RoadVitals

2010 Mercedes-Benz C 300 Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
13
Latest Feb 12, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 453 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2010 Mercedes-Benz C 300 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

AirbagsElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 12, 2026

The contact owns a 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that the battery and alternator were being drained. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the front air bag sensor message and a fog light message were displayed. The vehicle was towed to an unknown local dealer; however, the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The contact then reached out to Mercedes-Benz of Tysons Corner Service and Parts, located at 8545 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA 22182, and was informed about a diagnostic test to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ID
11717513
Incident
Jun 1, 2024
Mileage
97,000 mi
AirbagsEngine
Filed Mar 20, 2021

AUG 12, 2020 TOOK C300 TO FLETCHER JONES MOTORCARS OF FREMONT. I PAID FOR THEM TO DO AN OIL & FILTER CHANGE AFTER THEY DID PERFORM RECALL 2018120017 ~ 18P9193104 CAUSE: RECALL 2019120027. PAID $204.65 THAT DAY. 01/21/21- AFTER DRIVING, W MY SIGNIFICANT OTHER, AT CITY SPEED LIMIT TO FEDEX WHICH IS 1 MILE FROM MY HOUSE ON SAME STREET, AND BACK, MY SIG OTHER COULDN'T PUT BACK THE SEAT AND THE AIRBAG LIGHTS WERE ON. I HAD TO DRIVE TO WORK NEXT DAY, UNSAFE...PRESSED UP AGAINST STEERING WHEEL BECAUSE I'M 6 FEET. SOMEHOW THAT WENT AWAY. 03/09/21- I TOOK IN THE CAR, BY TOW TRUCK, BACK SAME PLACE FLETCHER JONES AND HAD A BEE SERVICE PER MANUFACTURERS SPECIFICATIONS SERVICE DEALT ON MY CAR THEY PERFORMED BE SERVICE WITH BRAKE FLUID FLUSH NUMEROUS OTHER STUFF I'M ALSO REPORTED TO THEM A MISFIRING BECAUSE I DID HOOK UP AN OBD2 BUT DURING THEIR ROAD TEST THEY JUST NOTED A STRONG VIBRATION FROM THE DRIVELINE THEY RAN A QUICK TEST FOUND NO FAULT BUT NOTED COLLAPSED BACKSLASH WORN MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTS AND RECOMMEND REPLACEMENT THEY ALSO NOTED VOLTAGE RELATED FAULTS HOWEVER THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY WOULD PASS THEIR TESTS AND THEY RELEASED MY CAR TO ME AFTER CHARGING ME $576.97. TODAY, 03/19/21- HAD TO TOW MY CAR AGAIN FROM APPROXIMATELY THREE BLOCKS AWAY BECAUSE IT JUST TURNED OFF ON ME WITH A MESSAGE BRAKE SRS EDT, AND SOMETHING ABOUT IT FAILING. NOW...IM STUCK BECAUSE MERCEDES SCREWED ME!

NHTSA ID
11403988
Incident
Mar 19, 2021
Mileage
171,500 mi
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Dec 13, 2020

SECURITY SYSTEM DISABLES IGNITION DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE ESL (STEERING LOCK). NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR IT JUST WON'T START.

NHTSA ID
11383224
Incident
Dec 12, 2020
Mileage
155,500 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 26, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AT START-UP AND WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE BATTERY FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC NOR A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000.

NHTSA ID
11366537
Incident
Oct 1, 2020
Mileage
140,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Dec 8, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND A FUEL ODOR ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF SOUTH MISSISSIPPI (11619 BOBBY ELEUTERIUS BLVD, D'IBERVILLE, MS 39540), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. DAYS LATER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF SOUTH MISSISSIPPI, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS LIQUID GAS FORMED ON TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP AND A SEAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID
11053574
Incident
Dec 2, 2017
Mileage
70,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngineFuel system
Filed Nov 7, 2016

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON DEALING WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER/FUEL SYSTEM. THE SENSORS ARE OFF CAUSING THE EMISSION OF TOO MUCH GAS. THE CAR RUNS OUT OF GAS FAST AND DOES NOT DRIVE WELL TO GET GOOD GAS MILES PER TANK. THE CAR'S EXTERIOR LIGHTS ALSO GO OUT FAST. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN WITH A TOP OF THE LINE MERCEDES CAR.

NHTSA ID
10924667
Incident
Sep 4, 2015
Mileage
50,000 mi
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Jul 20, 2016

CAR WONT START, REPLACED BATTERY, COMMON ISSUE WITH C300 TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP IT WOULD COST $1332 FOR STEERING LOCK TO START 5.0 INCLUDES IF NEEDED TO CUT OUT LOCK PIN

NHTSA ID
10886158
Incident
Jul 20, 2016
Mileage
110,025 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 20, 2016

I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR HAS A RECALL FOR THE CAMSHAFT ADJUSTMENT SOLENOID. I TOOK MY CAR INTO MERCEDES TO BE REPAIRED AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE RECALL WAS CLOSED AND THEY COULD NOT REPAIR MY VEHICLE. I AM WORRIED ABOUT THIS ISSUE CAUSING MORE DAMAGE TO MY ENGINE AND I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY WHILE OPERATING MY VEHICLE. I ENCOUNTER PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID
10886063
Incident
Jul 20, 2016
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed May 5, 2016
Crash reported

AFTER BACKING OUT OF HANDICAP PARKING SPACE AND MOVING FORWARD AT A SLOW SPEED MY VEHICLE WAS REAR-ENDED, AT WHICH POINT THE VEHICLE FORCEFULLY ACCELERATED FORWARD INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE (FORCEFULLY MOVING THIS VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY THREE FEET) THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SPEED THROUGH THE HANDICAP PARKING LOT AS I CONTINUED TO BRAKE WITHOUT RESULTS OF STOPPING. THIS VEHICLE RAN THROUGH A STOP SIGN AND INTO THE FRONT ENTRANCE ROAD OF THE VA HOSPITAL.( THIS ROAD HAS HEAVY TRAFFIC AND PEDESTRIAN USAGE) THE ONLY WAY TO STOP MY VEHICLE WAS TO JUMP THE CURB AND RUN INTO A TREE. I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT MY VEHICLE WAS THE ONLY THING DAMAGED. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DEVASTATING EVENT IF DISABLED WHEELCHAIR PERSONS OR PEDESTRIANS HAD BEEN IN THE PATH OF THIS OCCURRENCE. I AM REPORTING THIS TO SAY THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER C300 2010 MERCEDES BENZ AND NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THIS COULD CAUSE DEATHS. I HAVE A WITNESS TO MY BRAKE LIGHTS GOING ON AND OFF AS I TRIED TO STOP THIS CAR.

NHTSA ID
10863485
Incident
Apr 14, 2016
Mileage
63,000 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Aug 19, 2015

I HAVE 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300, MY CAR WOULD NOT START WITH MY KEY EVEN THOUGH THE BATTERY CHECKED OKAY. THIS IS A VERY COMMON FAILURE AMONG C300 MODELS (2008 TO 2013). SO MEANING CARS ARE VULNERABLE TO THIS FAILURE AROUND 5 YEAR MARK. MANUFACTURER SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON THESE PARTS, AS THEY HAVE A VERY BAD RELIABILITY.

NHTSA ID
10749702
Incident
Aug 18, 2015
Mileage
68,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 7, 2015

LUCKILY I TOOK CAR IN FOR A SAFETY CHECK AND BELT TENSIONER WAS FOUND TO BE SHREDDING. IT SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN THIS AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THIS EXTRA VISIT TO THE DEALER MAY HAVE SAVE ME FROM HAVING AN INCIDENT. I OTHERWISE NEVER WOULD'VE KNOW THE BELT WAS SHREDDING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10715252
Incident
May 7, 2015
Mileage
65,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 28, 2015

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND JUST STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, I ALMOST HAD AND ACCIDENT. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC, HE CAN'T FIXED, THE DEALER NEED TO DO THE JOB FOR TREE TIMES MORE. THAN MY MECHANIC. THIS IS UNFAIR! I BUY MY CAR IN 2012 ORIGINAL MILEAGE 10000MILES. TO MY KNOWLEDGE IS TO LOW VERY MILEAGE FOR HAVING THIS TYPE A PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10713388
Incident
Apr 1, 2015
Mileage
24,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 16, 2015

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

NHTSA ID
10676129
Incident
Jan 9, 2015

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .