1999 MERCEDES BENZ C230K — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ C230K. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED CHEST AND ARM INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

HIT POTHOLE AT 10 MPH AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARM SNAPPED OFF CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR. DEALERSHIP SAYS THE CONTROL ARM WAS CORRODED THROUGH.

WIPER, LOCKS, TAILGATE, INSTRUMENT PANEL AND WINDOWS ALL MALFUNCTIONED AT THE SAME TIME. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT, THEREFORE, I AM AFRAID TO ROLL WINDOWS DOWN OR LOCK THE VEHICLE. *TR

DRIVERS SIDE GAS TANK IS LEAKING WITH STRONG GAS FUMES COMING FROM UNDER CAR SITTING STILL. LEAK IS AT THE BOTTOM SENDING UNIT ON THE LEFT PLASTIC TANK UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT BEHIND THE DRIVER. I ISOLATED THE LEAK TO WHERE THE WIRES PLUG TO THE TANK GAUGE SENDING UNIT. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT SHOULD NOT OCCUR EVER IN NORMAL OPERATING OF THE CAR. THIS CAR HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED OR WRECKED THAT I KNOW ABOUT SO, IT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. IN ADDITION, RECENTLY, THERE WAS A MAJOR GASOLINE LEAK FROM A RUSTED LINE ON THE RIGHT TANK HIGH PRESSURE LINE GOING FROM THE FUEL PUMP TO THE ENGINE, WITH FUEL SPRAYING EVERYWHERE UNDER THE CAR. THIS WAS CAUSED BY A RUSTED LINE, PROBABLY FROM SALT ON WINTER ROADS. THE METAL FUEL LINE WAS VERY FLIMSY AND A HOLE HAD RUSTED IN IT. MERCEDES CLAIMS TO SELL A QUALITY AUTOMOBILE. MERCEDES SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPAIR SUCH OBVIOUSLY DANGEROUS DEFECTS FREE OF CHARGE TO THE CONSUMER. *TR

1999 MERCEDES BENZ C230 INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS PROBLEM REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST ESTIMATE QUOTED TO ME BY THE MB DEALERSHIP. INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WENT OUT 2 WEEKS AFTER VEHICLE WARRANTY EXPIRED. ANOTHER PROBLEM PROBABLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS THAT I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE HEADLAMPS, INTERIOR LAMPS, BACKUP LAMPS (IE LIGHT BULBS) ON A CONTINUAL BASIS. AT LEAST EVERY OTHER MONTH I HAVE A WARNING LIGHT COME ON THAT I HAVE LAMP OUT. PRESENTLY I HAVE TO REPLACE THE BACKUP LAMPS BUT HAVE NOT DONE SO. JUST REPLACED A LEFT HEADLAMP TWO WEEKS AGO. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE MY MOTHER PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN AUGUST OF 1999. SHE GIFTED THE MB TO ME AND I HAVE BEEN THE ONLY DRIVER SINCE 2001 AND IT IS A ONE OWNER MB (TWO FAMILY MEMBERS). *TR