Model year record

2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class recalls & problems

The 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class has 2 safety recalls and 9 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is tires (2 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints9filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths1 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Electrical systemJul 7, 2008

Electrical system

Recall 08V303000404 vehicles

Problem: MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING MY 2006-2008 M-CLASS, R-CLASS, MY 2005-2009 SLK-CLASS, MY 2005-2008 C-CLASS, MY 2003-2004 AND 2006-2008 CLK-CLASS, MY 2003-2008 E-CLASS, MY 2004 AND 2008 CL-CLASS, MY 2008 CLS-CLASS, MY 2004 AND 2007-2008 S-CLASS, MY 2003 G-CLASS, AND MY 2003-2004, 2006 AND 2009 SL-CLASS VEHICLES. A SOFTWARE CALIBRATION NUMBER (SCN) CODING RECEIVED ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES DURING A RECENT WORKSHOP VISIT WAS INCORRECT. DEPENDING ON THE MODEL YEAR AND MODEL AFFECTED, THE RESULTS OF AN INCORRECT SCN CODING CAN AFFECT A NUMBER OF VEHICLE SAFETY AND EMISSION FUNCTIONS INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF FUNCTIONS: (1) THE FUEL GAUGE READINGS MAY BE INCORRECT; (2) A STUCK FUEL-LEVEL SENSOR MAY NOT BE DISPLAYED IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER; (3) THE OBD SYSTEM MAY CAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE INCORRECTLY; AND, (4) THE SPEEDOMETER MAY BE OUT OF TOLERANCE.
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE ELECTRICAL FUEL PUMP MAY NOT RECEIVE A CRASH SIGNAL THAT IS REQUIRED FOR THE FUEL PUMP TO DISCONNECT AND PREVENT FUTURE FUEL DELIVERY AS DESIGNED.
Fix: DEALERS WILL RECODE THE SCN FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 30, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.

Air bagsDec 20, 2005

Air bags

Recall 05V56000061,000 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (OVSC)

Problem: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPORT MODEL STEERING WHEELS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." IN CERTAIN LOW RISK AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT TESTS CONDUCTED BY NHTSA, USING AN OUT-OF-POSITION UNBELTED 5TH PERCENTILE FEMALE CRASH TEST DUMMY, IRREGULARITIES WERE DEMONSTRATED INDICATING THAT OCCUPANTS MAY NOT BE PROPERLY PROTECTED IN A CRASH.
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, AN OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURIES.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW AIR BAG INFLATOR MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.

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.

