Mercedes-Benz C-Class Mercedes-Benz C-Class

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Mercedes-Benz C-Class repairs by problem area

Engine (30%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (7%)

Brakes and Traction Control (4%)

Suspension and Steering (10%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (31%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (12%)

Other (6%)

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Chart based on 1707 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class transmission repair cost distribution

$2500+ (7%)

$1000 - $2499 (14%)

$500 - $999 (10%)

$100 - $499 (15%)

< $100 (54%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 108 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2017 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 503hp 4.0L V8 7-speed shiftable automatic RWD

13000 mi Warning light indicated failure of limited slip differential. Dealer reset with new software and indicated the matter was a "bad sender". 

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2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 362hp 3.0L V6 7-speed shiftable automatic AWD

9000 mi Oil leak with transaxle 
9300 mi Jerking when starting from a stop. Dealer updated transmission software. 
27000 mi Transmission shifted poorly in low gears 

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2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 241hp 2.0L I4 7-speed shiftable automatic AWD

7440 mi Periodic rough shifting between 2nd and 3rd and sometimes 3rd to 4th. Couldn't be reproduced by technicians. 
9080 mi Rough shifting from 2nd to 3rd and sometimes 3rd to 4th. Tested with sr tech. Noted it is a bit rough. Updated transmission software. Much better since software update. 

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2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 241hp 2.0L I4 7-speed shiftable automatic AWD

18500 mi Transmission very jerky between 2-4th gear randomly. Still waiting on a fix. At the shop for the 3rd time for the problem. Intermittent, could not replicate. 

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2014 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

248-horsepower 3.5L V6 7-speed shiftable automatic AWD

27000 mi

US $500
Howling sound would appear only when cold and between 25-35mph. I told advisor it was a bearing noise coming from the center of the car, and it took them about three weeks to find the cause - a Center Bearing. Fix was under warranty. 

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2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

248-horsepower 3.5L V6 7-speed shiftable automatic AWD

23000 mi Jerky downshifts at 15mph. 

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2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 201hp 1.8L I4 7-speed shiftable automatic RWD

7200 mi Check Engine light stays on and car would not go above 40 mph. I was so disappointed for Mercedes Benz brand. Car only has 7200 miles. Will post you update after the trip to dealer. 

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2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

228-horsepower 3.0L V6 7-speed shiftable automatic AWD

16200 mi Rear transmission seals leaking 
18100 mi Rear differential seals leaking 
21300 mi Rear differential leak. This will be the third time the car has Ben in for this issue 
35000 mi clunk when you put the car in reverse or turn wheel tight. 

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2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4-door

turbocharged 4-cylinder diesel automatic AWD

12060 mi Rough gearshifts between 2-3. 
13640 mi Rough gearshifts between 2-3. 
19840 mi Rough shifting between 2nd and 3rd gear. 

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2011 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

268-horsepower 3.5L V6 7-speed shiftable automatic AWD

9400 mi Transmission seal leaking 

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2011 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

228-horsepower 3.0L V6 7-speed shiftable automatic RWD

58000 mi The differential developed a small leak. It was fixed at no cost to me. 

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2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

228-horsepower 3.0L V6 7-speed shiftable automatic RWD

137000 mi

US $3000
Transmission Mount. When car would shift gears I could feel some jerk. Once replaced it was very smooth. 
44000 mi

US $250
43412 150 PERFORM SHORT TEST FOUND NO CODE CK TRAN FLUID LEVEL GOOD CK FOR ANY NEW SOFTWARE HAS ONE PERFORM TRAN SOFTWARE UPDATE 
44000 mi The transmission jerks/bucks in lower gears while shifting from 2nd to 3rd gear. Dealership wouldn't fix it until it got worse. I took the car in five times. With warranty expiring next year I sold the car. 

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2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

228-horsepower 3.0L V6 7-speed shiftable automatic AWD

41000 mi

US $259
Required transmission service at 40K miles. Tech noted leaking transfer case for AWD system need repair under warranty. 
67000 mi Bearing in transmission failed. Cost of repair was $6800.00, so traded as is, for a 2016 Volvo XC70. 
51000 mi Leak from transfer case. Had to disassemble transmission to replace gasket. 
10540 mi Oil leaking from transfer case 
31620 mi transmission bumped when changing down under load, after slowing down going up a hill. 

