IllustrationMY LEFT FRONT SPRING PERCH RUSTED OFF THE FRAME AND MY FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF THE CAR AS I WAS DRIVING. THE RIGHT PERCH WAS RUSTED AND IT HAD TO BE REPAIRED ALSO. *TR
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all C230 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
10–25K
025–50K
450–75K
275–100K
8100–150K
5150K+
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
Structure complaints
6 reportsRIGHT AND LEFT SPRING PERCHES ARE RUSTING OUT AND COMING APART ON A 1998 230 C MERCEDES. PERCHES HAVE TO BE REWELDED SO FRONT WHEELS DON'T COME OFF THE CAR. *TR
THE DRIVER'S SIDE UPPER COIL-SPRING MOUNT TORE AWAY FROM THE BODY STRUCTURE, EJECTING THE COIL SPRING AND BUSHING, COLLAPSING THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND RENDERING THE CAR IMMOBILE. THE CAR WAS PARKED AT THE TIME SO NO COLLISION. IF THE CAR WAS MOVING AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE THERE WOULD BE NO WAY TO STEER IT. DUE TO ESTIMATED R…
Read full complaint
THE DRIVER'S SIDE UPPER COIL-SPRING MOUNT TORE AWAY FROM THE BODY STRUCTURE, EJECTING THE COIL SPRING AND BUSHING, COLLAPSING THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND RENDERING THE CAR IMMOBILE. THE CAR WAS PARKED AT THE TIME SO NO COLLISION. IF THE CAR WAS MOVING AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE THERE WOULD BE NO WAY TO STEER IT. DUE TO ESTIMATED REPAIR COST OF $1500-2000 VERSUS RESALE VALUE, THE CAR WAS SOLD AS-IS AND TOWED AWAY. *TR
CONSUMER STATES POWER LOCK WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING, DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB
CONSUMER STATES WHENEVER VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP, THE REAR TRUNK WOULD POP OPEN INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB
GAS GAUGE ONLY READS EMPTY. DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR--ASSEMBLY PROBLEM. LEFT DOOR WINDOW WEATHERSTRIP LOOSE.
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.