NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
26 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Jul 17, 2016
Electrical SystemExterior LightingSeats
MY BATTERY KEEPS DRAINING. WHEN I LOOK AT THE DISPLAY SCREEN IT ONLY STATES THAT THE FRONT RIGHT LIGHT IS OUT. WHEN I HAD TWO MECHANICS LOOK AT IT AND THEY STATED THAT MY BATTERY IS BEING DRAINED DUE TO MY SEAT FUNCTION NOT WORKING PROPERLY. AFTER NOT USING MY BATTERY FOR HOURS IT DIES. I KEEP HAVING TO JUMP IT. MY BATTERY HAS B…
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MY BATTERY KEEPS DRAINING. WHEN I LOOK AT THE DISPLAY SCREEN IT ONLY STATES THAT THE FRONT RIGHT LIGHT IS OUT. WHEN I HAD TWO MECHANICS LOOK AT IT AND THEY STATED THAT MY BATTERY IS BEING DRAINED DUE TO MY SEAT FUNCTION NOT WORKING PROPERLY. AFTER NOT USING MY BATTERY FOR HOURS IT DIES. I KEEP HAVING TO JUMP IT. MY BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED LESS THAN A MONTH AGO SO I KNOW THE BATTERY IS NOT AN ISSUE. MY DISPLAY SCREEN GIVES ME A FEW DIFFERENT MALFUNCTIONS AND THAN ONE MOMENT IT DISPLAYS NO MALFUNCTIONS. AFTER CHARGING MY CAR AND THAN LEAVING IT A STRANGE CHURPING SOUND GOES OFF IN MY CAR CAUSING MY BATTERY TO DIE AGAIN. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN MY CAR HAS DIED IN AT NIGHT IN STRANGE AREAS AND I HAVE TO ALONE AND UNSAFELY JUMP MY CAR AND SIT UNTIL MY JUMPER PROVIDES MY BATTERY WITH ENOUGH JUICE TO START MY CAR. WHEN I AM DRIVING MY FUNCTIONS STOP WORKING BECAUSE MY BATTERY ISN'T STRONG ENOUGH TO POWER THE EVERYTHING. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS.
NHTSA ODI #10885314
109,042 miles · Apr 23, 2016
Electrical SystemSteering
I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR AND TWO DAYS LATER THE SMART KEY WON'T TURN, CAN'T UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE SHIFFTER THE GOOD THINK THE CAR WAS PARKED ON MY DRIVE WAY CALL TOW TRUCK TAKE TO THE SHOP AND THEY SAY I NEED A NEW KEY AND IGNITION CONTROL MODULE BUT ONLY DEALER CAN DO THAT, $1,400.00 DOLLARS JOB
NHTSA ODI #10861059
57,000 miles · Aug 4, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes
AT 55 MPH THE FRONT LEFT BRAKE ENGAGES WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND AFTER A FEW SECONDS RELEASES, THE BAS AND ESC FAULTS ARE THEN VISIBLE ON THE DASH. THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED BY MERCEDES TWO TIMES, BUT THIS CONDITION SHOWS UP AFTER A FEW DAYS OF DRIVING , CODES SHOW THAT THE YAW RATE SENSOR OR CONNECTION IS A…
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AT 55 MPH THE FRONT LEFT BRAKE ENGAGES WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND AFTER A FEW SECONDS RELEASES, THE BAS AND ESC FAULTS ARE THEN VISIBLE ON THE DASH. THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED BY MERCEDES TWO TIMES, BUT THIS CONDITION SHOWS UP AFTER A FEW DAYS OF DRIVING , CODES SHOW THAT THE YAW RATE SENSOR OR CONNECTION IS AT FAULT. EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING ON A FLAT LEVEL SURFACE THE FAULT WARNING DASH LIGHTS ESC AND BAS WILL COME ON WITH NO MOVEMENT IN THE CAR. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR A COLLISION FROM A VEHICLE FOLLOWING ME AND RUNNING INTO ME . MANY OTHERS POSTED THE SAME PROBLEM. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL ? I HAVE 8 GRANDCHILDREN THAT YOU SHOULD CARE ABOUT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10618834
90,000 miles · Jul 30, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting
THE "MULTI FUNCTION DISPLAY" (MFD) SCREEN IN THE DASH FADES WITH INTERIOR HEAT (IN SUMMER) AND EVENTUALLY FAILS OVER TIME. THE MFD DISPLAYS ALL CRITICAL VEHICLE OPERATION INFORMATION (SUCH AS COOLANT TEMPERATURE WARNINGS, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL ACTIVATION, ETC.), AND ALL NOTIFICATION OF VEHICLE FAULT CODES THAT OCCUR. WI…