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2009.5 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 201hp 2.1L I4 Diesel 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD

61000 mi Noticed a transmission whine while on a long vacation trip. Mostly occurred at around 65-75 mph (European roads allow up to c. 80 mph).Reported to dealer on last visit (airbag recall) who said nothing is wrong. Still makes a noise it didn't make before. 

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2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

supercharged 181hp 1.8L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD

42560 mi

$700
Auto trans did not provide usual creep-forward behaviour at idle and sluggish response at lower RPM. The computer may have been reflashed. 

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2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

supercharged 154hp 1.6L I4 6-speed manual RWD

49600 mi

$3000
Oil in the transmission. Oil gasket required changing. 

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2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

268-horsepower 3.5L V6 7-speed shiftable automatic AWD

46500 mi Transfer case (4matic) whining noise. I was told that bearings were shot. Due to the fact that transfer case is integral part of transmission housing the whole thing had to be replaced, luckily under warranty. 7G transmission cost $6500! 

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2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

228-horsepower 3.0L V6 7-speed shiftable automatic RWD

36700 mi Transmission behaving oddly (longer than normal lag into reverse, delayed 2>3 upshift). Dealer reprogramed w/ TSB guidance and problem hasn't been occured again. 

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2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

228-horsepower 3.0L V6 7-speed shiftable automatic AWD

49000 mi

US $800
007603 012102 O Parking Lever Cup (Seal) leaking transmission fluid. 013 997 7246 Transmission case seal leaking transmission fluid. 
60300 mi

US $1000
There was oil leak that I was told was normal "wear and tear" for the 4matic. And cannot be covered by my extended warranty. 
197000 mi

US $2800
Replace transfer box 
213200 mi

US $2200
Left front axle & boots 
29760 mi

C $400
transfer case oil leak 

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2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 134hp 2.1L I4 Diesel 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD

21700 mi Auto gear Box rear seal leaking & replaced 

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2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

268-horsepower 3.5L V6 7-speed shiftable automatic RWD

47300 mi

US $800
Transmission leak also needed to be fixed. 

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2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

268-horsepower 3.5L V6 7-speed shiftable automatic AWD

32200 mi

C $400
Whining noise from the transfer case. The shop advised to wait and see. The cost quoted was only for the diagnosis. 

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2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

228-horsepower 3.0L V6 7-speed shiftable automatic AWD

124000 mi

US $750
Corroded transmission fluid pan 
19014 mi Check engine light comes on while driving. Brought to dealer, code shows that emissions system is inop. Left and right air pump switches get replaced. Issue is solved. 
16000 mi Transmission fluid leak. transmission gasket replaced. 
69720 mi

C $1675
Difficulty selecting forward or reverse. Conductor plate failure. 
76000 mi

US $1700
Transmission Conductor Plate and Valve Body replaced. 
62000 mi Leaky Transfer case 
52000 mi 1. Fluid leaking from transfer case. Transfer case resealed. 
61000 mi Catastrophic failure of the transfer case (part of AWD system). Since the transfer case is integrated with the transmission, the whole transmission was replaced. 
10840 mi tranny leak 
12400 mi Trans Fluid leak discovered by dealer. 
47740 mi

C $2500
Replace torn cv joint cover. Requires whole new axle 
10000 mi Transfer case inside of transmission developed high-pitch noise when vehicle was moving above 45 mph. Dealer determined problem as transfer case; Mercedes-Benz told dealer to replace entire transmission. Loaner car provided. Vehicle successfully fixed. 
74000 mi

US $6671
Whining noise was diagnosed as transfer case bearing that cannot be replaced. Since TC is part of the transmission (4MOTION model) a re-manufactured transmission was installed. While this happens in the all-wheel-drive c300s, I consider it just an unlucky occurrence that I have one that failed. It is still a beautiful car and now it's pretty much bullet-proof! 

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2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

228-horsepower 3.0L V6 6-speed manual RWD

55000 mi

US $10
Clutch pedal would become stiff when car is warmed up. Multiple attempts at resolving the issue were unsatisfactory. Settled on spraying low viscosity oil on the clutch master cylinder behind the dust boot. The stiffness is lessened, but persists. 
18000 mi Needed to replace manual transmission 

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2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

268-horsepower 3.5L V6 7-speed shiftable automatic RWD

49000 mi Transmission pan was leaking from service performed several months earlier. 

