10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 12
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
62,845 miles

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problem #186

Mar 022023

C300

  • miles
i was driving in the highway 50 mph and i was braking and my car slipped in the other line of the highway and almost had and accident !!!! and cars switched off when driving almost had incident!!!! i saw that many people have the say problem like me about rusted component please do something because people are losing their lifes.

- Pelham, NY, USA

problem #185

Aug 092022

C300 6-cyl

  • 175,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start after several attempts. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the ignition switch and the steering lock had failed and needed to be replaced. The local dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the parts were available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 175,000.

- Dacula, GA, USA

problem #184

Nov 072021

C300

  • miles
Steering lock malfunction and unable to start car. Vehicle has completely shut down.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #183

Aug 072021

C300

  • miles
electrical ignition switch and electronic steering lock the component malfunctioned with no symptoms. i got stranded for 5 hours past midnight car has been inspected by a shop and Mb dealer no warning lights and no symptoms

- Rowland Heights, CA, USA

problem #182

Jan 012017

C300

  • miles
Rear passenger tail light housing melted together the connector/ harness to the housing. Limiting the power to the light bulbs and or blowing them before they should be burnt out or not working at all periodically. Effectively limiting the safety of having the brake light or parking lights or even the blinker work like they're supposed too

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #181

Apr 212021

C300

  • 95,000 miles
My vehicle continuously gives me warning/alert messages of headlight/signal/parking lamp issues. Upon inspection and taken to certified, reliable Mercedes repair shops, lights are fully functioning, yet alerts continue on my display/dash. More importantly the electronic steering lock (esl) has failed on more than once costing very considrable amounts of repair bills, and it has happened without warning, I parked the car which has been perfectly maintained and with low mileage, and the steering wheel locks, making it almost impossible to even have it towed to be repaired.

- Studio City, CA, USA

problem #180

Oct 272020

C300

  • 55,000 miles
Car was parked by side walk next to my house. Inserted the key in the ignition and turned it. The car did not start, and the steering wheel was locked. No lights flashed on the dashboard. Car had to be towed on truck bed since it's rear-wheel drive. Dealer told me it's the ignition switch lock cylinder. Cost $1500 to fix. This is a manufacturer's defect. Not fair.

- Oxnard/Ventura, CA, USA

problem #179

Oct 252020

C300

  • 104,000 miles
My eis/esl went out in the middle of no where. It's a common issue for Mercedes and it plagues every Mercedes. It's a safety harzard and happens to a lot of people. Mercedes also charges $1500 out of warranty to get it fixed when it's a common issue and should be recalled and repaired.

- Savage, MN, USA

problem #178

Sep 192020

C300

  • 140,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that the anti-theft system failed and caused the contact to not be able to start the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to Mercedes-Benz of marietta (810 cobb parkway, marietta ga 30060, (770) 783-5171) to be diagnosed. The mechanic located the failure code at the electronic ignition switch and informed the contact that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage 140,000.

- Stone Mountain, GA, USA

problem #177

Jun 242020

C300

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while in a parking lot and attempting to drive the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that a message on the instrument panel indicated to remove the key from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the key was not recognized. The contact was informed that the electronic steering module failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #176

May 092020

C300

  • miles
Eis steering lock battery fail. $12 battery dies and eis stays in lock position key doesn't respond to ignition switch or car unlocking doors.

- Newark, NJ, USA

problem #175

May 072020

C300 6-cyl

  • 82,000 miles
Turned ignition key to start vehicle. Nothing happened. No cranking or clicking. Complete silence. Steering wheel and transmission shifter were both locked into position and could not be moved even though ignition was in the 'on' position. Apparently this is a common problem associated with a defect in the 'electrical ignition system/electronic steering lock (eis/esl)' and is the subject of a technical service bulletin from the manufacturer. This condition occurred on one previous occasion within the last 45 days. On both occasions vehicle was stationary however if it were occur while moving the steering wheel would lock and driver would be unable to avoid a collision. This is a well documented and widely known safety defect for which the manufacturer should bear the cost of correcting (at the current time vehicle owners are charged between $1200-$1700 to perform the defect correction outlined in the manufacturer's technical service bulletin).

