MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS · model year

2004 MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS

20 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2004MERCEDES-BENZC-CLASS carries 20 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 3 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 2004 C-CLASS is engine and engine cooling with 2 filings, followed by power train (2) and unknown or other (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 2004 C-CLASS. 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.

20
Complaints
2
Crashes
3
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

20 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
POWER TRAIN2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
TIRES:TREAD/BELT1
SEATS1
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW1
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST1
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR1
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
TIRES:SIDEWALL1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH1
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL1

Recent Complaints

20131017FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I SMELLED STRONG VAPORS OF GAS INSIDE MY CAR AND OUTSIDE THE AREA. I LOOKED UNDER CAR GAS WAS POURING OUT FROM UNDER FUEL TANK . TOOK IT TO ( TOWED THAT IS) THE SHOP FIND FUEL TANK WAS DEFECTIVE ! FOUND HOLE IN THE TANK ON THE TAB IF THAT MAKES SENSE . THE SHOP CALLED AROUND FOR SAFETY RECALL AND MERCEDES SEE IF ANY OTHER INFORMATION. I AM AWARE MERCEDES HAS HAD PROBLEM IN PAST WITH FUEL TANKS . THE SOP INFORMED ME IF I DROVE THIS CAR WITH HEAT FROM EXHAUST WOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE ., I AM TRYING TO CONTACT MERCEDES CORPORATE HEAD QUARTERS WITH NO LUCK . IS THERE ANYWAY I CAN REPORT FILE HAVE RECOURSE .THIS CAME TO 3000.00 OUT OF POCKET ! NOT MENTION IT COULD HAVE HAD SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES ! *TR

Mileage: 123,000

20120708FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAVE BLACK MERCEDES C230 KOMPRESSOR SPORTS SEDAN 2004 MODEL. CAR WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW AT MERCEDES AUTHORIZED DEALER. THERE IS NO MODIFICATION MADE TO THIS CAR AND ALL THE SERVICING DONE AT MERCEDES AUTHORIZED DEALER SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR. IT HAD ONLY 58000 MILES. LAST B SERVICING WHICH CHECKED ANY SAFETY RELATED ISSUES AND INCLUDES REGULAR MAINTENANCE, WAS DONE AT AUTHORIZED DEALER ON 02/18/2012. NO ISSUE WAS INFORMED ON 02/18/2012 TO US BY MERCEDES AUTHORIZED DEALER SERVICING DEPARTMENT. ON 06/21/2012, WHEN I WAS DRIVING THIS CAR FROM WORK TO HOME, I TURNED ON A/C, A/C SHUTDOWN AND I STARTED SMELLING SMOKE. ON LEFT SIDE OF MY CAR THERE IS A/C VENT AND I SAW FIRE INSIDE THE HOOD THROUGH THAT VENT.I PULLED OVER CAR RIGHT AWAY AND ELECTRICITY WENT OUT WITH IN 1 MIN OF MY PULLING OVER AND WITHIN 4 MIN, WHOLE CAR WAS BURNING. MY CAR IS NOW TOTALED. THIS POSES FOLLOWING SECURITY CONCERNS: 1. MERCEDES C230 2004 IS MADE OF HIGHLY INFLAMMABLE MATERIAL AND DRIVER AND USERS OF CAR HAS

Mileage: 58,000

20120708FirePOWER TRAIN

I HAVE BLACK MERCEDES C230 KOMPRESSOR SPORTS SEDAN 2004 MODEL. CAR WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW AT MERCEDES AUTHORIZED DEALER. THERE IS NO MODIFICATION MADE TO THIS CAR AND ALL THE SERVICING DONE AT MERCEDES AUTHORIZED DEALER SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR. IT HAD ONLY 58000 MILES. LAST B SERVICING WHICH CHECKED ANY SAFETY RELATED ISSUES AND INCLUDES REGULAR MAINTENANCE, WAS DONE AT AUTHORIZED DEALER ON 02/18/2012. NO ISSUE WAS INFORMED ON 02/18/2012 TO US BY MERCEDES AUTHORIZED DEALER SERVICING DEPARTMENT. ON 06/21/2012, WHEN I WAS DRIVING THIS CAR FROM WORK TO HOME, I TURNED ON A/C, A/C SHUTDOWN AND I STARTED SMELLING SMOKE. ON LEFT SIDE OF MY CAR THERE IS A/C VENT AND I SAW FIRE INSIDE THE HOOD THROUGH THAT VENT.I PULLED OVER CAR RIGHT AWAY AND ELECTRICITY WENT OUT WITH IN 1 MIN OF MY PULLING OVER AND WITHIN 4 MIN, WHOLE CAR WAS BURNING. MY CAR IS NOW TOTALED. THIS POSES FOLLOWING SECURITY CONCERNS: 1. MERCEDES C230 2004 IS MADE OF HIGHLY INFLAMMABLE MATERIAL AND DRIVER AND USERS OF CAR HAS