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THE "MULTI FUNCTION DISPLAY" (MFD) SCREEN IN THE DASH FADES WITH INTERIOR HEAT (IN SUMMER) AND EVENTUALLY FAILS OVER TIME. THE MFD DISPLAYS ALL CRITICAL VEHICLE OPERATION INFORMATION (SUCH AS COOLANT TEMPERATURE WARNINGS, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL ACTIVATION, ETC.), AND ALL NOTIFICATION OF VEHICLE FAULT CODES THAT OCCUR. WITHOUT THE INFORMATION VISIBLE, THE OWNER CAN'T KNOW IF THERE IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. THERE ARE NO MECHANICAL GAUGES SERVING AS BACK-UP. FURTHER, THE VEHICLE ODOMETER IS ONLY VISIBLE IN THE MFD. WITHOUT AN OPERATING MFD, THE OWNER CANNOT VIEW, OR CERTIFY THE CORRECT ODOMETER MILEAGE, REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW WHEN SELLING THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER OR SUBSEQUENT OWNER. THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN FAULT ACROSS SEVERAL MERCEDES MODELS. DEALERS OFFER TO REPLACE THE MFD, AT CONSIDERABLE OWNER EXPENSE. HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE ODOMETER ISSUE, I BELIEVE THAT MERCEDES SHOULD FIX THE DISPLAY AT ZERO COST TO THE CONSUMER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10617540
75,000 miles · Apr 29, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior LightingSeats
MY 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ C320'S BATTERY WAS CONSTANTLY GOING BAD AND HAVING TO BE JUMPED AFTER NOT STARTING IT OR DRIVING IT FOR APPROX. 24 HOURS. FINALLY, AFTER A CERTIFIED MERCEDES MECHANIC INVESTIGATED THE PROBLEM, HE INFORMED ME THAT THE PROBLEM ORIGINATED FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT MODULE, WHICH WAS DRAINING MY BATTERY. HE INFOR…
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MY 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ C320'S BATTERY WAS CONSTANTLY GOING BAD AND HAVING TO BE JUMPED AFTER NOT STARTING IT OR DRIVING IT FOR APPROX. 24 HOURS. FINALLY, AFTER A CERTIFIED MERCEDES MECHANIC INVESTIGATED THE PROBLEM, HE INFORMED ME THAT THE PROBLEM ORIGINATED FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT MODULE, WHICH WAS DRAINING MY BATTERY. HE INFORMED ME THAT IF I UNPLUGGED IT FOR THE TIME BEING, MY BATTERY WOULD NO LONGER DRAIN. SURE ENOUGH, AFTER UNPLUGGING THE SEAT MODULE, I NO LONGER HAD ISSUES WITH MY BATTERY DRAINING. THE SEAT MODULE CONTROLS SEAT ADJUSTMENTS AS WELL AS STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTMENTS, SO THIS IS VERY INCONVENIENT, AND UNSAFE, BECAUSE THERE ARE TIMES, WHEN I HAVE TO PLUG THE MODULE IN ADJUST MY SEAT OR STEERING WHEEL, AND IT DOES NOT WORK, AND I'M STUCK WITH THE SEATS OR STEERING WHEEL IN AN UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE (STOP) LIGHTS, TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS, ETC., IN WHICH THE VEHICLE INDICATOR STATES THAT PARTICULAR LIGHTS ARE MALFUNCTIONING, AND THEN AFTER AWHILE IT GOES AWAY, AND THEN DAYS LATER, THE LIGHTS ARE INOPERABLE AGAIN. I HAVE SPENT QUITE A BIT OF MONEY REPLACING BULBS. I ORIGINALLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2004 WHEN IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10585499
128,000 miles · Jan 20, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)SeatsFire
REALLY DAD EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT CONTROL MODULES DRAINING BATTERY WHEN KEY OFF MY CAR STARTED ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD .!! TWO TIMES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10560656
34,579 miles · Dec 24, 2013
Electrical SystemStructure
