2003 Mercedes Benz C240 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other C240 years
- More complaints than other years 2nd of 6 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Mercedes Benz C240. That ranks 2nd out of 6 C240 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is fuel/propulsion system (8 complaints, 40%), typically at around 134,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 fire, 1 injury. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 20owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 Mercedes Benz C240 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion System | 8 | 40% | 134,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 5 | 25% | 126,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 4 | 20% | 130,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 2 | 10% | 75,263 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 10% | 134,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 2 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 5% | 168,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 5% | 69,500 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 Mercedes Benz C240 recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Visibility:sun/moon roof assembly
Problem: 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
Problem: 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
Problem: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The PRINX tires and the dealer - Mavis Tires, Auburn Avenue, Columbus, Georgia, are equally to blame for the flat I had in traffic endangering myself and other motorists with Brand New Prinx Tires, and also the skid I had at an intersection in Columbus Georgia. It's the old story of Chinese…
2003 mercedes benz c240. Consumer writes in regard to rust issue with vehicle.
2003 mercedes benz c240. Consumer writes in regards to sunroof glass bonding safety recall. *ld the consumer stated the roof contiuously became rusted due to a water leak. *js
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ C240. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V918000 (VISIBILITY) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN MERCEDES-BENZ OF CHARLOTTESVILLE (1381 RICHMOND RD, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA 22911…
As a time my vehicle needs to be renewal with california dmv , the recall part has not been available from mercedes manufacture. Mercedes benz does not provide any future time frame for the recall part that will effects on my vehicle registration renewal with dmv (it also means my renewal with dmv…
Other Mercedes Benz C240 years
See all Mercedes Benz C240 problems by year, every Mercedes Benz model, or the Mercedes Benz VIN decoder.
Similar Mercedes Benz models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Mercedes Benz C240?
Owners most often report fuel/propulsion system, air bags, electrical system problems. The top one, fuel/propulsion system, accounts for 8 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Mercedes Benz C240?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 Mercedes Benz C240 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other C240 model years, the 2003 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.