1998 Mercedes-Benz C230 recalls & problems

Safety recalls

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

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.

Fuel economy

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

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

Recent owner complaints

• Suspension

  ON 09/06/2015 @ APPROX. 1:30 P.M., MY WIFE, SELF, AND GRANDCHILDREN WERE TRAVELING HOME FROM OUR GRANDSONS FIRST JFL FOOTBALL GAME FOR THE SEASON. AFTER INSPECTING THE SUSPENSION I NOTICED THAT THE COIL SPRING WAS FULLY EXPANDED AND ARCHED OUTWARD BADLY. FURTHER INSPECTION NOTICED THAT THE UPPER COIL SPRING CUP/MOUNT HAD RUSTED AWAY AND ALLOWED THE FRONT END TO DROP, FLATTENING THE SUSPENSION ALLOWING THE WEIGHT OF THE BODY TO REST UPON THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. I DID SOME RESEARCH TO FIND ANY INFORMATION THAT I COULD TO HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT JUST HAPPENED. MY SEARCH GATHERED ME ALL KINDS OF OWNERS WHO WERE ANGERED THAT THERE IS NOT A RECALL FOR SUCH A MAJOR PART THAT IS WELDED TO THE BODY…

  Sep 6, 2015 · 201,000 miles
• Visibility/wiper

  THE WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR LEAKS AND MUST BE REPLACED. MERCEDES-BENZ CHOSE TO CHARGE $282.98 FOR THIS REPLACEMENT FOR PARTS AND LABOR. THE PART SEEMS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE. WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING, THIS DEFECT CAN PREVENT THE WINDSHIELD FROM BEING CLEARED, AND CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND DEATH. MERCEDES-BENZ CARS WITH THE DEFECTIVE PART NUMBER MUST BE RECALLED. *TR

  Sep 16, 2014 · 18,562 miles
• Fuel/propulsion system

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ C230. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO DISCOVERED A FUEL LEAK AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

  Aug 10, 2014 · 150,000 miles
• Suspension

  I WAS SITTING STOPPED IN TRAFFIC WITH THE ENGINE OFF, AND THE FRONT DRIVERS' SIDE OF MY VEHICLE JUST SPONTANEOUSLY DROPPED AS IF THAT PART OF THE VEHICLE HAD FALLEN INTO A SINK HOLE. I WAS WAITING FOR A DRAW BRIDGE TO COME DOWN AFTER A SAILBOAT PASSED, SO THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO INSPECT WHAT HAD HAPPENED, I COULD SEE THAT THE FRONT SPRING HAD SEPARATED FROM ITS TOP MOUNT IN WHAT I ASSUME WAS THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I SEARCHED ON-LINE I FOUND THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WITH VARIOUS MODELS OF MERCEDES BENZ. IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED I AND ANYONE ELSE IN THE CAR COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN KILLED, NOT TO MENTION OTHER…

  Jun 10, 2014 · 148,000 miles
• Suspension

  I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND NOTICED THE FRONT END DROP AND THE CAR WAS NOT HANDLING RIGHT. I DROVE THE CAR TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND HAD ASKED THEM TO LOOK AT THE SHOCKS. THAT'S WHEN I WAS INFORMED THAT THE COIL SPRING MOUNT WAS CRACKED AND WAS SEPARATING FROM THE FRAME, I WAS ALSO INFORMED THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS NOT MUCH BETTER... THEY SAID IT WAS DUE TO A RUST ISSUE ALTHOUGH THE CAR WAS STORED WINTERS. VERY DISAPPOINTING.. I WILL ATTEMPT TO HAVE THIS REPAIR COST COVERED BY MERCEDES IF NOT AFTER READING THE OTHER COMPLAINTS, I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER MERCEDES..NOR WILL I ALLOW ANYONE ELSE I KNOW MAKE THIS MISTAKE. *TR

  Dec 5, 2012 · 110,000 miles
• Structure › Frame and membersCrash

  MY LEFT FRONT SPRING PERCH RUSTED OFF THE FRAME AND MY FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF THE CAR AS I WAS DRIVING. THE RIGHT PERCH WAS RUSTED AND IT HAD TO BE REPAIRED ALSO. *TR

  Feb 14, 2011 · 149,000 miles
• Structure › Body

  RIGHT AND LEFT SPRING PERCHES ARE RUSTING OUT AND COMING APART ON A 1998 230 C MERCEDES. PERCHES HAVE TO BE REWELDED SO FRONT WHEELS DON'T COME OFF THE CAR. *TR

  Oct 27, 2010 · 150,000 miles
• Engine and engine cooling

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ C230. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY, AND THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. HE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000 . THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 122,748.

  Feb 1, 2009 · 122,748 miles

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