2005 Mercedes-Benz C Class Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 2005 Mercedes-Benz C Class, and owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 2005 Mercedes-Benz C Class
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Electrical system
Mercedes-benz is recalling my 2006-2008 m-class, r-class, my 2005-2009 slk-class, my 2005-2008 c-class, my 2003-2004 and 2006-2008 clk-class, my 2003-2008 e-class, my 2004 and 2008 cl-class, my 2008 cls-class, my 2004 and 2007-2008 s-class, my 2003 g-class, and my 2003-2004, 2006 and 2009 sl-class vehicles. A software calibration number…
Remedy: Dealers will recode the scn free of charge. The recall began on august 30, 2008. Owners may contact mercedes-benz at 1-800-367-6372.
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Air bags
Certain passenger vehicles equipped with sport model steering wheels fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, "occupant crash protection." in certain low risk air bag deployment tests conducted by NHTSA, using an out-of-position unbelted 5th percentile female crash test dummy, irregularities…
Remedy: Dealers will install a new air bag inflator module free of charge. The recall began on march 15, 2006. Owners may contact mercedes-benz at 1-800-367-6372.
5 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2005 Mercedes-Benz C Class have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 70,570 miles. Complaints peaked in 2012 with 2 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Driver's side seat back, left bolster, started to smoke and burned a dime size hole in the leather seat cover. Driver's seat heat was on at the time. Turning the seat heat off seems to have solved the”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 28, 2014 · Seats
“While driving experienced sudden loss of power. Engine would rev normally but vehicle acted as if in neutral. I was able to move over to side of freeway safely. Placed car in park and then shifted bac”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 4, 2012 · Power train
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class (C230 Kompressor, C230 Kompressor Sports Coupe, C240 4matic, C240 4matic (Wagon), …). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 16–24 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 14–21 / 20–29 |
| Fuel | Premium, Premium or E85 |
| EPA class | Compact Cars, Small Station Wagons |
| Engine | 4/6/8 cyl, 1.8/2.6/3.2/5.4 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S5); Automatic 5-spd; Manual 6-spd |
Compare Mercedes-Benz C Class model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Mercedes-Benz C Class model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 Mercedes-Benz C Class | 0 | 1 |
| 1994 Mercedes-Benz C Class | 0 | 15 |
| 1995 Mercedes-Benz C Class | 0 | 49 |
| 1996 Mercedes-Benz C Class | 1 | 6 |
| 1997 Mercedes-Benz C Class | 0 | 3 |
| 1998 Mercedes-Benz C Class | 1 | 6 |
| 1999 Mercedes-Benz C Class | 1 | 7 |
| 2000 Mercedes-Benz C Class | 0 | 8 |
| 2001 Mercedes-Benz C Class | 0 | 14 |
| 2002 Mercedes-Benz C Class | 0 | 31 |
| 2003 Mercedes-Benz C Class | 0 | 9 |
| 2004 Mercedes-Benz C Class | 1 | 15 |
| 2005 Mercedes-Benz C Class | 2 | 5 |
| 2006 Mercedes-Benz C Class | 2 | 9 |
| 2008 Mercedes-Benz C Class | 1 | 13 |
| 2012 Mercedes-Benz C Class | 0 | 1 |
Checking a specific 2005 Mercedes-Benz C Class
How do I know if my 2005 Mercedes-Benz C Class has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 2005 Mercedes-Benz C Class; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Mercedes-Benz dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 05V560000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Mercedes-Benz models
- C3003,469 complaints
- E3502,170 complaints
- E3201,164 complaints
- ML350952 complaints
- GLK350904 complaints
- ML320742 complaints
- C250726 complaints
- C230657 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.