10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
37,489 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #17

Nov 202021

C300

  • miles
The brake lines and subframe were completely rusted and the vehicle was unsafe to drive. Dealer confirmed at regular service appointment. I have documentation and competed all regular maintenance. Dealer would not cover costs for what appears to be a major defect. I had another shop replace the brake lines and subframe.

- Dublin, OH, USA

problem #16

Mar 262022

C300

  • miles
Suspension Cross-Member - Mercedes-Benz (204-350-01-41) Driving regularly suddenly fill like the rear passenger side tire moved unevenly, then went to the tire shop, and when they take out the tire see how the rear frame was rusted and broken in a straight line exactly in the middle of the tire hole area. Then start to check used cars to donate that part and All of them have the same trouble in that piece, so I decided to review the frame and discover that the rust begins to damage the opposite side too, so I'm pretty sure is a component failure in metal and materials more than simple rust.

- Des Moines, IA, USA

problem #15

Jul 182022

C300 6-cyl

  • miles
2009 Mercedes Benz C300. Consumer writes in regard to problem with brakes. The consumer stated the moisture caused corrosion in the brake booster. The consumer referenced NHTSA campaign number 22V315. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified, but declined any assistance stating the vehicle was out of warranty. The consumer believed the manufacturer should reimburements the payment despite being out of warranty.

- West Deptford, NJ, USA

problem #14

Jul 132022

C300

  • miles
I took my vehicle to the Mercedes dealer for inspection on 7/13/22. It passed inspection, but I was told that the brake lines were very corroded and they recommended replacement before driving. Their cost to repair was $2825. I only have 54,000 miles on the vehicle. I checked on the internet to see if there were any other reported brake line issues with a 2009 Mercedes C300 and was shocked to see how many people had the same issue, some reporting that they lost brake power and had a very terrifying experience. Of course I am now afraid to drive the vehicle and not sure what my course of action will be. With the number of reported incidents, I feel that Mercedes used inferior materials that corrode readily and should have some accountability in remedying the situation. I am including some photos of the corrosion that were provided to me by the dealer.

- Chadds Ford, PA, USA

problem #13

Jun 072022

C300

  • miles
K frame and sub frame deteriorates. There is a recall in Canada.

- Nazareth, PA, USA

problem #12

Jun 062017

C300

  • 94,012 miles
Parked car, went into store, came back out, started car, ebr, ABS and esp inoperative message came on along with power steering malfunction

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #11

Apr 032017

C300

  • 55,000 miles
This vehicle had a failure upon start that eliminated a number of safety features. When I started the car, I received three errors that the following were disabled: Electrical brake (ABS, emergency brake, traction control), cruise control, and power steering. Loss of these made the car unsafe to drive.

- Timnath, CO, USA

problem #10

Oct 252016

C300

  • 54,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300. While stopped at a red light, the engine revved and the vehicle accelerated. The brake pedal was depressed, but failed and the contact crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed and there were no injuries the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 54,000. Updated 02/21/17 updated 9/5/18

- Dorchester, MA, USA

problem #9

Apr 082015

C300

  • 63,033 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes Benz C300. While attempting to start the engine, the vehicle failed to turn on and the steering lock engaged. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who replaced the steering lock and the control unit. There was no further information available. After retrieving the vehicle and driving, the brake ebr, ABS, esp and power steering failure messages appeared. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 63,033.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #8

Dec 022013

C300

  • miles
Tail light problems. I started receiving warning messages regarding the tail light malfunction. We checked the lights but they were fine. In January the light went out. I took my car in for an oil change and was told that the bulbs were not only out but the cause was due to a circuit issue. After picking up my car, there was an additional warning for my sidemark light.

- Ceres, CA, USA

problem #7

Oct 312013

C300

  • 50,000 miles
Warning indicator came up on instrument panel to "check rear tail and brake lamps" the rear tail, turn, and brake lamps have failed in my car. The wiring harness has burned and emits excessive heat to the touch. I'm unsure of how long I was driving with my taillights out.

- Astoria, NY, USA

problem #6

Dec 282013

C300 6-cyl

  • 44,800 miles
Tail light passenger side - ground wire issues - plate melted - tail light errors - not working - no turn signal or brake signal due to faulty tail light assembly (heating issues) 1 204-820-09-77 lamp carrier 1 211-545-03-28 plug 1 014-545-82-26 pin bushing.

- Frisco, TX, USA

problem #5

Oct 202013

C300 6-cyl

  • 58,300 miles
Fourth occurrence of all right rear indicator lights going out all together in the past 2-3 months. Just did some research and it appears NHTSA is investigating this. I am taking this in to the dealer tomorrow however, several owners of the 2009 C class are complaining of the same problem due to a bad connection to the rear light unit which is causing shortages and fires. It is very evident that my vehicle has the same issue.

- Sumner, WA, USA

problem #4

Aug 082013

C300 6-cyl

  • 53,000 miles
On 8/8/2013 my information display indicated my right taillight, blinker and brake lights were out. When I opened the compartment to see what type of bulbs to replace I found the problem to be much bigger than expected. The plastic housing that hold the wiring pin, the wiring pin and the brown ground wire were all burnt up causing the lights to fail. I than opened the left tail light compartment and the same thing is happening, there is already signs of the housing burning. I remember smelling something burning in the car a few weeks ago. I now know what it was. I am surprised it did not catch fire. I contacted Mercedes service only to find I am responsible paying to have this issue corrected. I only hope the left side does not cause a fire before I am able to get it fixed. This is clearly an unsafe electrical issue.

- Huntingtown, MD, USA

problem #3

Aug 052011

C300 6-cyl

  • 34,713 miles
Front brakes checked by an independent shop and was advised that front pads have uneven wear, inside pads was 2 mm, outside pad at 8mm because the caliber is not squeezed in evenly. Bring the car back to dealer under the 50K miles or 4 year warranty for brake checked: Dealer only replaced the brake pads but not the caliber with reason the hardness of the pads are so soft and cause the issue. Mb dealer is not standing with warranty on the engineering mechanical defect: Try to make a quick fix and not expensive only on a major problem. After 5K or 10K, the uneven will occurred again and the service brake light will not on because of the uneven wear, will cost more money for me on the rotor, brake pad and caliber again. An investigation and a recall from mb needs to perform for all the mb C300 year 2009 for a caliber check.

- Glendale, CA, USA

problem #2

Jan 012013

C300

  • 80,000 miles
Caliper on the brakes were sticking cause the rotors to warp- replaced all parts after 3,000 miles same thing happened-- took the car back to the deal ship - replaced new calipers rotors-3500 miles later same thing happened took the car back again - replaced all the parts 5000 miles later same thing it is now June and the car has been in the shop for a week again.

- Cuyahoga Falls, OH, USA

problem #1

Dec 162012

C300 6-cyl

  • 50,451 miles
Warning on dash shows rr brake light is out and turn signal lights is out. Went to look at the back of the car to see if the lights where on and the rr light assembly was dim. Open the panel where the bulbs are and the wire harness was fried. This might be a fire hazard. Updated 03/27/13 updated 04/02/2013

- Bellevue, WA, USA