Mileage: 58,000

20111121ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

2004 MERCEDES BENZ C- CLASS WAGON. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECT THAT ALLOWS COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION, TORQUE CONVERTER AND RADIATOR *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS FORCED TO SPEND OVER SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, TO CORRECT A DEFECT MERCEDES BENZ WAS AWARE OF. *JB

20111121POWER TRAIN

2004 MERCEDES BENZ C- CLASS WAGON. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECT THAT ALLOWS COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION, TORQUE CONVERTER AND RADIATOR *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS FORCED TO SPEND OVER SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, TO CORRECT A DEFECT MERCEDES BENZ WAS AWARE OF. *JB

20070627CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE IS A C 320 AND WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES PER HOUR WHEN ACCIDENT OCCURRED, RECEIVING SIGNIFICANT FRONT END COLLISION BY OTHER VEHICLE AND THEREAFTER HITTING A CONCRETE STREET DIVIDER.DRIVER RECEIVED INJURIES TO HEAD,UPPER AND LOWER BODY AND LEGS.

20070410FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

I HAVE A 2004 MERCEDES C230 COMPRESSOR. YESTERDAY, I DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND AFTERWARDS LEFT IT PARKED. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. IT ENGULFED THE WHOLE VEHICLE IN SMOKE AND DAMAGED MOST OF THE INTERIOR. THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR CAME ,AND STATED THAT IT WAS FROM THE ELECTRICAL WIRES INSIDE THE DASHBOARD. *AK

20060428TIRES:SIDEWALL

THE SIDEWALL OF ONE OF THE TIRES MOUNTED ON THE CONSUMER'S 2004 MERCEDES BENZ C320W RIPPED AND CRACKED THE RIM. *NM AFTER THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT INSPECTED THE TIRE AND RIM, THEY DETERMINED DAMAGED TO BE ATTRIBUTED TO ROAD DAMAGE FROM IMPACT. *JB

Mileage: 28,553

20051230POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS AN ODOR COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION AREA. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE ODOR WAS COMING FROM EITHER AN OIL OR TRANSMISSION LEAK. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE ODOR. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THIS WAS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. THE VEHICLE IS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ C230. *AK

Mileage: 21,000

20050725VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

I WAS TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY (APPROXIMATE SPEED 60 MPH) WHEN I HEARD SOMETHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD OF MY 2004 MERCEDES C240. THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE SIGNS OF DAMAGE. HOWEVER, ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER AFTER I HAD MADE STOP AND LATER RETURNED TO THE CAR I NOTICED A 12 INCH CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. I BELIEVE THERE IS A SERIOUS DESIGN DEFECT WITH THE WINDSHIELDS IN MERCEDES. A CO-WORKER OF MINE HAS HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD IN HER 2004 C320 MERCEDES TWICE WITHIN THE PAST 18 MONTHS. THE SERVICE REPS HAVE TOLD HER THAT THIS HAPPENS ON THE TIME, ESPECIALLY FOR COMMUTERS WHO TRAVEL THE 91 FREEWAY HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. I WOULD THINK THAT R&D WOULD HAVE DONE SUFFICIENT TESTING TO ENSURE THAT A WINDSHIELD COULD WITHSTAND CONTACT WITH A ROCK OR PEBBLE.

