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
2003 Mercedes Benz 240
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 240 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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.
Power Train complaints
4 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ C-240. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT ENGAGE INTO GEAR. THE GEAR DISPLAYS THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN THIRD GEAR, BUT IT FEELS AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING FLUID INTO THE TRANSMISSION L…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ C-240. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT ENGAGE INTO GEAR. THE GEAR DISPLAYS THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN THIRD GEAR, BUT IT FEELS AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING FLUID INTO THE TRANSMISSION LINE. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $1,300. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WILL HONOR WHATEVER THE DEALER DECLARES TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,500.
CAR HESITATES AT LOW SPEED WHEN ACCELERATING. *JB
PIN CHEN, MY FATHER, WAS MAKING A SLOW U-TURN ON A SMALL STREET ABOUT 11 FEET WIDE (VICKIE STREET IN CERRITOS) ON JULY 29, 2003. WHILE HE WAS SLOWLY MARKING A U-TURN, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND RAN INTO THE CURB. I CONTACTED THE MERCEDES ROADSIDE ASSISTANT AND A MECHANIC, CHRIS FROM HOUSE OF IMPORT BUNEA PARK, CAME TO SCE…
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PIN CHEN, MY FATHER, WAS MAKING A SLOW U-TURN ON A SMALL STREET ABOUT 11 FEET WIDE (VICKIE STREET IN CERRITOS) ON JULY 29, 2003. WHILE HE WAS SLOWLY MARKING A U-TURN, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND RAN INTO THE CURB. I CONTACTED THE MERCEDES ROADSIDE ASSISTANT AND A MECHANIC, CHRIS FROM HOUSE OF IMPORT BUNEA PARK, CAME TO SCENE AND CHANGED THE FLAT TIRE. PIN CHEN DESCRIBED THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEM HE EXPERIENCED TO CHRIS. CHRIS RECOMMENDED HIM TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR FURTHER CHECKUP. PIN DROVE THE CAR BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP, MERCEDES BENZ OF LONG BEACH, THAT AFTERNOON FOR A CHECK UP. I WENT TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE ON JULY 30, THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN EDWARDS STATED THAT THERE IS NO FAULT FOUND IN THEIR DIAGNOSTIC CODE. THE TEST ($95) WAS PERFORMED IN THE PRESENCE OF THE MERCEDES COOPERATE REPRESENTATIVE. HE ALSO GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF THE DAMAGE, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY $2300. HE STATED THAT SINCE THERE IS NO FAULT FROM THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST, , MERCEDES BENZ OF LONG BEACH STATED THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS INCIDENT. DUE TO ITS MALFUNCTION, WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS TOO DANGEROUS TO OPERATE. WE WOULD LIKE FURTHER INVESTIGATION ON THIS MATTER.
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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