We have updated our reliability stats for the C-Class to include owner experiences through March 31, 2011.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2010: 52, about average, small sample size

2009: 48, about average

2008: 53, about average

2007: 71, about average, small sample size

2006: 86, about average, small sample size

2005: 107, about average

2004: 39, better than average, but very small sample size and probably not accurate

2003: 92, about average, small sample size

2002: 113, about average, small sample size

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds," to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop.

With the 2008 the percentage with no repairs is about 75, while the percentage with 3+ repair trips is about 3.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Lemon-odds and Nada-odds

We'll have further updates in August and November. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Mercedes-Benz C-Class reliability ratings and comparisons

 

I have owned my 2004 C230 6 Speed sport sedan and have over 230,000 KM and knock on wood have had just the AC Condenser go and Mercedes paid half ($1000.00 each).

Other than that just brakes, some suspension work and maintenance (oil, fuel filters, spark plugs etc.)

I really do believe if you treat your car right and maintain it regularly, it will last!!! German engineering baby!

 

We have updated our car reliability stats for the C-Class to include owner experiences through June 30, 2011.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2010: 63, about average, small sample size

2009: 47, about average

2008: 61, about average

2007: 67, about average, small sample size

2006: 111, worse than average, small sample size

2005: 104, about average

2004: 102, about average, very small sample size

2003: 101, about average, small sample size

2002: 129, about average, small sample size

Quite consistent from year to year this time despite the often small sample sizes.

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds," to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop.

With the 2008 the percentage with no repairs is about 64, while the percentage with 3+ repair trips is about 3.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Lemon-odds and Nada-odds

We'll have further updates in November and February. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Mercedes-Benz C-Class reliability ratings and comparisons

 

I can honestly say that I've never had a new car with so many problems.
My car is a 2005 C55 AMG that I bought new in May 2006. It has 84.000 miles on it and has been in for all scheduled service.
The current issue is that the ESP failure indicator comes on, but that's not the real problem. The real problem is that ALL steering wheel controls are inoperative - meaning no indicators, no horn NOTHING. It has been coming and going during the warranty period, but Mercedes service couldn't find any error codes and could therefore not fix it. Now that it's out of service, I'm stuck with the bill. Does anyone have similar experiences and can give tips ?
To justify the title of this post, let me list a few problems that I've had. Radio either dead or playing "static noise" at full blast = replaced once and reprogrammed twice. Driver's seat heating replaced after burned out three times. Passenger seat once. Ticking noise from the engine during warm up that no one could give me a satisfying answer to. MB service cleaned out the cylinders for carbon deposits and blamed the quality of US gas. No way, it's a hydraulic lifter. Carbon deposits causes pre-detonation when the engine is hot, not cold. There's more, but I can't remember them all.
That said, the car drive great and I'd like to think that I keep it forever.

 

We have updated our reliability stats for the C-Class (on our redesigned site) to include owner experiences through September 30, 2011.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2010: 62, about average

2009: 46, about average

2008: 58, about average

2007: 60, about average, small sample size

2006: 79, about average, small sample size

2005: 90, about average

2004: 102, about average, very small sample size

2003: 80, better than average, small sample size

2002: 79, better than average, small sample size

Quite consistent from year to year this time despite the often small sample sizes.

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds," to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop.

With the 2008 the percentage with no repairs is about 58, while the percentage with 3+ repair trips is about 3.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Lemon-odds and Nada-odds

Thank you, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in February and May. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Mercedes-Benz C-Class reliability ratings and comparisons

 

We have updated our reliability stats for the C-Class to include owner experiences through September 30, 2012.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2012: no repairs reported, 21 cars

2010: 62, about average

2009: 68, about average

2008: 37, better than average

2007: 49, about average, small sample size

2006: 92, worse than average, small sample size

2005: 53, about average

2004: 73, about average, very small sample size

2003: 78, about average, very small sample size

2002: 80, about average

Quite consistent from year to year this time despite the often small sample sizes.

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds," to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop.

With the 2008 the percentage with no repairs is about 73, while the percentage with 3+ repair trips is less than 1.

We'll have further updates in February and May. We'd love to provide more precise stats and cover more model years--just a matter of getting more owners involved.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help:

Mercedes-Benz C-Class reliability ratings and comparisons

 

We have updated our reliability stats for the C-Class to include owner experiences through December 31, 2012.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2012: 5, low

2010: 50, moderate

2009: 50, moderate

2008: 27, low

2007: 37, low, small sample size

2006: 70, moderate, small sample size

2005: 62, moderate, small sample size

2004: 44, low, very small sample size

2003: 73, moderate, very small sample size

2002: 87, moderate

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds," to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop.

With the 2008 the percentage with no repairs is about 73, while the percentage with 3+ repair trips is less than 1.

Thank you, once again, everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in May and August. The more owners participate, the more comprehensive and precise these will be.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Mercedes-Benz C-Class reliability ratings and comparisons

 

I have always wanted a mb, but couldn't afford a nice one in my price range that didn't have 300k miles, body damage and cigarette burns.
But I found a 1997 garage kept (2 owner) gold C230 with all the maintenance records and a new set of Michelins. 117k … I think I stole the car at $3500.
I absolutely love it!
No issues except for the idiots I have to commute with on the roadways.
I've owned several VW's and have a 1972 Porsche 914 in the garage.
Love German engineering.
I just have to learn the ropes on maintenance and all that for this car.
Thanks for listening.

 

The purchase price was low partly because the high cost of potential problems gets factored in. But you still have a decent chance of no major problems. I hope it does well for you!

 

We've updated our reliability stats for the C-Class to include owner experiences through March 31, 2013.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2012 C-Class: 8, low
2010 C-Class: 46, moderate
2009 C-Class: 42, moderate
2008 C-Class: 35, low
2007 C-Class: 36, low, small sample size
2006 C-Class: 34, low, small sample size
2005 C-Class: 61, moderate, small sample size
2004 C-Class: 61, low, very small sample size
2003 C-Class: 81, moderate, very small sample size
2002 C-Class: 80, moderate, small sample size

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds", to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop:

2009 C-Class: 68, 4
2008 C-Class: 80, 3

We'll have further updates in August and in November.

For the details, including the descriptions of reported repairs, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Mercedes-Benz C-Class reliability ratings and comparisons