10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 12
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
62,176 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.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #148

Oct 172016

C300

  • 102,000 miles
Esi and key went out and car only has a bit over 100,000 miles; locks steering and shifter.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #147

Apr 052011

C300 6-cyl

  • miles
I bought my Mercedes Benz and notice that my tail light and the light on the front of the car will turn on by itself while my car was parked in the morning my car battery will be dead needing a charge. I had a recall from Mercedes Benz dealer and I took the car to the dealership and supposedly they fix it and the car had gotten worse. It had burned the harnesses and fog harness, while I was driving the car was acting like shutting off the radio and ac will start shutting off and turning on at the same time while I was on the highway on my way home from work. Right now my car only have working the high beam. I been getting a lot of recalls for this car but really it seems like I'm loosing my time.

- Reading, PA, USA

problem #146

Oct 052016

C300

  • 61,000 miles
My car will no longer start. Although the lights and radio still work, the windows and ac don't, and the car won't start, nor can I change the gear. It seems to be a problem with the steering column/ eis. I now have to take it into the Benz dealership and pay a hefty amount to get it fixed, since no other mechanic can seem to do it. This seems to be a common problem with the 2009 C300 yet there's not a recall on it. Go figure.

- Bonney Lake, WA, USA

problem #145

Sep 242016

C300

  • miles
I have a 2009 Mercedes Benz C300 4matic, my vehicle was just serviced one month ago for 2 recalls. Airbag/tail lights. After my vehicle is serviced I ask the mb tech regarding the eis switch - which starts the vehicle. I was concerned this may happen to my vehicle and for him to inspect the element. Technician said I am all set, and now my vehicle is stranded just picked up by a flatbed to my local mechanic. I called mb the issue I was having and I told them the situation. The tech from shrewsbury mb will get back to me on Monday. Today is Saturday 09/24/16.

- Gardner, MA, USA

problem #144

Aug 112016

C300

  • 72,000 miles
Taraka recall. Smart key not being recognized, vehicle dead need tow truck to dealer very expensive, had battery but all dead cost $1600 plus on a 72000 mile vehicle.also front sway stabilizer bar need total replacing (dealer part only) since its making noise. Bushings cannot be changed like others the whole bar needs to be purchase at dealer with bushing vulcanized to it. On the smart key the vehicle was stationary thank god

- Coral Gables, FL, USA

problem #143

Aug 222016

C300

  • 88,000 miles
The electronic steering lock suddenly failed making it impossible to start the car. This is a very common problem with Mercedes of this era, this happens without warning, and Mercedes is aware of the problem, but charges approx. $1,200 to replace the lock. This leaves motorists stranded.

- Denton, TX, USA

problem #142

Aug 122016

C300

  • miles
With the vehicle parked, the car won't start, battery and lights work fine, when turning key the engine does not turn over. The steering wheel is locked and it won't shift into neutral. Sounds like the same eis problem that so many others have.

- Ny, NY, USA

problem #141

Aug 132016

C300

  • 120,000 miles
With the vehicle parked, the car won't start, battery and lights work fine, when turning key the engine does not turn over. When inserting the key it doesn't make the locking sound it usually makes. The steering wheel is locked and it won't shift into neutral. Sounds like the same eis problem that so many others have ran into.

- Tacoma, WA, USA

problem #140

Aug 062016

C300

  • miles
In stationary position in a parking lot steer wheel locks up when parked with wheels forward / turning key to start engine does not work

- Riverside, CA, USA

problem #139

Dec 252015

C300

  • 70,000 miles
My Mercedes was hit in the front in December and after partial repairs were done, we picked up the car and on 2nd day of having it, it would not start. Thought it was battery but of course it wasn't. hooked up to our scanner and all kinds of codes were displayed so we had to have it towed back to where repairs were done and they determined it was esl module and their opinion it was caused by accident. $2700 later out of my own pocket we have car back and fixed. So who is responsible for this, not us. I believe that Mercedes should take care of their customers and the other insurance should pay for this also. I see that a lot of people are having the same issue with this but mine I believe was caused by accident.

- Porter, TX, USA

problem #138

Jul 212016

C300

  • 100,000 miles
Stationary while at the rest area during a hot summer day on the side of the highway. The steering column or electronic steering lock (esl) failed and the car would not start.car won't start and steering won't unlock... I stopped and cut the engine of and tried restarting the car it won't do anything. This particular part is faulty on most 2008-2009 Mercedes C300. Several hundred thousands are having issues with this particular part and at moments they get it working and at other times not so much. This part needs to be recalled since it is a dealer only replacement part and no one can touch is besides the dealer due to theft and security measures. Mercedes has this particular issue cornered and is not doing anything to work with the customer.

