The Lemon IndexAll cars · Mercedes-Benz C-Class · 2003
2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Advanced data.
The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.
Engines and drivetrains 11
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / hwy / combined | Fuel | Fuel cost/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4-cyl | Auto 5-spd | RWD | 21 / 29 / 24 | Premium | $3,200 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | RWD | 19 / 28 / 22 | Premium | $3,500 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl supercharged | Auto 5-spd | RWD | 20 / 28 / 23 | Premium | $3,350 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl supercharged | Manual 6-spd | RWD | 18 / 28 / 22 | Premium | $3,500 |
| 2.6L 6-cyl | Auto 5-spd | RWD | 17 / 23 / 19 | Premium | $4,050 |
| 2.6L 6-cyl | Auto 5-spd | 4Wheel or AWD | 17 / 23 / 19 | Premium | $4,050 |
| 2.6L 6-cyl | Manual 6-spd | RWD | 15 / 24 / 18 | Premium | $4,300 |
| 3.2L 6-cyl | Auto 5-spd | RWD | 18 / 24 / 20 | Premium | $3,850 |
| 3.2L 6-cyl | Auto 5-spd | 4Wheel or AWD | 17 / 23 / 19 | Premium | $4,050 |
| 3.2L 6-cyl | Manual 6-spd | RWD | 15 / 23 / 18 | Premium | $4,300 |
| 3.2L 6-cyl supercharged | Auto 5-spd | RWD | 15 / 19 / 17 | Premium | $4,550 |
EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.
Failure mileage by system
Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 20,200 and 101,500 miles. Median 65,400, from 72 complaints with a mileage.
| System | Median | Middle half | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 65,000 | 46,600–75,000 | 23 |
| Electrical | 65,900 | 20,300–128,000 | 14 |
| Transmission & drivetrain | 18,300 | 400–47,100 | 11 |
| Airbags | 76,000 | 50,000–126,000 | 11 |
| Fuel or ev drive system | 151,000 | 102,200–169,500 | 8 |
Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.
Complaints by system
| System | Share of complaints |
|---|---|
| Transmission & drivetrain | 42% |
| Engine | 29% |
| Speed control | 17% |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 17% |
| Electrical | 17% |
One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.
Severity, all complaints
| Total | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Tows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 102 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.
Recall campaigns 3
24V874000 Nov 2024 Visibility / Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
Defect. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and can detach.
Risk. A detached sunroof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 22V-954. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024120001/2/3.
22V954000 Dec 2022 Visibility / Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
Defect. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and may detach.
Risk. A detached sunroof panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall expands NHTSA recall number 19V-918. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2023010004, 2023010005, and 2023010006.
19V918000 Dec 2019 Visibility / Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
Defect. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly resulting in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V918-4126.pdf
Risk. A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020040011.
Manufacturer communications 58
Mercedes-Benz filed 58 service communications for this car with NHTSA.
- Engine oil leaks
- Engine ticking (piston slap like sound) noise when accelerating between 1200 and 3000 rpm
- Check engine light on / fault codes fc1200 / fc1208 stored in me-sfi control unit
Nearby model years
Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Updated
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