2001 Mercedes Benz C320 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Seats (16) · Vehicle Speed Control (5) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine (5)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mercedes Benz C320 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
48 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly 2024-11-19 · campaign 24V874000 · 33,456 vehicles
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and can detach.
Risk: A detached sunroof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 22V-954. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024120001/2/3.
Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly 2022-12-23 · campaign 22V954000 · 131,653 vehicles
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and may detach.
Risk: A detached sunroof panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall expands NHTSA recall number 19V-918. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2023010004, 2023010005, and 2023010006.
Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly 2019-12-20 · campaign 19V918000 · 747,928 vehicles
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly resulting in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V918-4126.pdf
Risk: A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020040011.
Service bulletins (38)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Power Train 2025-11-15 · LI33.30-P-056665 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). the clunk is heard once when changing from forward to reverse (and vice versa). note: sound file in attachment cause if the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the out
Power Train 2025-05-21 · LI33.30-P-056665 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). the clunk is heard once when changing from forward to reverse (and vice versa). note: sound file in attachment cause if the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the out
Exterior Lighting 2025-04-28 · LI82.10-P-078896 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint headlamps leaking or fogged cause the fogging of the headlamp is a natural phenomenon which can occur under certain climatic conditions. in contrast to a leaky headlamp, physical fogging does not result in a technical impairment of the headlamp. a leak test must be performed to determine i
Exterior Lighting 2025-04-28 · LI82.10-P-078301 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged cause fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. it does not lead to any technical impairment of the headlamp. remedy note: if a pressure compensation diaphragm is fitted in the housing cover
Engine 2025-04-01 · LI83.20-P-051802 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint vehicle with atypical reduced heat output. cause silicate granulate may have escaped from a damaged bag in the expansion reservoir (not visible), reducing the coolant flow in the heater heat exchanger (see picture). remedy with the aforementioned complaint, make sure that the cooling circu
Electrical System 2025-03-05 · LI82.70-P-077433 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint during a phone call, the called party has difficulty understanding/cannot understand the driver, or interference/background noises are audible to the called party during a call. it becomes increasingly difficult to understand as the speed rises. cause a. seating of the microphones in the h
Showing the 6 most recent of 38 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
No detailed complaint narratives on file.
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.