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2004 Mercedes Benz C240

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 9 of 16 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 →
  • Air Bags. Review the 2 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 →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

16 reports
180,900 miles · Sep 6, 2014
Fuel/propulsion System

BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN JUNE 2014, AFTER EVERY TIME I FILLED THE GAS TANK, THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF GAS INSIDE THE CAR, AUGUST 2, 2014 CAR JUST CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, LOST ALL POWER LIKE IT WAS GETTING NO GAS AND JUST CUT OFF. AUGUST 5, FILLED GAS TANK TO TAKE TO SHOP AND HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND GAS LEAKED FROM U…

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BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN JUNE 2014, AFTER EVERY TIME I FILLED THE GAS TANK, THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF GAS INSIDE THE CAR, AUGUST 2, 2014 CAR JUST CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, LOST ALL POWER LIKE IT WAS GETTING NO GAS AND JUST CUT OFF. AUGUST 5, FILLED GAS TANK TO TAKE TO SHOP AND HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND GAS LEAKED FROM UNDERSIDE OF DRIVERS SIDE REAR AREA AND AGAIN STRONG SMELL OF GAS INSIDE THE CAR, DID SOME INVESTIGATION TO FIND OUT THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH OTHER MERCEDES CARS. APPARENTLY THERE HAS BEEN RECALLS ON THE E SERIES FROM THE YEAR 2004 FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT THIS A DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD AND MERCEDES SHOULD BE CALLED OUT TO FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10631279

36,000 miles · Aug 29, 2014
Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherFire

AFTER DRIVING 1 MILE FROM HOME, THE AIR CONDITIONED SYSTEM SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT FROM THE DRIVER'S VENT INTO THE CABIN. I LEFT THE CAR UNINJURED AND CALLED 911. FIREMEN CAME 10 MINUTES LATER AND I COULD SEE FLAMES COMING THROUGH THE LEFT VENT. THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD MELTED COMPLETELY, THE WI…

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AFTER DRIVING 1 MILE FROM HOME, THE AIR CONDITIONED SYSTEM SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT FROM THE DRIVER'S VENT INTO THE CABIN. I LEFT THE CAR UNINJURED AND CALLED 911. FIREMEN CAME 10 MINUTES LATER AND I COULD SEE FLAMES COMING THROUGH THE LEFT VENT. THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD MELTED COMPLETELY, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED, AND MY INSURER DECLARED THE CAR A TOTAL LOSS. I'M GLAD THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURY, THOUGH THE INCIDENT WAS REALLY SCARY. I HAD RECENTLY TAKEN MY CAR (3 MONTHS AGO) TO THE MERCEDES DEALER FOR A SERVICE THAT COST ME MORE THAN $6,000, AND THE CAR WAS SUPPOSED TO RUN LIKE NEW. THE AC HAD NEVER FAILED BEFORE THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10629406

80,000 miles · May 27, 2013
Air BagsElectrical SystemSeat Belts

THE SRS AND NUMEROUS OTHER MALFUNCTIONS COME ON. THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS ALONG WITH THE BLINKERS ARE TURN ON AND OFF BY THEMSELVES. AT FIRST TURNING THE CAR OFF THE MALFUNCTIONS WENT AWAY ONLY TO COME BACK A FEW MINUTES LATER. I FIND THIS TO BE VERY DANGEROUS SINCE THE AIR BAGS, SEAT-BELTS WONT WORK IN A ACCIDENT. ALONG W…

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THE SRS AND NUMEROUS OTHER MALFUNCTIONS COME ON. THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS ALONG WITH THE BLINKERS ARE TURN ON AND OFF BY THEMSELVES. AT FIRST TURNING THE CAR OFF THE MALFUNCTIONS WENT AWAY ONLY TO COME BACK A FEW MINUTES LATER. I FIND THIS TO BE VERY DANGEROUS SINCE THE AIR BAGS, SEAT-BELTS WONT WORK IN A ACCIDENT. ALONG WITH IF LIGHTS GO OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE BEFORE AFTER PAYING THOUSAND TO HAVE IT FIXED IT REAPPEARS AFTER A YEAR. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND IT SEEMS THAT EVERYONE IS HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM DUE TO FAULTY WIRE AND SENSOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10513704

