Mercedes-Benz 230Years to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 28 owner complaints and 3 safety recalls on record for the Mercedes-Benz 230.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaints Best years—Fewest complaints for their age Owner complaints28Top: Electrical system Safety recalls31968–2004 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Mercedes-Benz 230 years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 230 median. Tap a year for its full report.

0 1 0 0 1 8 3 4 5 6

'68'74'77'78'88'99'01'02'03'04

Avoid
Caution
Solid
Best
Not rated

2004Not rated–/1006 complaints · 0 recalls 2003Not rated–/1005 complaints · 0 recalls 2002Not rated–/1004 complaints · 0 recalls 2001Not rated–/1003 complaints · 0 recalls 1999Not rated–/1008 complaints · 0 recalls 1988Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls 1978Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall 1977Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall 1974Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls 1968Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls

Complaints by system

Most common Mercedes-Benz 230 problems

All model years combined: 28 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

7Electrical system2 crash/fire/injury

4Air bags2 crash/fire/injury

3Power train1 crash/fire/injury

3Engine and engine cooling1 crash/fire/injury

2Exterior lighting

2Latches/locks/linkages

2Suspension

2Vehicle speed control

2Visibility

1010 other systems6 crash/fire/injury

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.

Complaints by system
System	Complaints	Crash, fire or injury
Electrical system	7	2
Air bags	4	2
Power train	3	1
Engine and engine cooling	3	1
Exterior lighting	2	1
Latches/locks/linkages	2	2
Suspension	2	0
Vehicle speed control	2	2
Visibility	2	0
10 other systems	10	6

3 recalls

Mercedes-Benz 230 recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

Exhaust system: emission control78V-106 · 1977–1978 · May 15, 1978 · 10,500 vehicles Hazard flashing warning lights: switch68V-102 · 1968 · Oct 23, 1968 · 4,295 vehicles Delivery: fuel pump68V-027 · 1968 · Mar 29, 1968 · 2,404 vehicles

1 investigation

NHTSA investigations of the 230

Jul 15, 1988
SUDDEN ACCELERATIONEA88034 · 1984–1988 · closed Jul 31, 1990
No recall