2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 31 of 106 complaints (29%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (3) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 172 in 2002 to 106 in 2003.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | vs. 2003 Compact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,900–4,100 | 3,700–4,550 | 3,250–4,550 | 3,350–4,850 | 3,250–4,850 | |
| Combined MPG | 19–20 | 17–21 | 17–24 | 16–23 | 16–24 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 16–18 / 23–25 | 15–19 / 21–26 | 15–21 / 19–29 | 14–20 / 19–28 | 14–21 / 20–29 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 444–468 | 423–523 | 370–523 | 386–555 | 370–555 | |
| Complaints filed | 89 | 172 | 106 | 77 | 140 | |
| Recalls issued | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 3 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 17 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 2 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 10 | |
| Injuries reported | 1 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 17 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 6 | 13 | 14 | 12 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
Engine: 31 of 106 NHTSA complaints (29%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class get?
EPA rates it 17–24 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
EPA estimates $3,250–$4,550 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (19)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 5-spd | 4 | 1.8L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 20 mpg | 28 mpg | 23 mpg | $3,350 | 386 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 1.8L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 18 mpg | 28 mpg | 22 mpg | $3,500 | 404 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic 5-spd | 4 | 1.8L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 21 mpg (high) | 29 mpg (high) | 24 mpg (high) | $3,250 (low) | 370 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 4 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 1.8L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 19 mpg | 28 mpg | 22 mpg | $3,500 | 404 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic 5-spd | 6 | 2.6L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 17 mpg | 23 mpg | 19 mpg | $4,100 | 468 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Manual 6-spd | 6 | 2.6L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 15 mpg (low) | 24 mpg | 18 mpg | $4,300 | 494 g/mi |
| Configuration 7 | Automatic 5-spd | 6 | 2.6L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 17 mpg | 23 mpg | 19 mpg | $4,100 | 468 g/mi |
| Configuration 8 | Automatic 5-spd | 6 | 3.2L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 15 mpg (low) | 19 mpg (low) | 17 mpg (low) | $4,550 (high) | 523 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 9 | Automatic 5-spd | 6 | 3.2L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 18 mpg | 24 mpg | 20 mpg | $3,900 | 444 g/mi |
| Configuration 10 | Manual 6-spd | 6 | 3.2L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 15 mpg (low) | 23 mpg | 18 mpg | $4,300 | 494 g/mi |
| Configuration 13 | Manual 6-spd | 6 | 3.2L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 15 mpg (low) | 23 mpg | 18 mpg | $4,300 | 494 g/mi |
| Configuration 15 | Manual 6-spd | 6 | 2.6L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Small Station Wagons | 15 mpg (low) | 24 mpg | 18 mpg | $4,300 | 494 g/mi |
| Configuration 18 | Manual 6-spd | 6 | 3.2L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Small Station Wagons | 15 mpg (low) | 23 mpg | 18 mpg | $4,300 | 494 g/mi |
Show 6 more configurations
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 11 | Automatic 5-spd | 6 | 3.2L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 17 mpg | 23 mpg | 19 mpg | $4,100 | 468 g/mi |
| Configuration 12 | Automatic 5-spd | 6 | 3.2L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 17 mpg | 23 mpg | 19 mpg | $4,100 | 468 g/mi |
| Configuration 14 | Automatic 5-spd | 6 | 2.6L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Small Station Wagons | 17 mpg | 23 mpg | 19 mpg | $4,100 | 468 g/mi |
| Configuration 16 | Automatic 5-spd | 6 | 2.6L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Small Station Wagons | 17 mpg | 23 mpg | 19 mpg | $4,100 | 468 g/mi |
| Configuration 17 | Automatic 5-spd | 6 | 3.2L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Small Station Wagons | 18 mpg | 24 mpg | 20 mpg | $3,900 | 444 g/mi |
| Configuration 19 | Automatic 5-spd | 6 | 3.2L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Small Station Wagons | 17 mpg | 23 mpg | 19 mpg | $4,100 | 468 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 31 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 19 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical | 22 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Brakes | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 14 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 15 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Other | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (3)
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY · Campaign 24V874000 · Nov 20, 2024
Defect: 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.
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY · Campaign 22V954000 · Dec 27, 2022
Defect: 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.
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY · Campaign 19V918000 · Dec 23, 2019
Defect: 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.