120,000 miles · Jul 7, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

RE: C 240 MERCEDES 2004. THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON LONG DRIVES ON THE INTERSTATE, SHORT DRIVES ON THE INTERSTATE, AND STREET DRIVING. THE MECHANIC CANNOT FIND ANY CODES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS DEFECT. WE HAD THE CRANK SENSOR CHANGED BECAUSE THE MECHANIC THOUGHT THAT A WORN CRANK SENSOR MIGH…

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RE: C 240 MERCEDES 2004. THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON LONG DRIVES ON THE INTERSTATE, SHORT DRIVES ON THE INTERSTATE, AND STREET DRIVING. THE MECHANIC CANNOT FIND ANY CODES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS DEFECT. WE HAD THE CRANK SENSOR CHANGED BECAUSE THE MECHANIC THOUGHT THAT A WORN CRANK SENSOR MIGHT BE THE CAUSE. IT WAS NOT. TWO DAYS LATER THE CAR 'S ENGINE SHUT DOWN AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10341882

Mileage unknown · Mar 11, 2010
Latches/locks/linkages

I OWN A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ, C CLASS, 4-DOOR SEDAN AND WITHIN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND RIGHT REAR PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS REFUSE TO LOCK AND UNLOCK ON THEIR OWN, AFTER USING MY REMOTE TO SECURE MY DOORS AND NOW UNLOCK CONTINUOUSLY WHILE DRIVING. I'M CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF MY GRANDCHILD WHILE DRIVING AND THE SEC…

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I OWN A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ, C CLASS, 4-DOOR SEDAN AND WITHIN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND RIGHT REAR PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS REFUSE TO LOCK AND UNLOCK ON THEIR OWN, AFTER USING MY REMOTE TO SECURE MY DOORS AND NOW UNLOCK CONTINUOUSLY WHILE DRIVING. I'M CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF MY GRANDCHILD WHILE DRIVING AND THE SECURITY OF MY VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10318897

Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingLatches/locks/linkagesPower Train

2004 MERCEDES C240 WITH SUNROOF AND OVERHEAD CONTROL PANEL. CUSTOMER STATES THAT AFTER THE CAR WAS SUPPOSED TO BE REPAIRED THE VEHICLE ACQUIRED OTHER PROBLEMS ALONG WITH A LOOSE SEAT THAT MOVES WHILE DRIVING. *KB THE SUNROOF WOULDN'T CLOSE ON AUTO MODE, THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER WAS INOPERABLE, THE ALARM DIDN'T SOUND, THE RIGHT FR…

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2004 MERCEDES C240 WITH SUNROOF AND OVERHEAD CONTROL PANEL. CUSTOMER STATES THAT AFTER THE CAR WAS SUPPOSED TO BE REPAIRED THE VEHICLE ACQUIRED OTHER PROBLEMS ALONG WITH A LOOSE SEAT THAT MOVES WHILE DRIVING. *KB THE SUNROOF WOULDN'T CLOSE ON AUTO MODE, THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER WAS INOPERABLE, THE ALARM DIDN'T SOUND, THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR LOCK WAS DEFECTIVE, THE BRAKES SQUEAKED, THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK COMING FROM THE OIL PAN, THE TRANSMISSION LEAKED, THE THRUST ARM BUSHINGS FAILED, THE RIGHT SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER WAS COMING APART, THE RIGHT FRONT WINDOW MADE A LOUD SQUEAK, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE DRIVERS SEAT DIDN'T TILT UP OR DOWN. THE PANIC FEATURE ON THE VEHICLE DIDN'T WORK, BOTH REMOTE KEYS DIDN'T LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DOORS.

NHTSA ODI #10204872

Official recalls

3

24V874000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

Nov 19, 2024

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and can detach.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A detached sunroof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 22V-954. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024120001/2/3.

22V954000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

Dec 23, 2022

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and may detach.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A detached sunroof panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall expands NHTSA recall number 19V-918. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2023010004, 2023010005, and 2023010006.

19V918000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

Dec 20, 2019

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly resulting in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V918-4126.pdf

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020040011.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.