THE TRUNK LID WOULD OCCASIONALLY OPEN UP ON ITS OWN, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, BLOCKING REAR VIEW. THIS WAS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES OVER A PERIOD OF ONE-TWO MONTHS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10557156
53,000 miles · Sep 11, 2013
Electrical SystemSeatsSteering
POWER CONTROL SEAT & STEERING COLUMN MODULE/REGULATOR WENT OUT & BEFORE IT DID IT USE TO DRAIN THE BATTERY WHERE CAR WOULDN'T START IF SAT FOR LESS THAN 24HRS, SO HAD TO UNPLUG BUT NOW THE ENTIRE SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK PLUGGED IN. I CAN BARELY REACH THE PEDALS TO DRIVE PROPERLY, THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD & NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. IT AL…
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POWER CONTROL SEAT & STEERING COLUMN MODULE/REGULATOR WENT OUT & BEFORE IT DID IT USE TO DRAIN THE BATTERY WHERE CAR WOULDN'T START IF SAT FOR LESS THAN 24HRS, SO HAD TO UNPLUG BUT NOW THE ENTIRE SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK PLUGGED IN. I CAN BARELY REACH THE PEDALS TO DRIVE PROPERLY, THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD & NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. IT ALSO NEEDS TO BE A WAY TO MANUALLY ADJUST. THANK YOU *TR
NHTSA ODI #10543177
64,000 miles · Dec 7, 2012
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ C320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT IT WOULD NOT START. THE DEALER SENT SOMEONE TO CHARGE THE BATTERY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE ADDITIONAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE DRIVE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ C320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT IT WOULD NOT START. THE DEALER SENT SOMEONE TO CHARGE THE BATTERY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE ADDITIONAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS DRAINING THE BATTERY. THE DEALER DISCONNECTED THE FUSE FOR THE SEAT BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO ADJUST THE SEAT WHEN NEEDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10487665
154,000 miles · May 31, 2012
Electrical SystemSeats
I PURCHASED THIS CAR AS A GRADUATION PRESENT FOR MY DAUGHTER. I KNOW IT'S AND OLDER MODEL, AND HAS HIGH MILEAGE, SO I EXPECTED SOME ISSUES. HOWEVER, AFTER READING SEVERAL POST ACROSS THE INTERNET IT SEEMS AS IF THE SEAT MODULE ISSUE IS A PROBLEM. EVERYTIME SHE LETS THE CAR SIT FOR MORE THAN A DAY, IT WON'T START. SHE HAS TO JUMP…
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I PURCHASED THIS CAR AS A GRADUATION PRESENT FOR MY DAUGHTER. I KNOW IT'S AND OLDER MODEL, AND HAS HIGH MILEAGE, SO I EXPECTED SOME ISSUES. HOWEVER, AFTER READING SEVERAL POST ACROSS THE INTERNET IT SEEMS AS IF THE SEAT MODULE ISSUE IS A PROBLEM. EVERYTIME SHE LETS THE CAR SIT FOR MORE THAN A DAY, IT WON'T START. SHE HAS TO JUMP START THE CAR, AND THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE ACROSS THE BOARD THAT BENZ SHOULD HAVE RECALLED BY NOW. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. THIS MORNING THE CARD ONCE AGAIN WOULD NOT START. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND BENZ DIRECT, BUT THEY WILL NOT RECALL THE CAR FOR THIS ISSUE, THEY JUST WANT YOU TO PAY TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. WITH SO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WHY HAS THIS CAR NOT BEEN RECALLED??? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10460130
Official recalls
3Nov 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.
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.
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 ↗