Model year record
2001 Mercedes-Benz 240 recalls & problems
The 2001 Mercedes-Benz 240 has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 22 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is vehicle speed control (4 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2001 Mercedes-Benz 240.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle speed controlLinkages | 4 | — |
| Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Exhaust system › Emission control › Crankcase (pcv) | 4 | — |
| Air bagsFrontal; Side/window | 3 | — |
| Electrical system12v/24v/48v battery | 3 | — |
| Structure | 3 | — |
| Fuel system, gasolineDelivery › Fuel pump; Fuel injection system › Injectors | 2 | — |
| Suspension | 2 | — |
| Unknown or other | 2 | — |
| EquipmentElectrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc. | 1 | — |
| Seat beltsFront › Retractor | 1 | — |
| Steering | 1 | — |
| Seats | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Vehicle speed control
THE PROBLEM OCCURRED INITIALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF A DRIVE. THE VEHICLE PERFORMED FINE BUT WHEN IT REACHED 40MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CAR STARTS UP IT IMMEDIATELY THROTTLE UP TO ABOUT 5000 RPM REGARDLESS OF THE GEAR. WHEN PUT INTO DRIVE THE CAR ACCELERATES AT ALL SPEEDS ENDLESSLY. HOWEVER WHEN THE BRAKE IS PRESSED THE ACCELERATING STOPS, BUT UPON ITS RELEASE THE CAR IMMEDIATELY THROTTLES UP AGAIN. THE ACCELERATION PEDAL DOES NOT JAM AND THE CAR SEEMS TO HAVE NO RESPONSE TO ITS POSITION. *TR
- Service brakes
WHILE DRIVING ON 101 FREEWAY AT FULL SPEED, THE MERCEDES SUDDENLY SELF-INITIATED CONTINUOUS BRAKE ACTION. THIS WAS UNCOMMANDED -- WITHOUT ME PRESSING THE BRAKES OR TAKING ANY OTHER ACTION. THE CONSOLE DISPLAYED AN "ESP" ERROR MESSAGE. THIS NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THIS SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD COULD HAVE VERY EASILY CAUSED DAMAGE, INJURY OR DEATH. CAR WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF CALABASAS. IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THIS ESP UNCONTROLLED AUTO-BRAKING ON FREEWAY ISSUE IS FROM THE YAW SENSOR. CALABASAS REPLACED IT TODAY -- TOTAL COST OVER $1,000. I JUST EMAILED MERCEDES USA ON THE MATTER. REGARDLESS OF THAT OUTCOME, I FEEL THAT THE NHTSA MUST BE INFORMED OF THE VERY SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD, SO…
- Suspension
I HAVE HAD TWO COIL SPRINGS, FRONT AND REAR, BREAK ON THIS CAR WITHIN 4 MONTHS OF EACH OTHER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A CORROSION PROBLEM, WHICH I DO NOT BELIEVE. THE MB SHOP REPLACED THE OLD SUSPENSION PARTS WITH NEW PARTS FOR ALL FOUR WHEELS. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE CAR OR CONSEQUENCES AS THE COIL BROKE AT THE END WHERE IT SITS WITHIN THE CUP. IF IT BROKE IN THE MIDDLE, IT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. I BELIEVE THERE MAY BE A TEMPERING PROBLEM WITH SPRINGS, WHICH WOULD BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I HAVE THE OLD PARTS IF SOMEONE WISHES TO EXAMINE THEM. *TR
- Engine and engine cooling
THE ENGINE WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. WE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AFTER WE COASTED TO A STOP AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, WE WERE 1 HOUR INTO A 3 HR ROAD TRIP. A MERCEDES BENZ CERTIFIED MECHANIC COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG I.E., NO FAULT CODES APPEARED WHEN THE DIAGNOSTIC WAS RUN. THE PROBLEM REAPPEARED 2 HRS INTO ANOTHER 4 HR. ROAD TRIP AND AGAIN ON THE LOCAL HIGHWAY AFTER 1/2 HR OF DRIVING. EACH TIME WE WERE ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN RESTART THE CAR. AFTER EACH OCCASION, WE HAD THE CAR DIAGNOSED, BUT NOTHING APPEARED TO BE WRONG. *TR
