1999 Mercedes Benz C230K

Owner complaints

What owners report most

1. Electrical system3
2. Engine and engine cooling2
3. Fuel/propulsion system1
4. Fuel system, gasoline1
5. Service brakes, hydraulic1
6. Air bags1
7. Suspension1
8. Exterior lighting1

Latest complaints

• Jan 14, 2016CA63,000 miCrash1 injury
  Air bags
  TL* the contact owns a 1999 mercedes-benz c230k. While attempting to make a left turn at approximately 10 mph, another vehicle crashed into the front of the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The driver sustained chest and arm injuries that required medical attention. A police report…

  TL* the contact owns a 1999 mercedes-benz c230k. While attempting to make a left turn at approximately 10 mph, another vehicle crashed into the front of the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The driver sustained chest and arm injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 63,000.

• Jun 18, 2015IN136,500 mi
  Suspension

  Hit pothole at 10 mph and the lower control arm snapped off causing a loss of control of the car. Dealership says the control arm was corroded through.

• Apr 24, 2015KY125,000 mi
  Electrical system

  Wiper, locks, tailgate, instrument panel and windows all malfunctioned at the same time. The problem has been intermittent, therefore, I am afraid to roll windows down or lock the vehicle. *tr

• Jul 15, 2013NC120,000 mi
  Fuel/propulsion system
  Drivers side gas tank IS leaking with strong gas fumes coming from under car sitting still. leak IS at the bottom sending unit on the left plastic tank under the passenger seat behind the driver. I isolated the leak to where the wires plug to the tank gauge sending unit. this IS obviously a very…

  Drivers side gas tank IS leaking with strong gas fumes coming from under car sitting still. leak IS at the bottom sending unit on the left plastic tank under the passenger seat behind the driver. I isolated the leak to where the wires plug to the tank gauge sending unit. this IS obviously a very dangerous condition that should not occur ever in normal operating of the car. this car has not been abused or wrecked that I know about so, it IS a manufacturer defect. in addition, recently, there was a major gasoline leak from a rusted line on the right tank high pressure line going from the fuel pump to the engine, with fuel spraying everywhere under the car. this was caused by a rusted line, probably from salt on winter roads. the metal fuel line was very flimsy and a hole had rusted in it. mercedes claims to sell a quality automobile. mercedes should be required to repair such obviously dangerous defects free of charge to the consumer. *tr

• Oct 4, 2008NC20,000 mi
  Electrical system · Exterior lighting
  1999 mercedes benz C230 instrument panel lights have gone out. I have not had this problem repaired due to the cost estimate quoted to me by the mb dealership. instrument panel lights went out 2 weeks after vehicle warranty expired. another problem probably associated with the electrical…

  1999 mercedes benz C230 instrument panel lights have gone out. I have not had this problem repaired due to the cost estimate quoted to me by the mb dealership. instrument panel lights went out 2 weeks after vehicle warranty expired. another problem probably associated with the electrical system IS that I have had to replace headlamps, interior lamps, backup lamps (ie light bulbs) on a continual basis. at least every other month I have a warning light come on that I have lamp out. presently I have to replace the backup lamps but have not done so. just replaced a left headlamp two weeks ago. this has been ongoing since my mother purchased the car new in august of 1999. she gifted the mb to me and I have been the only driver since 2001 and it IS a one owner mb (two family members). *Tr

• Oct 13, 2007TX80,000 mi
  Electrical system › Software · Engine and engine cooling › Engine · Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Turbo/supercharger · Fuel system, gasoline › Fuel injection system
  Mar '07: interior dash light warning "check engine" came on. I immediately brought it to a mercedes-authorized mechanic; computer diagnostic said "fuel trim error". mar to oct '07 following parts were replaced: all fuel injectors, spark plugs, engine wiring, all engine gaskets & 2 maf (mass…

