2006 Mercedes Benz C230: engine failure

Filed Jun 20, 2022 · Engine · FL

The intake manifold has a plastic tumble flap mechanism. This commonly breaks in most of these Mercedes Benz vehicles. The main problem is the high cost of repair due to it's location in the engine under a complex wiring harness. Mercedes has never issued a recall, but this problem can lead to catastrophic engine failure. This problem is very well documented on many websites.

Filed Jun 20, 2013 · Engine · 78,000 miles · AZ

Zero issues with this car until now. This week, june 2013, the car has 78,000 miles on it. I pulled up to a stoplight off the freeway, and the car started sputtering like never before. The check engine light came on - for the first time ever. The car stalled and engine died. It restarted, but when I pressed the gas there was no power, traffic was coming up the off ramp fast, I had to flash my brakes to get them to notice something was wrong but it was a close call. The car sputtered into the middle of a busy freeway overpass intersection with my family on board and eager traffic behind me. It was a very scary moment because the car went from completely reliable and trustworthy to complete loss of power and instability. I sputtered back home, creating the same dangerous conditions at every intersection. I took the car to a mercedes benz shop the next morning. After a lot of testing it was determined that the intake manifold needed to be pulled to look deeper into the engine. Hours later they found that the problem was caused by a defective plastic bushing of the intake manifold which broke and was sucked into cylinder #4 and #3. This caused the valves to bend and compromised the integrity of the cylinders and valves, according to the mercedes qualified technician. There is extensive damage to the valves, and they don't know what all they're going to find once they pull the headers off. The cost to repair the car is $4,400, but it may even be higher. The cylinders have to be sent to a machine shop to see if they have any other issues as a result. Who knows what they'll find. The mechanics stated that mercedes benz is aware of this problem, that those moving plastic parts in the intake manifold are known to crack and cause problems and should never have been made out of plastic, but I don't see recalls on this obvious engineering & manufacturing defect.

Filed May 13, 2013 · Engine · 71,058 miles · CA

My check engine light came on so I went to mechanic to check. They performed a computer code test to find problem. The code indicates that the balance shaft is starting to fail. I researched on-line and discovered this is a known defect within this engine. Apparently mercedes is unwilling to assume responsibility for this defect. Repairing this problem is extremely costly and the buyer shouldn't bare responsibility for their faulty parts. I understand there is a class action lawsuit filed, but I can't find out the current status of it. This defect can cause immediate engine failure when driving causing the auto to stop in traffic. Being that thousands of mercedes vehicles have this defect I don't understand why the ntsb isn't stepping in.

Filed Dec 9, 2011 · Engine · 74,321 miles · FL

The vehicle was being driven on interstate 95 in pompano beach florida, the car started to run rough and the check engine light became illuminated. Took the car to the repair shop and it came up with 2 codes 1200 and 1208 intake and exhaust camshaft sensor right cylinder, the mechanics replaced the 2 sensors and a couple weeks later it appeared again. The original mechanic recommended another shop that specialized in mercedes. I took it there a few weeks later and we were informed it is a common problem with the mercedes and that they were being sued for it,and mercedes has put out over 10 tsb on the issue and it has been happening to cars with this new engine. The problem is the sprocket on the balance shaft was not hardened metal,like it was suppose to be.

Filed Mar 11, 2011 · Transmission · 60,000 miles · NV

I own a 2006 mercedes c230 with a balance shaft gear problem. The gears are retarding and the problem will cause engine failure. A class action lawsuit has been filed against mercedes benz for the balance shaft gear failure. A recall needs to be issued for all 2006 balance shaft gears on all mercedes benz models.