VehicleVerdict

2003 Mercedes-Benz C230 engine problems

The 2003 Mercedes-Benz C230 has 24 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 32% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

24

Engine complaints

32%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

C230 engine complaints by model year53 complaints1998: 2 complaints1999: 2 complaints2000: 1 complaints2001: 1 complaints2002: 19 complaints2003: 24 complaints2004: 11 complaints2005: 15 complaints2006: 53 complaints2007: 36 complaints
C230 engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ C230. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN EXCESS OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE, BLINDING THE CONTACTS VIEW OF VEHICLE FOLLOWING. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TO LOSE POWER ABNORMALLY AND WAS MOVED FROM THE ROADWAY WHERE IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · June 23, 2003 · fire

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C230 have?

NHTSA has 24 complaints about the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C230 engine — 32% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.