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 2011 record →
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO SCHEDULE THE REPAIR APPOINTMENT. THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V363000 (AIR BAGS), BUT THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TAKATA RECALL. MERCEDES WILL NOT CHANGE THE AIRBAGS IN MY CAR DUE TO THEM NOT HAVING A REPLACEMENT. THEY COULD NOT HELP US IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER AND TURNED US AWAY.
VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. 1 OF THE 2 PARKING LIGHT BULBS IN THE FRONT LEFT HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY BURNT OUT. WHEN TAKEN TO DEALER TO REPLACE THE BULB, THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN FOUND THAT THE BULB'S HARNESS HAD OVERHEATED AND MELTED INTO THE HEADLAMP, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. THE MELTED HARNESS INDICATES THAT THERE WAS TOO MUCH HEAT AND COULD POSE A FIRE THREAT IN THE HEADLAMP, AS WELL AS REDUCE CONSPICUITY DUE TO DIMMED OR BURNT OUT EXTERIOR LIGHTING. THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE PROBLEM WITH THE REAR TAILLIGHT ISSUE IN THIS YEAR/MODEL THAT RESULTED IN A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V177000 TAIL LAMP DIMMING OR FAILURE). THE FRONT EXTERIOR LIGHTS SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED AND REPLACED BY MB FOR THE SAME REASONS AS THE REAR.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) BUT THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE SUPPLIED TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SPECIFIC TIME FRAME. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
WHEN IN MOTION A GRINDING NOISE CAN BE HEARD, WHICH WAS LATER IDENTIFIED AS A TRANSMISSION BEARING. VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 69,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED BY A MERCEDES DEALER IN MOST CASES, WHICH INCLUDED A SCHEDULED TRANSMISSION SERVICE THAT WAS CONDUCTED BY MERCEDES.
"TAKATA RECALL" I HAVE A MERCEDES BENZ C300 2011 A PROBLEM OCCURRED WHERE YOU TURN THE KEY AND IT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE AND STEERING WHEEL LOCK.EVERYTHING ELSE WORKED LIKE LIGHTS,RADIO,BATTERY. I WAS DRIVING ONE MOMENT STOPPED AND PARKED FOR LESS THAN 5 MINUTES AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S QUITE A FEW OTHER OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. YOU CAN CHECK ON THIS LINK HTTP://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/MERCEDESBENZ/C300/STEERING-FAILED-PROBLEMS.PHP I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND NEEDS TO GET FIXED.
PARKED CAR, NEXT DAY WON'T START. STEERING LOCKED. ALL LIGHTS AND RADIO COME ON. NOTICED MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FOR SAME ISSUE. MERCEDES NEED TO RECALL!
I WENT TO THE PARK WITH MY WIFE AND 1 YEAR OLD SON, I PARKED THE CAR AND RETURNED A FEW HOURS LATER, THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOCKED AND THE KEY WOULD NOT START OR UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL, THE CAR HAD TO BE DRAGGED OUT OF PARKING SPACE SINCE THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT UNLOCK AND THE CAR WAS STUCK IN PARK. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED A BAD STEERING COLUMN $1600 REPAIR BILL, AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE WHICH HAVE THE EXACT SAME ISSUE AND REPAIR, SO THIS IS A VERY COMMON AND KNOW ISSUE BY MERCEDES BENZ. I BELIEVE THAT IF THE STEERING COLUMN CAN BECOME LOCKED IT COULD POTENTIALLY TURN VERY DANGEROUS IF THE CAR IS IN MOTION BECAUSE THE OPERATOR WOULD BE UNABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE.
LAS LUCES DELANTERAS DEL VEHCULO DE REFERENCIA PRESENTAN UN ALUMBRADO TENUE Y POBRE, LO QUE REDUCE LA VISIBILIDAD HACIA EL FRENTE REPRESENTANDO UN PELIGRO A LA VIDA DE LAS PERSONAS QUE TRANSITAN EN DICHO VEHCULO AL GUIAR DURANTE LA NOCHE. EL 27 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2014, LA COMPUTADORA DEL VEHCULO COMENZ A INDICAR PROBLEMAS CON LAS LUCES DELANTERAS, IZQUIERDA Y DERECHO. AL SER LLEVADO A INSPECCIN, SE ME INDICA QUE ES NECESARIO EL REEMPLAZO DE LOS FOCOS DELANTEROS COMPLETAMENTE.
THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED ACCIDENT AS IT INVOLVED A POLICE CHASE OF A FELON WHO RAN A RED LIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. MY CAR WAS HIT ON THE LEFT FRONT SIDE AND IS DEEMED TOTALED. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN MY VEHICLE AND I REQUIRED EMERGENCY TRANSPORT TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM. THIS ALSO INVOLVED A POLICE SHOOTING INCIDENT WITH THE DEATH OF THE OTHER DRIVER. THE VEHICLE IS PENDING TOWING TO A SALVAGE YARD.THE PRIMARY CONCERN IS A QUESTION OF DEFECTIVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND FUTURE POTENTIAL INJURY TO OTHERS.
I FILLED MY GAS TANK UP FRIDAY EVENING, WENT HOME AND PARKED MY VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE. THE NEXT MORNING THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE COMING FROM THE CAR. I TOOK IT TO THE MERCEDES DEALER AND THEY SAID THE SEAL AND CAP UNDER THE PASSENGER BACK SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY WANTED TO CHARGE $434. NOT ONLY IS THIS DANGEROUS IT SHOULD NOT BE THE CONSUMERS RESPONSIBILITY WHEN THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED FAULTY MATERIAL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE AT A STOP, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY ACCELERATED TO 30 MPH. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE STEERING COLUMN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED KNEE AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
I NOTICE THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY SOAKED WITH WATER AFTER A NIGHT OF HEAVY RAIN. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR A FEW DAYS I WAS ADVISED THAT THERE IS A DRAIN HOSE FROM THE SUNROOF THAT IS CLOGGED AND THE REPAIRS WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I INFACT WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP THE SAME DAY AND WAS ADVISED BY THE SAME SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT CAME IN THAT SAME MORNING WITH THE SAME ISSUE!!! I THEN CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ USA, SINCE THIS INFACT SEEMS LIKE A DESIGN FLAW OR VEHICLE DEFECT WHICH CAN DAMAGE THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS I THEN CONTACTED THE CASE MANAGER AGAIN AT MERCEDES BENZ AND WAS ADVISED THAT AFTER REVIEWING THE CASE THEY WILL NOT ASSIST WITH ANY REPAIRS. I WAS ALSO OFFERED A $1000 TO PURCHASE OR LEASE A NEW VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO ASSIST WITH DEFECT IN THE CURRENT VEHICLE. THIS ISSUED SHOULD BE A RECALL CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT IT IS IN NO WAY THE FAULT OF THE OWNER THESE VEHICLES ARE DESIGNED WITH A DEFECT AND HAVE TO COME OUT OF POCKET FOR REPAIRS. THESE VEHICLES ARE VERY EXPENSIVE AND YOU WOULDNT EXPECT THIS MAJOR REPAIR AFTER JUST 4 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP.
CAR STOPPED SUDDENLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD , LOST POWER, STOPPED, ALL THE LIGHTS WENT OFF, PULLED IT TO THE SIDE, FOUND OUT FROM THE DEALER ALTERNATOR GONE BAD, WAITING FOR NEW ONE FOR INSTALATION AT THE DEALER, SURPRISING TO SEE A ALTERNATOR ON MERCEDES GONE WRONG IN 30000 MILES
ELECTRONIC INGITION SYSTEM MALFUNCITON CAR WANT START, ALL LIGHTS ON,RADIO WORKS BATTERY SEEMS TO BE OPERATING , TOOK TO DEALER EIS IS THE ISSUE, COST IS EXTREME, AFTER READING REVIEWS THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRES. NO RECALL HAS BEEN AUTHORRIZED...THIS IS AN ISSUE MERCEDEZ BENZ
TOTAL FAILURE OF IGNITION SYSTEM, DROVE THE CAR PARKED IT, WENT TO GET BACK IN 20 MINUTES LATER WOULD NOT START, TRIED BOTH KEYS NO LUCK. CAR WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE EITHER KEY BEING INSERTED INTO IGNITION. 37 DAYS OUT OF FACTORY WARRANTY LUCKILY ENOUGH THIS COMPLETE VEHICLE FAILURE HAPPENED AFTER MY WIFE AND I JUST FINISHED A ROAD TRIP TO VIRGINIA, IF THIS WOULD OF HAPPENED AT SOME REST STOP, OR GOD FOR BID WHILE WE WERE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD OF BEEN A HUGE SAFETY RISK. *TR
THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR GOT FLOODED WITH WATER. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THAT THE LEAK WAS FROM THE RIGHT SIDE SUNROOF DRAIN AND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE THE HEADLINER AND PASSENGER SIDE INTERIOR CARPETING TO ACCESS THE AFFECTED AREAS. THE $795 ESTIMATE BALLOONED TO $1600 WHEN THEY SAID THAT THE SEATING WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED TO REMOVE THE ENTIRE CARPET BECAUSE THERE WAS MORE WATER THAT HAD GOTTEN INTO THE CAR THAN THEY ORIGINALLY THOUGHT! THIS SOUNDS LIKE A DESIGN DEFECT IN THIS VEHICLE! THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS WITH THE ELECTRIC POWER AND HEATED SEATS! *TR
I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL LETTER ON JUNE 2014 FOR TAIL LIGHT PROBLEM. I CALL THE DEALER IMMEDIATELY AND IT'S GOING TO BE DECEMBER AND THEY HAVE NOT DO ANYTHING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. ON ONE OCCASION, THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXIT A HIGHWAY AND THE HEAD RESTRAINT AIR BAG DEPLOYED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO BECOME UNCONSCIOUS. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A HEAD CONCUSSION AND NECK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,442.
WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR LETTING OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IT FEELS AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. I SUSPECT IT'S EITHER COMING FROM THE DRIVE SHAFT OR TRANSMISSION. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP A NUMBER OF TIMES BUT CAN NOT DUPLICATE AFTER IT HAPPENED GOING ON A TEST DRIVE WITH A TECHNICIAN. *TR
I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW IN 2011. AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS, STARTED NOTICING A ROTTEN EGG ODOR COMING FROM MY CAR. THE SMELL SEEMS TO COME FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR. USUALLY OCCURS WHEN I'M GOING 45MPH OR MORE GOING UP A HILL ON A HIGHWAY. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO CHECK, SO THEY TOOK THE CAR FOR A TEST DRIVE AND SAID THEY FOUND NO ODORS WHICH I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY? THEY SAID IT MIGHT BE THE TYPE OF FUEL I USE FOR THE CAR MAY AFFECT IT, BUT I USE PREMIUM GAS ONLY FROM CHEVRON. MERCEDES REALLY NEED TO LOOK INTO THIS, BECAUSE THE SMELL IS HORRIBLE! I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS SMELL FOR ALMOST THREE YRS. NOW. *TR
SUN ROOF AND LIGHTS INSIDE THE CAR STOPPED WORKING SUDDENLY CAUSING COMPLETE DARKNESS INSIDE THE CAR AT NIGHT TIME. *TR
PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW IN AUGUST OF 2011. SINCE THEN THE CAR HAS DIED 3 TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE IGNITION. THE SECOND TIME, JUST 6 WEEKS AGO, THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG SO AFTER 8 DAYS, THEY GAVE THE CAR BACK TO ME. OF COURSE WHILE THEY HAVE IT, IT STARTS RIGHT UP. WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS THAT I WOULD GET IN THE CAR AND IT SIMPLY WOULD NOT START, WON'T LOCK OR UNLOCK AND TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN. NOT EVEN WHEN I TRIED THE KEY MANUALLY. IT SOUNDS ELECTRICAL TO ME. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, ONE OF THE MECHANICS TOLD ME HE HAD NOT SEEN THIS PROBLEM WITH MB IN 25 YEARS. I AM EXTREMELY UNHAPPY AND WILL NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER MB EVER AGAIN. *TR
AT ONLY 5000 CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL "EXPLODED" ACCORDING TO DIAGNOSTIC AT PRINCETON DEALERSHIP. QEC CENTER IN JACKSONVILLE PROMISED TO PROVIDE RESULTS OF ANALYSIS TO DETERMINE CAUSE. ON 7/10/2013 I LEARNED UPON INQUIRY THAT QEC ADVISED PRINCETON DEALERSHIP TO DISPOSE OF PARTS WITHOUT GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP THOSE PARTS. I WISH TO KNOW WHY THIS HAPPENED; HOW COMMON IS THIS OCCURRENCE; AND WHAT IS MY RECOURSE IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN. *TR
REPEATEDLY, VEHICLE REFUSES TO START ON FIRST TRY. INSERT KEY, STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKS. TURN IT, ALL LIGHTS COME ON. TURN TO START AND NOTHING HAPPENS. TURN SWITCH ALL THE WAY OFF AND THEN TRY AGAIN AND IT STARTS. *TR
LEFT SIDE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBELY MELTED AND CAUGHT THE TRUNK ON FIRE. I HAVE 10 OF THESE C300S THAT ARE AFFECTED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE SPOKE WITH MERCEDES ON THIS ISSUE AND THEY ARE DECLINING TO DO THE REPAIR AT NO COST. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE COVERED NO MATTER WHAT..I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AND YET THERE IS NO RECALLS OR TSBS ON THIS ISSUE. ANY HELP ON THIS WOULD BE APPRECIATED.. *TR
THE AIR BAGS ON MY C300 MERCEDES 2011 DID NOT DEPLOY DURING FRONT CRASH. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED AT A T INTERSECTION STREET. I WAS AT THE FRONT LANE AT A T INTERSECTION STOPPING DURING RED LIGHT. A VOLVO CAR FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE INTERSECTION THAT WAS TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN-INTO THE STREET THAT I WAS STOPPING ON- CRASHED INTO MY VEHICLE FRONT TO FRONT AS A RESULT OF AVOIDING GETTING CRASHED BY ANOTHER CAR THAT WAS PASSING RED LIGHT INTO IT'S OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE VOLVO THAT CRASHED INTO MY CAR FRONT TO FRONT PUSHED MY VEHICLE ABOUT 10 FEET BACK WORDS AND CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO AN SUV WITH THE REAR RIGHT SIDE OF MY VEHICLE INTO THE REAR LEFT SIDE OF THE SUV THAT CAUSED MY CAR TO STOP. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. I THEN HAVE REQUESTED FROM THE COLLISION CENTER AT THE MERCEDES DEALER WHO HANDLED MY CAR, TO LOOK INTO THE AIR BAGS TO CHECK WHETHER THERE WERE A MANUFACTURE DEFECT WITH THE AIRBAG FOR NOT DEPLOYING. FEW DAYS LATER, MY CAR WAS REPORTED A TOTAL LOSS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING A PARKING SPACE, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A CURB AND SLIGHTLY CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF A BUILDING. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT SUCH A SLOW RATE OF SPEED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE BUT CONTINUED ROLLING AND WOULD NOT STOP. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,100.
BRAKE PEDAL IS NOTCHY OR STICKS DURING THE INITIAL PORTION OF PEDAL TRAVEL. INCONSISTENT BRAKE FEEL AT EACH STOP LEADS TO OVER OR UNDER BRAKING, DEPENDING ON WHETHER OR NOT THE PEDAL STICKS. IT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED BY MERCEDES AS AN INTERNALLY LEAKING BRAKE BOOSTER, BUT THEY WON'T REPLACE IT, SAYING THE PART FALLS WITHIN SPECS. THIS CAR IS A 2011 C300W4. THIS MODEL IS NOT LISTED IN YOUR PULL DOWN MENU (I ENTERED E CLASS TO COMPLETE THE FORM). *KB
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 2011 Mercedes-Benz C300 → · Every C300 year → · How the figures are calculated →