2001 Mercedes-Benz C320 Electrical system Problems

“I just bought the car and two days later the smart key won't turn, can't unlock the steering wheel and the shiffter the good think the car was parked on my drive way call tow truck take to the shop and they say I need a new key and ignition control module but only dealer can do that, $1,400.00 dollars job”

“My 2001 Mercedes-Benz C320's battery was constantly going bad and having to be jumped after not starting it or driving it for approx. 24 hours. Finally, after a certified mercedes mechanic investigated the problem, he informed me that the problem originated from the driver's seat module, which was draining my battery. He informed me that if I unplugged it for the time being, my battery would no longer drain. Sure enough, after unplugging the seat module, I no longer had issues with my battery draining. …”

“On the first occasion (december 16, 2010), my mercedes C320 electrical system shut down the engine while I was driving. The car engine shut off as I was driving 57 MPH on the freeway during morning rush hour. There were several cars and tractor trailers behind me when the car shut off as I was driving. The incident was terrifying, as no warning lights (nothing) came on in the car. Luckily, other drivers saw me in distress and I was able to maneuver over three lanes of traffic to get to the side strip. …”

“I purchased this car as a graduation present for my daughter. I know it's and older model, and has high mileage, so I expected some issues. However, after reading several post across the internet it seems as if the seat module issue is a problem. Everytime she lets the car sit for more than a day, it won't start. She has to jump start the car, and this seems to be an issue across the board that benz should have recalled by now. This is a major issue and something needs to be done. This morning the card once again would not start. …”

“I also have a 2001 C320 since new here in south africa and I have the same problem with the electric front seats draining the battery. If it stands for more than 2 days the battery is flat. It's a problem because it also influences the other electrical accessories as the battery has to be charged and in some cases jump started. While this can be done successfully if you are stuck out of home base sometimes you cannot manage the recovery team that cause all types of voltage spikes when trying to get the car on line again. …”