20041127SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST

EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE I HAVA HAD PROBLEMS WITH IS FEATURES. POWER SEATS THAT MOVE BY THEMSELVES, AUTOMATIC DIMMING MIRRORS THAT TURN PITCH BLACK IN MIDDLE OF DAY, POWER TILT STEERING WHEEL THAT HAS UNPREDICITIBLE MOVES. AUTO WINDSHIELD WIPERS THAT DONT FUCNTION PROPERLY IN HEAVY DOWN POURS. THE SEATS ARE POWER AND THEY WILL MOVE ALL BY THEMSLEVES AND MOVE THE DRIVER EITHER INTO THE STEERING WHEEL OR PULL THE DRIVER BACK FROM THE WHEEL AND PEDALS. THE RAIN WIPERS DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, DURNING HEAVY DOWNPOURS THEY JUST STOP WORKING MAKING DRIVING NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE. THE AUTO DIMMING REAVIEW MIRROR TURNS ITCH BLACK FOR NO REASON IN MIDDLE OF DAY SO YOU CAN NOT USE MIRROR TO LOOK BEHIND YOU. I HAVE REPORTED ALL THESE PROBLEMS TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAY THEY ARE NORMAL, THEY CHECKED THEM OUT AND SAID THAT IF THEY ARE INTERMITTENT THEY WILL NEVER FIND ANY PROBLEMS AND THEY REFUSE TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. THESE ARE MAJOR SAFETY HAZARDS TO DRIVERS AND SOMETHING NEEDS

20041127VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE I HAVA HAD PROBLEMS WITH IS FEATURES. POWER SEATS THAT MOVE BY THEMSELVES, AUTOMATIC DIMMING MIRRORS THAT TURN PITCH BLACK IN MIDDLE OF DAY, POWER TILT STEERING WHEEL THAT HAS UNPREDICITIBLE MOVES. AUTO WINDSHIELD WIPERS THAT DONT FUCNTION PROPERLY IN HEAVY DOWN POURS. THE SEATS ARE POWER AND THEY WILL MOVE ALL BY THEMSLEVES AND MOVE THE DRIVER EITHER INTO THE STEERING WHEEL OR PULL THE DRIVER BACK FROM THE WHEEL AND PEDALS. THE RAIN WIPERS DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, DURNING HEAVY DOWNPOURS THEY JUST STOP WORKING MAKING DRIVING NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE. THE AUTO DIMMING REAVIEW MIRROR TURNS ITCH BLACK FOR NO REASON IN MIDDLE OF DAY SO YOU CAN NOT USE MIRROR TO LOOK BEHIND YOU. I HAVE REPORTED ALL THESE PROBLEMS TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAY THEY ARE NORMAL, THEY CHECKED THEM OUT AND SAID THAT IF THEY ARE INTERMITTENT THEY WILL NEVER FIND ANY PROBLEMS AND THEY REFUSE TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. THESE ARE MAJOR SAFETY HAZARDS TO DRIVERS AND SOMETHING NEEDS

20041127STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE I HAVA HAD PROBLEMS WITH IS FEATURES. POWER SEATS THAT MOVE BY THEMSELVES, AUTOMATIC DIMMING MIRRORS THAT TURN PITCH BLACK IN MIDDLE OF DAY, POWER TILT STEERING WHEEL THAT HAS UNPREDICITIBLE MOVES. AUTO WINDSHIELD WIPERS THAT DONT FUCNTION PROPERLY IN HEAVY DOWN POURS. THE SEATS ARE POWER AND THEY WILL MOVE ALL BY THEMSLEVES AND MOVE THE DRIVER EITHER INTO THE STEERING WHEEL OR PULL THE DRIVER BACK FROM THE WHEEL AND PEDALS. THE RAIN WIPERS DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, DURNING HEAVY DOWNPOURS THEY JUST STOP WORKING MAKING DRIVING NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE. THE AUTO DIMMING REAVIEW MIRROR TURNS ITCH BLACK FOR NO REASON IN MIDDLE OF DAY SO YOU CAN NOT USE MIRROR TO LOOK BEHIND YOU. I HAVE REPORTED ALL THESE PROBLEMS TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAY THEY ARE NORMAL, THEY CHECKED THEM OUT AND SAID THAT IF THEY ARE INTERMITTENT THEY WILL NEVER FIND ANY PROBLEMS AND THEY REFUSE TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. THESE ARE MAJOR SAFETY HAZARDS TO DRIVERS AND SOMETHING NEEDS

