Total Complaints
35 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ C230 · model year
35 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1999MERCEDES-BENZC230 carries 35 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 1 fire, 7 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 1999 C230 is fuel system, other:storage:fuel gauge system with 3 filings, followed by suspension (2) and exterior lighting:brake lights (2). 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 1999 C230. 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.
Total Complaints
35 filings
Crashes Reported
5 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM | 3 |
| SUSPENSION | 2 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| AIR BAGS | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, AIR | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 1 |
WHILE DRIVING ON 11/21/2020 AT ABOUT 930AM ON NORTHBOUND I-75 DOING ABOUT 70MPH AS THE REST OF TRAFFIC IN GEORGIA WHEN MY SUNROOF (NOT OPENED) SUDDENLY DETACHED AND BLEW OFF THE VEHICLE. I INITIALLY HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND WASN'T AT FIRST WHAT HAPPENED. I LOOKED UP AND SUNROOF PANEL WITH THE GLASS WAS GONE. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO VEHICLES AROUND ME SO AS FAR AS I KNOW NO ONE WAS HIT OR INJURED. I EVENTUALLY PULLED OVER AND LOOKED AT THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE AND THE SUNROOF PANEL WAS GONE. I FINISHED BY BUSINESS THAT MORNING AND RETUNED HOME SAFELY TO OUR HOME IN OCALA, FL.
Mileage: 185,000
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON 75 NORTH WHERE SPEED IS 65MPH AT LUNCH HOUR AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE CAR STARTED TO DECELERATE FROM 65 MILES AN HOUR TO ZERO IN SECONDS THE CAR STOPPED, I SAW MY LIFE BEFORE MY EYES IN MY REARVIEW MIRA AS CARS AND SEMI TRUCKS WERE SWERVING FROM PLOWING INTO ME AT 65 MPH TO 75 MPH...I ONLY HAD SECONDS TO REMOVE MYSELF FROM THE VEHICLE TO SAFETY WHERE I SAW A JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE PLOW INTO MY CAR AT HIGH SPEED I ONLY HAD SECONDS TO REMOVE MYSELF FROM MY CAR AND ESCAPE TO SAFETY AND RUN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD YEAH GUARD RAIL AS I WATCHED IN HORROR MY CAR BEING PLOWED INTO LIKE AN ACCORDION AND CUT IN HALF. I HAVE HAD THIS SAME INCIDENT HAPPENED TO ME WHILE MY CAR WAS BEING SERVICED AT THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AND THEY GAVE ME A LOANER CAR 2013 TO DRIVE AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE NEW LOANER CAR FROM THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP, I WAS LUCKY AS I WAS DRIVING A LOANER WHEN IT STOPPED ACCELERATING IT JUST STARTED DECELERATING AS I WAS NEAR
Mileage: 14,600
THE RIGHT SUSPENSION APRON RUSTED, SNAPPED UPWARD, AND THE SPRING FELL OUT THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR. IT IS NOT DRIVABLE BECAUSE THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE CAR IS ALMOST ON THE GROUND. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER, AND ASKED THEM TO INVESTIGATE WHY THIS HAPPENED. THEY SAID THAT THERE IS DANGER OF THE OTHER SPRING ALSO FALLING OUT. THE DEALER BELIEVES THAT THE APRON FAILED DUE TO THE AGE OF THE CAR AND THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. THEY STATED THAT IT WAS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THE VEHICLE, AND THEY DID NOT BELIEVE IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. I, HOWEVER, DISAGREE. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING ON-LINE OF THE SAME SUSPENSION PROBLEM WITH THE E-CLASS FROM 1994 TO 1999 AND THE C-CLASS FROM 1998 TO 2000, THE YEARS WHEN THIS PARTICULAR SUSPENSION DESIGN WAS USED. MERCEDES NO LONGER USES THIS SUSPENSION DESIGN ON NEWER VEHICLES. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE SUSPENSION DUE TO IT POOR DESIGN, AND THAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO BE AWARE OF THIS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY
Mileage: 130,142
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ C230. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED CHEST AND BRUISING, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
Mileage: 68,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ C230. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF HER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT BUMPER WAS DAMAGED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES OVER HER ENTIRE BODY AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP BUT THE AIR BAGS WAS NEVER CHECKED FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.
Mileage: 67,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ C230. THE CONTACT HEARD A BANGING NOISE WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. UPON EXAMINATION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS RESTING ON THE FRONT TIRE. SHE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING MOUNT FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO SEVERE RUSTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE HAD RUSTED SEVERELY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 140,000.
