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2003 Mercedes Benz C Class

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 →
9Owner complaints

Model-year median: 8.5

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 C Class

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 9 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)

  • Electrical System: 3 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 2 reports
  • Air Bags: 1 reports
  • Equipment: 1 reports
  • Fuel System, Other: 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
    8
    2000    14
    2001    31
    2002    9
    2003    15
    2004    5
    2005    9
    2006
    Compare all C Class years →

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

    What owners reported most

    Electrical System
    3    Engine And Engine Cooling
    2    Air Bags
    1    Equipment
    1    Fuel System, Other
    1
    All reported categories
    Power Train
    1    Seat Belts
    1    Unknown Or Other
    1    Vehicle Speed Control
    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: 7 of 9 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 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Air Bags. 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.

    1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

    Equipment complaints

    1 reports
    Clear category filter
    32,073 miles · Aug 6, 2007
    Equipment

    WHILE DRIVING WITH A/C SET ON "AUTO" THE A/C SYSTEM WOULD SUDDENLY TURN OFF BY ITSELF AND WOULD TURN OF REPEATEDLY WHEN STARTED AGAIN. DURING SUCH EPISODES THE A/C WOULD ACT ERRATIC WITH FANS TURNING ON AND OFF AT DIFFERENT OUTLETS, CYCLES BETWEEN HEATING AND COOLING, AND MAKES HISSING SOUNDS. THIS WOULD OCCUR MANY TIMES A DAY O…

    Read full complaint

    WHILE DRIVING WITH A/C SET ON "AUTO" THE A/C SYSTEM WOULD SUDDENLY TURN OFF BY ITSELF AND WOULD TURN OF REPEATEDLY WHEN STARTED AGAIN. DURING SUCH EPISODES THE A/C WOULD ACT ERRATIC WITH FANS TURNING ON AND OFF AT DIFFERENT OUTLETS, CYCLES BETWEEN HEATING AND COOLING, AND MAKES HISSING SOUNDS. THIS WOULD OCCUR MANY TIMES A DAY ON A DAILY BASIS IN SUMMER WEATHER (EXCEPT WHEN THE CAR IS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, IT SEEMS). IT TOOK ABOUT 2 YEARS FOR THE DEALER TO FINALLY FIX THE PROBLEM SINCE THEY COULD NOT AVOID ADMITTING ITS EXISTENCE AFTER I HAD VIDEO TAPED THE MALFUNCTION AND SHOWED THEM THE VIDEO.. *JB

    NHTSA ODI #10198649

    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.