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1998 Mercedes Benz C230

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Mercedes Benz C230 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 39.

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 →
39Owner complaints

Model-year median: 39

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

1998 Mercedes Benz C230

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 39 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)

  • Suspension: 9 reports
  • Electrical System: 7 reports
  • Structure: 6 reports
  • Power Train: 5 reports
  • Visibility: 5 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
    7
    1997    39
    1998    29
    1999    29
    2000    4
    2001
    Compare all C230 years →

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

    What owners reported most

    Suspension
    9    Electrical System
    7    Structure
    6    Power Train
    5    Visibility
    5
    All reported categories
    Fuel System, Other
    3    Engine And Engine Cooling
    2    Steering
    2    Tires
    2    Equipment
    1    Exterior Lighting
    1    Fuel System, Gasoline
    1    Fuel/propulsion System
    1    Service Brakes, Air
    1    Vehicle Speed Control
    1    Visibility/wiper
    1

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

    When problems were reported

    Mileage at the reported incident

    20 reports with mileage · 19 unknown

    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.

    • Suspension. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Electrical System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Structure. Review the 6 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 reports2 injury reports

    Fuel/propulsion System complaints

    1 reports
    Clear category filter
    150,000 miles · Aug 11, 2014
    Fuel/propulsion System

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ C230. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO DISCOVERED A FUEL LEAK AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MI…

    Read full complaint

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ C230. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO DISCOVERED A FUEL LEAK AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

    NHTSA ODI #10621532

    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.