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2005 Mercedes-Benz C230 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

4 safety recalls list the 2005 Mercedes-Benz C230, and owners have filed 85 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

4
safety recalls
85
owner complaints to NHTSA
12 / 6
complaints citing a crash / fire

4 safety recalls for the 2005 Mercedes-Benz C230

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Sun/moon roof assembly (visibility)

    NHTSA 24V874000 Reported 33,456 vehicles potentially affected Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and can detach.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an…

  2. Sun/moon roof assembly (visibility)

    NHTSA 22V954000 Reported 131,653 vehicles potentially affected Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and may detach.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall expands…

  3. Sun/moon roof assembly (visibility)

    NHTSA 19V918000 Reported 747,928 vehicles potentially affected Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly resulting in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V918-4126.pdf

    Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at…

  4. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 16V081000 Reported 711,159 vehicles potentially affected Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 ML320 BlueTec 4Matic, GL320 BlueTec 4Matic and R320 CDI 4Matic, 2011 E350 Cabriolet and E550 Cabriolet, 2009-2011 ML350, ML350 4Matic, ML550 4Matic, ML63 AMG, and C63 AMG, 2010-2011 ML450 4Matic Hybrid, E350 Coupe, E350 4Matic, E550 Coupe, E550 4Matic, and E63…

    Remedy: MBUSA will their notify owners, and Fiat Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler owners. Dealers for the respective brands will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. This recall began November…

85 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2005 Mercedes-Benz C230 have filed 85 complaints with NHTSA; 12 describe a crash and 6 describe a fire. Reports cite 13 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 77,127 miles. Complaints peaked in 2017 with 23 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“The SAM system failed and car would not start !It took months to be diagnosed by 3 different mechanics! The message said quite often that the Air bags have been deployed !The dealer could not determin”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 22, 2024 · Air bags

“Vehicle began smoking on highway. No check engine or indicator of any fault codes. No previous coolant or oil leaks, or fuel leaks appeared to be visible or of issue. Vehicle had to be pulled over on”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 18, 2023 · Engine

Compare Mercedes-Benz C230 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Mercedes-Benz C230 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1997 Mercedes-Benz C23007
1998 Mercedes-Benz C230039
1999 Mercedes-Benz C230029
2000 Mercedes-Benz C230029
2001 Mercedes-Benz C23004
2002 Mercedes-Benz C230254
2003 Mercedes-Benz C230351
2004 Mercedes-Benz C230331
2005 Mercedes-Benz C230485
2006 Mercedes-Benz C2305116
2007 Mercedes-Benz C2305212

Checking a specific 2005 Mercedes-Benz C230

How do I know if my 2005 Mercedes-Benz C230 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. 4 campaigns currently list the 2005 Mercedes-Benz C230; 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 16V081000).

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

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.