2003 Mercedes Benz C240 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Fuel/Propulsion System (8) · Tires (2) · Engine (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mercedes Benz C240 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
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 (40)
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.
Service Brakes 2026-09-22 · LI42.10-P-078779 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60mph. note: although the symptom is similar to a tire or wheel vibration, it is usually readily noticeable that it is distinctly different if it happens at all times or only while braking. cause although the cause of the vibra
Structure:body 2026-09-14 · LI82.62-P-078631 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. cause under analysis. remedy to narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • if the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary,
Structure:body 2026-08-06 · LI82.62-P-078631 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. cause under analysis. remedy to narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • if the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary,
Power Train 2026-07-14 · LI35.30-P-058566 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). the noise is heard once in each instance when changing direction of travel. note: sound file in attachment cause if the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the outboard collar n
Visibility/Wiper 2026-05-19 · LI82.30-P-059239 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint there are several types of complaint about noises or poor windshield wiper wiping performance: a: wiper blades squeaking, chattering, shuddering b: the windshield is not wiped completely (streaking) c: during the downward movement water is pulled back onto the windshield from the a-pillar
Exterior Lighting 2026-04-16 · 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. if a pressure compensation diaphragm is fitted in the housing cover, then the l
Showing the 6 most recent of 40 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2024-03-28 · Tires“the prinx tires and the dealer - mavis tires, auburn avenue, columbus, georgia, are equally to blame for the flat i had in traffic endangering myself and other motorists with brand new prinx tires, and also the skid i had at an intersection in columbus georgia. it's the old story of chinese aftermarket parts that do not fit causing accidents. prinx…”
2023-03-17 · Structure:frame And Members“2003 mercedes benz c240. consumer writes in regard to rust issue with vehicle.…”
2020-10-06 · Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly“2003 mercedes benz c240. consumer writes in regards to sunroof glass bonding safety recall. *ld the consumer stated the roof contiuously became rusted due to a water leak. *js…”
2020-06-01 · Visibility“tl* the contact owns a 2003 mercedes-benz c240. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 19v918000 (visibility) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. the vehicle was taken mercedes-benz of charlottesville (1381 richmond rd, charlottesville, va 22911, (434) 290-4156) where it was confirmed that the part was n…”
2020-05-27 · Structure:body“as a time my vehicle needs to be renewal with california dmv , the recall part has not been available from mercedes manufacture. mercedes benz does not provide any future time frame for the recall part that will effects on my vehicle registration renewal with dmv (it also means my renewal with dmv will be on hold and i don not have any other vehic…”
2018-06-03 · Tires“the back side of the tires crack open around the rim. …”
2017-07-25 · Engine“harmonic balancer /crank pulley wobbling very bad . afraid it will come apart and cause catastrophic damage while my kids are driving. mercedes covered this part under same engine family but only from model years 1998-2001. would like them to take responsibility for the same faulty part as the others.…”
2017-02-05 · Air Bags“takata recall srs warning light on…”
2016-11-22 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 196,000 mi“after filling my gas tank, there's a very strong raw gas odor inside the car while driving, and when parked. seems stronger in the backseat. i see there's a extended warranty for this issue from mercedes benz on the e class for my year (2003). that warranty extension should have covered all classes with similar design or the same problem. the fum…”
2016-10-06 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 134,000 mi“i bought the car yesterday, and today realized the car is leaking fuel, pooling under the back seat and spilling out under the car. the passenger headlight will not work; we tried 3 bulbs. the panel displays a message stating one of the tag lights is out, but it actually works.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.