The site has a Repair History Survey for those who want to report them, but the main study only collects data on repairs going forward. Otherwise the results would be skewed.

 

Next results in August. Unless more C-Class owners participate, it will not be included.

The May results for other models:

TrueDelta Vehicle Reliability Survery results

The August results will include one or more model years of the A4, 3-Series, and G35.

 

The August results will cover about 50 models (plus another 45 in the asterisked results, for marginal sample sizes). Unfortunately, not a Mercedes among them. A few Acuras, Audis, BMWs, and Infinitis, though.

The next set will be in November. I'm like to include the C-Class, but can only do this if enough owners participate.

For the details, and to sign up to help out:

Vehicle reliability research

 

Reliability sucks.

Done.

 

Perhaps, but I'd like to provide some numbers, so people will have a clearer idea of what they're getting into. Currently I'm seeing the highest repair rates for some other German cars around the 2001 and 2002 model years. The average can be as high as two repair trips per year (meaning some people have quite a few more than two). The overall average for cars that old is a bit below on repair trip per year.

 

Latest results for over fifty other models, including a few competitors to the C-Class:

TrueDelta Vehicle Reliability Survey results

Still need more participants for the C-Class. I'd especially like to have results quickly for the 2008.

 

My 2 cents...

The cars got more freakin rattles and squeeks than a 22 year old Capri.
Took me 5 hours and a shiznit load of velcro and very thin foam to get rid of all the noises out of the cabin using a DIY from here.
You can't even see any of the velcro or foam and ya sure cant hear the noises anymore but still... THEY SHOULDNT BLOODY BE THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE FOR A CAR THAT COST SO FREAKIN MUCH.

 

+1

 

Does 2002 count?
What info do you need exactly?

 

Sorry for the delayed response.

2002 certainly counts. I'll start collecting data on it when 25 owners have signed up. 15 or so right now.

The info I need:
--repairs reported on one-page survey the month after they happen
--approximate odometer reading the first month then at the end of each quarter

Encoded links to the surveys are in monthly emails I send out. Click on the link, and you're automatically logged in, so no need to mess with that. Very quick.

 

Next results in November. Unless more people participate, probably won't include the C-Class.

Will include nearly every car the C-Class competes with.

 

Getting very close to the minimum sample size for the 2006. If a few more owners sign up, I can start collecting data on that year.

Just started collecting data on the 2008. Hopefully I'll have results in a few months for the new C-Class.

Vehicle reliability research

 

interesting to read reliability sucks, squeaks & rattles, etc etc....

knock on wood- i have not had ONE problem with my coupe. not one. the stock rotors wore out, but at 50K miles, good lord, theyre excused.


right now i've got like 63K on her. interior is nice and quiet, car sails through the air quietly. theres one tine little vibration @ a certain rpm and a certain bass frequency, but i usually cant hear it. ohyeah, the crappy oil filter needed replacing too, sheesh, what a POS car. THEN i had to replace the oil as well! im talking to my lawyer about lemon laws in this state.....

EDIT:forgot to mention i've logged almost 30K miles on her. shes been good to me.

oh, my tires wore out too. does that count?

 

As you've probably guessed, wear items like tires and oil don't count as far as TrueDelta's survey is concerned.

In general, I think people underestimate the odds of getting a perfect car and overestimate the odds of getting a lemon. When the survey sizes permit it I'll be posting these odds in addition to the average repair rate. They could be much more useful than the average.

To do this, more participants will be necessary.

Auto reliability research

 

lol my post was pure sarcasm- all meant in jest.

speaking of which- i just cant beleive all thes eproblems. however i am so inclined to believe that the numbers sway a bit artifically to the negative side of things due to the fact that a benzo owner, not particularly an enthusiast, will most likely just drive the damn thing and not come on here to *****/moan/ask questions- whereas someone who has a broken/malfunctioning automobile will take to the internet regularly to research a malfunction.

just my $0.02

 

I have the only survey process that accounts for this possibility: data are collected going forward, based on what happens to the car after the owner signs up.

The 2003 and 2006 are both close to the minimum needed to get started, and the 2005 is just barely there. More cars needed for all years.

Auto reliability research -- need more C's!

 

Still looking for more C-Class owners. A couple of model years are just a few short of the minimum.

Also, I recently added a Common Auto Repairs Database (CARDb) to the site. People posting common repairs can include a link to a forum thread discussing the problem. I hope this will make it easier for people to find this information, while helping to grow the forums that have been lending a hand with the research.

Common Auto Repairs Database (CARDb)

 

Updated results in February will include over 80 other models, including all major competitors to the C-Class.

Just two owners short of the minimum with the 2006, and just three short with the 2003.

The 2005 is included in the survey, but there have not yet been enough responses to include that year in the results.

Vehicle reliability research

 

The February results will include a preliminary result for the 2008 W204, way before anyone else will have reliability info on the new car, but no results for any year of the W203. What's wrong with this picture?

More W203 owners very much needed. For the details and to help get the car into TrueDelta's results:

Vehicle reliability research

 

i made a terrible mistake in buying this car, C320 2002.
all problems you can imagine , every electric part is bad.
the only thing about MB is engine and transmission.

all electrical parts in the car fail.

 

If you are looking for a W203 style- 2004.5 to 2007 is the way to go. First off- you get some of the AMG goodies and none, or almost none, of the electrical problems of the earlier models.

 

I'd like to be able to display just this sort of thing in my results, if it is in fact the case.

 

I just added my 2006 C230, so just one short on the 2006 now?

 

Still three short, I'm afraid. Cleared out email addresses that were no longer valid (300 of them, out of 19,000 members) and duplicate entries recently. This appears to have affected the 2006 C-Class more than most models.

The current counts, by model year:
2001: 6
2002: 13
2003: 22
2004: 10
2005: 33
2006: 22
2007: 12

2008: 39

 

A few more, but still not enough to add any additional model years to the survey. Some years are just two cars short of the minimum.

Updated results for about 120 other model / model year combos, including the C204, in May.

For the details, and to help get your model year into the survey:

Vehicle reliability research