2001 Mercedes Benz C240 recalls & complaints
Source: NHTSA, updated daily. Last checked 2026-10-19. Recalls apply to specific VINs — run your VIN to confirm.
3 safety recalls, most serious first
1. Visibility (wipers / glass)
What's wrong, in plain English: You may not be able to see the road clearly. 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
What could happen: A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2001 C240.
- Book a repair at any authorized Mercedes Benz dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 19V918000 (manufacturer code 2020040011).
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-367-6372.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
Summary: 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
Consequence: 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.
Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
2. Visibility (wipers / glass)
What's wrong, in plain English: You may not be able to see the road clearly. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and may detach.
What could happen: A detached sunroof panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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 2023…
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2001 C240.
- Book a repair at any authorized Mercedes Benz dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 22V954000 (manufacturer code 2023010004, 2023010005, and 2023010006).
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-367-6372.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
3. Visibility (wipers / glass)
What's wrong, in plain English: You may not be able to see the road clearly. 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.
What could happen: A detached sunroof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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/…
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2001 C240.
- Book a repair at any authorized Mercedes Benz dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 24V874000 (manufacturer code 2024120001/2/3).
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-367-6372.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or go to nhtsa.gov.
Useful for owners
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Most complained-about parts: Visibility (wipers / glass) (2), Engine (2), Electronic Stability Control (esc) (2), Body / structure (1), Suspension (1).
Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.
Read recent complaints (8)
05/17/2023 · Visibility (wipers / glass)
The contact owns a 2001 Mercedes-Benz C240. The contact stated that he was made aware of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 191V18000 (Visibility) after the vehicle was taken through inspection. Additionally, the contact stated that the sliding roof failed to close as designed. As a result, the contact had to remotely open and close the sliding sunroof repeatedly u…
03/08/2021 · Body / structure
THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF ON MY 2001 MERCEDES BENZ C240 SHATTERED OR EXPLODED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT A HIGHWAY SPEED OF 55 MPH. IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT AND THE GLASS WAS SHATTERED OVER THE PASSENGER AND REAR SEATS. NO ONE WAS SITTING IN THOSE SEATS FORTUNATELY. MERCEDES DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL OR WARRANTY FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE TO DATE. I WILL HAVE TO P…
06/16/2020 · Visibility (wipers / glass)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ C240. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V918000 (VISIBILITY) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. 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 NO…
03/31/2019 · Engine
MY 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ C240 ENGINE COOLING OR SUCTION FAN RUNS CONSTANTLY AT HIGH SPEED NONSTOP AT STARTUP UNTIL VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT / MODULE (ECU / ECM) OR COOLING / SUCTION FAN WAS BAD AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. I REPLACED THE ECU 5 TIMES AND THE COOLING / SUCTION FAN ONCE REL…
01/09/2018 · Suspension
IN DECEMBER 2017, I WAS DRIVING ALONG A CITY STREET WHEN THE DRIVER'S FRONT AIRBAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. MY CAR WAS WELL-MAINTAINED, WITH MILEAGE OF 28,520. IT APPEARS THE SUSPENSION (LOWER BALL JOINT) ON THE RIGHT SIDE FAILED, CAUSING THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE TO BLOW OUT AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE LEFT FRONT TIRE AS WELL. THERE WAS NO COLLISION, YET THE AIRBAG…
07/14/2017 · Lights
ESP LIGHT, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FADING, ACCELERATION SENSOR AND MULTIPLE LEAKS IN THE ENGINE, POWER STEERING, AXEL SEAL, SPARK PLUGS VALVE LEAKS, OIL LEAKS, TRANS BELL. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT IN FOR AN ESP LIGHT THAT TURNS ON ONCE THE CAR IS IN MOTION, A BURNING SMELL THAT COMES THROUGH THE CAR. MULTIPLE LEAKS DISCOVERED AND THE CLUSTER LIGHTING ALSO FADES OUT…
04/08/2016 · Electronic Stability Control (esc)
NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, THEN VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY SLAMS ON BRAKES (SOMETIMES ALL 4 WHEELS, SOMETIMES ONLY 1 WHEEL--WHICH CAUSES VEHICLE TO YAW). AT FIRST, THIS PROBLEM WOULD ONLY OCCUR AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 40 MINUTES. NOW IT CAN HAPPEN UP TO 3 MINUTES AFTER STARTING VEHICLE. ON 1 OCCASION SYSTEM CAUSED THE WHEELS TO SKID FOR ABOUT ONE SECOND,…
11/12/2014 · Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ C 240. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ESP CONTROL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS…