2006 Mercedes Benz C230: stuck in gear or won't shift

Filed May 25, 2024 · Engine · AR

The car randomly misfires and goes into limp mode with a flashing check engine light. This has occurred on roadways and the vehicle loses all engine power. My engine code, 272920 30 183997272.920, falls into a known range of balance shaft gear problems with this motor. There was previously a settlement by the manufacturer to repair the motor but I was unaware of this settlement before purchasing this vehicle as there was no official recall. I am being told the repair requires pulling the motor out which is quite a high cost. The problem has been confirmed by an independent mechanic inspecting the camshaft timing. There were no other indicators of this failure before the check engine light came on and flashed.

Filed Mar 28, 2017 · Acceleration · 126,000 miles · CA

While driving on a city street in stop and go traffic, I noticed that the car was not shifting gears. The tachometer would rev high but the vehicle would not accelerate in accordance with the revolutions. Once traffic freed up from a stop and go 20 mile/hr the car would not shift gears and remained in limp mode. I brought the car to my mechanic who confirmed it was a transmission problem. The current quote to replace the 7 speed 722.9 transmission is $2800 parts and labor.

Filed Feb 10, 2013 · Transmission · 71,012 miles · GA

Vehicle would not shift out of 3 gear when driving 25 miles per hour. Rpm's went to 4,000 and I had to stop vehicle and restart. Ridiculous because no problems were "found" with vehicle but something is obviously wrong. I will never buy another mercedes benz what a lemon.

Filed Jun 15, 2012 · Transmission · 83,312 miles · CA

On or about may 17, 2011 my 2006 c230 at the time with 83,312, you drive normally, make a stop on a traffic light for example, when it's time to go, you release the brake, accelerate, and nothing happens except for rpms revving up. The gear shifter is in "d" drive, gauge between the odometer/tachometer shows "d" drive as well, however the car acts as if it was in neutral!!! Shifting into neutral, reverse, or park, or back into drive - doesn't help! It's like a transmission is stuck in neutral!!! Also, shifting into d+/- to engage manual shifting doesn't work! And as far as you keep moving the shifter into reverse, neutral, manual shift, drive - the car electronic gear display on the dashboard still shows that the car is in "d" drive regardless of what position you move the shifter; and the car behaves as if it was in neutral all this time (you accelerate, rpms goes up, remove the foot from the pedal - engine idles). The only way to make the transmission work again is to shift it into park "p", and then turn off the engine, and then turn the engine back on, and then transmission works well again for tens or hundreds of miles before it gets "neutralized" paralyzed again. This also happened to me while driving down the I-5 in california around 70 MPH's and I had to pull to the side of the road and turn the car off and back on, in order for it to start working normal. That is dangerous, what if I wouldn't have been able to stop on the side of the road it would have caused an accident.

Filed Aug 23, 2011 · Engine · 77,015 miles · DC

Engine light illuminated: two diagnostics suggested two separate problems, worn out balance shaft and issues with the intake and exhaust camshaft. Car is sluggish on acceleration and occasionally will not shift out of first gear. Car must be pulled over and turned off, and then the computer resets. This is a periodic problem and is a particular hazardous problem entering high speed highways, which I must do on a daily basis.