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2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

228-horsepower 3.0L V6 7-speed shiftable automatic RWD

6500 mi Car Transmission Sport/Comfort indicator would go blank while driving. Car would then be in "limp home" mode. Torque converter needed replacement. 
119000 mi

US $400
Shifter knob and shift plate replaced. Moved/slid when shifting from one position to another. Maintenance another $700. 
37000 mi Sometimes when car slows to a stop transmission shifts early causing a jerking sensation via engine braking. Fix would require valve body change for $1500. Software updates can help, looking into DIY. Will probably end up living with it. 

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2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

228-horsepower 3.0L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD

42000 mi Reprogrammed the transmission torque converter. Repair seems to only be moderately successful. Will drive the car more to determine what to do next. 
42000 mi The dealer repaired an internal transmission part. It seems to be corrected. We'll drive it some and see. 

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2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

201-horsepower 2.5L V6 7-speed shiftable automatic RWD

70000 mi

US $1244
Replace turbine speed sensor. 
124000 mi

US $900
The transmission conductor plate had intermittent signals causing the transmission to go into limp mode often. Conductor plate/TCM replaced and re-calibrated. 
40300 mi

US $2500
A conductor plate went bad in the transmission. The transmission had to be mostly disassembled for the repair, so it was time consuming and expensive. It works perfectly now. 

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2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

201-horsepower 2.5L V6 6-speed manual RWD

140000 mi

US $200
Clutch pedal pivot pin broke. It is a plastic component. 

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2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

362-horsepower 5.4L V8 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD

82300 mi

US $1300
Had a seal on a sensor fail on my transmission which leaked fluid all over this electronics panel that sits under the tranny which causes the tranny to go into "limp mode" stuck in 1st gear. 

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2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

268-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD

35300 mi Transfer Case was replaced under warranty. There was a deep sounding rumble when doing sharp turns out of park spots or during u-turns. It was also apparent at times when going in reverse. 

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2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

228-horsepower 3.0L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD

154000 mi

US $900
CV joint boots ripped. Replaced cv axle joints. 
51000 mi

US $350
Excessive vibration at idle. Motor and transmission mounts replaced. Did not solve problem. Shop felt it was a transmission issue. 
81700 mi Oil leaking from transmission. Bad seal from repair of balance shaft sprocket. Seal repaired, no charge. 

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2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

201-horsepower 2.5L V6 7-speed shiftable automatic RWD

65000 mi

US $600
noise in left front tire. Has not been identified and corrected by dealer yet and has gone through 3 scheduled maintenance yet and they cannot find it. 
72000 mi

US $1800
Transmission refused to shift until re-booted. Valve body and transmission cpu board were replaced. Mercedes covered the cost of the valve body under "goodwill". This left an $1800 bill for labor and the cpu board. 
58000 mi

US $1250
Valve body replaced. Speed sensor failure. 

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2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

201-horsepower 2.5L V6 6-speed manual RWD

45000 mi

US $1500
bad solenoid. 1500 bucks - caused engine to not shift gears. 
49000 mi replaced the control module - now it works great - 
36000 mi The gear shift had trouble going into reverse so I took it to the dealer. You can imagine my surprise when they told me it needed a new transmission! Fortunately, it was still under warranty so I'm not stuck with the $6,000+ bill. 
39000 mi The reverse gear started acting up again, so I took it back to the dealer. The previous time, the only had to replace the reverse gear itself. This time they replaced the entire transmission.  

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2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

supercharged 189hp 1.8L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD

53000 mi Replace psv hose on supercharger. 
98000 mi

US $25
Transmission Adapter Plug Leaking 
115000 mi

US $250
Conductor plate replacement. Connector was leaking. 
57000 mi Transmission leak. 
52000 mi

US $317
Replaced the trans connector plug and topped off the transmission fluid that was lost due to the faulty connector plug. 

