Total Complaints
6 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ 230 · model year
2001 MERCEDES-BENZ 230
6 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2001MERCEDES-BENZ230 carries 6 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 2 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2001 230 is air bags:side/window with 1 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (1) and seat belts:front:retractor (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 15 investigation files overlapping the 2001 230. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
6
Complaints
3
Crashes
2
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
3 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20131224EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I SEE THAT YOU ARE INVESTIGATING FAILURES OF REAR LIGHTS ON MERCEDES C-CLASS CARS MADE BETWEEN 2008 AND 2011 POSSIBLY CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE ELECTRICAL CONTACT. EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE REAR LIGHTS (BREAK LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, AND TURN SIGNALS) ON MY 2002 MERCEDES C230 FAILED. THE DEALER FOUND A BURNED UP ELECTRICAL CONTACT WHICH WAS REPLACED. THIS COULD BE COINCIDENCE, BUT IT COULD MEAN THAT YOUR MODEL YEAR RANGE IS TOO SMALL. *TR
Mileage: 125,000
20080327FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
THERE WAS A RECALL ON A TAIL LAMP ON THE MERCEDES SLK 230. PRIOR TO THE RECALL MY TAIL LAMP CAUGHT FIRE AND MELTED THE ENTIRE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY. WATER GOT IN TO THE TAIL LAMP AND LEAKED TO THE WIRING OF THE ERP PUMP BELOW THE TAIL LAMP IN THE TRUNK. WIRES SHORTED AS A RESULT AND ERP PUMP NOW NEEDS REPLACING. MERCEDES WILL NOT REPLACE THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE FAULTY TAIL LAMP THAT CAUGHT FIRE PRIOR TO THE RECALL. HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE CORROSION NOW IN THE WIRING OF THE ERP PUMP COULD SPARK AND IGNITE THE FUEL TANK ALSO LOCATED DIRECTLY BELOW THE WIRING. *TR
20080327FireEXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
THERE WAS A RECALL ON A TAIL LAMP ON THE MERCEDES SLK 230. PRIOR TO THE RECALL MY TAIL LAMP CAUGHT FIRE AND MELTED THE ENTIRE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY. WATER GOT IN TO THE TAIL LAMP AND LEAKED TO THE WIRING OF THE ERP PUMP BELOW THE TAIL LAMP IN THE TRUNK. WIRES SHORTED AS A RESULT AND ERP PUMP NOW NEEDS REPLACING. MERCEDES WILL NOT REPLACE THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE FAULTY TAIL LAMP THAT CAUGHT FIRE PRIOR TO THE RECALL. HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE CORROSION NOW IN THE WIRING OF THE ERP PUMP COULD SPARK AND IGNITE THE FUEL TANK ALSO LOCATED DIRECTLY BELOW THE WIRING. *TR
20020808CrashAIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
WHILE TURNING VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. PROBABLE SPEED 55 - 60 MPH, MOSTLY IMPACTED ON FRONT, BUT SIDE AS WELL. NEITHER FRONT OR SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITH OWNER RECEIVIING HEAD INJURIED DUE TO SEAT BELT NOT HOLDING. DRIVER WAS THROWN AROUND INSIDE VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
20020808CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE TURNING VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. PROBABLE SPEED 55 - 60 MPH, MOSTLY IMPACTED ON FRONT, BUT SIDE AS WELL. NEITHER FRONT OR SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITH OWNER RECEIVIING HEAD INJURIED DUE TO SEAT BELT NOT HOLDING. DRIVER WAS THROWN AROUND INSIDE VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
20020808CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
WHILE TURNING VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. PROBABLE SPEED 55 - 60 MPH, MOSTLY IMPACTED ON FRONT, BUT SIDE AS WELL. NEITHER FRONT OR SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITH OWNER RECEIVIING HEAD INJURIED DUE TO SEAT BELT NOT HOLDING. DRIVER WAS THROWN AROUND INSIDE VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
Compare 2001MERCEDES-BENZ230 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ 230 have?▼
The 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ 230 has 6 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 2 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ 230?▼
The most-complained component for the 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ 230 is AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL and SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR.
Is the 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ 230 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.