Crash test ratings

2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4-DR. w/SAB

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Injuries	Typical mileage*
TiresSidewall	2	0	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission	1	0	—
Exterior lightingHeadlights	1	0	—
Fuel system, gasolineDelivery › Fuel pump	1	0	—
Wheels	1	0	—
SeatsFront assembly › Head restraint	1	1	—
Engine and engine cooling	1	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulicPedals and linkages	1	0	—
Structure	1	0	—
Electrical systemInstrument cluster/panel	1	0	—
Air bagsFrontal	1	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Air bags › Frontal
BATTERY WENT DEAD ON OUR 2006 C320 MERCEDES THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AFTER THE CAR WAS RESTARTED AND THE DEALER CLLAIMS THE BAG CAN DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNIG IF NOT REPAIRED THE CAR ONLY HAS 36000 MILES THEY REFUSED TO FIX PROBLEM WIYH OUY BEING PAID BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS 30 DAYS OUT OF WARRANTY.
Apr 1, 2010 · 36,000 miles
Tires › Sidewall
HIGHWAY CRUISING AT STEADY STATE SPEED, APROX 65 MPH. RIGHT FRONT TIRE FAILURE. CONTROL WAS MAINTAINED. PULLED OFF TO SHOULDER AND REPLACED TIRE WITH SPARE. TIRE IS BEING REPLACED. DAMAGED TIRE IS AVAILABLE. *JB
Oct 14, 2007 · 11,025 miles
Structure
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE WEARING SUNGLASSES THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS NOT READABLE. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THIS WAS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED. UPDATED 09/15/06. *JB
Aug 23, 2006 · 1,500 miles
Engine and engine cooling
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE BRAKE PEDAL SHAKES WHILE DEPRESSED. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THIS WAS NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS.
Aug 1, 2006 · 9,000 miles
Seats › Front assembly › Head restraint1 injury
THE MERCEDES CLK350 VIN [XXX]- THE PASSENGER SEAT AND DRIVER SEAT WHEN RELEASED TO ALLOW A REAR PASSENGER OUT OF THE CAR CAUSES THE HEAD REST TO AUTOMATICALLY DESCEND AND CAN TRAP THE REAR OCCUPANTS HAND IN PLACE AS IT DID WITH A 10 YEAR CHILD IN MY CAR. THE CONTROL TO RAISE THE HEADREST IS DISABLED WHEN THE SEAT IS IN THIS POSITION THEREBY NOT ALLOWING ANY METHOD TO RELEASE THE TRAPPED HAND. I SPOKE WITH MERCEDES THIS MORNING AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS HOW IT IS DESIGNED AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT BUT WOULD TELL THEIR ENGINEERS. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE EVERYONE NEEDS TO USE THE FRONT SEAT TO ASSIST THEMSELVES WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE. *NM UPDATED…
Apr 16, 2006 · 3,800 miles
Wheels
I BOUGHT A NEW 2006 C230 ON 2/27/2006 . I WAS DRIVING THIS CAR ON THE FREEWAY AT NIGHT AND AFTER 10-15 MINUTES OF DRIVING THE TIRE ON DRIVER REAR SIDE WAS SHREDDED. I REPLACED THIS TIRE WITH THE SPARE TIRE. AFTER ALL REMAINING TIRES WERE CHECKED THAT WERE GOOD TO DRIVE...I DROVE ANOTHER 15-20 MINS AND DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE SHREDDED. AT THIS TIME I HAD TO CALL AAA AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MERCEDES DEALERSHIP IN BEVERLY HILLS. THIS DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS SOMETHING HAD IMPACTED THE WHEELS OF THE CAR AND THAT SHREDDED THE TIRES. I ALSO LOOKED AT THE WHEELS MYSELF AND I DID NOT SEE ANY DAMAGE TO THE WHEELS WHERE THEY WERE POINTING TO SAYING THERE IS SLIGHT RAISED OR INDENTATION .…
Apr 2, 2006
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE LURCHED CONTINUOUSLY WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH. THERE WAS ALSO A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE SHIFTED GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEMS CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN BACK TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE.
Apr 4, 2006 · 5,100 miles
Exterior lighting › Headlights
MANY NEWER CARS ARE EQUIPPED WITH BLINDING, BLUE-GREEN, HEADLIGHTS THAT ARE A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE PROHIBITED. THERE ARE SEVERAL PROBLEMS. FIRST, WHEN SEEN FROM ANY ANGLE, THESE HEADLIGHTS ARE HIGHLY DISTRACTING, IN THAT THEY DRAW ONES EYES FROM THE ROAD AHEAD AND ON EITHER SIDE; THE REASON THAT THEY ARE DISTRACTING IS THAT THEY ARE OF A NOTABLY DIFFERENT COLOR AND ARE MUCH BRIGHTER THAN THE TRADITIONAL INCANDESCENT LIGHTS. SECOND, WHEN VIEWED FROM ANY ANGLE, THE LIGHT "FLARES" ABOUT ONES EYES, FORMING SPIKES THAT RADIATE OUTWARDS FROM THE LIGHT ITSELF, THEREBY OBSCURING ONE'S VIEW OF THINGS ABOVE, BELOW AND ON EITHER SIDE OF THE LIGHT ITSELF. THIRD, WHEN VIEWED FROM THE OPPOSITE…
Mar 20, 2006

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.