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2004 Mercedes-benz C-class

The Verdict

79 Solid Pick

The 2004 Mercedes-benz C-class has 77 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are engine (30 complaints) and body (26 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 79/100, it earns a "Solid Pick" rating. If you're shopping for a Mercedes-benz C-class, consider the 2024 model year which has 84% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2024 has 84% fewer complaints

View the 2024 Mercedes-benz C-class dashboard →

79

Klunk Score: Solid Pick

Fewer complaints than most vehicles. Generally dependable, but check the top problems below.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
200266671398
200326124487
200426415302
2005261703310
2006272428823
20072835814544
2008145156144614
200915124439409
201010683034016
201112012307629
201213222321946
2013163162968210
20146411170336
201516785119113
201611582715411
20171025311086
201858318433
201931510243
20202515113
2021201101
2022826100
2023136321
202453121

By Category

Engine
30
Body
26
Electrical
15
Brakes
4
Transmission
2

By Severity

1
39
2
27
4
11

Worst Problems

Compare Against

See how the 2004 Mercedes-benz C-class stacks up against rivals.

Complaints

Body 1

My 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.

47mo ago
Electrical 1

SRS ABS ESP lights occasionally go on and off mostly the SRS take to shop does not come on or stay on obd2 does not detect may use clear error messages stays off for few weeks then back on and off bought scanner when SRS comes on sometimes it shows error B1035 stored and current the resistance value in the ignition circuit containing component R1 2/20 (left front side airbag ignition squib) is too high sometimes nothing hear this same complaint from many owners. drivers side seat motor only works off and on had replaced sometimes works sometimes does not lots of sensor issues shows a door ajar when it is not have to replace senors

53mo ago
Body 1

The bonding agent on my roof ( between the glass panel and frame of car) is breaking down- The other week, when I had the sun roof open in direct sun ( my car is usually parked in covered parking) the bonding was sticky to the touch, and got all over my hand when I inspected the rail. I took it to Mercedes, because I thought that it was under recall # 202004011 for this very issue, but they said it was not a covered model. They wanted to charge $300 for an inspection and diagnosis. MBUSA customer service also not interested in investigating whether this issue is affecting my model car. In the recalled models, there is a danger of the glass roof separating from the vehicle.

60mo ago
Body 2

I TOOK MY CAR TO MERCEDES-BENZ DEALERSHIP TO FIX A RECALL ON MY SUNROOF NHTSA RECALL # 19V918 THEY CLAIMED THEY CHECKED MY SEAL FOR DEFECTIVE BUT WHEN I RECEIVED MY CAR THE SUNROOF WOULD NOT OPEN . I ASKED THEM WHAT DID THEY DO IT NOT WORKING AT ALL . THEY WERE VERY VAGUE ON THE DETAILS TO CHECKING MY RECALL. STATED THEY DIDN'T NEED TO OPEN MY SUNROOF TO CHECK. THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE ALSO I QUESTION WHY IS IT BROKEN NOW IT WAS NOT PRIOR TO BRINGING IT IN . THEY WERE ELUSIVE AND NON COMPLIANT AND STATED IT WAS BROKEN. THEY WOULD NAKED RESPONSIBILITY NOR EXPLAIN HOW THEY INSEPECTED A SEAL IF THE SUNROOF WOULD NOT OPEN .

70mo ago
Electrical 4

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ C230. THE CONTACT STATED HE NOTICED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE HEAD LIGHTS WAS MELTED. THE CONTACT STATED HE REPLACED THE BULB HIMSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 87,000.

70mo ago
Body 1

MY CAR HAVE A RECALL FOR THE SUNROOF SINCE IT MAY DETACH AND FLIGHT OUT, I MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR SERVICE AT EURO MOTOR CAR IN GAITHERSBURG, MARYLAND. A LADY FROM THE DEALER JUST CALL ME BACK TO INFORM ME THAT THEY ARE CANCELING THE APPOINTMENT BECAUSE THEY DO NOT DO RECALLS...

74mo ago
Body 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ C240. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V918000 (VISIBILITY) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. MERCEDES-BENZ OF BONITA SPRINGS (14610 TAMIAMI TRAIL N, NAPLES, FL 34110) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

74mo ago
Body 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ C 230. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V918000 (VISIBILITY) HOWEVER, THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUNROOF WAS INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT REACHED OUT TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF PALM SPRINGS LOCATED AT (4095 E. PALM CANYON DR, PALM SPRINGS, CA 92264, (760) 328-6525) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE A TIME FRAME FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

76mo ago
Body 2

SUNROOF DEFECTIVE AND MERCEDES IS NOT HONORING THIS RECALL. C CLASS WAS ANNOUNCED AS PART OF RECALL, HOWEVER THEY WOULD NOT HONOR 2004 C230 DEFECTIVE SUNROOF. PLEASE HELP. I AM SURE THAT MERCEDES IS DOING THEIR BEST NOT TO REPAIR AS MANY AS POSSIBLE.

