2005 Mercedes Benz C240 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (7) · Seat Belts (3) · Fuel/Propulsion System (3)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mercedes Benz C240 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
22 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 (60)
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 60 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-09-27 · Other/I Am Not Sure“just recently while driving with my front windows opened on my mercedes 2005 c 320, i heard a big thump on the passenger side of vehicle. at first, i thought it was a bird that flew in to car. so, stopped and parked by the side of road to discover that the passenger head rest on passenger side just broke off for no reason! i complained to local mer…”
2021-09-23 · Visibility“the contact owns a 2005 mercedes-benz c240. the contact stated that rainwater had entered the vehicle through the sunroof and damaged the computer. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 19v918000 (visibility) after the failure occurred. the vehicle was taken to the local dealer who declined the repairs. the contact stated that…”
2018-11-02 · Fuel/Propulsion System“"takata recall" the car has a gas smell especially when we turn the heaters on/ it is very strong fumes & the windows have to be rolled down when driving/ has a gas leak…”
2018-09-07 · Air Bags · 27,000 mi · 💥 crash“tl* the contact owned a 2005 mercedes-benz c240. the contact was calling on behalf of her spouse. while the vehicle was stationary at an entrance to a fuel station, a motorcyclist driving 40 mph t-boned the contact's vehicle. the crash damaged the rear passenger door and part of the front passenger door. the steering wheel air bag and front driver …”
2018-05-21 · Steering · 149,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2005 mercedes-benz c240. while operating the vehicle, the steering column moved up and down as well as vibrated. the failure was not diagnosed or repaired. the local dealer (car city in louisa, ky) and the manufacturer were both notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. the failure mileage was 149,000. *tt…”
2018-01-30 · Air Bags · 144,503 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2005 mercedes-benz c240. the contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated. the contact called mercedes-benz of charleston (5 dudley farms lane, charleston, wv) and was informed that the parts were not available. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage …”
2017-11-22 · Air Bags · 22,000 mi · 💥 crash“tl* the contact owns a 2005 mercedes-benz c240. while the contact's vehicle was parked, it was struck on the rear passenger side by a motorcycle. the front passenger, steering wheel, and rear passenger air bags deployed. the contact injured his right arm, which required medical attention. the vehicle was towed and recovered from a salvage yard. a p…”
2017-08-28 · Air Bags · 100,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2005 mercedes-benz c240. the contact stated that the air bag warning indicator remained illuminated. the vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer for diagnostic testing, which located a failure code at the air bag actuator. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified. the failure mileage was 100,000. …”
2017-07-06 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 180,000 mi“a moderate gas smell comes from driver side rear wheel. hesitation upon start up. the result is due to a faulty fuel pump that causes a leak through crack lines in the fuel pump. the smell occurs when stationary and on the street which the fuel smell is also apparent inside the cabin.…”
2017-02-03 · Seats“when using my car seat heat it burned a big hole in my seat and melted my jacket. i'm afraid i can't use my car seat heat any so no fire will happen…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.