My C300 was functioning perfectly with no issues. When I came out to start the car, it would not recognize the key. I had it towed to a dealer and they informed me that it's the electronic steering lock fail. I looked this up and it is something very common with the 2009 model. There are several post on the internet asking for this to be a recall item.

- Landover, MD, USA

My car all of the sudden wouldn't start. I called roadside assistance and they were unable to jump the car, the battery is fine. I had to have the car towed to Mercedes-Benz of chandler and they diagnosed the issue as a steering lock electrical fault. The steering lock was replaced at a cost to me of $1065.33 (invoice #mbcs314273). Upon researching the issue on the internet, this appears to be a common problem- many other folks reported the same or very similar (ignition switch) issue: mbworld.org/forums/C-class-W204/438212-2011-C300-towed-dealer-ignition-switch.html

- Chandler, AZ, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes Benz C300. While attempting to start the vehicle, it would not start. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the electronic ignition switch needed to be replaced and reprogrammed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,000.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

Drove my 2009 Mercedes C300 sport to emissions station for testing. The tech turned off the car and then attempted to restart in order to start/complete emissions testing and the car would not start. The steering wheel was locked. The key would turn but would not start the vehicle. Turning the key resulted in operable interior lights, radio and the locks worked but nothing else. Had the car towed to dealer and, just like other owners, the cause is a "bad" steering lock. Costs upwards of $1000 to fix, possibly double that if the ignition module also needs replacing, which they won't know until they can replace the steering lock first. My car has 122K miles, purchased certified pre owned. I have safety concerns regarding this issue since it seems it could have occurred while I was operating the vehicle.

- Lawrenceville, GA, USA

I have a 2009 Mercedes Benz C300 85K miles I had this car for over 2 years and I'm up to date with all the maintenance on the vehicle.I had a couple of problems with it tail light, seat belt and now this...two days ago I went to a friend house there was no problem getting there but when I turns the car off for two mins, the key wouldn't start the car. When put the key in the receiver the car read the key but none of the light on the dashboard come on and wouldn't unlock the the steering wheel and the shift knob when a open the driver side door the car with tell me to remove the key took the car to the dealer and it came out to be a bad eis switch that wasn't reading the key, it cost me $1,670 I did a research on this problem and it come out to be a very common problem for this type of car after 70K miles....they should make a recall for this mater

- Wharton, NJ, USA

I went to class on the date of 11/13/2015 and when I came out the vehicle would not start. After having the vehicle towed to the dealership, I was advised it would be $952.56 for an electrical issue due to no fault of my own and can happen at anytime. So I inquired on how long this would be covered for? I was told its electrical and can happen at anytime, it's like a cellphone or a computer. Yet those have warranties against issues like that whereas something I paid thousands of dollars does not. I have seen many complaints about this online and don't understand why they have not recalled this and continue to rip consumers off. Some even advising this has happen to them on the road which could very well lead to a major accident, it it has not already.

- Norcross, GA, USA

Faulty eis - vehicle won't start. Vehicle parked. Went to go restart the vehicle, but to no avail. Steering wheel in lock position and transmission will not disengage from park. Very common problem. Surprised that there has not been a recall to fix this apparent problem.

- Toronto, FL, USA

The electronic ignition system has failed and the vehicle cannot be started. The steering lock is engaged, so the steering wheel cannot be moved. The vehicle was stationary when it occurred but stranded the operator. Diagnosis involves towing to a dealership and then in excess of $1000 repair bill. This is a well documented fault with the eis module however no recall has been issued.

- Hudson, MA, USA

Steering wheel locks by no fault of driver only dealers unlock it for $1112. 00.

