Most common 2003 Mercedes-Benz 240 problems
Share of the 27 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercedes-Benz 240 complaints by model year
Best 240 years: 2001. Compare all years →
What 2003 Mercedes-Benz 240 owners say
Fuel & propulsion system
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. Approximately one and a half weeks later my engine stalled in the middle of an intersection, as a result there was an accident which potentially could have been fatal. I then immediately took the car in for service, and was told the computer could not find a code/problem with the vehicle. The service department changed out the fuel pumps in the car after stating there have been problems. The car now shows a noticable improvement. After receipt of the car, I spoke with the general manager, who had the assistant manager call me from Mercedes Benz of tampa and I was quickly referred to the Mercedes Benz customer care line. After voicing my complaint twice, and put on hold twice I was then hung up on. Dt
My 2003 Mercedes-Benz c240 4matic was brought to the dealer for a 4th time on 7/8/09 for inoperable fuel gauge (fuel tank stayed on empty even though there was gas in the tank). This time the technician at the dealer contacted the Mercedes-Benz technical assistance center (tac) in Germany to obtain password for special coding regarding fuel gauge in cluster and program. This problem is still on-going and to-date has not been resolved. (see additional complaints with other dates).
Electrical system
Vehicle experienced brake problems, electrical issues, and catalytic converter. Vehicle was in an accident resulting in $7500.00 dollars in damages. Mercedes wanted to give the owner a new vehicle but wanted $4000.00 dollars in exchange because of time owned. 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.
I have purchased two vehicles from stadium auto, inc. @ 800 north watson rd. Arlington, texas 7601[phone]. One being a 2005 Volkswagen passat, which resulted in a crack motor 7 days later (per the Volkswagen service tech that serviced the vehicle the car was involved in a bad collision. Stadium auto apologized and switched me out of the Volkswagen contract into a 2003 Mercedes-Benz 240 (what an upgrade) but for the same price. The Mercedes has been in the service shop of park place motorcars @ 6113 lemon ave. Dallas, texas 75209 [phone] due to my suspensions of how the car drives and sounds. The complaints are as follows: June 08, 2006 problem - license plate bulb burnt out - replaced horn inoperable fuse element - replaced June 22, 2006 problem - engine idles rough at times no determination loud ticking noise stabilizer bar repaired d r&r sway bar links. …
Engine & cooling
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Mercedes c240. While driving 75 MPH on a freeway he heard banging noises coming from the engine and then he saw smoke. After he pulled over he saw flames coming from underneath of the vehicle. The fire department was contacted. When they arrived the entire front-end of the vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was towed to his residence. The dealer was contacted and they stated that they will put n the claim and that they will give him a call back. When they called back they stated that they were not interested in inspecting the vehicle due to the year and mileage of the vehicle. The failure and current mileages were 14649.
Vehicle experienced brake problems, electrical issues, and catalytic converter. Vehicle was in an accident resulting in $7500.00 dollars in damages. Mercedes wanted to give the owner a new vehicle but wanted $4000.00 dollars in exchange because of time owned. 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.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Mercedes-Benz 240 a good car?
Based on 27 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 240 rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the 240 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Mercedes-Benz 240?
The fuel & propulsion system — 6 complaints, 22% of all complaints for this model year, most often about delivery. Next are the electrical system (6) and engine & cooling (5).
How many recalls does the 2003 Mercedes-Benz 240 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz 240. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercedes-Benz 240?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2001. See the full Mercedes-Benz 240 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2003 Mercedes-Benz 240 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 37,000 miles; 53% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.