- Seats
WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 MERCEDES C240 AT FREEWAY SPEED. THE AUTOMATIC "EASY EXIT" FEATURE SHORTED OUT CAUSING MY SEAT TO AUTOMATICALLY MOVE ALL THE WAY BACKWARDS SO THAT I COULD NO LONGER REACH MY CLUTCH, BRAKE OR GAS PEDAL. IN ADDITION TO THIS MY STEERING WHEEL MOVED ITSELF UPWARDS AS FAR AS IT COULD GO. I NEARLY WRECKED MY CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENED, HOWEVER I WAS ABLE TO REACH MY BRAKE PEDAL BY SCOOTING WAY FORWARD IN THE SEAT, AND I ALSO WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE STICKSHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, AND PULL TO THE SHOULDER. I HAD BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW FREEZING UP, BUT I HAD NO IDEA THAT THE RELAY SWITCH CONNECTING TO THE ELECTRIC WINDOW, COULD ALSO CAUSE A SHORT, AND THUS…
- Electrical system
AT SEVERAL POINTS DURING A ROAD TRIP THIS PAST WEEKEND, MY 2001 MERCEDES C240 SUDDENLY DIED WHILE CRUISING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR IN THE MONTHS LEADING UP TO THIS INCIDENCE. HOWEVER, SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING IT, THE SAME THING HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THE DEALER CHECKED THE CAR AT THAT TIME BUT NEVER TOOK ANY CORRECTIVE ACTION. IN THE LATEST INCIDENCES THIS PAST WEEK THE STALLING PUT ME IN IMMEDIATE DANGER OF BEING HIT BECAUSE THEY HAPPENED ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD WITH NO SHOULDER AND NO PLACE TO PULL OFF TO SAFETY. TRAFFIC COMING UP FROM BEHIND AROUND A BLIND CURVE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN LIKELY TO SEE ME IN TIME TO…
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
2001 MERCEDES BENZ LEAKED WATER UNDER DRIVER SEAT AND BACK SEAT, ENGINE MADE A CLICKING NOISE, COMPUTER MALFUNCTIONED. *TS THE HEADLIGHTS NEVER LASTED MORE THAN 2-3 MONTHS. WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS A HUGE EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER. WHILE WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK, THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED A HUGE OIL LEAK UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. HE OPENED THE HOOD, AND A SMELL OF ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE EMITTED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE ENGINE RODS HAD FAILED. *JB
- Electrical system
I HAVE A 2001 C-240 MERCEDES BENZ, THE LEFT TAIL LIGHT KEEP BLOWING AND I GET A MESSAGE THAT I'M USING THE SUBSTITUTE LIGHT, I TOOK IT THE REPAIR SHOP (MERCEDES BENZ) AND THEY CHANGED THE BULB, NOW THE PROBLEM IS HAPPENING AGAIN IN LESS THAN A YEAR. THERE IS A SHORTEST SOMEWHERE AND IT ALSO CAUSES THE CAR NOT TO START ONLY AFTER A DAY OF SITTING, I HAVE TO JUMP IT TO GET IT TO START. I CALLED ROADSIDE SERVICE THE CHECKED THE BATTERY AND SAID SOMETHING IS DRAINING THE BATTERY, BUT WHEN I TAKE IT IN THE REPAIR SHOP CAN'T FIND ANYTHING. A COUPLE NIGHTS AGO THE ALARM AND ALL THE OUTSIDE AND INSIDE LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO REASON. PLEASE HELP...DID I BUY A LEMON? I LOVE MY CAR BUT WANT IT TO START…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.