Mileage: 140,000
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 1999 MERCEDES C230 AT 35MPH THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE SLIPPED AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER A NUMBER OF TIMES IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT AND AN INSURANCE REPORT. THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR IN THE FAILURE. *AK
Mileage: 52,000
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE AT AN IDLE, THERE WAS VIBRATION IN THE VEHICLE. ALSO, WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THERE WAS A HESITATION. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSOR, BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO DETERMINED THE INNER COOLING SYSTEM WAS LEAKING OIL ONTO THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. THE INNER COOLER SYSTEM, VALVE, MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, AND OXYGEN SENSOR WERE REPLACED.
Mileage: 128,000
VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STAND STILL. CONSUMER WAS REAR ENDED, WHICH FORCED HER INTO THE BACK OF A TRUCK. HOWEVER, THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. CONSUMER WAS INJURED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *NM
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. AFTER VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO CONSUMER SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE AND APPEARED TO BE SATISFIED. THE NEXT DAY VEHICLE HAD NO ELECTRICAL POWER. ALSO, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT VEHICLE WAS IN A FLOOD, BUT WAS NOT INFORMED OF THIS BY THE DEALER. *AK
Mileage: 75,000
NAR 04/28/2003 MR NON COMFORMITY AND MAJOR DEFECTS WITH PREOWNED CAR PURCHASED. DEFECTS INCLUDE, AIR CONDTIONER UNIT, BRAKES, AND FAULTY ELECTRICAL WIRING CAUSING LIGHT BULBS TO BE REPLACED. *CB
Mileage: 12,966
NAR 04/28/2003 MR NON COMFORMITY AND MAJOR DEFECTS WITH PREOWNED CAR PURCHASED. DEFECTS INCLUDE, AIR CONDTIONER UNIT, BRAKES, AND FAULTY ELECTRICAL WIRING CAUSING LIGHT BULBS TO BE REPLACED. *CB
Mileage: 12,966
NAR 04/28/2003 MR NON COMFORMITY AND MAJOR DEFECTS WITH PREOWNED CAR PURCHASED. DEFECTS INCLUDE, AIR CONDTIONER UNIT, BRAKES, AND FAULTY ELECTRICAL WIRING CAUSING LIGHT BULBS TO BE REPLACED. *CB
Mileage: 12,966
FUEL GAUGE FAILURE:READS MORE THAN THERE IS AT TIMES; HAS RESULTED IN RUNNING OUT OF FUEL;ERRATIC READING EVEN AFTER FILLING TANK WITH FUEL;WILL SHOW FULL AND A FEW MINUTES LATER SHOWS EMPTY. ALSO, BRAKE LIGHT BULBS BURING OUT AT 1 TO 2 MONTH INTERVALS. SOMETIMES DASH INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWS BURNED OUT BULB WHEN ALL ARE WORKING, OTHER TIMES LIGHT HAS BURNED OUT AND INDICATOR LIGHT IS NOT ON.*AK
Mileage: 38,200
FUEL GAUGE FAILURE:READS MORE THAN THERE IS AT TIMES; HAS RESULTED IN RUNNING OUT OF FUEL;ERRATIC READING EVEN AFTER FILLING TANK WITH FUEL;WILL SHOW FULL AND A FEW MINUTES LATER SHOWS EMPTY. ALSO, BRAKE LIGHT BULBS BURING OUT AT 1 TO 2 MONTH INTERVALS. SOMETIMES DASH INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWS BURNED OUT BULB WHEN ALL ARE WORKING, OTHER TIMES LIGHT HAS BURNED OUT AND INDICATOR LIGHT IS NOT ON.*AK
Mileage: 38,200
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S VIEW. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND WOULD COST $1000. *AK *SCC *JB *JB
Mileage: 44,000
ABS BRAKES LIGHT STAYS ON. CONSUMER HAS TO TURN CAR OFF BEFORE LIGHT GOES OFF. THEN, ONCE APPLYING BRAKES LIGHTS COME ON AGAIN.*AK
CONUSMER STATES THAT ALL POWER WINDOWS WILL MALFUNCTION,WINDOWS WILL NOT GO DOWN. CONTACTED DEALER REPLACE PART, PROBLEM STILL ACCURING. NLM
FUEL GAUAGE DOES NOT REGISTER CORRECT LEVELS OF FUEL, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
WHEN TRAVLING A T ANY SPEED WILL NOT COME TO A STOP WHEN THERE IS RAIN OR SNOW. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *AK
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.