20041127VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE I HAVA HAD PROBLEMS WITH IS FEATURES. POWER SEATS THAT MOVE BY THEMSELVES, AUTOMATIC DIMMING MIRRORS THAT TURN PITCH BLACK IN MIDDLE OF DAY, POWER TILT STEERING WHEEL THAT HAS UNPREDICITIBLE MOVES. AUTO WINDSHIELD WIPERS THAT DONT FUCNTION PROPERLY IN HEAVY DOWN POURS. THE SEATS ARE POWER AND THEY WILL MOVE ALL BY THEMSLEVES AND MOVE THE DRIVER EITHER INTO THE STEERING WHEEL OR PULL THE DRIVER BACK FROM THE WHEEL AND PEDALS. THE RAIN WIPERS DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, DURNING HEAVY DOWNPOURS THEY JUST STOP WORKING MAKING DRIVING NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE. THE AUTO DIMMING REAVIEW MIRROR TURNS ITCH BLACK FOR NO REASON IN MIDDLE OF DAY SO YOU CAN NOT USE MIRROR TO LOOK BEHIND YOU. I HAVE REPORTED ALL THESE PROBLEMS TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAY THEY ARE NORMAL, THEY CHECKED THEM OUT AND SAID THAT IF THEY ARE INTERMITTENT THEY WILL NEVER FIND ANY PROBLEMS AND THEY REFUSE TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. THESE ARE MAJOR SAFETY HAZARDS TO DRIVERS AND SOMETHING NEEDS

20040825ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED STEAM COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER, LIFTED UP THE HOOD, AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE ENGINE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK

20040812ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER NOTICED STEAM COMING FROM THE HOOD AND BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE ,BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

20040803CrashAIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

WHILE DRIVING 30-35 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE SIDE, AND THE SIDE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK

Mileage: 1,750

20040527SEATS

NEW 2004 C230K COUPE. DRIVERS SEAT HAD SLIGHT ROCKING MOTION FORWARD AND BACK FROM THE DAY OF PURCHASE. NOTIFIED DEALER - SAID WAS NORMAL. ROCKING MOTION GOT WORSE AND AGAIN NOTIFIED DEALER AT 5000 MILES ON ODOMETER. DEALER SAID SEAT ADJUSTER WAS COMING LOOSE FROM SEAT FRAME, APPARENTLY THE BOLTS HAD "WALLOWED OUT" IN THE HOLES AND THE TWO PIECES COULD HAVE COME APART FROM EACH OTHER. MY WORRY WAS THAT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT IT COULD HAVE SEPARATED AND A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH COULD HAVE OCCURED SINCE THE PART I WAS SITTING IN WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE FRAME OF THE CAR...SEATBELTS, AIRBAGS, ETC WOULD HAVE BEEN TOTALLY USELESS. DEALER ORDERED NEW SEAT ADJUSTER AND ATTACHED IT TO SEAT FRAME.*MR

Mileage: 1

20040407TIRES:TREAD/BELT

THE RIGHT REAR TIRE HAS A SPLIT ABOUT 1.5 INCHES LONG PROCEEDING DIAGONALLY THROUGH THE TREAD TO NEAR THE SIDEWALL. THERE IS NO OTHER DAMAGE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE NEAR THE SPLIT OR EVIDENCE OF CONTACT WITH ANYTHING. I DRIVE LONG DISTANCES OFTEN AND WONDER IF THIS IS SOME TYPE OF DANGEROUS DEFECT.*AK

Mileage: 12,000

20040206UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THIS DEFECT/CONCERN IS A GENERAL SAFETY COMPLAINT WITH RESPECT TO ALL VEHICLES WHICH SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY ENACTMENT OF STANDARDS TO BE USED BY ALL MANUFACTURERS. MAINLY THE STANDARDIZATION OF THE LOCATION AND FUNCTION OF KEY CONTROLS AND SWITCHES ON ALL AUTOMOBILES. IN TODAYS DRIVING, DRIVERS ARE PLACED BEHIND THE WHEEL OF UNFAMILIAR VEHICLES ALL THE TIME AS TRAVEL AND BUSINESS PUTS THEM IN RENTAL CARS. WITH EACH VEHICLE HAVING DIFFERENT LOCATIONS FOR LIGHT SWITCHES, FLASHERS, WINDSHEILD WIPERS/WASHERS, DIMMERS AND CRUISE CONTROLS. DRIVERS CAN END UP HAVING ACCIDENTS, ESPECIALLY IN HURRIED SITUATIONS, WHEN TRYING TO FIND THE LOCATION OF THE CONTROLS IN AN UNFAMILIAR CAR. ONE MIGHT ARGUE THAT IF YOU ARE DRIVING A NEW VEHICLE YOU SHOULD FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH ALL THE CONTROLS BEFORE STARTING TO DRIVE... BUT OFTEN TIMES IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, (WINDSHIELD SPLASHED WITH MUD), YOU INSTINCTIVELY RESPOND TO WHERE YOUR EVERYDAY VEHICLES CONTROLS ARE. THIS NOT ONLY DELAYS RESOLUTI

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NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS have?
The 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS has 20 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 3 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS?
The most-complained component for the 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN and UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Is the 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS 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.