Mercedes Benz C230 engine failure problems

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 Sep 10, 2018 · Engine · 135,000 miles · CA

As I was driving the car engine started vibrating and the engine light came on and the car engine stopped suddenly. The car was towed to my mechanic who diagnosed the timing chain cam sprocket teeth were worn out causing the timing chain to jump and destroy the engine. Research showed this is common factory defect with these engines since mercedes used soft metal for the sprockets causing premature wear. I contacted mercedes and they told me there is no open recall or class action suit for this year/model and recommended the car be towed to a mercedes dealership for evaluation. My local mercedes dealer informed me they require $200 fee to inspect the car and the replacement engine will cost me $10,000-15,000. The care is 13 years old and has 135,000 and out of warranty. How is it that mercedes can advertise their slogan "the best or nothing" when they manufacture engines that are destroyed at such relative low mileage? I was lucky not to have a collision with another vehicle on the road and was lucky to be able to stop the car when the engine failed without injuring myself or others.

Filed Sep 29, 2015 · Brakes · 126,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 mercedes benz c230. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the front driver side brake seized without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 126,000.

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 Apr 6, 2012 · Brakes, Engine · CA

This car is a money pit! I bought 2004 c230 kompressor used in 2007. To date I have spent well over $8500 in repairs and the car is sitting in my driveway with its latest affliction..a completely blown engine. It is a useless piece of junk and I am out the $25,000 I originally paid for it, plus the additional $8500 I have put into it. This is how mercedes benz takes care of business? Something has drastically changed. My dad has had 2 mercedes over the last 30 years...they ran perfectly until he sold them. He just bought a brand new s-series (2012) and it has already been in the shop numerous times. The cars are made cheap and everything in the interior is plastic, not wood as it should be. Mercedes, you should be ashamed of how far you have let your standards fall, it is a disgrace.

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 Nov 26, 2011 · Engine · 60,000 miles · IL

Although I no longer have the vehicle as it was leased, around a year, a year and 4 months ago, my mercedes benz was making a weird noise from the engine as well so my check engine light had been on for weeks/months. When I took it into a mb dealership they had to first get my approval to take apart the engine to diagnose the problem, of course I said ok since it was a leased car. Once they found out the problem they suggested I needed a new engine based on a problem w/ the cylinders and that the fact I hadn't given the vehicle the proper oil changes, however I believe it was a problem caused by the balance shift gears. So they told me that it was going to cost me around $7000 to fix the problem by putting in a brand new engine, I asked if mb could help w/ the cost but they refused, claiming that since I didn't have a record of sufficient oil changes they wouldn't help....so I had a tow truck pick up the car from the mb dealership and take it to another shop where they found an engine and put it in for a little less, I had to have it done since it was leased and I had to return it back to mb. I hope that mb takes responsibility for this.

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.

Filed Jun 27, 2008 · Fuel system · 12,500 miles · NV

Engine failed to start; would crank, but would not start. Key had to be returned to off position to stop cranking action. Maintenance supervisor claims teh fuel pump was at fault.