2001 Mercedes-Benz C320 Electronic stability control Problems
- Complaints
- 3about this part
- Share
- 5%of 63 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 128,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the electronic stability control of the 2001 Mercedes-Benz C320, 5% of the 63 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 128,000 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.
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.
“At 55 MPH the front left brake engages without applying the brake pedal and after a few seconds releases, the bas and ESC faults are then visible on the dash. The brake light switch was replaced by mercedes two times, but this condition shows up after a few days of driving , codes show that the yaw rate sensor or connection is at fault. Even when the car is in park with the engine running on a flat level surface the fault warning dash lights ESC and bas will come on with no movement in the car. This is a very dangerous situation for a collision from a vehicle following me and running into me . …”
NHTSA complaint #10618834, filed 2014-08, 57,000 miles“While driving on a level and straight road the car automatically applied brakes and came to a complete halt. Weather conditions where; clear visibility, about 85 deg f, dry asphalt surface. Error codes resulting from this fault indicates a faulty esp yaw rate sensor. The independent mechanic code reader showed that the yaw rate sensor output was reading angle rates from as low as 34 to as high as 300+ gradients/sec, while the car was not moving and parked at the shop. …”
NHTSA complaint #10477464, filed 2012-09, 136,000 miles“Really dad experience problems with drivers and passenger side seat control modules draining battery when key off my car started on fire under the hood .!! Two times.”
NHTSA complaint #10560656, filed 2014-01, 128,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10186135Dec 9, 2020If the customer brakes sharply from a speed of > 30mph, without ABS intervention, there is a single cracking noise from the area of the ESP hydraulic unit
- 10025642Mar 28, 2008Model 203 (c) series from production 8/1/01 to 2/1/03 and model 209 (clk) series up to production 2/1/03; esp visit workshop with fault code c1185.
Electronic stability control: other model years
Other parts of the 2001 Mercedes-Benz C320
26 complaintsSeats
19 complaintsEngine cooling
11 complaintsBrakes
8 complaintsExterior lighting
7 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
6 complaintsEquipment
5 complaintsFuel system
5 complaintsVehicle speed control
5 complaintsSteering
4 complaintsAir bags
3 complaintsBody and structure
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2001 Mercedes-Benz C320
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