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2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

168-horsepower 2.6L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD

133500 mi

US $210
Replaced cracked wheel rim. Found a used replacement rim and saved a few hundred bucks. 
138815 mi

US $500
axle seal replaced to stop oil leak 
165328 mi

US $250
Front CV Axle rebuild 
166000 mi

US $273
A shuddering sound when turning at slow speed. Transfer case fluid changed. 
169400 mi

US $818
Replaced L/F outer CV boot 
175000 mi

US $355
Replaced Right Front outer C/V boot Also new brake pads all around, new front brake rotors 
174488 mi

US $92
'Groaning' Sound from Transfer Case during slow tight turns again! Transfer Case fluid change was recommended w/only 10,000 miles since last change! This C240 AWD model is known for this problem requiring the frequent changes 
60000 mi

US $2000
and left inside CV boot and axle replaced. 

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2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Wagon

168-horsepower 2.6L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD

40123 mi Transmission replaced under original warranty. Apparently an inexpensive seal malfunctioned and let oil into the transmission casing somehow. Transmission started slipping on an uphill, I called dealer, they said drive it right in if that could be done. 
84000 mi i never paid for new cv joints but that they had been recommended by mechanics for last 1.5 years. Cost was to be 2000 dollars. 
84000 mi

US $3400
Replaced torque converter and Transmission Control Computer. Reflashed ECC and TCC to finally correct all the symptoms of the problem 

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2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

supercharged 189hp 1.8L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD

42000 mi Rattle in dash behind gauge cluster. Driver door handle replaced due to break at top of handle. Transmission seal replaced due to leakage. Serpentine belt replaced. Service B 

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2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

168-horsepower 2.6L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD

73000 mi

US $400
Trans. seal replaced. 

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2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Wagon

168-horsepower 2.6L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD

12649 mi Actuator, throttle control element 

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2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

supercharged 349hp 3.2L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD

65000 mi "Moaning" sound from tranny - result of leakage between cooling and transmission system due to faulty radiator. Apparently a known issue with C32s. 

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2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

supercharged 189hp 1.8L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD

49300 mi

US $1500
Conductor plate (along with sensors) was replaced, transmission was not shifting from time to time. It was a common problem when I googled it, thanks to the involvement of Chrysler during that time period. 

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2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

215-horsepower 3.2L V6 6-speed manual RWD

75000 mi

US $1650
Replaced rattling clutch. The clutch was a standard clutch kit which included the disc, pressure plate, and slave cyl. The price for the kit is 750 and the labor was 900. 
76000 mi Rattling transmission problem. The dealer confirmed it was a bad transmission that was causing the rattle. They didn't charge me anything for the inspection. But since then it hasn't rattled at all. 

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2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

168-horsepower 2.6L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD

90000 mi

US $2200
Torque converter failed due to poor M-B design. Cooling line routed through transmission leaked coolant into the transmission, causing Torque converter to fail. 
107000 mi Hesitating after stop. Slight hesitation when climbing hills. 
84000 mi

US $75
Leak at transmission "guide plug." 

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2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

168-horsepower 2.6L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD

156000 mi

US $1175
Front c.v. boots replaced by dealer, as other shops had to order the whole axle assemblies to repair, ($4,000+). So I had the dealer do it. 

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2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2dr Hatch

70000 mi

US $3000
Shifter made clicking noise, replaced 

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2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Wagon

215-horsepower 3.2L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD

139500 mi

US $500
Transmission was leaking ATF through seal where sensor is located. 

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2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

supercharged 349hp 3.2L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD

86800 mi

A $1100
Leaking transmission, Transmission solenoid. 

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2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

215-horsepower 3.2L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD

134000 mi

US $275
replace speed sensor conductor plate and new transmission oil, filter and gasket. 

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2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4dr Sedan

168-horsepower 2.6L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD

49803 mi Warranty replacement of failed transmission. 
68974 mi Replace failed rear main crankshaft seal 
76648 mi

US $60
Replace transmission pan gasket and 13-pin connector 
133000 mi

US $275
Replace shifter - switch inside bad 

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2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2dr Hatch

supercharged 192hp 2.3L I4 6-speed manual RWD

53000 mi Rubber/metal sleeve coupling 
63860 mi Replace Transmission coupling, original dried out to rock hard 

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2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2dr Hatch

supercharged 192hp 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD

116000 mi

US $600
Car stopped on highway. Transmission fluid leaked out. 

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1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4-door

8-cylinder automatic 2WD

142762 mi

US $2025
Replaced steering pump and steering pump reservoir. Replaced Transmission conductor plate. 

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Mercedes-Benz C-Class Transmission Problems

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently Mercedes-Benz C-Class problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.