10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 12
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
60,566 miles

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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

problem #166

Jan 082018

C300

  • 73,000 miles
I put the key in the ignition turn it to start the car and nothing happens, none of the electrical comes on except for lights on the instrument panel. The car doesn't even try to start. Something is wrong with the electronic ignition system.

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #165

Dec 032017

C300

  • 76,000 miles
Ignition switch failed at 76K miles. Gear shift will not get out of park, steering wheel will not unlock and car will not start. Known to be a common issue that affects all Mercedes with electronic ignition. Mercedes should be brought to court via class action for this.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #164

Aug 202017

C300

  • 81,200 miles
09 Mercedes C300 this is a very common problem after 80K miles the solution to this problem is to replace car needs a new electronic steering lock (esl so they make a recall

- Brockton, MA, USA

problem #163

Nov 022017

C300

  • 48,000 miles
Takata recall - nhsta recall number 16V081 and 17V017 and nhsta recall number 15V711 regarding the SRS control model. I have received several notices of these 3 very dangerous and urgent recalls. My vehicle is subject to these recalls and no remedy has been provided for all. I have contacted the manufacturer and Mercedes Benz dealership to have these recalls fixed, but I am told they have no parts to fix the recall, no remedy has been provided and there is nothing they can do to address the recalls - meanwhile, I am at risk every time I get behind the wheel and continue to receive notices about how dangerous this recall can be, life threatening. Now takata is filing bankruptcy and it has been years since the recalls were issued - why is there no remedy available to fix this? no dealership will address the issues, it in just an on going, never ending game. I want to know how I can fix my defective car before my wife, children, or myself are injured or killed due to the severity of this specific recall.

- North Wales, PA, USA

problem #162

Sep 152017

C300

  • 81,000 miles
Car was off and parked in the giant (limerick, pa) parking lot. I put the key in the ignition, turned it, and nothing happened. Dash read "remove key." I had the vehicle towed to dealer. Steering lock mechanism went bad. Fuse 22 blew every time we put the key in the ignition. Had to replace part.

- Schwenksville, PA, USA

problem #161

Jul 102017

C300

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300. While attempting to start the vehicle, the ignition failed without warning. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer (Mercedes-Benz of long beach, 2300 East spring street, signal hill, ca 90755) where it was diagnosed that the steering lock and column failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

- Seal Beach, CA, USA

problem #160

May 112017

C300

  • 90,000 miles
Car will not start and steering column is locked. Power to the dashboard lights but no turnover. Local shop could not repair. Towed to Mercedes dealer. Likely looking at a ~$2,000 repair for eis related problem. Car only has ~90K. Purchases as cpo and bought extended warranty that has already run out.

- Somers, CT, USA

problem #159

Apr 242017

C300

  • 45,000 miles
This 2009 C300 was purchased new from the Mercedes Benz dealership in jacksonville fl as a retirement gift for 20 years of naval service. About a year later I noticed the daytime running lights continuously blinking during the day. The next problem is with the front headlight units each time a blubs blows, it fuses everything including wires together requiring the replacement of the entire headlight unit. This has happen three times with both the left and right headlight units. The difference in price is $28 for a replacement blub vise $600 plus dollars for the entire unit. The dealership has no problem charging me the cost to replace a manufactures defect and safety issue. There should be an immediate recall of this unit.

- Lawrenceville, GA, USA

problem #158

Apr 212017

C300

  • 30,000 miles
I went to work and my vehicle was just fine. I left for lunch break stopped at the groccery store and went home which is just a few miles away. I parked my vehicle went inside to drop my groceries off and eat lunch and when it was time to return to work my car would not start! I was so pissed off! the steering wheel would not turn and the gears would not shift at all. I only have 30K miles on my car and one owner before me. I am the only driver and my car is in impeccable shape! I know it is not the battery because I just put a brandnew one in just 3 months ago. I do not understand why there has not been a recall for this issue because I see thousands of complaints about this repair so it is obviously a manufacturing issue. When I first bought my Benz I fell in love with the brand. I have always been a Audi/BMW girl but vowed I would never go back until this issue. Mercedes does not treat it's customers right so this will be my last Benz! recall this issue Benz!

- Wilmington, DE, USA

problem #157

Apr 252017

C300

  • miles
Sockets for the parking lights above the headlights melted. Knowing that something similar was addressed with the tail lights, seems to be related. The tail lights melted the carrier and the cables now the same is happening on the front of the car. I am not the only owner of mb C300 experiencing a issue. We are concerned that our cars can catch up on fire.

- Jersey City, NJ, USA

problem #156

Apr 062017

C300

  • 72,269 miles
Unable to start the car. Able to operate lights and radio, but nothing else. There was no warning of an issue. Battery was good. Checked on line for problems with starting for this model and notified the dealer. Car was in the garage at the time. This could have occurred at any time. Unable to put the car in neutral or turn the steering wheel. Car ended up being towed to the dealer. They replaced the electronic steering lock. This is not the type of issue that you want to happen to you when you are away from home.

- Hockessin, DE, USA

problem #155

Apr 062017

C300

  • 87,000 miles
Els/eis sysytem. My 2009 C300's ignition/steering locked up. Neither key will work. Car completely shut down. Have found 100's of the exact same faulty equipment complaints regarding this issue online. ( ). this just one of many complaint sites listing the same problem. I had to have the car towed to my local repair facility. They informed that (only) Mercedes dealers can repair the problem because of the "codes" required & that Mercedes will not release these codes and/or will not supply the replacement parts to "other" garages. I (now) have to have the car towed again to Mercedes Benz. Costs range (across usa), from $1,100 up to $3,300.. the car was parked and there was no "prior" warning displayed on the "instrument panel" warning system.. with all these exact same complaints, regarding this extremely expensive repair is apparent that this is a "faulty" system and why the NHTSA has not issued a "recall" is beyond comprehension. Consumers deserve better when purchasing an auto of such "supposed" quality.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #154

Mar 242017

C300

  • 72,076 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes Benz C300. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, it failed to start. The vehicle was towed to a dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 72,076. The VIN was not available.

- Durham, NC, USA

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