Friday, August 7, 2026
RecallGazette

Vehicle problems, recalls & safety intelligence

2002 Mercedes-Benz C230 vs 2004 Mercedes-Benz C230

Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.

Metric2002 Mercedes-Benz C2302004 Mercedes-Benz C230
NHTSA complaints5431
Recall campaigns23
Service bulletins (TSBs)4549
Investigations00
Crash reports30
Fire reports44
NCAP overall rating
EPA MPG (combined)
Median reported incident mileage48,660 mi65,500 mi

Reported problems side by side

ComponentMercedes-Benz C230Mercedes-Benz C230
Engine and Engine Cooling166
Electrical System127
Engine34
Seat Belts25
Visibility51
Service Brakes, Hydraulic42
Power Train33
Steering41

Symptoms owners describe

Stalling80
Check engine light07
Electrical failures05
2002 Mercedes-Benz C230
2004 Mercedes-Benz C230

Compare all Mercedes-Benz C230 vs Mercedes-Benz C230 years →

Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.