Most common 2004 Mercedes-Benz C240 problems
Share of the 16 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercedes-Benz C240 complaints by model year
Best C240 years: 2001, 2002, 2003. Years to avoid: 2005. Compare all years →
2004 Mercedes-Benz C240 recalls (3)
Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
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.
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.
Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
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.
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.
Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
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
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.
What 2004 Mercedes-Benz C240 owners say
Windows, wipers & sunroof
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Mercedes Benz C240. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19V918000 (visibility) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. Mercedes-Benz of bonita springs (14610 tamiami trail n, naples, fl 34110) was contacted and confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Mercedes-Benz C240. The contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19V918000 (visibility) however, the parts to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Electrical system
Passenger seat caught fire when using the seat heater. Fire protruded through the side seat panel and burned driver and clothing. The driver was operating the car for about 15 minutes on a city street and pulled off the road to extinguish the fire. Portions of the seat melted.
After driving 1 mile from home, the air conditioned system suddenly shut off and smoke started to come out from the driver's vent into the cabin. I left the car uninjured and called 911. Firemen came 10 minutes later and I could see flames coming through the left vent. The driver's side of the dashboard melted completely, the windshield cracked, and my insurer declared the car a total loss. I'm glad there was no personal injury, though the incident was really scary. I had recently taken my car (3 months ago) to the Mercedes dealer for a service that cost me more than $6,000, and the car was supposed to run like new. The ac had never failed before this.
2004 Mercedes-Benz C240 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.6L 6-cyl | 6-speed manual | RWD | 16 / 24 / 19 |
| 2.6L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 22 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Mercedes-Benz C240 a good car?
Based on 16 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 C240 rates few complaints: 3.0× as many complaints as a typical year of the C240 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 2004 Mercedes-Benz C240?
The windows, wipers & sunroof — 3 complaints, 19% of all complaints for this model year, most often about sun/moon roof assembly. Next are the electrical system (3) and seats (2).
How many recalls does the 2004 Mercedes-Benz C240 have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2004 Mercedes-Benz C240, the most recent from November 19, 2024 (sun/moon roof assembly). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercedes-Benz C240?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2001, 2002 and 2003. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2005. See the full Mercedes-Benz C240 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2004 Mercedes-Benz C240 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 80,000 miles; 22% 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.