IllustrationBATTERY DRAIN, SEEMS TO COME FROM DEFECT IN SEAT CONTROLLER MODULE. SEE 19 PAGES OF FORUM: HTTP://WWW.BENZWORLD.ORG/FORUMS/W203-C-CLASS/1196568-MERCEDES-C320-BATTERY-DRAIN-11.HTML MERCEDES C240 2001, BUT MANY OTHER MODELS AND YEARS AFFECTED. *TR
2001 Mercedes Benz C Class
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 C Class 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: 10 of 14 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 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Equipment. Review the 2 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 reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
14 reports2001 MERCEDES C240. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AND THE ACCELERATOR FAILED. THE ENGINE WOULD GO FULL THROTTLE WHEN IN GEAR. SHE HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO HAVE IT TOWED TO MECHANIC. HE FOUND THE CAR COMPUTER HAD SAID THE ELECTRONIC ACCELERATOR WAS BAD. A NEW ACCELERATOR WAS PUT IN AND NO MORE PROBLEM. *TR
MERCEDEZ BENZ C 240 YEAR 2001 HAS MANY DEFECTS THAT REQUIRED SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS . THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY HELP.*CW
APRIL NOV 2004, I PURCHASED A 2001 C240 MERCEDES FROM PRINCETON MERCEDES IN NEW JERSEY. ONE MONTH AFTER DRIVING THE CAR SLOWED DOWN AS IF IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATED. I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK IN FOR REPAIR. THEY TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. HOWEVER 4/19/08 I EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM OF DECELERATION WHILE DRIVING I WAS T…
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APRIL NOV 2004, I PURCHASED A 2001 C240 MERCEDES FROM PRINCETON MERCEDES IN NEW JERSEY. ONE MONTH AFTER DRIVING THE CAR SLOWED DOWN AS IF IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATED. I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK IN FOR REPAIR. THEY TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. HOWEVER 4/19/08 I EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM OF DECELERATION WHILE DRIVING I WAS TOLD THIS TIME THAT IT WAS TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING AND I BELIEVED THAT THIS WAS THE PROBLEM 4 YEARS AGO; HOWEVER THEY DID NOT WAS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I WANT TO KNOW WAS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS SPECIFIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT ON THESE TYPES OF CARS. I HAVE BEEN IN SEVERAL CHAT ROOMS AND THERE ARE VARIOUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. THE CAR WILL STOP IN TRAFFIC OR ON THE FREEWAY WITHOUT NOTICE. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO A GAS STATION: HOWEVER WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THERE WAS MAJOR TRAFFIC BUMPER TO BUMPER. I WANT THIS PROBLEM RESEARCHED. I BELIEVED THAT MERCEDES KNEW ABOUT A FLAW WITH THIS TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ C240. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A CRANKSHAFT CENTER AND THERMOSTAT ISSUE. THE CRANKSHAFT CENTER CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND IT WOULD NOT START UNTIL THE ENGINE COOLED OFF.…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ C240. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A CRANKSHAFT CENTER AND THERMOSTAT ISSUE. THE CRANKSHAFT CENTER CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND IT WOULD NOT START UNTIL THE ENGINE COOLED OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $700. A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED, WHICH SHOWED THAT ADDITIONAL REPAIRS WOULD ALSO BE NEEDED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,193.
STALLING IN TRAFFIC CAUSED BY FAILURE OF CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. *TR
THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FAILED IN THE C-240, 2006. I CALLED FOR AN APPOINTMENT FOR DIAGNOSIS, AND WAS GIVEN A DATE THAT PUT THE CAR JUST OUT OF EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE. I DISCOVERED THIS AFTER THE FACT. I HAD ASSUMED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER JUST NEEDED CHARGING AGAIN, AND WOULD NOT BE COVERED. IF I HAD ANY IDEA THAT IT…
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THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FAILED IN THE C-240, 2006. I CALLED FOR AN APPOINTMENT FOR DIAGNOSIS, AND WAS GIVEN A DATE THAT PUT THE CAR JUST OUT OF EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE. I DISCOVERED THIS AFTER THE FACT. I HAD ASSUMED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER JUST NEEDED CHARGING AGAIN, AND WOULD NOT BE COVERED. IF I HAD ANY IDEA THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE A $3,000.00 FOR REPAIRS. I WOULD HAVE RUSHED BACK IN DECEMBER 2005 WHEN THE PROBLEM STARTED WITH FOGGED WINDOWS.*AK
2001 C240 CEILING FABRIC SAGS. *TS THE FABRIC IN THE CONSUEMR'S DAUGHTER IN LAWS 2002 C240 ALSO SAGS ANS IS ONLY BEING HELP UP BY THE INTERIOR LIGHT***NAR***
VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH 2001 MERCEDES C240. *MR THE KEYLESS ENTRY REMOTE FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE WINDSHIELD WASHER AIMED TOO HIGH. THE FM RADIO RECEPTION WAS POOR. THE CLUTCH WAS RUBBING. THE SRS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH.
