2005 Mercedes Benz C320 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Seats (2) · Exterior Lighting (2) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mercedes Benz C320 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (4)
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.
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2016-02-11 · campaign 16V081000 · 711,159 vehicles
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 ML320 BlueTec 4Matic, GL320 BlueTec 4Matic and R320 CDI 4Matic, 2011 E350 Cabriolet and E550 Cabriolet, 2009-2011 ML350, ML350 4Matic, ML550 4Matic, ML63 AMG, and C63 AMG, 2010-2011 ML450 4Matic Hybrid, E350 Coupe, E350 4Matic, E550 Coupe, E550 4Matic, and E63 AMG, 2011-2012 GL350 BlueTec 4Matic and R350 BlueTec 4Matic, 2009-2012 GL450 4Matic, GL550 4Matic and R350 4Matic, 2007-2008 SLK280, SLK350, and SLK55 AMG, 2011-201
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: MBUSA will their notify owners, and Fiat Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler owners. Dealers for the respective brands will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. This recall began November 2016. Mercedes-Benz owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372 and Chrysler owners may contact Fiat Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.
Service bulletins (63)
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 63 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2021-02-02 · Seats · 110,000 mi“while driving, my son was using the heated seat function and noticed a burning smell, the driver side seat was smoking, which burned a hole in the left hand side of the seat back and also burned a hole in the back of my sons sweatshirt.…”
2019-07-02 · Unknown Or Other“the battery keep draining which make thhe car impossible to drive…”
2019-06-16 · Unknown Or Other · 105,000 mi“a small spring inside the door lock breaks which keeps the door from opening once locked. i have seen many repair how to videos on youtube about this issue. it is a serious safety issue. if a person is in an accident and needs to exit the car quickly, this broken lock can keep them stuck inside the car unable to escape.…”
2019-02-22 · Exterior Lighting · 205,000 mi“i went to change my low beam headlight bulb and found the wiring insulation all flaking off to about six inches from the bulb connector. i searched on line and found others complaining of this same thing. i suspect since these wires are hidden inside the headlight assembly, the problem is much more common.…”
2019-01-15 · Visibility/Wiper · 171,000 mi“i was driving on a highway and suddenly i heard this loud explosion. my ears were ringing and i felt as if it was raining but only glass. luckily it did not get into my eyes and i stopped the vehicle safely at the side of the road only to find out that everything is intact and i did not hit any other object; however, my sunroof had exploded. i call…”
2018-07-15 · Air Bags · 122,000 mi“i have got anythin g in mail i like to know if it's on the recall list the lights comes on and off srs..…”
2017-06-08 · Steering · 136,000 mi“i own a 2005 mercedes-benz c320 for three years and always have issues with the software, the engine keeps shutting off while driving, and the steering wheel get locked, no matter where i am at, a city streets or a highway. many phone calls to mercedes-benz dealer and the headquarter, they didn't try to resolve the issues i'm having with my car!!!…”
2014-09-13 · Exterior Lighting · 87,467 mi“there needs to be something done to eliminate the problem with headlights. almost every auto manufacture is making there headlights out of material that clouds up after a couple of year. it is a safety hazard that has continued for more years than it should have. when the lights cloud up they become very dim and cast shadow on images that they sho…”
2012-10-22 · Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/Cooler · 75,500 mi · 🔥 fire“tl* the contact owns a 2005 mercedes benz c320. the contact stated that while driving, there was an overpowering burning odor present in the vehicle from the drivers seat. the contact then noticed that there was a quarter size hole that had burned through the contact's left pant leg. the contact was not injured. the vehicle was taken to the dealer …”
2011-04-04 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine · 84,500 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2005 mercedes benz c320. the contact stated while driving 5 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. the contact was able to restart the vehicle within twenty seconds. the contact stated that there were two instances of the failure. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and also a mechanic shop and neither facility was able to…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.