TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO LATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.
2010 Mercedes-Benz C300 complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2010 record →
MY CAR IS ALWAYS PARK IN THE BACK OF MY YARD.. AND I ALWAYS CHECK AROUND MY CAR REGARDLESS OF WHERE I AM... DROVE TO WORK WHICH TOOK ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND NOTICE WHEN I GOT IN MY CAR TO GO TO LUNCH THE FOG LIGHT WAS OUT ON THE LEFT DRIVING SIDE AND THE RIGHT FOG LOG IS CRACK ALSO.. NO OTHER VEHICLES PARKS IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE I PARK FACING THE BUILDING OF MY WORKPLACE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SHIP SHE ADVISE THAT SOMEONE BURST THE FOG LIGHT OUT ON THE LEFT DRIVE SIDE AND GAVE ME A QUOTE OF $350 TO FIX FOR EACH FOG LIGHT... ADVISE COULDN'T BE POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF HOW PECULIAR I AM WITH HOW AND WHERE I PARK AND BECAUSE I CHECK MY VEHICLE BEFORE ENTERING TO DRIVE... I USE TO DRIVE WITH MY FOG LIGHTS ON COMMUTING BACK AND FORTH TO WORK. THE ONLY THING I CAN SEE IS THAT IT GOT OVERHEATED BUT HOW BECAUSE OF THE SHORT COMMUTE TIME... TRYING TO UNDERSTAND. *TR
THE PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT SERVES AS AN ATTACHMENT FOR THE PULL CORD FROM THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE. THIS MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE THE PASSENGER IS TRAPPED INSIDE THE CAR AND CANNOT EXIT EASILY. IN AN ACCIDENT SITUATION, THIS WOULD BE A REAL HAZARD. I DISCUSSED WITH LOCAL DEALER, WHO ADVISED THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. *TR
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, BEGAN HEARING A HUMMING UNDERNEATH THE CAR THINKING IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE TIRES. THE SOUND GOT LOUDER AS THE DAYS WENT ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE TRANSFER CASE AND THAT THE SOLUTION WAS A NEW TRANSMISSION APPROXIMATELY $8000-$10000. WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT OTHER OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM YET MB REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE CURRENTLY. *TR
THE BELT TENSIONER FOR THE SERPENTINE BELT SEIZED UP CAUSING THE SERPENTINE BELT TO SHRED AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE UPPER AND LOWER PULLEYS. THE CAR BECAME IMMOBILE IMMEDIATELY AS ALL THE ACCESSORIES WERE RENDERED USELESS, LIKE THE POWER STEERING, ALTERNATOR, ETC. AS A RESULT, THE FOLLOWING HAD TO REPLACED: SERPENTINE BELT, TENSIONER, UPPER PULLEY, AND LOWER PULLEY. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT THIS OCCURRED WHEN I WAS PARKING IN A PARKING LOT AFTER DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT, AS YOU WOULD HAVE NO STEERING ON THE HIGHWAY. WHILE RESEARCHING THIS SAFETY CONCERN ONLINE, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A RELATIVELY COMMON ISSUE WITH 2008-2011 C-CLASS VEHICLES. SOME WERE REPORTED TO BE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANT WHILE MOST OTHERS HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR COSTS OUT OF POCKET. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN THAT CAN POSSIBLY LEAD INJURY OR DEATH. I SPOKE WITH MERCEDES BENZ CORPORATE REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS NOT AN ISSUE AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY WILL DO ABOUT IT. I EMPHASIZED HOW DANGEROUS THIS CAN BE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THEY DID NOT SEEM TO BE CONCERNED. MY RECOMMENDATION TO MERCEDES BENZ IS TO RECALL THE 2008-2011 C-CLASS FOR THIS ISSUE BEFORE IT CAUSES A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE REVERSING AT A LOW SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V459000 (STEERING) BUT THE RECALL REMEDY FAILED TO PREVENT THE FAILURE FROM OCCURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,500. UPDATED 3/12/15*CN UPDATED 9/15/2017*CN
THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR LATCH WAS BROKEN AND WENT LOOSE. THE PASSENGER CANNOT OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. IMAGINE IF THERE IS A FIRE OR CRASH AND THE PERSON CANNOT GET OUT OF THE CAR WHAT WILL HAPPEN. THIS PROBLEM IS QUITE USUAL ACCORDING TO A WEB SEARCH SO I DECIDED TO REPORT. *TR
WENT INTO WORK AND CAME BACK OUT TO MY CAR NOT STARTING. BATTERY JUST RECENTLY REPLACED WITHIN THE PAST 6 MONTHS. HAD THE BATTERY CHARGED AND TRIED TO DO A JUMP AND STILL NOTHING. HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED TO THE AUTO SHOP ONLY TO FIND OUT I HAVE A FAILED EIS, MEANING MY ELECTRONICALLY IGNITION SYSTEM HAS FAILED AND ITS GOING TO COST ME 1000 TO FIX. MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT I FIND THIS A MAJOR INCONVENIENCE. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A RELIABLE CAR THE REASON I CHOSE TO GET THIS CAR AND SOMETHING LIKE THE IGNITION HAS FAILED. I WISH THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT MBUSA COULD DO TO PAY FOR A MAJORITY OF THE ISSUE OR EVEN DO A REIMBURSEMENT. THIS CAN BE A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL, I ALWAYS THINK WHAT IF I WAS OUT OF TOWN OR WHAT IF I HAD A EMERGENCY AND BECAUSE OF THIS GLITCH I SIMPLY HAVE NO CAR AND NOW I'M DEPENDENT ON A RIDE UNTIL I CAN GET THIS FIXED! *TR
I RECEIVED NOTICE OF A SAFETY RECALL INVOLVING THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS FOR MY 2010 MERCEDES C300. THIS CAR HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. HOWEVER, IT WAS REBUILT, INSPECTED, AND CERTIFIED AS ROAD WORTHY. THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO PERFORM THE RECALL WORK ON MY CAR, STATING THAT THE FACT THAT THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS INVALIDATES ANY WARRANTY AND A SAFETY RECALL IS CONSIDERED WARRANTY WORK. I FEEL THAT A SAFETY RECALL IS NOT OPTIONAL, AND THAT MERCEDES NEEDS TO PERFORM THIS WORK, REGARDLESS OF WARRANTY ELIGIBILITY. *TR
I WENT TO OPEN MY DOOR AFTER I HAD PARKED AND THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LATCH BROKE. SO, I HAD TO CUT MY CAR BACK ON, ROLL THE WINDOW DOWN AND PULL THE LATCH FROM OUTSIDE THE DOOR. IF YOU LOOK ONLINE THIS APPEARS T BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2010 C300. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SEAT BELTS WERE EXTREMELY TIGHT TO THE SEATS. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE SEAT BELTS IN THE FRONT WERE LOOSE AND THE SEAT BELTS IN THE REAR WERE TIGHT. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT AND THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONED AND DID NOT WORK. WHILE TRAVELING AT A HIGHWAY RATE OF SPEED, ANOTHER DRIVER TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE OTHER VEHICLE SPUN AROUND AND STRUCK THE FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS IN THE PROCESS OF EXITING THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE DRUNK DRIVER IMPACTED THE VEHICLE FROM THE REAR. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. NEITHER OF THE SEAT BELTS SECURED THE DRIVER NOR THE PASSENGER, WHICH CAUSED SEVERE IMPACT TO THE HEAD, NECK, AND BACK. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MAJOR BACK AND HEAD INJURIES, BUT DID NOT RECEIVE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES TO THE HEAD, NECK, A CERVICAL STRAIN, A CAT SCAN, AND BACK PAINS. THE FRONT PASSENGER RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE CONTACT ASKED THAT THE VEHICLE BE HELD UNTIL THE MANUFACTURER AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY COULD FURTHER INSPECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE SEAT BELTS AND THE AIR BAGS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE CRASH AND THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THEY WERE TO SEND AN INVESTIGATOR AND REFER THE CONTACT TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION O
DRIVER'S SIDE INNER DOOR HANDLE BROKE. CANNOT EXIT FROM CAR AND NEED TO OPEN DOOR FROM OUTSIDE. COULD BE A PROBLEM IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY IF ONE NEEDS TO EXIT A VEHICLE IN A HURRY. I BELIEVE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES BENZ FROM MY RESEARCH. *TR
DEAR SIR OR MADAM: ON NOVEMBER 26, 2014 I DROVE TO THE HOSPITAL FOR WHICH I WORK. WITHIN 1 MILE OF MY DESTINATION, WHILE TRAVELING AT THE SPEED OF 45 MILES PER HOUR I HEARD A LOUD HIGH PITCHED SOUND THAT CAME FROM MY STEERING WHEEL AND IT BECAME SOMEWHAT DIFFICULT TO STEER. NO VEHICLE STATUS MESSAGE EVER SHOWED ON THE MALFUNCTION DISPLAY. I PARKED THE CAR AND CALLED THE MERCEDES BENZ AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE SOONEST AVAILABLE APPT WHEN THEY COULD LOOK AT MY CAR WAS ON DECEMBER 1, WHICH WAS 5 DAYS AWAY. NO HELP WHATSOEVER!!!! I TOOK IT TO A TRUSTED FAMILY MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE POWER STEERING CHAMBER HAD BEEN LEAKING FOR SOME TIME, IT WAS NOW SMOKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL OF 85,000 MERCEDES BENZ C CLASS AND E-CLASS MODELS BETWEEN JUNE 1, 2009 AND FEBRUARY 28, 2010. MY POWER STEERING CHAMBER WAS MANUFACTURED 02/03/10 (128BAR). KUNDEN-NO: A005 486 95 01. ZFLS-NR: 7695 955 135. I BELIEVE THAT MY VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PART OF THIS RECALL. FURTHERMORE, IF I HAD BEEN ON THE FREEWAY AT HIGHER SPEEDS THE POSSIBILITY OF SOMETHING MORE DANGEROUS COULD HAVE HAPPENED. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PROMPT ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER, SINCERELY [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, A HUMMING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE SHIFT LEVER UNDER THE VEHICLE AND NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE BEARING FAILED AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.
SECOND INCIDENT OF ALL LIGHTS SUDDENLY FAILING AND THEN BEING RESTORED WITHIN THREE SECONDS DEALER FIXED BY CHANGING OUT LIGHTING SWITCH BECAUSE THEIR DATABASE SHOWED SIMILAR INCIDENTS WITH OTHER SIMILAR CARS AND CHANGING THE LIGHTING SWITCH APPEARED TO CURE THE PROBLEM ALTHOUGH NO PROBLEM COULD BE SEEN WITH SWITCH. ALTHOUGH ONLY 3 MONTHS OUT IF TIME ON THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY MERCEDES DECLINED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR AND TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD HAVE CONSIDERED BUYING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. I REMONSTRATED THAT THIS WAS A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS FAULT AND THAT MERCEDES SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL -MERCEDES DECLINED ANY FURTHER ACTION. *TR
TRANSMISSION HAS GONE COMPLETELY OUT AT 30,000 MILES AND MERCEDES REFUSES TO RESPOND. *TR
APPARENTLY THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES OF THE MB W204 ARE FAILING. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IF SOMEONE IS TRAPPED INSIDE AND CAN'T GET OUT. HERE IS A THREAD THAT DISCUSSES THIS WITHIN A USERS FORUM. THANK YOU. HTTP://MBWORLD.ORG/FORUMS/C-CLASS-W204/465266-C300-2010-BROKEN-INNER-DOOR-HANDLES.HTML. *TR
WENT TO START CAR AND NOTHING. STEERING LOCKED AND DIFFICULT, DUE TO ALL WHEEL DRIVE TO TOW. THERE ARE MANY CASES DOCUMENTED ABOUT EIS/ESL FAILURES ON MERCEDES ENTHUSIAST FORUMS. THE PROBLEM IS PREVALENT ON THE INTERNET. THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS ON A CROWDED HIGHWAY, IN A CRIME RIDDEN AREA OR JUST IN AN EMERGENCY. THE CAR WILL START ONE MINUTE AND WON'T ON THE NEXT START. MERCEDES CLAIMED NO FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE IN MY CASE. THE CAR WAS 2 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR
ORIGINAL TIRES WITH 29000 MILES........ CONTINENTAL TIRE LEFT FRONT SHREDDED ON FREEWAY, TOTAL SEPARATION OF RUBBER FROM RIM, CONTACTED CONTINENTAL [XXX], WAS REFERRED TO CUSTOMER AND THEN TO WARRANTY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE, FILED A CLAIM WHICH WAS REJECTED AFTER 4 MONTHS BECAUSE I DIDN'T PROVIDE THE SHREDDED TIRE. CONTINENTAL REFUSES TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR PRODUCT VIRTUALLY DISINTEGRATING WITHOUT WARNING. THIS IS TOTAL UNACCEPTABLE, I HAVE REPLACED ALL FOUR CONTINENTAL TIRES AND WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANY CONTINENTAL PRODUCT AGAIN. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
WENT TO START CAR WHEN THE KEY TURNED OVER LIGHTS, RADIO, ETC CAME ON BUT CAR WOULD NOT START. CAR DID NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO TURN OVER BUT WAS ELECTRONICALLY LOCKED OUT. TRIED SECOND KEY WITH NO AVAIL. *TR
SPEED DEPENDENT FRONT END NOISE AND VIBRATION. INSPECTION BY MB AUTHORIZED DEALER INDICATES: "FRONT TRANSFER CASE COMING APART". MB CUSTOMER SERVICE INDICATES THAT THE PROBLEM IS A "ONE OFF" BUT OFFERED A 50% DISCOUNT ON REPAIR. REPAIR COST IS $7000. SUSPECT THAT THIS IS NOT A "ONE OFF" AND THE PROBLEM IS MORE FREQUENT GIVEN THE IMMEDIATE OFFER OF A DISCOUNT ON REPAIR. FAILURE OF THE FRONT TRANSFER CASE AT ANY SPEED CAN AND MOST LIKELY WILL CAUSE WHEEL LOCK UP, ENGINE FAILURE, LOSS OF POWER ASSISTED CONTROLS (STEERING AND BRAKING), LOSS OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS (AIR BAGS), AND POSSIBLY CREATED AN ACCIDENT WITH FATALITIES. *TR
THE WARNING SYSTEM FOR THE REAR LIGHTS HAVE BEEN GOING OFF SINCE PURCHASING THE CERTIFIED PREOWNED VEHICLE IN JUNE 2014. IT WAS RETURNED THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THE ISSUE AND NEVER FIXED. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND THE WARNING SYSTEM INFORMED ME TO CHECK ALL OF MY REAR LIGHTS. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS FUNCTIONING ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. THE LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, AND REAR FOG LAMPS WERE ALL NOT FUNCTIONING. WHEN A ROAD SIDE TECHNICIAN CHECKED THE VEHICLE HE SAW BURNT WIRES AND MELTED PLASTIC ON THE LIGHTING MOUNT. THIS OCCURRED DURING A ROUTINE TRIP FROM NEW JERSEY INTO PHILADELPHIA, PA AND INCLUDED DRIVING OVER THE BEN FRANKLIN BRIDGE. ONCE I REACH PHILLY I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE. THAT IS WHEN THE ISSUE WAS LOCATED. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. NO MORE INFORMATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED FROM THE DEALER YET. *TR
WENT TO EXIT CAR AND INTERIOR DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE INSIDE DOOR. CANNOT EXIT VEHICLE. *TR
MY DOOR HANDLE BROKE STRANDING ME IN MY SEAT. I HAD TO CRAWL ACROSS THE SEAT AND EXIT THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD FIXED 7 SO FAR THIS YEAR. SAFETY ISSUE THAT I CAN NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX THE ISSUE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 14V17700 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE REPAIRS WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
RECEIVED MESSAGE REAR LICENSE LIGHT OUT. REPLACED BULB BUT CONTINUED GETTING MESSAGE. REAR PARKING CAMERA STARTED DISPLAYING IMAGES WHEN BRAKE DEPRESSED. MESSAGES CONTINUED TO CHECK ALL REAR LIGHT BULBS. WHEN INSPECTING, I NOTICED BURN MARKS ON BULB CARRIER (PART #211-545-03-28) AND PLUG (PART #204-820-09-77). I PURCHASED NEW PARTS TO INSTALL BUT HAD DIFFICULTY REMOVING THE WIRE CLIPS FROM THE PLUG. I WAS NOT AWARE AND THE MERCEDES PARTS DEPARTMENT DID NOT MENTION I WOULD NEED TO ALSO GET CONNECTOR PINS (OR THAT THIS OVERHEATING WAS A RECURRING PROBLEM). UNABLE TO EASILY REMOVE WIRING & PINS, I DECIDED TO SEARCH INTERNET FOR GUIDANCE ON REPLACEMENT (BEFORE CUTTING WIRES) AND DISCOVERED SEVERAL WEBSITES RECITING OTHERS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH OVERHEATING OF THE GROUND WIRE CONNECTION AND THAT A RECALL INVESTIGATION HAD BEEN STARTED. IT CERTAINLY APPEARS THAT THIS PROBLEM OF OVERHEATING/MELTING OF PARTS IS A REAL FIRE HAZARD THAT IS OCCURRING FREQUENTLY ENOUGH TO AT LEAST REQUIRE THAT A NOTICE BE SENT TO CAR OWNERS TO HAVE CARRIAGES & WIRING PROMPTLY INSPECTED AND REPAIRED. *TR
ALL OF A SUDDEN I RECEIVED AN ERROR MESSAGE IN MY DISPLAY STATING CHECK ALL REAR RIGHT EXTERIOR LIGHTS. NATURE RIGHT SIDE IS OUT. MY MECHANIC LOOKED AT SAID THE BROWN WIRE IS FRAYED AND MELTED THE PLASTIC BULB HOLDER. I RESEARCHED AND FOUND IT IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM. *TR
ALL BULBS ON THE RIGHT SIDE TAIL LIGHT ARE NOT WORKING, THAT INCLUDES BRAKE LIGHT, REVERSE LIGHT, AND SIGNAL LIGHT. I THOUGHT THE BULBS WERE OUT BUT WHEN I WENT TO CHANGE THE BULBS THEY WERE ALL FINE. WHAT I DID NOTICED WAS THE BROWN WIRE WAS BURNT AND SO WAS THE PLASTIC THAT HOLDS THE WIRES TOGETHER, IT SEEMED LIKE THAT ENTIRE SIDE WAS BURNT AND EVEN MELTED. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND IT ALSO SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD. I'VE MENTIONED THIS A FEW TIMES TO THE DEALER. EACH TIME THEY LOOK FOR A RECALL WITH NO SUCCESS. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM DIRECTLY TO MB AND SINCE THERE STILL HASN'T BEEN A RECALL, I'M NOW REPORTING TO NHTSA. *TR
I GOT COUPLE WARNING MESSAGES ON MY 2010 MB C-300 THAT THE TAILLIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT THINKING IT WAS THE LIGHTBULBS THAT NEEDED TO BE CHANGED, I FOUND OUT THAT THE TAILLIGHT WIRES AND CONNECTORS HAVE OVERHEATED AND MELTED. IN MY CASE, THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND MERCEDES CUSTOMER CARE DID TAKE THE INITIATIVE AND REPLACED THE WIRES AND CONNECTORS WITH NO COST TO ME, AFTER I DISCUSSED WITH THEM ABOUT THE FACT THAT THIS PROBLEM IS CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION BY NHTSA. I DO APPRECIATE MB DEALER AND CUSTOMER CARE'S HELP TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE AND TAKE CARE OF MY CAR. HOWEVER, I WANT TO REPORT MY CASE TO NHTSA TO HELP YOUR AGENCY IN DATA COLLECTION TO DETERMINE HOW WIDE SPREAD THE PROBLEM IS AND WHETHER A RECALL SHOULD BE WARRANTED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE LIGHT FAILED DUE TO A MELTED ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
REAR TAIL LIGHTS HAVE PROGRESSIVELY DIMMED OVER TIME. WIRING HARNESS WAS MELTING. CONNECTOR TO LIGHT CARRIER AND TAILLIGHT WIRING WAS CORRODED. REPAIR OF CORRODED WIRING, CONNECTOR, AND LIGHT CARRIER WAS REQUIRED. *TR
ALL BULBS ON THE RIGHT SIDE TAIL LIGHT ARE NOT WORKING, THAT INCLUDES BRAKE LIGHT, REVERSE LIGHT, AND SIGNAL LIGHT. I THOUGHT THE BULBS WERE OUT BUT WHEN I WENT TO CHANGE THE BULBS THEY WERE ALL FINE. WHAT I DID NOTICED WAS THE BROWN WIRE WAS BURNT AND SO WAS THE PLASTIC THAT HOLDS THE WIRES TOGETHER, IT SEEMED LIKE THAT ENTIRE SIDE WAS BURNT AND EVEN MELTED. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND IT ALSO SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD. I SPOKE TO ONE OF MY MECHANIC FRIENDS WHO SUGGESTED I BRING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER TO TRY AND RESOLVE THE PROBLEM AND HE ALSO ADVISED ME TO DISCONNECT THE WIRES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AS THIS COULD CAUSE A POTENTIAL FIRE. SINCE I'M PAST THE WARRANTY PERIOD (50,000 MILES) I'M NOT SURE HOW I'M GOING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, IT MAY BE PRETTY COSTLY AND I'M NOT SURE WHERE TO START. I THOUGHT I SHOULD REPORT THIS TO THE NHTSA SINCE THIS CAN POSSIBLY CAUSE MAJOR SAFETY HAZARDS AND EVEN FIRES. *TR
CONNECTOR FOR THE TAILLIGHTS MELTING ONTO THE HOUSING. POSSIBLE GROUND WIRE ISSUE. FIRE HAZARD. *TR
ALL DRIVER SIDE REAR LIGHTS WENT OUT. THERE IS SIGN OF POSSIBLE BURNT RESIDUE ON WIRE AND LIGHT CASING. *TR
WARNING LIGHT ON MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PROMPTED "CHECK LEFT TAIL AND BRAKE LIGHT". I CHECKED ALL THE BULBS, THEY WERE ALL FUNCTIONING EXCEPT FOR 1 OR TWO DIM BULBS IN THE LEFT TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY. I UNPLUGGED THE CONNECTOR/HARNESS TO THE ASSEMBLY AND FOUND ONE OF THE WIRE INSERT CONNECTORS TO BE MELTED IN THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR, THE MELTING AFFECTED THE PLASTIC AS WELL. I AM WORRIED FOR A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD IN MY TRUNK COMPARTMENT. CONTACTED MERCEDES FOR A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. *TR
APPROXIMATELY ONCE EVERY 2 MONTHS WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WILL COME ON WITH THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE PARKING/BRAKE LIGHT. WHEN THIS OCCURS, I HAVE TO TURN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON THEN BACK OFF, TO TURN OFF THE LIGHTS. ON ONE OCCASION, I OBSERVED THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT AND THE REAR PASSENGER LIGHT FLICKERING LIKE A STROBE LIGHT, BEFORE I TURNED THE SWITCH ON THEN OFF. *TR
SIMILAR TO OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED AGAINST MERCEDES, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION TO MY REAR RIGHT LIGHT (BRAKE LIGHT, RUNNING LIGHT, TURN SIGNAL, ETC.) HAS MELTED AND IS NO LONGER OPERATIONAL. THE ENTIRE LIGHT IS OUT AND I GET WARNING MESSAGES ON THE DASH ABOUT THE PROBLEM. IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT EVERYONE ELSE WITH THE SAME MAKE/MODEL AS ME ARE HAVING. HOPEFULLY MERCEDES RECOGNIZES THE SCALE OF THIS FLAW IN THEIR ENGINEERING AND SENDS OUT A RECALL SOONER THAN LATER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THE THE DRIVER'S SIDE FOG LIGHT COVER WAS FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
PASSENGER TAILLIGHT CONNECTOR/WIRING INSUFFICIENTLY DESIGNED FOR LOAD. WIRE/CONNECTOR PLASTIC IS MELTING AND CAUSING UNSAFE CONDITIONS. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2008-2010 C-CLASS AND IS FREQUENTLY NOTED IN MB OWNER'S FORUMS/WEBSITES. *TR
REAR PASSENGER TAIL LIGHT WARNING CAME ON. INSPECTION REVEALED A CORRODED AND BURNED GROUND WIRE. THE WIRE CREATED SO MUCH RESISTANCE HEAT, THAT IT HAS MELTED THROUGH ITS MOLEX CONNECTOR, AND BUBBLED UP THE CONTACT PLATE IT CONNECTS TO. DRIVER'S SIDE APPEARS OKAY AT THIS TIME. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD AND A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS FAIL DURING AN EMERGENCY STOPPING CONDITION. I HAVE PICTURES IF REQUESTED. *TT
MY CAR WILL BE PARKED AND ENGINE NOT RUNNING AND AT ANY GIVEN TIME THE UPPER FRONT HEADLIGHT ON PASSENGER SIDE AND THE BOTTOM PART OF THE REAR TAILLIGHT ON PASSENGER SIDE WILL ILLUMINATE FOR NO REASON. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHICH POSITION THE LIGHTS ARE IN. *TR... UPDATED 04-05-13 *BF
ON 12/22/12 AT APPROXIMATELY 9PM I WAS PARKING MY CAR HAVING ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION. I HAD ALMOST FINISHED PARKING WHEN MY MERCEDES BENZ C300, 2010 LUNCHED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING AND HIT THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME RESULTING IN A CHAIN RECTION. WITH THAT TRUCK SMASHING INTO THE VEHICLE INFRONT OF IT. I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND THEREFORE MUST HAVE MALFUNCTIONED. I WENT SEARCHING AND FOUND SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM A COUPLE OF OTHER OWNERS OF BENZ C300 2010 MODEL.I CALLED MERCEDES BENZ USA AND REPORTED AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEED TO TAKE THE CAR IN AND PAY FOR IT TO BE DIAGNOSED. THEY INSISTED THAT THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY SIMILAR COMPLAINT. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ 300C. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE SUN ROOF OPENED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,200.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN RT 70 IN MARLTON, NJ ON MONDAY MAY 7, 2012 WHEN EVERY LIGHTS IN MY CAR LIT UP. I THEN TOOK IT TO MERCEDES AT APPROXIMATELY 1:00 P.M. I SAT THERE WAITING FOR THEM TO TELL ME WHAT WAS GOING ON. I DECIDED AT 1:50 TO FIND OUT AND I WAS TOLD BY MY SERVICE TECH DAN SWUWEK THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND THAT HE DID NOT KNOW HOW LONG IT WOULD BE TO FIX IT. I HAD TO GET A RENTAL. HE CALLED ME THE NEXT DAY AND INDICATED THAT A PART WAS ORDERED. I THEN CALLED HIM BACK LATER IN THE DAY WHEN HE SAID THAT IT WAS NOT THE PART THAT THEY THOUGHT IT WAS. ANOTHER DAY PASSED AND I WAS THEN TOLD THAT THEY WOULD BE CONTACTING MERCEDES FOR HELP. I ALSO CONTACTED THEM AS WELL BECAUSE I WANTED TO BE SURE THAT IT WAS DOCUMENTED. THE NEXT DAY THEY FIGURED IT OUT AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAD TO GO OUT OF TOWN AND DID NOT RETURN UNTIL MONDAY MAY 14, 2012 AT WHICH TIME I WAS CONTACTED BY DAN FROM MERCEDES INDICATED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS READY FOR PICK UP. THIS IS THE THIRD MERCEDES I HAVE LEASED. MY FIRST ONE WAS THE ML350 WHICH HAD AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT HEATING SYSTEM. MY SECOND ONE WAS A C300 WHICH HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM AND NAVIGATION. THIS IS MY THIRD AND LAST ONE HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE NAVIGATIONS FOR WHICH THEY KEPT TELLING ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. HOWEVER IT TOOK MY TOOK MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD WHEN TRYING TO ENTER DESTINATION INFORMATION SO IT WAS BASI
ALL OF MY EXTERIOR LIGHT BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED EVERY OTHER MONTH. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT BURNED OUT THE METAL PART WHERE MERCEDES HAD TO REPLACE THE UNIT. AS OF MONDAY, APRIL 2, 2012 I HAD TO TAKE MY CAR IN THE DEALER TO REPAIR A RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT OUT. *TR ...UPDATED 03/27/13 *BF UPDATED 04/03/2013 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, THERE WAS A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE BOOT, ROTORS AND THE BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
