2004 Mercedes Benz C240 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Seat Belts (2) · Visibility:windshield Wiper/Washer (1) · Visibility/Wiper (1)
🧭 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 (50)
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 50 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2022-03-11 · Air Bags“srs abs esp lights occasionally go on and off mostly the srs take to shop does not come on or stay on obd2 does not detect may use clear error messages stays off for few weeks then back on and off bought scanner when srs comes on sometimes it shows error b1035 stored and current the resistance value in the ignition circuit containing compo…”
2020-10-13 · Unknown Or Other“i took my car to mercedes-benz dealership to fix a recall on my sunroof nhtsa recall # 19v918 they claimed they checked my seal for defective but when i received my car the sunroof would not open . i asked them what did they do it not working at all . they were very vague on the details to checking my recall. stated they didn't need to open my sun…”
2020-06-12 · Unknown Or Other“my car have a recall for the sunroof since it may detach and flight out, i made an appointment for service at euro motor car in gaithersburg, maryland. a lady from the dealer just call me back to inform me that they are canceling the appointment because they do not do recalls...…”
2020-06-10 · Visibility“tl* the contact owns a 2004 mercedes benz c240. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 19v918000 (visibility) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. mercedes-benz of bonita springs (14610 tamiami trail n, naples, fl 34110) was contacted and confirmed that the part was not available. the contact stated that t…”
2020-02-19 · Visibility/Wiper“tl* the contact owns a 2004 mercedes-benz c240. the contact received a notification of nhtsa campaign number: 19v918000 (visibility) however, the parts to do the recall repair was not yet available. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. a dealer was not contacted. the manufacturer w…”
2017-04-05 · Unknown Or Other · 42,000 mi“the door handle on the driver's side in the front broke off. i had to pay through the nose to get if fixed. it was like plastic. i am 5"1 and weigh under 130 pounds. i am not strong enough to break it and i also have ra. i never slam a door in anger. i really like my car but wonder if the rest of it will fall apart. i was in the garage. i have the…”
2016-11-18 · Seats · 68,000 mi · 🔥 fire“passenger seat caught fire when using the seat heater. fire protruded through the side seat panel and burned driver and clothing. the driver was operating the car for about 15 minutes on a city street and pulled off the road to extinguish the fire. portions of the seat melted.…”
2015-12-01 · Seat Belts · 62,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2004 mercedes benz c240. after the vehicle was started, the srs warning light illuminated. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the rear passenger side nitrogen power seat belt was defective and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the fail…”
2015-05-27 · Power Train · 130,000 mi“ i was driving to work from parkville to baltimore city and my car began aggressively jerking. i drove my car on friday morning through the tunnel and the jerking was not as aggressive. i drove home on friday afternoon from work and i could tell that something was still jerking but continuously. saturday morning my car was jerking so aggressively, …”
2014-09-22 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings · 160,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2004 mercedes benz c240. the contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph, the brakes malfunctioned causing the brake pedal to sink into the floor creating an extended braking distance. the failure nearly caused the vehicle to crash into the rear of a second vehicle. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.