77mo ago
Body 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ C240. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V918000 (VISIBILITY) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

78mo ago
Engine 1

FUEL SYSTEM IS LEAKING GETTING CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAN'T PASS SMOG AND EGR HOSES THAT RUN DOWN BY THE SUPER CHARGER ARE LEAKING CAUSE THE RUBBER THEY USED KNOWING THIS WOULD HAPPEN ALL HAVE TO DO WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON

90mo ago
Brakes 2

I HAVE A MERCEDES BENZ C230 THE LIGHT IS ON BUT THE SRS IS ON GIVE MESSAGE THAT SAID DRIVE TO A WORK SHOP

93mo ago
Body 2

MY DAUGHTER IS 18. THIS WAS MY MERCEDES THAT I HANDED DOWN TO HER THAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE SAFE. HOWEVER, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLES ARE NOT LOCKING THE SEAT BELTS PROPERLY. THIS IS PART OF A RECALL DONE BY MERCEDES. HOWEVER, WHEN I CALLED THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AND ASKED THEM IF MY CAR WAS RECALLED, THEY SAID THAT MY VIN NUMBER WASN'T ONE OF THE CARS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND IF MY CAR IS DOING SAME THING THAT THE RECALL SAYS. THERE WILL BE A HECK OF A LAWSUIT IF MY DAUGHTER WAS TO GET IN A WRECK AND HER SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONED. THIS IS WHAT THE RECALL SAYS AND MY DAUGHTER'S VEHICLE IS DOING THE SAME THING. ......SOME SEAT BELT BUCKLES MAY HAVE A BURR ON A METAL COMPONENT OF THE LOCKING MECHANISM. THIS COULD PREVENT THE SEAT BELT FROM LOCKING UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED SEAT BELTS. THIS RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON DECEMBER 22, 2003. THE MERCEDES-BENZ RECALL NUMBER IS 2003 120006. YOU WOULD THINK MERCEDES WOULD TAKE CAUTION AND FIX THIS IF THE OWNER IS TELLING THEM THE SEAT BELT IS DOING THE SAME THING ON THE CAR THAT THE RECALL SAYS. I WOULD LIKE FOR MERCEDES TO TAKE FULL RESPONSIBLE AND FIX MY VEHICLE AT NO CHARGE. IF NOT AND SOMETHING HAPPENS TO MY DAUGHTER, I WILL FILE A LAWSUIT. PERIOD. THANKS

100mo ago
Engine 1

STRONG GAS SMELL

103mo ago
Electrical 4

I WAS DRIVING ON THE I-95 AT 60 MPH AND TURNED ON MY AIR CONDITIONER WHEN SMOKE BEGAN TO COME OUT OF THE VENTS. I SHUT OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER AND THE SMOKE STOPPED. I VISITED WITH MY PARENTS AND AS I STARTED THE CAR AND IT WAS IDLING, I TURNED ON THE AIR CONDITIONER AND SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM THE VENTS AGAIN AND FLAMES APPEARED UNDER THE DASHBOARD. I WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE AND PULLED THE FUSE BOX COVER OFF AND FOUND THE FUSE BOX WAS WHERE THE FIRE HAD STARTED. THERE WAS A PAPER WITH FUSE SIZES AND LOCATIONS PUT (BY MERCEDES) IN BETWEEN THE FUSES WHICH HAD BEEN SINGED, AND PART OF THE FUSE BOX AND SOME OF THE FUSES HAD MELTED. I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND A COMPLAINT ON A MERCEDES FORUM WHERE THIS HAD HAPPENED TO ANOTHER 2004 MERCEDES C230.

106mo ago
Engine 2

I HAVE MY CAR IN THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC TELLS ME I NEED A PVC HOSE AND A OXYGEN SENSOR AND BOTH THOSE ITEMS ARE ON A RECALL LIST. HE ASKED ME TO CALL THE DEALER I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THOSE ARE RECALL ITEMS BUT NOT FOR MY CAR. MY COMPLAINT IS WHY IF THIS IS A RECALL ITEM IT SHOULD BE FOR ALL CARS. THOSE ARE THE ONLY 2 THINGS WRONG WITH MY CAR. I NEED HELP.

112mo ago
Body 1

THE DOOR HANDLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IN THE FRONT BROKE OFF. I HAD TO PAY THROUGH THE NOSE TO GET IF FIXED. IT WAS LIKE PLASTIC. I AM 5"1 AND WEIGH UNDER 130 POUNDS. I AM NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO BREAK IT AND I ALSO HAVE RA. I NEVER SLAM A DOOR IN ANGER. I REALLY LIKE MY CAR BUT WONDER IF THE REST OF IT WILL FALL APART. I WAS IN THE GARAGE. I HAVE THE BROKEN PIECE.

113mo ago
Electrical 4

PASSENGER SEAT CAUGHT FIRE WHEN USING THE SEAT HEATER. FIRE PROTRUDED THROUGH THE SIDE SEAT PANEL AND BURNED DRIVER AND CLOTHING. THE DRIVER WAS OPERATING THE CAR FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES ON A CITY STREET AND PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. PORTIONS OF THE SEAT MELTED.

117mo ago
Electrical 1

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.

118mo ago
Body 2

VEHICLE HAS 136,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED BY ALL OWNERS. DRIVERS BUCKLE OR LATCH NO LONGER OPERATING. PRIOR TO THIS IT WAS BECOMING HARD TO RELEASE BUCKLE AFTER USE. NOW STUCK IN CLOSED POSITION. IT INDICATES THAT THE BELT IS BUCKLED BUT IT WILL NOT CATCH. VERIFIED NOTHING IS STUCK IN MECHANISM.

124mo ago

77 total

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