash-- due to failure of crank position sensor.
The transmission has repeatedly locked in 2nd gear. The electrical system shows constant light, coolant and air bag failures. The memory for seats, mirrors and the steering wheel defaults about 30% of the time. I bought this car through M-B diplomatic sales program while serving in Canada and brought it to the usa on retirement. M-B Canada won't help because the car is in the us. M-B usa won't help because I bought the car in Canada. M-B corporate in germany simply referred my case back to M-B usa. I am now out of warranty. I want M-B to extend the warranty another 4 years or 50K miles. The car is a disaster.
The C onsumer stated the vehicle stalled. The consumer tried to restart the vehicle but was unable to do so. The consumer called for road side assistance. The technician replaced the battery. The consumer started up the vehicle and drove it home. The next day the vehicle failed to start up. The consumeer had the vehicle towed to the dealer for inspection. The mechanic informed the consumer that the vehicle was placed on a diagnostic. The driver informed the mechanic that this problem has occurred more than once and the problem has not been resolved. Please fill in additional information.
Esp & bas warning messages appeared on the message screen twice, once on 1-20-03 & again on 1-27-03, the first time dealer said it can happen if you didn't tighten the gas cap. On both occasions, the messages were gone the next day. On 1-27-03 I called rallye motors to tell them & I have an appt for March 10, 2003.
Consumer was informed that the brain of the vehicle had given out, causing consumer to have to drive 30-40 mph on the interstate, vehicle also seems to have a possible electrical problem, the interior lights blink, the interior mirror lights work intermittently, the radio will turn on when the key is not in the ignition and at times the sunroof will not close.
Consumer states there are problems concering the esp and bas systems warning messages that are appearing on the monitor, when traveling at a moderate rate of speed in a straight line, the vehicle loses all power along with braking sensation. (Mercedes Benz C-240)
Consumer states there are problems concering the esp and bas systems warning messages that are appearing on the monitor, when traveling at a moderate rate of speed in a straight line, the vehicle loses all power along with braking sensation.
Drivers side and passenger side airbags failed to delpoy during a fourty-five per hour front collision, dealer has yet to be contacted. Consumer stated the tel-aid also failed to operate, in which it was unable to brake the vehicle.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Tyler, TX, USA