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: 19 of 27 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.
Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
27 reports
163,000 miles · Mar 28, 2012
Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ C240. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN AND SUDDENLY THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE THREE WHEEL ASSEMBLY BOLTS FRACTURED. THE PARTS WERE ORDERED AND THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ C240. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN AND SUDDENLY THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE THREE WHEEL ASSEMBLY BOLTS FRACTURED. THE PARTS WERE ORDERED AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED WHEN THE PARTS BECAME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 163,000.
NHTSA ODI #10453319
100,000 miles · Mar 17, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
AFTER PURCHASING CAR IN 2007 USED WITH 60K MILES, TAKING VEHICLE IN FOR ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, DRIIVNG ONLY 40K OVER 4 YEARS,THE VEHECLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10452045
108,782 miles · Aug 31, 2010
Suspension
RIGHT FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLY FELL APART. WE HAD JUST GOT OFF OF I-90 WHEN I PULLED INTO MCDONALD'S AND THE FRONT WHEEL DISENGAGED AS THE AXLE COMPLETELY FELL APART. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10353012
Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2010
Latches/locks/linkagesStructure
THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLES ON THE INSIDE BROKE ON MY 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ C240 4MATIC WHEN I SIMPLY WENT TO THE OPEN THE DOOR. I HAD TO SUPER GLUE THEM BACK ON SO I COULD GET OUT OF THE CAR. IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY BECAUSE IT IS CONSIDERED "COSMETIC" DAMAGE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10341121
78,132 miles · Jul 2, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline
MY 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ C240 4MATIC WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER FOR A 4TH TIME ON 7/8/09 FOR INOPERABLE FUEL GAUGE (FUEL TANK STAYED ON EMPTY EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS GAS IN THE TANK). THIS TIME THE TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALER CONTACTED THE MERCEDES-BENZ TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER (TAC) IN GERMANY TO OBTAIN PASSWORD FOR SPECIAL CODING RE…
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MY 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ C240 4MATIC WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER FOR A 4TH TIME ON 7/8/09 FOR INOPERABLE FUEL GAUGE (FUEL TANK STAYED ON EMPTY EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS GAS IN THE TANK). THIS TIME THE TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALER CONTACTED THE MERCEDES-BENZ TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER (TAC) IN GERMANY TO OBTAIN PASSWORD FOR SPECIAL CODING REGARDING FUEL GAUGE IN CLUSTER AND PROGRAM. THIS PROBLEM IS STILL ON-GOING AND TO-DATE HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. (SEE ADDITIONAL COMPLAINTS WITH OTHER DATES). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10341100
74,239 miles · Jul 2, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline
MY 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ C240 4MATIC WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER FOR A 3RD TIME ON 1/27/09 FOR INOPERABLE FUEL GAUGE (FUEL TANK STAYED ON EMPTY EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS GAS IN THE TANK). THIS TIME THE DEALER PERFORMED CODING TO THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER - 67A GLITTLE (SEE ADDITIONAL COMPLAINTS WITH OTHER DATES). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10341098
70,992 miles · Jul 2, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline
MY 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ C240 4MATIC WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER FOR A 2ND TIME ON 10/06/08 (2ND TIME PROBLEM REPORTED) FOR INOPERABLE FUEL GAUGE (FUEL TANK STAYED ON EMPTY EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS GAS IN THE TANK). THIS TIME THE PROGRAMMING WAS CHANGED IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (SEE ADDITIONAL COMPLAINTS WITH OTHER DATES). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10341094
70,684 miles · Jul 2, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline
MY 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ C240 4MATIC WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER ON 9/23/08 (1ST TIME OF PROBLEM REPORTED) FOR INOPERABLE FUEL GAUGE (FUEL TANK STAYED ON EMPTY EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS GAS IN THE TANK). THE AUXILIARY PUMP, MOUNTING PLATE, AND SEAL RING WERE REPLACED (SEE OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH LIST OF ADDITIONAL DATES). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10341093
14,649 miles · Dec 17, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES C240. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH ON A FREEWAY HE HEARD BANGING NOISES COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THEN HE SAW SMOKE. AFTER HE PULLED OVER HE SAW FLAMES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED. WHEN THEY ARRIVED THE ENTIRE FRONT-END OF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES C240. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH ON A FREEWAY HE HEARD BANGING NOISES COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THEN HE SAW SMOKE. AFTER HE PULLED OVER HE SAW FLAMES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED. WHEN THEY ARRIVED THE ENTIRE FRONT-END OF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WILL PUT N THE CLAIM AND THAT THEY WILL GIVE HIM A CALL BACK. WHEN THEY CALLED BACK THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED IN INSPECTING THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE YEAR AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 14649.
NHTSA ODI #10296291
Mileage unknown · Jul 28, 2009
Air Bags
2003 C240 MERCEDES BENZ HAS A DEFAULT CAUSING MY AIRBAG AND CARHORN NOT TO WORK WAS TOLD THAT CLOCKSPRING PART IS NO GOOD WHICH THEIR CARS ARE KNOWN TO GO BAD I'M CURRENTLY DRIVING A CAR THAT IS NOT SAFE HAVE NO AIRBAG TO PROTECT ME IF I HAVE AN ACCIDENT I FEEL THAT MERCEDES SHOULD REPLACE THE PROB. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10278565
Official recalls
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 ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2003 Mercedes Benz 240 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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