- Upper Marlboro, MD, USA

problem #137

Jul 122016

C300

  • 0 miles
Car won't start and steering won't unlock...whenever I stop and cut the engine of and try starting G the car it won't do anything. Then after a good hour it will start...then I drive home and stop it won't start. Everyday twice a day... when J go to work or when I come home.

- River Forest, IL, USA

problem #136

Jun 172016

C300

  • 75,500 miles
Stationary while at the rest area during a hot summer day on the side of the highway. The steering column or electronic steering lock (esl) failed and the car would not start. This particular part is faulty on most 2008-2009 Mercedes C300. Several hundred thousands are having issues with this particular part and at moments they get it working and at other times not so much. This part needs to be recalled since it is a dealer only replacement part and no one can touch is besides the dealer due to theft and security measures. Mercedes has this particular issue cornered and is not doing anything to work with the customer. If I would have been stuck on the side of the highway with children that's a safety risk and I believe Mercedes should recall this particular issue and be loyal to its customers.

- Oklahoma City, OK, USA

problem #135

Jun 202016

C300

  • 85,111 miles
Went to start my car yesterday morning and would not start. Very odd message on the display I had not seen before like "remove key from ignition". steering wheel locked but some lights worked and new battery replace last week. Towed it to "granny's garage" who told me only the dealer can repair this. Now being towed to dealer in santa barbara. Sounds exactly what other 2009 C300 owners have stated esp/eis failure. I will know tomorrow. This is such a well documented and consistent problem with the 2009 C300 and Mercedes really should take care of their customers and recall. Perfect for a class action lawsuit, in my opinion., especially since the "dealer" is the only one allowed to repair.

- Santa Barbara, CA, USA

problem #134

Jun 012016

C300

  • 112,000 miles
"takata recall" I was driving to work around 10:30 am in my 2009 Mercedes Benz C300 enjoying the commute. As I approached the stop light.....blank!!!! I lastly remember breaking....to open my watering eyes to see that I hit another vehicle and don't recall anything at all. As I get up in realized that my head hurts and there was a small tear in the steering wheel as a small portion of the bag deployed but not fully.. it appeared to be a faulty bag that has caused this serious inconvenience.

- New Orleans, LA, USA

problem #133

May 282016

C300

  • 52,690 miles
My M.B. 2009 has only 52690 miles, rarely driving. On May 28th, 2016, my wife drove the car to see her cousin, when got out at 10:00pm, car was not starting, battery was ok, light on, radio on, windows not on. Needed to wait until Monday morning, towed to dealer: Eis steering lock failed, cost $1121.88 for the eis. Service consultant advised many M.B has the same failure. Go to NHTSA, saw a lot of complaint with the same problem. Please investigate the incident and issue a recall with M.B., it's very unsafe for driving because it can happened any time, mostly night time with a female driver. Only M.B. can repair the eis and it's very expensive.

- Glendale, CA, USA

problem #132

May 272016

C300

  • 0 miles
When I've got to the car, put the key in the ignition, and turn the key with no crank noise in the engine. After a lot of tries I had noticed that my steering was not unlocking, windows don't work no lights on like ABS, check engine or all the lights that come on with the key on the on position, and that the car would not shift in neutral. After trying to jump the car and rearming/disarming the alarm I checked on line and found out that a lot of people have the same problem with their Mercedes. Here is what I experienced 1.put key into ignition, steering wheel doesn't unlock. 2.instument cluster displays "remove key from ignition". 3.turn key to accessory, no lights on dashboard, only the radio works, windows don't work. 4.turn key all the way to start car, nothing happens.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #131

Mar 262016

C300

  • 104,000 miles
The car was running fine. It was parked and shut off. When I returned, the car would not start. It was not the battery. The steering would not unlock. The car had to be towed in for repair. The dealer had to make the repair as it was an issue with either the eis or a starter issue. Inskip Mercedes can identify exactly what was wrong as they did the repair.

- Johnston, RI, USA

problem #130

Apr 202016

C300

  • 90,000 miles
The car would not start, the electrical component of the steering wheal malfunctioned, only mbz has the part cost $1900 to replace the electrical part. Dealer told me common issue its just matter of time for the part to fail.

- Canoga Park, CA, USA

problem #129

Apr 182016

C300

  • 55,000 miles
Ignition switch - tried to start the car and it would not turn battery was fine and all interior lights and electrical systems appeared to be fine. Had to have the car towed to the dealership where it was found to be a faulty ignition switch. This should be recalled for safety reasons.

- Columbia, SC, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »