2003 Mercedes-Benz C230 Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 8%of 51 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 40,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C230, 8% of the 51 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 40,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“1. The headlight cannot be turn on as I drove into a 1-mile dark tunnel in us west. 2. It persists for about 1-days during a trip to the us west in the dry heat environment. After that, the headlight work normal again as I came back to california. 3. Nothing has being done since then since I will probably not drive to us west in the visible near future. The old parts are still available in my car.”
NHTSA complaint #10314904, filed 2010-02, 40,000 miles“The contact owns a 2003 mercedes benz C230. The contact stated that while driving, it was informed that the tail lights failed to function. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact replaced the tail light however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 225,262.”
NHTSA complaint #10837519, filed 2016-02, 225,262 miles“When signaling to turn left or right, only the left turn signal will flash. The right turn signal never flashes. However, both lights will flash when hazard lights are on and when locking/unlocking car doors.”
NHTSA complaint #10350221, filed 2010-08Related service bulletins
- 11031580Apr 16, 2026Complaint Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged. Cause Fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. It does not lead to…
- 11029959Mar 9, 2026Complaint Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged Cause Fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. It does not lead to…
- 11029025Feb 24, 2026Complaint Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged Cause Fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. It does not lead to…
- 11017500Apr 28, 2025Complaint Headlamps leaking or fogged Cause The fogging of the headlamp is a natural phenomenon which can occur under certain climatic conditions. In contrast to a leaky…
- 11017496Apr 28, 2025Complaint Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged Cause Fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. It does not lead to…
- 11007974Sep 21, 2024Complaint Headlamps leaking or fogged Cause The fogging of the headlamp is a natural phenomenon which can occur under certain climatic conditions. In contrast to a leaky…
- 11007753Sep 10, 2024Complaint Headlamp or front fog lamp leaky or fogged Cause Fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. It does not lead…
- 11005294Jul 23, 2024Complaint Rear lamps fogged up/not leaktight. Cause Fogging of the rear lamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. This does not lead to…
- 10028585Feb 6, 2009Mercedes vehicles: the xenon or bi-xenon headlamp not functioning. A function description can be found in wis document gf8s.10-p-20010 (203), gf82.10-p-0003q (209)…
Exterior lighting: other model years
Other parts of the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C230
19 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
8 complaintsElectrical system
6 complaintsFuel system
4 complaintsAir bags
3 complaintsBrakes
3 complaintsEngine
3 complaintsTires
3 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
3 complaintsEquipment
2 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
2 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C230
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.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology