This 2013 Mercedes C300 with 88,xxx miles has significant subframe rust. This is unacceptable and is a safety hazard because the rust and corrosion will continue to spread and cause additional safety issues. This will cost over $4,000 to repair, but it is a manufacturer defect. There are a ton of similar complaints online, so this is clearly a systemic issue with this model that needs to be investigated.
2013 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 2013 record →
Rear subframe rusted out and failed. This caused vehicle to suddenly veer to left upon braking. Was fortunate to avoid hitting something. Dealer says common problem but Mercedes isn’t recalling/replacing defective subframes.
The subframe has rotted from insufficient protection . This car is unsafe to drive , many US consumers having same problem with this model where the subframe is rusted out. This is a major issue effecting thousands of cars of this model or maybe more
Rear subframe rotted. Common issue, needs a recall. Control arm broke off on both sides of the rear subframe. Rear passenger lower control arm close to gas tank, can cause a fire if punctures through tank as well. Lots of swaying in rear as well
While driving in an emergency braking situation the car went left...so much so i lost control and spun 360 degrees. i thought that wasnt rite...upon investigation it turns out the right rear torque arm was no longer connected..the cradle or sub frame. it was rotted thru causing the arm to break off !!....car is not drivable and mercedes wont repair it... someone is going to get killed if it hasnt happened already !!
1. The component that failed was the rear subframe for the rear transaxle and wheel suspension system. It was inspected by a licensed MB service department and determined the drivers side of the rear subframe had rusted completely through and was separated from the frame. The passenger side of the rear subframe was also severely rusted and at risk of breaking. The subframe is currently being replaced. 2. The subframe to this vehicle holds the transaxle and rear wheel suspension in place, I noticed with a hard breaking the rear of the car swerved, slightly fishtailing. I immediately drove home and parked it until I could drive it to a service/repair facility. If this subframe had completely broken free the entire rear drivetrain would have been severely damaged or completely destroyed or worse, break free from the vehicle and cause a crash. 3. The problem is well known in the auto industry. My service center who inspected my vehicle described it and said it is a well known problem and they have replaced other subframes due to the same issue. I even spoke to an AUDI salesman today and they know of it and send these MB vehicles as a trade-in to auction and do not even attempt to replace the subframe. A recall for this problem of the subframe failure due to rust has already been issued for MB in Europe for quite some time but no recall in the USA. 4. This vehicle and component has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police or insurance rep. 5. no warning lamps or any other me
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the contact heard a loud noise coming from the vehicle and then lost control of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull over safety and had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The dealer stated that the rear subframe of the vehicle was corroded. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 49,000.
Went to brake, heard a thump, car proceeded to loose control bearing to the left. Then went into other lane! Could not regain control of the car until it came to a complete stop. No warning light came on,. Took to mechanic, put it on the lift found rear right side of the frame rotted. This car is garage kept, nothing else is rusted on the vehicle. The vehicle is not near any water. This a known problem with this model Mercedes. Spoke with Mercedes Benz USA, was advised not to drive the car, the frame could detach and puncture gas tank!! I have seen the recall for the problem in Canada and Europe and the repairs were covered by Mercedes. Now I have my only mode of transpiration, undriveable and sitting waiting on help!!
Discovered a severely "rotted/rusted" rear subframe and one of the passenger side suspension/control arm of the rear passenger side wheel is completely "detached/disconnected" from the rear subframe. During a hard brake, the car will "swing/drift" to the right and is very dangerous and prone to accident/catastrophe. Also, many other 2008-2014 C300 owners already have reported/complaints over the internet. This defect needs to be recalled by the manufacturer. The contact paid for the replacement and service repair of the rear subframe. The contact was informed by a technician that the detached rear control arm may "puncture" the gas tank because of how close it is to it. The vehicle is not recommended to be driven until the repair is made.
My car had new brakes installed in the last few months. All of a sudden the car "fishtailed" when applying the brakes. I brought it into my mechanic, Johns Mercedes of Wakefield, Massachusetts, for some routine service and he noticed once he put the car up on the rack that the subframe is completely rotted out due to rust. The brakes were fine. He strongly recommended not driving the car until the part can be replaced. The part is very hard to come by. I called my Mercedes dealership (Herb Chambers Mercedes in Lynnfield, Massachusetts) and Rennan told me that he has seen quite a number of problems lately with rotted subframes in C300s. He said it would cost $5000 to repair IF you could find a part. The parts are incredibly hard to find. In doing research in Mercedes forums, I read that in Germany Mercedes replaces the subframes free of charge, recognizing it is a major safety issue. My mechanic is going to take pictures of the damaged part in question. My car is at his shop now so I don't have pictures to upload at this time. I am going to have him find the part and fix the car at a cost of $4000+.
I sensed the rear wheels going into a skid as I braked at low speed. I noticed it first on downhills as I drove on a mountain road which was curvy. It seemed that the car was going to go into a skid. No warning lights came on. I checked the tires were all at the same accurate level which did not change the occurrence. It happened again on flat terrain coming to a quick stop. Like one tire was responding differently than the other in the rear. I asked my mechanic to put it up on the lift so I could make sure I was safe and not causing further damage by driving it until they could fix it. Had the arms cracked off the frame from the wheels while I was driving on a winding mountain road, my life would have been in danger. He came out and said "you need to see this, this car is going nowhere and its lucky that you came in. He pulled back a black cover that was blocking view of the rear sub-frame. One both sides, there was significant rotted through holes. He looked up about a possible recall and came across many people complaining for years on this Model C car having the same issue. It was noted that this issue was a recall and manufacturer repaired issue in Europe. Not here is the US. After reading numerous complaints online from owners, I called the Mercedes Benz dealer (Keeler Motors, Latham, NY) and asked about issues. There are very aware of this issue and quoted me $1400 for the sub-frame and not including many parts that will likely need replacing. With labor at $189 hourly
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that upon depression of the brake pedal, the vehicle independently swayed to the left without warning. The contact notified the independent mechanic who instructed her to bring the vehicle in for an inspection. The mechanic discovered severe corrosion on the subframe; however, the part to repair the vehicle was on backorder. The contact then had the vehicle towed to a second independent mechanic who kept the vehicle for three weeks before the vehicle was repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 68,026.
Rear sub frame failure due to corrosion. Failed part causes vehicle to lose control when applying breaks. Further broke sub frame has high risk of fire due fuel tank breach. Vehicle was inspected by Mercedes Benz technicians several times up to the point of failure, no advanced warning. Technician stated no lights, no warning signs until total failure occurs.
The Rear Subframe is rusted through and cracked making the car almost undriveable. This is a known problem at Mercedes Benz. Nothing else on the vehicle is rusted and has a perfect undercarriage. The vehicle is available for inspection and has been inspected by a reputable German repair facility. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms There's a Mercedes Benz recall for the rear subframe in Canada.
While returning from a long trip with my entire family, I initially lost control of the vehicle on a normal curve at 70 mph speed on a highway. We managed to stop without getting in an accident. After determining that it is not because of any tire damage and not understanding the problem, we continued with the journey driving at reduced speeds. From then on, vehicle was losing control whenever I try to brake. After narrowly missing few accidents, I realized the stopping distance also increased a lot. I almost hit several vehicles whenever I try to come to stop all of a sudden. Unsure of the weirdly behavior all of a sudden, I decided to stop at a nearby autoshop and get a quick check. Surprisingly the mechanic heard about these issues earlier and pointed us directly at the cause of this behavior. The issue is a ROTTEN REAR SUBFRAME. A part which is supposed to last for the entirety of its life, rusted from inside out prematurely. Learning this, I sent my family home in a different vehicle and brought mine towed. Mercedes Service center gave me an initial estimate of $8860 to repair and might increase once they start removing things for repair. After further research, I found out this is a very common issue. In other countries, Mercedes is replacing this free of charge to customers who report it as this is a safety issue. So I tried to reach out to Mercedes Corporate office and they declined to repair it Free of charge as there is no official recall on this issue. I am only gl
The subframe of my car is completed rotted out. I've been reading MB forums and threads and this seems to be a universal issue. There needs to be a recall. My car started to giveway while driving down the highway. It took it to a mechanic and that's when the subframe rot was discovered. This is a major issue and needs to be made right with Merecedes!
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle veered to the left. The contact depressed the brake pedal again and the vehicle was difficult to control. The vehicle then veered to the right. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed him that the subframe was rusted. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed with frame rust. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no additional assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.
While my car was being inspected at the Mercedes dealer from who I purchased the car, I was informed that the rear subframe was rusting out, needed to be replaced immediately (at the cost of $4250) as it is unsafe to drive and that the result could be catastrophic if I continued to drive it. They explained that they are having this problem with other C300 models in the US, Canada and Germany, but there has not been a recall in the USA. They told me that it might be the road salt as this is only happening in the North East. If this were true than I would think other parts of the undercarriage would be rusted or this would occur in other models too. They are well aware of this issue but have neglected to contact owners therefore putting my life and the life of my family at risk. The NHTSA needs to investigate and recall these vehicles immediately before someone is killed. Seems to me they are using sub standard materials and while having knowledge of this issue, should be held accountable. Thank You.
I was driving on the highway i hit the brakes as traffic was starting to build up and the car veered into the right lane and all of a sudden and almost got hit by a tractor trailer. It felt so scary, weird when hitting the brakes after that. I took it to my mechanic immediately and he said the rear subframe is rotted out and DO NOT DRIVE THIS CAR!!!!!!!!! I asked please get me an estimate on how much to fix. He called me later in the day and said it was a 8 month wait for the part and the Mercedes dealer said it is a VERY VERY VERY common problem on these cars. There are Thousands and thousands. There is a defect when manufactured and MERCEDES does not want to do a recall or step up to the plate in the United States. There is a recall in Canada and Europe that replaces the part. What are they waiting for till some gets hurt seriously or killed. Now i do not have a car to use for who knows how long and Mercedes should be ashamed. Please advise. This is a real scary safety issue. Please advise. Thank you [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Subframe corrosion, no accident but dangerous and common issue with Mercedes Benz cars
Rear subframe / crossmember failed due to corrosion. The rest of the car is in great condition, with no rot or corrosion. This is a regularly serviced vehicle. The part is recalled in other countries. Aside from the lack of a USA recall - the manufacturer is not providing any replacement parts. I am now without a car, and could have been killed if I didn't get it checked out. I do not see how it is legal to not provide parts to solve a life threatening issue caused by poor manufacturing. Should I drive the car anyway until it causes an accident ?
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 35 MPH and attempting to abruptly stop the vehicle to avoid a crash, the vehicle suddenly drifted into the opposite lane while depressing the brake pedal. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the rear control arms had failed. The vehicle was driven to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the failure was due to severe subframe corrosion. The contact was informed that the rear subframe and rear control arms needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 86,000.
While driving on highway, started to slowdown on exit. Vehicle rear end felt waiving side to side. Had vehicle checked with local mechanic. Reported rear subframe rusted and split. Advised not to drive & replace the subframe. Visited MB dealer service. Informed it is a known problem and a safety problem. Can repair when part is re-stock in January 2023?? $4,000 + Research online. Plenty reports in forums with same problem. Why there is not a safety recall?
Filing complaint for my 2013 Mercedes C300. I was informed by the dealership this vehicle has a rusted out rear subframe and the vehicle is no longer operable. This is a very common and serious safety issue, and the Mercedes dealership is refusing to cover the cost of the repair. Please help!
August 30,2022 local Mercedes Benz dealer stated that their inspection found that the rear sub frame was rusted and needed to be replaced (estimated cost $4,699.88). I had two other independent repair shops confirm the sub frame condition.My car had 78,753 miles on it at time of discovery of sub frame corrosion condition. My independent repair shop says that OEM sub frames are back ordered with no estimate of when one would be available. Internet searches and discussion with independent repair shops indicate the rear sub frame corrosion , and structural failures, are a common problem.Structural failures are a serious safety hazard and this defect should be the subject of an NHTSA investigation and recall and replacement by Mercedes Benz. Structural suspension parts should not corrode and fail after only 78,000 miles on cars driven in normal conditions.
The rear suspension frame was rusted, and the suspension rusted off the frame through normal wear and tear (no potholes, incidents, etc). Left side rusted off, Right side is on its way. Brake distance was increased and suddenly braking on the highway resulted in back of car swerving slightly, almost hit a truck that suddenly merged into my lane. This was discovered during an MD state inspection, I called 6 dealerships in the area, and all were familiar with the issue with this chassis. I got two estimates saying the same problem. This forum shows that there are many more like me, and even in the UK dealerships are doing replacement free of charge due to how widespread it is: https://www.benzworld.org/threads/w204-rear-subframes-deterioration.3048088/ The part has not been inspected by the manufacturer/police/insurance inspector. There were no warning lights or any alerts on my dash indicating this issue, I only found out bc I just so happened to need to do an MD state inspection, and I had been hearing a squeaking noise. Also, my brake distance was longer, and my car swerved a little under sudden braking on a dry sunny day.
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle started shuddering inadvertently, almost causing the contact to lose control of the steering wheel. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to a certified independent mechanic who diagnosed that the driver's side rear subframe was severely corroded and fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 95,000.
Rear subframe cracked; car has less than 95,000 miles and looks great. My two children of driving age were using the vehicle at the time, driving others as well. Fortunately, I happened to drive it not longer after the issue and took it to the shop immediately. They put it on the lift and saw that the rear subframe was cracked all the way through. As it turns out, it is becoming very common on this make/model--and it is nearly impossible to get a replacement. Mercedes Benz told me maybe sometime in 2023. In addition to having it inspected, I have since been in contact with several dealers and mechanics. Results are invariable: the part is in extremely high demand, Mercedes cannot fill the demand, and the wait is indefinite but long. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem. In addition to the inconvenience, the car was very dangerous to drive. I am thankful that my son did not seriously injure himself or others while driving. The crack renders the car unstable at anything but the slowest speeds. When one brakes at any speed over about 20-25 mph, the car pulls violently to one side. Simply braking alone could cause a major, even fatal, accident. And any emergency maneuver could be disastrous. The car has been garaged since June awaiting a replacement that I am told will cost between $4000 and $6000! I am left with a vehicle that runs very well--but is unsafe to drive on a public roadway--and no way to repair it. Moreover, Mercedes cannot tell me w
Rear subframe of vehicle rusted under regular use conditions and the left trailing arm mount broke off as a result. This caused vehicle braking to become extremely unstable and dangerous, even at low/medium speed. This is a known problem from this manufacturer and the Fed government should take action to force recall.
Brought my car to the dealership because I was hearing a noise when going over bumps. Also noticed some instability when braking and driving at highway speeds. Dealer informed my my subframe had rusted and told me the car was unsafe to drive.
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the dealer for routine maintenance, the dealer informed him that the subframe was corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 89,000.
Rear subframe premature rust for a 2013 car I've been reading a lot many people have same problem it is a very expensive fix and I'm sure Mercedes knows about it. Also engine makes very bad rattling noise at startup which is also a very expensive fix and Mercedes issued a tsb bulletin thank you
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph when they attempted to apply the brake pedal but the vehicle failed to stop and emitted a rumbling noise. The contact stated the vehicle's rear end had swerved causing them to use excessive force in order to avoid a crash. The contact was able to maneuver the vehicle to the side of the road where they waited before continuing driving. There were no warning lights. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who diagnosed that the rear subframe on the driver's side had severe rust and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.
Rear subframe and rear wheel control arm separated and corroded. Car not safe to drive. 2013 model with 31,000 miles, always garaged and maintained.
I have a 2013 MERCEDES BENZ C300 Sport 4MATIC with roughly 90k miles. Car is in great condition, a well maintained vehicle that has been regularly serviced (receipts in hand). I recently sent it in for an oil change, air filter change, and to check out a slight rear noise that started a couple weeks ago. I was told the Rear Subframe is severely rotted, and hitting the gas tank. My car is completely un-driveable until this issue is resolved, and extremely expensive to repair. I also called multiple MBUSA dealers, and was told these parts are on back order WITH NO TIME FRAME. Therefore, leaving me with no car for weeks if not months. Based on my own research this is a wide-spread manufacturing failure, which was correct in newer models to prevent the corrosion. Not only is it crazy that the US does not offer free repair / a recall on this issue like OTHER COUNTRIES - Mercedes Benz is leaving people hanging due to the back orders. Curious if Canada / other countries also have this back order issue regardless of recall status. If not, MBUSA should most definitely be responsible to all its US customers whether its improving inventory or recalling the part. My plans were to sell the vehicle for a newer model BEFORE this problem arose. If the noise didn't start until after I sold it, the new owner could have easily been injured or killed. I service this vehicle 2-3 times a year for routine maintenance, and was never made aware of the issue. If I waited to take it in any longer I cou
THE REAR SUBFRAME ON THE CAR IS COMPLETELY RUSTED. I GET AN OIL CHANGE AND A INSPECTION OF THE CAR DONE AT THE DEALER EACH YEAR. NOBODY MENTIONED TO ME THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME IS RUSTED AND IS ABOUT TO CRACK AND FALL APART. WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK WHEN I SUDDENLY HAD TO STOP AND THE WHOLE CAR SHIFTED TO THE RIGHT ALMOST CAUSING ME TO CRASH. DROVE HOME AND NOTICED A NOISE EVERY TIME I HIT THE BRAKES. THE NEXT DAY TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE SHOWED ME THAT THE SUBFRAME CRACKED AND FELL APART. I KNOW THIS IS A BIG ISSUE IN EUROPE AND THE DEALERS CHANGE IT FREE OF CHARGE SINCE IT IS ON A RECALL, BUT NOTHING IN THE USA AFTER SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FROM DRIVERS. DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS!
Driving my 300 down the highway at around 70MPH and after lightly pressing the break, the car surved into right and left lane. I could have gotten into an accident, but luckily no other car was on the road. Taking my car to the mechanic it was discovered that My 2013 C300 has a rotted subframe, this was not caused by any damage but due to the part not being protected from rust. Rust caused the subframe to rot from the inside out. Many C300 have reported this issue, and the large number of failures on this subframe across my C300 and multiple models is concerning. This is a gross failure of a major safety component that can cause serious injury or death. My research showed this part has been recalled in Canada; MBUSA feels the need to wait to do so until a serious injury or death has occurred. The defective subframe is known and the new part’s design has been amended to take into account this rust issue. MBUSA’s decision exhibits a lack of accountability for a defective part and this issue needs to be promptly addressed for the safety of its customers.
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the steering wheel started shaking. The contact then depressed the brake pedal causing the vehicle to drift. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who diagnosed that the rear-subframe was severely rusted causing a control link to fracture. The contact was informed that the control link and subframe needed to be replaced on the passenger’s side of the vehicle. The vehicle had not been repaired due to the parts being on backorder. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
Recall
I had noticed that my car was starting to pull to the side when braking. I took it in to my authorized dealer, where I always have it serviced and maintained, and I was told that the rear sub-frame bracket was broken off at the left rear lower control arm attachment point. The rear sub-frame and left rear lower control arm needs to be replaced. I was told that the car was absolutely not safe to drive. I have always taken great care to maintain the vehicle, and it has always been stored in a garage. There were no warning signs prior to the failure, and I was very surprised to hear that the sub-frame had rusted out since there is no rust anywhere else on the vehicle.
The left rear subframe is torn and severely rusted. The left rear arm also needs to be replaced because it is essentially not connected to anything which makes the car not safe to drive. I took the car to an independent shop and was told not to drive the car any longer. I had to have the car towed to my home. I was made aware that this is a common issue In Mercedes C300 and Mercedes US has refused to issue a recall although in Canada a recall has been issued on this particular part. I was driving on the highway with my 1 yr old in the backseat when my car started to pull side to side. The car felt out of control. There were no warning indicators about this issue so I wasn’t sure what was going on. Im happy I followed my instincts and had the car looked at. I am now faced with purchasing a new car or having the car repaired for several thousand dollars. I have had the car for six years without issue and I’m told that this is a manufacturer defect.
