IllustrationMy right rear tire wares from the inside to the middle only the rest of the tire is good. I’ve had two blowouts because I can’t see that part of my tire without getting down on the ground to look at it. The part I see looks good. My tire seems to be kicked out a bit at the bottom. This is the only tire I have problems with.
2004 Mercedes Benz C320
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 C320 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
Limited mileage data: 12 of 15 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.
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 4 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 →
- Visibility. 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.
1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
15 reportsSTRONG GAS SMELL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ C320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY AS THE CONTACT STRUCK A POTHOLE IN THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IMPACT ACTIVATED THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ C320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY AS THE CONTACT STRUCK A POTHOLE IN THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IMPACT ACTIVATED THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
I SMELT FUEL INSIDE MY CAR WHENEVER MY CAR WOULD BE FILLED TO A FULL TANK OF GAS AND FOR A PERIOD OF TIME UNTIL THE FUEL LEVEL DROPPED. MY CAR STARTED TO DRIVE FUNNY AND NOT ACCELERATE NORMALLY THEN STOPPED ALL TOGETHER. MERCEDES DIAGNOSED IT AS A FUEL SYSTEM ISSUE. I BOUGHT THE PARTS AT MERCEDES AND HAD IT REPAIRED AND T…
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I SMELT FUEL INSIDE MY CAR WHENEVER MY CAR WOULD BE FILLED TO A FULL TANK OF GAS AND FOR A PERIOD OF TIME UNTIL THE FUEL LEVEL DROPPED. MY CAR STARTED TO DRIVE FUNNY AND NOT ACCELERATE NORMALLY THEN STOPPED ALL TOGETHER. MERCEDES DIAGNOSED IT AS A FUEL SYSTEM ISSUE. I BOUGHT THE PARTS AT MERCEDES AND HAD IT REPAIRED AND THEN THEN RECEIVED A WEEK LATER A RECALL FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM AS A SAFETY ISSUE. . THE DEALER DID NOT FIX MY CAR AND HAS AVOIDED THE ASSISTANCE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE AND I CAN NOT REACH ANYONE AT MERCEDES CORPORATE THAT CAN HELP.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ C320. WHILE STOPPED, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED HEAD ON INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED KNEE, BACK, HEAD, AND SHOULDER INJURIES. WHILE WAITING ON POLICE AND MEDICAL SERVICE TO ARRIVE, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ C320. WHILE STOPPED, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED HEAD ON INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED KNEE, BACK, HEAD, AND SHOULDER INJURIES. WHILE WAITING ON POLICE AND MEDICAL SERVICE TO ARRIVE, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS STILL FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000. ..UPDATED 08/26/15 *BF MA 10/22/2015
MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS MANY OTHER MERCEDES BENZ OWNERS THE FUEL SMELL INSIDE THE CABIN BECAUSE A FAILURE IN THE FUEL SENDING UNITS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES E320. THE CONTACT STATED FUEL FUMES WERE EMITTED IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 8/27/14*CN UPDATED 09/5/2014 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR COMING FROM VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE REAR SEAT AND DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL WAS FILLED WITH GASOLINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PRESSURE VALVES NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE V…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR COMING FROM VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE REAR SEAT AND DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL WAS FILLED WITH GASOLINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PRESSURE VALVES NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ C320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AS THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SHOULDER AND POWERED OFF THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHER…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ C320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AS THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SHOULDER AND POWERED OFF THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,580 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ C320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE O…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ C320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,000. *TR
Official recalls
324V874000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.