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2003 Mercedes Benz 230

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
5Owner complaints

Model-year median: 0.5

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2003 Mercedes Benz 230

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 5 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Air Bags: 2 reports
  • Electrical System: 1 reports
  • Fuel System, Gasoline: 1 reports
  • Latches/locks/linkages: 1 reports
  • Visibility: 1 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    3
    2001    4
    2002    5
    2003    6
    2004
    Compare all 230 years →

    Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

    What owners reported most

    Air Bags
    2    Electrical System
    1    Fuel System, Gasoline
    1    Latches/locks/linkages
    1    Visibility
    1

    Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

    When problems were reported

    Mileage at the reported incident

    Limited mileage data: 3 of 5 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

    NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

    What to inspect

    Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

    • Air Bags. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

    NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

    0 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

    Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

    1 reports
    Clear category filter
    19,139 miles · Aug 16, 2005
    Fuel System, GasolineInjury

    GAS CAP COVER CENTRAL SYSTEM DID NOT RELEASE ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS . THE MANUAL PROVIDES EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE BUT NONE EXISTS NOTWITHSTANDING GOUGING OF ARM ON EXPOSED SHARP INTERNAL FENDER-TRUNK SCREWS . MERCEDES COMPLAINT OFFICE INSISTS TRUNK RELEASE EXISTS. FINALLY NEW COUNTRY MB DEALER, HARTFORD, CT SERVICE MGR AN…

    Read full complaint

    GAS CAP COVER CENTRAL SYSTEM DID NOT RELEASE ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS . THE MANUAL PROVIDES EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE BUT NONE EXISTS NOTWITHSTANDING GOUGING OF ARM ON EXPOSED SHARP INTERNAL FENDER-TRUNK SCREWS . MERCEDES COMPLAINT OFFICE INSISTS TRUNK RELEASE EXISTS. FINALLY NEW COUNTRY MB DEALER, HARTFORD, CT SERVICE MGR AND CHIEF MECHANIC ADMIT TO ERRONEOUS INFO IN MANUAL AS DID ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE PREVIOUSLY - EVEN AFTER CONTACTING MB ENGINEERING I WAS ABLE TO PROVE THIS DEFECT EXISTS. CAUSING LIKELIHOOD OF INJURY TO ANYONE FOLLOWING MANUAL INSTRUCTION RE REACHING INTO TRUNK PANEL COVERING WHERE EXPOSED 1 INCH SCREWS EXIST IN PRECISE AREA OF INSTRUCTION INFO - WHICH CAUSED MY INJURY. THERE WAS NO EMERGENCY RELEASE PROVIDED NOR DID ONE EXIST ON A REPLACED ACTUATOR - WHICH I RETAINED . EVEN IF ONE EXISTED - THE OPERATOR MUST REACH IN ABOUT 2-3 FEET ENTIRE LENGTH OF ARM BEFORE REACHING ACTUATOR - INHERENT DANGEROUS MANUFACTURE DEFECT. *NM

    NHTSA ODI #10133002

    Recall campaigns

    0

    No recalls in this snapshot.

    Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

    Defect investigations

    0

    No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.