STEERING WHEEL LOOSE AND MAKING NOISE WHEN TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT, DEALER FOUND POWER STEERING PUMP LEAKING AND WAS REPLACED. NEXT DAY ENGINE LIGHT ON,ABS SYSTEM FAILS, ESP ELEC,STABILITY,PROGRAM FAILS, BAS BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM FAILS, THE CAR DOES NOT CHANGE GEAR AND WOULD NOT PICK UP SPEED EVENTHOUGH I'M PRESSING HARD ON THE GAS…
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STEERING WHEEL LOOSE AND MAKING NOISE WHEN TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT, DEALER FOUND POWER STEERING PUMP LEAKING AND WAS REPLACED. NEXT DAY ENGINE LIGHT ON,ABS SYSTEM FAILS, ESP ELEC,STABILITY,PROGRAM FAILS, BAS BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM FAILS, THE CAR DOES NOT CHANGE GEAR AND WOULD NOT PICK UP SPEED EVENTHOUGH I'M PRESSING HARD ON THE GAS PEDAL. DEALER ATTEMPTED FIXING THE PROBLEM 4X AND STILL THERE FOR THE 5TH TIME. EACH TIME THEY FIND DIFFERENT CAUSES LIKE CRACKED THRUST ARMS AND WAS REPLACED. THEN THEY SAID THERE'S AN OPEN CIRCUIT AT THE RIGHT SPEED CENSOR AND THEY REPLACED RIGHT REAR SPEED SENSOR.ANOTHER CAUSE FOUND CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR OPEN CIRCUIT.. IGNITION SYSTEM REPLACED. *AK
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
2DP05007 · Transmission Malfunction
Opened Nov 7, 2005 · Closed Mar 27, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission; Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
THE PETITIONER ALLEGES THAT COFFEE FROM A CUP, PLACED IN THE CUP HOLDER, SPILLED ONTO THE GEAR SHIFTER AND SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE?S ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE CONCERN RAISED BY THE PETITIONER WAS INVESTIGATED (SQ01-010) AND WAS CLOSED AFTER ODI CONCLUDED THAT THE FACTS DID NOT DEMONSTRATE A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT.ODI HAS SUBSEQUENTLY RECEIVED NINE MORE COMPLAINTS ALLEGING FLUID CONTAMINATION OF THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER SINCE THE INVESTIGATION WAS CLOSED, NONE OF WHICH REPORT CRASHES OR INJURIES.THESE NINE COMPLAINANTS MAINLY EXPRESSED DISSATISFACTION WITH THE DESIGN OF THE CUP HOLDER AND THE COST OF REPLACING THE CONTAMINATED ELECTRONIC SELECTOR MODULE.SIMILARLY, IN PETITIONER?S CASE SHE WAS ABLE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE TO A PLACE WHERE IT COULD BE SAFETY STOPPED AFTER THE LIQUID SPILLAGE.THE PETITIONER HAS NOT PROVIDED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING AND THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
THE PETITIONER ALLEGES THAT COFFEE FROM A CUP, PLACED IN THE CUP HOLDER, SPILLED ONTO THE GEAR SHIFTER AND SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE?S ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE CONCERN RAISED BY THE PETITIONER WAS INVESTIGATED (SQ01-010) AND WAS CLOSED AFTER ODI CONCLUDED THAT THE FACTS DID NOT DEMONSTRATE A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT.ODI HAS SUBSEQUENTLY RECEIVED NINE MORE COMPLAINTS ALLEGING FLUID CONTAMINATION OF THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER SINCE THE INVESTIGATION WAS CLOSED, NONE OF WHICH REPORT CRASHES OR INJURIES.THESE NINE COMPLAINANTS MAINLY EXPRESSED DISSATISFACTION WITH THE DESIGN OF THE CUP HOLDER AND THE COST OF REPLACING THE CONTAMINATED ELECTRONIC SELECTOR MODULE.SIMILARLY, IN PETITIONER?S CASE SHE WAS ABLE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE TO A PLACE WHERE IT COULD BE SAFETY STOPPED AFTER THE LIQUID SPILLAGE.THE PETITIONER HAS NOT PROVIDED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING AND THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.
Power Train:automatic Transmission
THE PETITIONER ALLEGES THAT COFFEE FROM A CUP, PLACED IN THE CUP HOLDER, SPILLED ONTO THE GEAR SHIFTER AND SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE?S ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE CONCERN RAISED BY THE PETITIONER WAS INVESTIGATED (SQ01-010) AND WAS CLOSED AFTER ODI CONCLUDED THAT THE FACTS DID NOT DEMONSTRATE A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT.ODI HAS SUBSEQUENTLY RECEIVED NINE MORE COMPLAINTS ALLEGING FLUID CONTAMINATION OF THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER SINCE THE INVESTIGATION WAS CLOSED, NONE OF WHICH REPORT CRASHES OR INJURIES.THESE NINE COMPLAINANTS MAINLY EXPRESSED DISSATISFACTION WITH THE DESIGN OF THE CUP HOLDER AND THE COST OF REPLACING THE CONTAMINATED ELECTRONIC SELECTOR MODULE.SIMILARLY, IN PETITIONER?S CASE SHE WAS ABLE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE TO A PLACE WHERE IT COULD BE SAFETY STOPPED AFTER THE LIQUID SPILLAGE.THE PETITIONER HAS NOT PROVIDED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING AND THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.
SQ01010 · Sudden Engine Shut Down
Opened Sep 25, 2001 · Closed Feb 4, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
No summary supplied.