2003 Mercedes-Benz C230 vs 2005 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.
| Metric | 2003 Mercedes-Benz C230 | 2005 Mercedes-Benz C230 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 51 | 85 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 53 | 63 |
| Investigations | 0 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 1 | 12 |
| Fire reports | 3 | 6 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | — | — |
| Median reported incident mileage | 65,000 mi | 82,926 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Mercedes-Benz C230 | Mercedes-Benz C230 |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 3 | 50 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 19 | 9 |
| Electrical System | 6 | 12 |
| Power Train | 8 | 8 |
| Engine | 3 | 6 |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 3 |
| Tires | 3 | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 1 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 8 | 6 |
| Electrical failures | 6 | 0 |
| Stalling | 5 | 5 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 5 |
2003 Mercedes-Benz C230
2005 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.