2003 Mercedes-Benz 240 Problems
- Complaints
- 27filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 33,506miles, 18 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz 240 (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 27 consumer complaints for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz 240. The part named most often is electrical system, with 6 complaints (22% of the total), followed by fuel system (6) and engine cooling (5). 18 of the complaints include a mileage, and 56% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 33,506 miles. Of all complaints, 4 involved a crash, 1 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 3 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Electrical system6 22%
- Fuel system6 22%
- Engine cooling5 19%
- Air bags2 7.4%
- Brakes2 7.4%
- Suspension2 7.4%
- Wheels2 7.4%
- Other or unknown1 3.7%
Also reported: Body and structure (1), Tires (1), Vehicle speed control (1).
Example complaints
Electrical system: “Vehicle without any warning stalled in the middle of the road, and noticed all warning lights were on. Dealer claims it was a broken wire? Lucky did not happened on freeway while driving 70 MPH.”
NHTSA complaint #10067583, filed 2004-04, 10,500 milesFuel system: “My 2003 Mercedes-Benz c240 4matic was brought to the dealer for a 2nd time on 10/06/08 (2nd time problem reported) for inoperable fuel gauge (fuel tank stayed on empty even though there was gas in the tank). This time the programming was changed in the instrument cluster (see additional complaints with other dates).”
NHTSA complaint #10341094, filed 2010-07, 70,992 milesEngine cooling: “After purchasing car in 2007 used with 60k miles, taking vehicle in for all scheduled maintenance, driivng only 40k over 4 years,the vehecle needed a new transmission.”
NHTSA complaint #10452045, filed 2012-03, 100,000 milesTransmission and drivetrain: “Pin chen, my father, was making a slow u-turn on a small street about 11 feet wide (vickie street in cerritos) on july 29, 2003. While he was slowly marking a u-turn, the car suddenly accelerated and ran into the curb. I contacted the mercedes roadside assistant and a mechanic, chris from house of import bunea park, came to scene and changed the flat tire. Pin chen described the sudden acceleration problem he experienced to chris. Chris recommended him to go to the dealership for further checkup. …”
NHTSA complaint #10030972, filed 2004-11, 2,320 milesMileage when problems were reported
56% of the 18 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 10,500 and 78,132 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz 240 in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 3 on record; the latest 3 are shown.
- 10034306Jun 11, 2010Air bags. Mercedes: airbag durability and reliability. Air bag srs control module (n2/2) does not have a set shelf life and will normally be reliable for the life of a vehicle. With 164, 216 221, 251 and…
- 10025644Feb 4, 2008Exterior lighting. Model 240; head lamps/ fog lamps fogged.
- 10019907Apr 27, 2006Air bags. Srs lamp illuminated and dtc 9021 and/or 9027 stored.
Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz 240
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 27 | 33,506 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2002 | 26 | 37,000 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2001 | 22 | 48,541 | 0 | — | — | — | Stable |
All Mercedes-Benz 240 model years
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2003 Mercedes-Benz 240 have?
NHTSA recorded 27 consumer complaints for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz 240 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2003 Mercedes-Benz 240 is reported most often?
Electrical system is named most often, in 6 complaints (22% of the total), followed by fuel system with 6.
Has the 2003 Mercedes-Benz 240 been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 2003 Mercedes-Benz 240 reported?
Among the 18 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 33,506 miles and the middle half falls between 10,500 and 78,132 miles; 56% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.