- Sun Valley, CA, USA

Front parking lamps poor connection wires insulation come off very easy from the frame plug, plus wires are to short to make correction(splice) inside the head light housing. All this happened after the car was repair from recall on tail lights. I saw on the internet and a lot of people has this problem for this problem, I was driving on the dark street and all lights went off like for 5 seconds, that why I got scare, I was with my wife and my 5 months old daughter, Mercedes Benz should report this as recall, in order to correct the problem I need to change the whole housing, I took the car to downt town la service department, for another problem with the ignition lock switch, I looked on the internet and also a lot of people had this problem. I hope some one will do something about these C300 models. Thank you

- Norwalk, CA, USA

My daughter took my wife's 2009 Mercedes C300 to school and when she got into the car after stopping for coffee it would not start. You turn the key and nothing happened. Verified that the car was in park and checked all of the systems. Still nothing. Had to call a tow truck and have it taken to our repair shop. Am being told it is the electric steering lock system and will cost almost $1000 to fix. After checking online this seems to be a very common issue with this car. Since this can strand a person it should be added to the recall list. Thank goodness my daughter had only driven a few blocks away and stopped for coffee. It was in a open parking lot, but if it had been in a "not so good area" that could put her in jeopardy. This issue seems to be an all too frequent, and very expensive fix.

- Spring Valley, CA, USA

Car wouldn't start. Luckily that car was at our house. After research found that the 2009 C300 has problems with the eis (electronic ignition switch). After a 5-6 hours the cars ignition started working, but from reading others experience the ignition could disable forever at any time. Cost to repair is $1500 and only be done at a dealership.

- La Habra, CA, USA

On the highway driving 40 mph warning on the display came on stating the" ebr, ABS, esp are inoperative" and a warning display stating "power steering malfunction". power steering was fine, but it was a very nerve wrecking drive. Dealership is stating it is the esp module and pump that needs to be replaced, which can only be done at the dealership.

- La Habra, CA, USA

On 10/3/2015 the vehicle was parked at a gas station for 5 minutes. Upon returning to the car and attemped to switch the ignition on, the car wont start. Contacted Mercedes Benz in englewood and they offered a road assistance ( $80 service charge ). after waiting for over an hour and half the roadside technician arrived and attemped to jumstart the vehicle with no success. He said that with 25 years of experience working for Mercedes that this is a common issue where the vehicle wont recognize the key, locking the steering and cutting off the engine power to start up. He contacted Mercedes for a towing truck to take it to the dealer for diagnostic. This happened on a Saturday and have to wait til Monday for results. Vehicle has 79,000 miles odometer reading. Theres more then 10,000 feedbacks over the internet with the same issue. Fix ranges from $500 to $1500. Mercedes has not recalled this ongoing common issue.

- Jersey City, NJ, USA

The car won't start when you turn the key. I have taken it to a Mercedes mechanic and he can't find anything wrong after being looked at for a B1 service. We thought this would fix it. Now it won't start again. When turn the key, everything lights up as if the car is going to start but it won't. it had been starting after turning the key a few times and eventually it would catch. The problem started 2 weeks ago, now it won't start at all.

- Smyrna, GA, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes Benz C300. While attempting to start the vehicle, the engine would not start and the steering wheel became locked. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 110,000.

- Conway, NC, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes Benz C300. The contact stated that the rear tail lights shorted out repeatedly. The dealer stated that they repaired the vehicle according to NHTSA campaign number: 14V177000 (exterior lighting), but the contact did not receive any confirmation of the repair and the failure was recurring. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for further inspection and diagnostic testing. The contact also stated that the interior and exterior lighting continued to illuminate without warning, which drained the power and battery source to the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failures and provided no remedy. The failure mileage was not available.

- Shannon, NC, USA

Today I had to go to work andtried to put my car on, to my dismay it would not turn on. All of the other electrical functions worked, like my car locking and unlocking, and the radio working but it kept telling me to remove key from ignition and it wouldnt start. I have done alot of reasearch and there seem to be alot of people with this problem. And I hope we could fix it and have it recalled because it is very expensive to fix.

- Manchester, NH, USA

Stop at grocery store came back car did not start. Its the electric steering does not work it cost $1350 to get fixed its been happening to a lot of people and Mercedes does not want to do anything to help. Thanks!

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

My car would not turn on, eventually found out it was due to an electronic steering lock malfunction. Upon further research, I found it is very common on the C class. Cost over $1K to repair, and Mercedes of usa declined to cover any of the expense even though the issue is common.

- Brea, CA, USA