2004 Mercedes-Benz C Class Problems
- Complaints
- 15filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 21,000miles, 7 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns 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 2004 Mercedes-Benz C Class (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 15 consumer complaints for the 2004 Mercedes-Benz C Class. The part named most often is engine cooling, with 3 complaints (20% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain (3) and air bags (2). 7 of the complaints include a mileage, and 71% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 21,000 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 6 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine cooling complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
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.
- Engine cooling3 20%
- Air bags2 13%
- Electrical system2 13%
- Seats2 13%
- Tires2 13%
- Fuel system1 6.7%
- Other or unknown1 6.7%
- Steering1 6.7%
Example complaints
Engine cooling: “2004 mercedes benz c- class wagon. Consumer writes in regards to defect that allows coolant to leak into the transmission, requiring replacement of the transmission, torque converter and radiator the consumer stated he was forced to spend over six thousand dollars to have the transmission replaced, to correct a defect mercedes benz was aware of.”
NHTSA complaint #10437010, filed 2011-11Transmission and drivetrain: “I have black mercedes c230 kompressor sports sedan 2004 model. Car was purchased brand new at mercedes authorized dealer. There is no modification made to this car and all the servicing done at mercedes authorized dealer since I bought this car. It had only 58000 miles. Last b servicing which checked any safety related issues and includes regular maintenance, was done at authorized dealer on 02/18/2012. No issue was informed on 02/18/2012 to us by mercedes authorized dealer servicing department. …”
NHTSA complaint #10464581, filed 2012-07, 58,000 milesAir bags: “Vehicle is a c 320 and was traveling at approximately 30 miles per hour when accident occurred, receiving significant front end collision by other vehicle and thereafter hitting a concrete street divider.driver received injuries to head,upper and lower body and legs.”
NHTSA complaint #10194822, filed 2007-06Electrical system: “I have a 2004 mercedes c230 compressor. Yesterday, I drove the vehicle home and afterwards left it parked. All of a sudden, there was smoke coming from the interior of the car. It engulfed the whole vehicle in smoke and damaged most of the interior. The fire investigator came ,and stated that it was from the electrical wires inside the dashboard.”
NHTSA complaint #10187454, filed 2007-04Mileage when problems were reported
71% of the 7 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 12,000 and 28,553 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
- 03V534000Dec 19, 2003Seat beltsCovers: Mercedes-Benz C Class 2004, E Class 2004, CLK Class 2004
On certain passenger vehicles, some seat belt buckles may have a burr on a metal component of the locking mechanism. The presence of the burr could prevent the seat belt from locking under certain circumstances.
Recall details for the 2004 Mercedes-Benz C Class → · Check a 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. 6 on record; the latest 6 are shown.
- 10028147Sep 17, 2008Fuel system. Mercedes: replacing the longitudinal member (left and right) below the main floor panel on all my 204 up to 12/31/07. (c300, c350, c300 4-matic, c63 ame).
- 10019822Jan 1, 2007Transmission and drivetrain. Inspect transmission pilot bushing at electrochydraulic unit and replace if necessary. The transmission pilot bushing may have been installed on the control units with non-tempered sealing rings…
- 10018652Nov 1, 2005Body and structure. Inspect boot on both front doors. The boot at the door connecting to the a pillar may not have been clipped correctly leading to insufficient sealing.
- 10017493Sep 1, 2005Transmission and drivetrain. The pvc seam seal on the transmission support bracket may not have been properly applied. Inspect transmission support seam seal, reseal if necessary.
- 10016626Aug 1, 2005Engine cooling. Coolant hose at the bottom right of the radiator must be checked to determine whether the two catches of the coolant hose are latched correctly. Inspect latching of lower radiator hose, replace…
- 10014547Mar 9, 2005Equipment. High-pitched whining noise heard on telephone/vcs/tele aid calls.
Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz C Class
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 13 | 40,500 | 1 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2006 | 9 | 5,100 | 2 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2005 | 5 | 76,640 | 2 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2004 | 15 | 21,000 | 1 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 2003 | 9 | 32,073 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2002 | 31 | 65,000 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2001 | 14 | 72,193 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2000 | 8 | 58,800 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1999 | 7 | 123,000 | 1 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1998 | 6 | 173,000 | 1 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1996 | 6 | 100,646 | 1 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1995 | 49 | 107,000 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 15 | 122,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Stable |
All Mercedes-Benz C Class model years
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2004 Mercedes-Benz C Class have?
NHTSA recorded 15 consumer complaints for the 2004 Mercedes-Benz C Class as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2004 Mercedes-Benz C Class is reported most often?
Engine cooling is named most often, in 3 complaints (20% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 3.
Has the 2004 Mercedes-Benz C Class been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 2004 Mercedes-Benz C Class reported?
Among the 7 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 21,000 miles and the middle half falls between 12,000 and 28,553 miles; 71% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 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.