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while his wife was driving approximately 30 mph, she was depressing the brake pedal and the rear side of the vehicle shifted to the left independently, causing to impact with another vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated no one was injured nor sought medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was drivable and the driver was able to continue driving to her destination. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed the sub frame was corroded. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
I noticed my Mercedes 2013 C300 (approx 89,000 miles) was acting peculiar when braking, it basically fishtailed like i was on ice, especially at a high speed on the interstate. It was very scary. It was also making clunking noises and did not handle on curves very well. Brought it to a local garage as the nearest dealer is over an hour away. Found out the rear subframe is broken on the rear passenger side and the other side very close to breaking. Not only that, but when I called a garage that specializes in German cars, he immediately guessed it was a C Class Mercedes, and when I googled it, this issue came up repeatedly. How this has not been addressed by Mercedes is beyond me, will it take a horrendous crash? Because I was almost a statistic. No warning lamps or messages. This design flaw needs addressed immediately. And now I have no vehicle as it is UNSAFE to drive and will cost me around $3,000 to fix IF they can get the part. Sent an email to Mercedes Benz, they advised recalls and service campaigns are VIN specific and to contact NHTSA. And the email closed with "Best wishes for safe and pleasant driving."
So I took my car to get new tires and the tech told me that my rear subfram was rusted and cracked ,unsafe to drive . I called mercedes and they asked to take it to the dealership and get a quote. I did this and there response was to do nothing .this issue has been recalled in Germany and also Canada. But nothing done in United States. This is a serious safety issue .let's say I never got my tires and never found out and was traveling 70mph down the freeway and had to hit the brakes hard for whatever reason and this part fails and breaks. Everyone in my car and whoever else my car collides into life's would most definitely be in danger
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to immediately respond while turning the steering wheel. After stopping the vehicle and attempting to reverse, it was discovered that the front wheels would no longer turn while turning the steering wheel in either direction. The vehicle was later towed to the residence. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V252000 (Steering). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 95,000.
The driver side suspension mount to the rear subframe has rusted through. While applying the brakes the car pulled radically to the left almost causing me to lose control. This is a known issue from what I can determine but Mercedes has refused to issue a recall. The car cannot be driven until this is fixed.
The item that has failed is the rear subframe of the vehicle. It is available to be viewed. It is still on my car, as it has not yet been replaced due to the cost. When braking, the front of the car will pull left and back feels like it is pulling to the right, as if you are spinning out. The problem is that the subframe is rusted out at under 100,000 miles. I just hit 100,000 and it has already broke completely. I was told by the dealership that this is a safety concern where the back of the vehicle could fall off, there words, not mine. I have been in contact with Mercedes Benz corporate and they said since I am past 50,000 miles, there is nothing they can do. There were no safety warnings, recalls or lights in the car that has given me any indication there was a problem until it broke and I felt it during breaking. This issue seems to have happened to many individuals driving the Mercedes C300, as it is not just a small number. Currently, MB has this backordered due to the number of cases. They should be responsible for a recall for the price paid for their vehicles.
Vehicle is 9 years old with 69825 miles and the Rear drivers side Subframe rusted out and broke off the vehicle. This is a common problem and is a recall in both Europe and Canada and needs to be recalled in America, this is very dangerous and life threatening as I googled and there are hundred similar stories.
2013 MERCEDES BENZ C300. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO A HAZARDOUS DEFECT IN THE REAR SUBFRAME. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE'S AC COMPRESSOR WAS FAULTY. THE CONSUMER WAS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE SUBFRAME AND AC REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE.
My Mercedes C300, 2013, 46,123 miles has 2 holes in rear sun frame, rendering it unsafe to drive. Dealership and MB will not acknowledge this is a common problem with this make/model. Recall for very same problem in Canada & other nations has been issued but not in USA. Dangerous situation!!! $5,200 to repair! On a premium brand auto with less than 50,000 miles. Please help!
Reading these
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 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300 → · Every C300 year → · How the figures are calculated →