- St Albans, VT, USA

problem #174

Jan 272020

C300

  • 80,000 miles
Problem with the ignition switch. The whole car shut down after being inspected. It said to be a interlock switch problem I'll have to have the car towed because it will not turn on it is shut down.

- Blakeslee, PA, USA

problem #173

Feb 022018

C300

  • 78,000 miles
Passenger seat airbag sensor not working when someone sits on the seat also passenger side electrical system not working and causing the passenger side lights to stay on when vehicle is off and Mercedes does not want to do anything about and says it is out of warranty and I need to pay to have the whole system replaced

- Port Saint Lucie, FL, USA

problem #172

May 112019

C300

  • 126,000 miles
My C300 stranded me in deming, nm. We had left el paso heading home to phoenix. Quick bio break in dement, and that's where my C300 wouldn't start. The shop in deming said that the car would need to be towed back to the dealer in el paso. Turned out my steering column control lock module needed to be replaced. The dealership ordered the part and two day and $1,400 later I was able to drive back to phoenix. Between towing, lodging in deming and el paso, meals, etc I was out over 2K. This is so I can start my car. According to my local mb dealer my service advisor said he sees one or two a month with this problem. I picked up the car in 2012 with 50K miles. This issue came 70K trouble free miles later. Amazed that one little part could strand me with no warning.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #171

Jul 202019

C300

  • 144,065 miles
"takata recall" when I was driving after a oil change, I heard a noise that sounded like someone hit my car. I was scared and shaky so I pulled over could see anything but I heard a ticking noise. Then I realized the head rest MINIair bag blew up and the wiring inside the head rest was burning. This happened while I was driving. I could have got into an accident. I had to pull over right where all the traffic was because my hands were shaking and I didn't know what to do with the burning smell. I had my hazards on and people went around me. Then all kinds of alerts went off on my car. I only had it for a year and a half it shouldn't do that. Something is really wrong and this is dangerous while someone is driving. My tires and all of a sudden the muffler is making noises now too what is going on with this car. It's treated well I'm scared to drive it now. I'm still making payments on it. It's was for me fairly new and still good, do I thought. I'm very disappointed and need some answers. I was told that maybe it's the eps control unit but haven't went to Mercedes dealer yet because I'm discouraged about this car and I haven't been feeling good.

- New London Ct Apartment 1, CT, USA

problem #170

Mar 312019

C300

  • 90,000 miles
'takata recall ' drive my 2009 C300 to store everything worked perfectly. Came out of store car dead, nothing. Mercedes tech jumped car (nothing) checked all fuses they are great. Long short eis needs replacing. I have read blog after blog about this very same issue yet no recall. I am a fifty yo woman stranded outside publix by myself. Extremely dangerous !!! cost to repair 1200. Seriously??

- Leesburg, GA, USA

problem #169

Nov 062018

C300

  • 118,599 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300. While driving various speeds, the air bag warning indicator illuminated. In addition, both turn signal indicators and windshield wipers failed to function when the air bag indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 16V081000 and 18V043000 (air bags). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 118,599.

- Justice, IL, USA

problem #168

Jan 012017

C300

  • 48,000 miles
Driver and passenger airbags have been recalled and can cause injury or death in a frontal collision. There has not been any communication as to when a fix will occur and have been told by service advisor that there should not be a problem with the airbags if in collision in California until a fix. Also many other complaints of being stranded due to ignition switch fail that locks steering wheel and is a $1,300 fix.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

problem #167

Jan 082018

C300

  • 92,000 miles
Ignition switch failed at 92,000 miles. Car was working fine and would not start again once parked. Dash lights & radio turned on, but car would not start. Horn did not work and gears would not shift with key turned on start position. Had to get car towed and cost $1,400 to fix. Aside from this, I have replaced the alternator, car computer, valve cover, and air flow sensor. Catalytic converters also went out, al within a 4 month period.

- Houston, TX, USA

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