  Mar '07: interior dash light warning "check engine" came on. I immediately brought it to a mercedes-authorized mechanic; computer diagnostic said "fuel trim error". mar to oct '07 following parts were replaced: all fuel injectors, spark plugs, engine wiring, all engine gaskets & 2 maf (mass air flow) oxygen sensors; additionally, the compressor unit was taken apart 7 times, and upon examination, a very small amount of oil would be discovered - 1 tsp to 1 tbsp ea time. Each time, it was impeccably cleaned. total cost to owner over 7 months: $3,500. during car ownership, the car has been maintained according to mercedes repair schedules, using only oem parts and products - it only has 86K original miles on it - very low for an 8 yr old car. the mechanic observed that the blow back oil accumulates in the compressor, so the computer sensor thinks the engine IS running too rich and will virtually shut down power to the compressor. the compressor itself was tested after each cleaning, and runs perfectly. it only when the interior compressor sensors picks up minor molecules of oil, that it thinks it IS running too rich, and will not deliver power to the engine. this IS especially dangerous, because it IS not predictable, and when it occurs, the driven IS unable to climb hills or even slight inclines, and can not exceed 65 mph without a >50% loss of power to the engine. the car can not even accelerate on a slight incline and will loose 10-20 mph as a result. it was assessed by the mechanic, after watching it for 6 mos and reinspecting 6 times (all with the same fuel trim error, and no other computer errors registering) that the blow back IS from interior o rings, very deep in the engine: repair cost est: $3-5K. This type repair IS not heard of on a mercedes with 86K miles, with the care taken. the car IS undriveable due to the inordinate repair costs (tx dot inspection does not pass with "check engine" light problems). *tr

• Jun 20, 2002NY
  Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip

  ABS light will continueously come on and stay on while consumer IS driving. contacted dealer, and dealer was not willing to do anything.*ak

Service bulletins

Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.

• 10186141NTG5.5: Incorrect time shown on instrument cluster, COMAND display, and analog clock
• 10186135If the customer brakes sharply from a speed of > 30mph, without ABS intervention, there is a single cracking noise from the area of the ESP hydraulic unit
• 10181124Harsh engagement when changing gear range from P to D or R
• 10167563The COMAND unit does not start or the COMAND display remains dark. The COMAND unit cannot be operated. Note: The problem disappears after a lengthy idle period (>6h) or after interrupting the power supply (circuit 30).
• 10166099Pneumatic comfort systems with insufficient performance, entirely inoperative or leaky.
• 10151959Seat belt extender toothed rack sluggish or makes noises
• 10135599Clunking noise from front axle suspension strut or rear axle shock absorber on short strokes of the damper
• 10041208Mercedes benz: engine light IS on with stored trouble codes.
• 10034988Mercedes benz (daimler): unsatisfactory brake servo assistance after a cold start, primarily when maneuvering. Low vacuum in the intake manifold due to wide open throttle valve. Retrofit electric brake booster vacuum pump (M56). Model 203. No model year listed.
• 10028624Mercedes vehicle: the anti-lock brake system (ABS) return flow pump running without control with corresponding fault code c1401, clean and insulated the connector for the return flow pump relay. Models 202 and 208. Model years unknown.
• 10028586Mercedes vehicle: the srs indicator lamp IS illuminated and code b1058 and b2dbo are stored, replace the srs control unit. Models 203 and model 209. Model years unknown.
• 10028585Mercedes vehicles: the xenon or bi-xenon headlamp not functioning. A function description can be found in wis document gf8s.10-p-20010 (203), gf82.10-p-0003q (209); gf82.10-p-3002r (230). Model years uknown.
• 10022893Check engine light on / fault codes fc1200 / fc1208 stored in me-sfi control unit. Mercedes-benz model C230, C280, C350, slk280, slk350, clk350, clk550, E350, E550, cls550, S600, and sl550. Equipped with M272 engine or M273 engine. Updated 8/28/08.
• 10020460Play in the rack and pinion steering system. Models 203, 209, 210, 211, 215, 220, 230. Mercedes benz. Updated 5/13/09.
• 606700Concerns with check engine light on with code p0100, p0170.