IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ C230. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BRAKE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.
2001 Mercedes Benz C230
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 C230 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
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: 1 of 4 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 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes. 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.
0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
4 reportsWHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF TRYING TO ACCELERATE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
CONSUME R WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH OF HOOD. VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
THE INFORMATION SCREEN WHICH HOUSES BASIC DRIVER INFORMATION (ODOMETER, GEAR RANGE INDICATOR, TIME, TEMPERATURE) CAN NOT BE SEEN IN WHEN DRIVING ON A SUNNY DAY, THIS WASHOUT OF THE INFORMATION COULD CAUSES THE DRIVER TO CONCENTRATE ON THE SCREEN AND LOOSE FULL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. NLM
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.