AI DamageMercedes-Benz 240: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Mercedes-Benz 240 across 9 model years: 83 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 20% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 16% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel system 14% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 10% of all complaints
- 5 Structure 10% of all complaints
- 6 Vehicle speed control 10% of all complaints
- 7 Air bags 8% of all complaints
- 8 Service brakes 7% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 17 complaints (20% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 13 complaints (16% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Fuel system: 12 complaints (14% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 8 complaints (10% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Structure: 8 complaints (10% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 83 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 17 | 4 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 13 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 12 | 1 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| Air bags | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 2 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The consumer stated that he hoped the car was taken out of service or sold to anyone that was not informed of previous problems with sudden acceleration. The consumer provided a letter from the attorney of the manufacturer stating that the client position on the matter stands and will not be responding to any further…
There was a grinding noise upon braking, the vehicle would surged forward when stopping, the rear brake lamplight was defective, hesitation upon acceleration, the sun roof did not close and would not close properly, and there was a vibration when braking.
When trying to stop vehicle experienced extended stopping distance which caused a rear end collision. Upon impact, both front air bags did not deploy.
Pin chen described the sudden acceleration problem he experienced to chris. Chris recommended him to go to the dealership for further checkup. Pin drove the car back to its original dealership, mercedes benz of long beach, that afternoon for a check up.
Driver's airbag did not deploy - front end collision at a speed of between 40 and 45 miles per hour. Car has been determined to be totalled.
After bringing to the attention of mercedes benz of tampa a problem/concern with hesitation one week after purchase of my c240, I was told to start the car out in second or third gear.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.