ON JULY 18, 2011, I WAS WAITING IN A LINE OF TRAFFIC FOR A SIGNAL LIGHT TO CHANGE, AND AS THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME BEGAN TO MOVE, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND MY 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300 LURCHED FORWARD AND REARENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THE FORWARD MOTION WAS VERY FORCEFUL AND THE IMPACT WAS HEAVY. THIS WAS UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION, AS I HAD NOT DEPRESSED TO ACCELERATOR AND WHILE I AM DEEMED AT FAULT I FEEL THIS MOVEMENT IS DEFINITELY RELATED TO ANOTHER INCIDENT IN THIS VEHICLE REPORTED ON MAY 21, 2011. PLEASE REFER TO ODI # 10403924. MERCEDES BENZ CORP SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE AN INVESTIGATION TO THIS PROBLEM, SINCE THERE IS EVIDENCE OTHERS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM. *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TOWARDS THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS REALIGNED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT ALL GERMAN VEHICLES PULL TOWARDS THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BASED ON HIS OBSERVATIONS, THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING LOWER TO THE GROUND ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TIRES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WERE WEARING FASTER THAN THE TIRES ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,600.
2010 C300 MERCEDES BENZ. CONSUMER STATES THE FOG LIGHT IS DEFECTIVE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE RIGHT SIDE GLASS FOG LIGHT COVER CRACKED WITHOUT ANY EXTERNAL FORCE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE REPLACEMENT COST WOULD BE $300. THE DEALER STATED THE LIGHT MIGHT SHORT CIRCUIT THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IF LEFT UNCOVERED. THE CONSUMER STATED ON APRIL 9, 2011 THE LEFT SIDE GLASS FOG LIGHT COVER CRACKED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED IT, BECAUSE THEY SAID IT WAS DEFECTIVE. HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT REPLACE THE RIGHT SIDE FOG LIGHT COVER. *JB
I WAS ENTERING THE ONTARIO SOUTH BOUND ON RAMP TO THE I 15 FREEWAY , IN MY 2010 C300 MERCEDES BENZ, WHEN THE ENGINE SURGED TO 6000 RPMS AND I LET UP ON THE GAS, COASTED, AND WHEN I APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR, IT SURGED AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES, AND EACH TIME I COASTED UNTIL I COULD GET OFF THE FREEWAY AT THE NEXT OFF RAMP. I THEN APPLIED NORMAL PRESSURE TO CONTINUE AND THE CAR PROCEEDED IN A NORMAL MANNER, SO I DROVE TO A SHOPPING CENTER AND STARTED TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE ENGINE ACCELERATED AGAIN TO 6000RPMS, AND I FLEW OVER A PLANTER AREA, REMOVING MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR AND MISSING A TREE AND A POLE. I CAME TO A STOP BY MAKING A HARD LEFT TURN AND BRAKING SO I WOULDN'T HIT THE WALL OF THE BUILDING. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO MY TIRES AND WHEELS AND THE DEALER, AFTER HAVING THE CAR IN THE SHOP FOR OVER A WEEK, SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THIS VEHICLE HAS 5700 MILES ON IT, AND IS UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THE COMPANY WOULD NOT HONOR WARRANTY BY SAYING THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. MY INSURANCE HAD TO PAY FOR DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF THIS VEHICLE. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR, BECAUSE I HAVE FEAR THIS WILL REOCCUR, AND SOMEONE MAY BE SERIOUSLY HURT. *TR
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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300 → · Every C300 year → · How the figures are calculated →