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Mercedes-Benz C240Model year report

2003 Mercedes-Benz C240 Problems

Complaints
20filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
114,500miles, 10 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
19 mpgcombined, 2.6L 6-cyl RWD · 17 city / 23 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C240 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 20 consumer complaints for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C240. The part named most often is fuel system, with 8 complaints (40% of the total), followed by air bags (5) and electrical system (4). 10 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 114,500 miles. Of all complaints, 1 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 40 technical service bulletins for this model year.

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.

Example complaints

Fuel system: “I bought the car yesterday, and today realized the car is leaking fuel, pooling under the back seat and spilling out under the car. The passenger headlight will not work; we tried 3 bulbs. The panel displays a message stating one of the tag lights is out, but it actually works.”

NHTSA complaint #10914366, filed 2016-10, 134,000 miles

Air bags: “Certified pre-owned dealership bought mercedes benz 2003 c-240 4-matic. Purchased with 41k miles in 2008. Approximately 6/2013 the srs light came on stating 1 malfunction on the cluster relating to restraint system. Advised of numerous cases of this defect in model year 2003. Due to warranty expiration the issue has yet to have professional diagnostics. The light and cluster notification remains to date at 76k miles.”

NHTSA complaint #10574681, filed 2014-03, 69,500 miles

Electrical system: “I was always getting an error message telling me my rear lights were not working. I experienced an electrical fire in my trunk, which caused the air bags to deploy and the entire left side of my car caught fire. The car was totaled. Car would not start, trunk would not open. Car was totaled by dealer and insurance company. I know there is a recall notice for new c class cars, but because of what I experienced, I believe older models may also have the same problem.”

NHTSA complaint #10586324, filed 2014-05

Engine: “Dec 2013, with our new 2003 mb C240 traveling 55mph on cruise, I accelerated, poof . My brother driving behind us disappeared in a cloud of white smoke from my exhaust. He had to pull over, he could not see the road. The cloud of smoke appears every time I use the cc or maintain a constant speed for any length of time. On a recent trip of 2000 miles, it consumed 7 qts of oil. With only 75k miles, its hardly broken in. The problem is sludge built up inside the engine because of a poor engine design. …”

NHTSA complaint #10641363, filed 2014-10, 75,263 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

0% of the 10 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 100,000 and 168,000 miles.

0%0–100%10–250%25–5010%50–7510%75–10050%100–15030%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (10 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 114,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

201420152016520172018202020232024
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C240. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
C-Class · sedan not rated4 / 4———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2003 Mercedes-Benz C240 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
C240 RWD2.6L 6-cyl5-speed automatic172319$4,350
C240 RWD2.6L 6-cyl6-speed manual152418$4,550
C240 (Wagon) RWD2.6L 6-cyl5-speed automatic172319$4,350
C240 (Wagon) RWD2.6L 6-cyl6-speed manual152418$4,550
C240 4matic 4WD/AWD2.6L 6-cyl5-speed automatic172319$4,350
C240 4matic (Wagon) 4WD/AWD2.6L 6-cyl5-speed automatic172319$4,350

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C240 → · 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. 40 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 40 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz C240

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20053066,7803—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20041680,0003—19—Falling
200320114,5003—19—Falling
200213117,0003—20—Not enough data
2001897,2003—20—Not enough data

All Mercedes-Benz C240 model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C240 have?

NHTSA recorded 20 consumer complaints for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C240 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C240 is reported most often?

Fuel system is named most often, in 8 complaints (40% of the total), followed by air bags with 5.

Has the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C240 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C240 get?

The EPA rates the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C240 (C240, 2.6L 6-cyl) at 19 mpg combined, 17 city and 23 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,350 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C240 reported?

Among the 10 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 114,500 miles and the middle half falls between 100,000 and 168,000 miles; 0% 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. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

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.