1999 Mercedes Benz C230: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 35 complaints
35
Total Complaints
52,000mi
Median Mileage
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
Top Issue
5
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

26,400 25th Percentile
52,000 Median Mileage
101,500 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
2
SUSPENSION
2
AIR BAGS
2
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
1
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
1

Severity Assessment

5
Crashes
1
Fires
7
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"SUSPENSION SYSTEM IS FAULTY. WHENEVER WEIGHT EXCEEDED 180 LBS. OR MORE IN FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT TO THE RIGHT. WHILE WHENEVER WEIGHT EXCEEDED 200 LBS. OR MORE, THE VEHICLE REAR END WOULD APPEAR TO BE DRAGGING. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. *AK"
"BRAKES DO NOT WORK FOR IST 30 SECONDS WHEN YOU START THE CAR AND TAKE IT OUT OF GARAGE"
"REAR WINDOW BROKE. *YC"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28