Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 Mercedes-Benz C 300 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 43 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.
The 25 most recent of 43, in the owner's own words
The electronic steering wheel lock went out causing the car to not start. Upon checking the Internet to see if anyone else was having this problem I found that it was a problem many Mercedes Benz owners have had and it's an expensive one. It's not just with my particular model and it's not limited to older models of the brand either.
The ESL or electronic steering lock is a very common issue with this year and model at around the 70k mile mark. You cannot start the car once this goes out and it’s over $2k to fix
For the 2011 Mercedes Benz C300, the following is a general description of the issue: The component that failed is the "internally faulty" electronic steering column lock control unit which doesn't allow the car to start its ignition. The technician at the Mercedes Benz car dealership noted on the invoice "found the electronic steering lock is internally faulty." Technician provided two specific codes and recommended to replace the steering lock control unit. Yes, this car is available for inspection upon request. Car is not reliable. After running errands, car did not start. I was stranded and could not get back home. Car had to be towed to the Mercedes Benz dealer service center. Yes, problem was reproduced in another Mercedes-Benz C300 car that I own. This other vehicle is a 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300. The failure of the "internally faulty steering lock control unit resulting in a no crank/no start condition" was confirmed on the invoice from the Mercedes Benz dealer service center. The car was not inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representative. The car was inspected by the Mercedes Benz dealer service center. Prior to complete failure, car would occasionally not start. This issue first appeared on or around August 2024. This steering lock failure is a critical issue as I had the same problem with another Mercedes Benz C300 that I own. Both steering lock failures for both cars occurred around the same time period and were separately diagnosed and fixed at different Mercedes Benz dealer service centers.
I researched that the sunroofs on these models are faulty and have caused water/electrical damage under the carpeting and seats of the vehicles. That is what has happened with my 2011 C300 Sport.
my ESL (electronic steering lock. ) has went out when I did research this something that always happened please fix
The right rear tail light housing harness melted due to an electrical issue. Wire tends to heat up too much. This caused my right rear tail light, right break light and right side turn signal not to function.
The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that when starting the vehicle, the ignition was not reading the key, and the steering wheel was locked. The message to remove the key from the ignition was displayed. Additionally, the fuel gauge was inoperable and not reading the fuel level. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a locked steering wheel and the steering wheel lock needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that the parts were ordered to complete the repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,100.
The sam box (electrical system fuze panel) located under the hood is in a spot where if the lid isn't on correctly water will drain from the windshield right into the sam box and cause the vehicles electrical system to deploy the steering wheel airbag. That's at least what happened to me. It was raining out that day and I guess I went over a bump that caused the lid of the sam to get out of place. I drove home and the car seat for a few hours. I went out upon unlocking the door as soon as I pulled the handle to open the driver side door the steering wheel airbag blew and the vehicle is now in srs mode. The dealership had told me that it's a design flaw but wants me to pay for the diagnostic. No lights were on and I did not file a police report.
Melted taillight socket board.
Car slow down and stop and cannot start in traffic….
Due to apparently deficient sunroof water drain system design, rainwater and condensation entered the passenger compartment under the carpeting, potentially damaging the vehicle's electrical wiring. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. A dealer has inspected and confirmed the damage. Initial symptoms of the problem were wet carpeting and the sound of water sloshing around under the floor of the passenger compartment.
I own a 2011 C300. Recently, my car suddenly stopped working while I was attempting to leave somewhere away from my home. It would not crank or turn over/start. So I was completely stranded, and in the extreme Florida heat. There has been no damage or wreck to cause this. There were also no warning lights or symptoms in my car beforehand. My car was towed to a Mercedes Benz dealership in the nearest city. They diagnosed the problem as an electronic steering lock failure. I asked how this happened. I was told that they do not know how it happened. I was also quoted a very expensive repair bill. Upon researching this problem further, I found out that steering lock failure and ignition switch failure is a recurring and common problem that Mercedes Benz already knows about, and many people with my car and similar models have had the same problem over the years. Age of the car at time of failure did not matter, either- it has happened to many cars at different ages and mileage.This is not a normal problem for any car to have, nor is it caused by normal wear and tear. Some people have even had their cars suddenly stop working while they are driving. Many people have also asked why these faulty parts have not been recalled yet. I contacted the company multiple times and did not receive any resolution to the problem. They said that this is my responsibility to repair, and they would not pay to repair this, nor reimburse me. The company's agent did not care at all about the issues, nor take any accountability for them as the manufacturer. Being stranded in the middle of nowhere at any time is dangerous for anyone, especially in certain areas or during intense weather. This entire issue has caused extreme stress for me- interruption in my schedule, lack of transportation, and financial loss. Please hold the Mercedes Benz company accountable for their lack of proper manufacturing and lack of proper repair to their parts that they know are faulty. Thank you.
Rear taillight ground wire melting. Dealer said that this recall was performed previously, so now I had to pay for the repair parts. NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V177000
Went to work and came out and the vehicle says to remove key from ignition. Was stuck in the middle of the night in freezing temperatures and had no way to get anywhere. It’s a common problem that Mercedes knows about and is charging thousands of dollars to repair because it can only be done through them.
The rear tail light housing harness melted due to an electrical issue. This caused my rear tail light & break lights not to function.
CAR PARKED,STEERING COLUMN SEIZED. UNABLE TO START IGNITION OR PUT VEHICLE IN GEAR. *TR
MY CAR SOUND LIKE THE POWER STEERING HAS GONE IT'S VERY LOUD. ALSO SECONDARY AIR FLOW JUST REPLACED AND NOW IT'S GOING TO NEED ANOTHER ONE AT 2000 A POP. FINALLY THE ELECTRICS IS VERY WEIRD. LIGHTS WILL GO OUT THEN COME BACK ON. MY DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS STAY ON DAY AND NIGHT NO MATTER WHERE I TURN THE LIGHT SWITCH. THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHT IS ON EVEN WHEN I TURN ON HIGH BEAMS. NO MATTER IF IT'S MOVING OR NOT ALL THESE THINGS ARE HAPPENING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF NORTHLAKE (LOCATED AT 10725 NORTHLAKE AUTO PLAZA, CHARLOTTE, NC 28269, (704) 321-4833) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING WAS FAULTY. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE STEERING LOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 87,536.*BF*JB
I WAS LEAVING WORK. I UNLOCKED THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEY FOB, PLACED THE KEY FOB IN THE IGNITION, AND IT FAILED TO START. I WAS LEFT STRANDED WITHOUT A WAY TO LEAVE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD MY PROBLEM LIES WITHIN A "FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH" THAT ONLY MB CAN REPAIR. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG THE C-CLASS MODELS AND I AM HOPING MB CAN ADDRESS THE ISSUE WITH A RECALL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AND THE POWER STEERING ABILITY SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MERCEDES BENZ OF HONOLULU (818 OKAPI OMANI AVE, HONOLULU, HI) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MODULE WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MODULE WAS REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.
I AM WRITING TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE DID NOT START AFTER THE KEY WAS PUT INTO THE IGNITION. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE DID NOT START AT ALL. THE TOW SERVICE WAS CALLED. THE TOW REPAIR REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED THE PROBLEM MAY BE THE "IGNITION SWITCH," AS THE BATTERY WAS FINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE ENTIRE IGNITION SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE COST WAS $1214. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. FORTUNATELY, THE VEHICLE WAS IN A SECURE PLACE -- THE HOME GARAGE. HOWEVER, HAD IT BEEN IN ANOTHER LOCATION, A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD COULD HAVE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 91,000 MILES, SO IT IS INCONCEIVABLE AS TO WHY AN IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS NO WARNING. THIS IS AN ITEM THAT IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY.
"TAKATA RECALL" I CONTACTED THE THE AUTHORIZED MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER HAS FAILED TO REMEDY THIS SAFETY RECALL IN A TIMELY MANNER, I HAVE CONTINUOUSLY REACHED OUT FOR YEAR AND HALF AND THE MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER CONTINUOUS TO STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE ON BACK ORDER.
1. TAKATA RECALL: THIS RECALL OF A DANGEROUS SITUATION HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS NOW IS UNACCEPTABLE AND HAZARDOUS TO EM AND MY FAMILY. 2. LAW SUIT: GREG SUDDRETH AND PAUL DENTON V. MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC. ON 10/30/17, I HAD TO PAY 3445.13 FOR A REPAIR MY BALANCE SHAFTS GEARS, WHICH WE'RE DEEMED DEFECTIVE IN ALL M272 ENGINES WHICH IS IN MY C300. HOWEVER, IN THE ABOVE MENTIONED LAW SUIT, THIS PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN CORRECTED. WHEN I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION TO THE MERCEDES-BENZ OF MODESTO TECHNICIANS, THEY SAID I MISSED THE CUT-OFF DATE BY ONE YEAR. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND CHECKED TO SEE IF I QUALIFIED FOR A FREE REPAIR, BUT LATER CLAIMED, THE ISSUE WITH THE DEFECTIVE BALANCE SHAFTS GEARS HAD BEEN ADDRESSED. HOW CAN THAT BE WHEN I INCURRED THE SAME PROBLEM. THE REPAIR SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. I EVENTUALLY HAD TO HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED AT MERCEDES OF PLEASANTON BECAUSE MODESTO DIDN'T HAVE ANY OPEN APPOINTMENTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION IN THIS MATTER. 3. FAULTY ELECTRONIC STEARING LOCK: ENGINE WON'T TURN ON AND STEEARING WHEEL IS LOCKED. SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. MERCEDES CLAIM NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT WHEN YOUR DAUGHTER GETS STUCK AT MIDNIGHT AT AN AMUSEMENT PARK ON HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR NIGHT...THAT'S A SAFETY ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION IN THIS MATTER.
THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON MY AIRBAGS FOR 2 YEARS. THIS IS TOO LONG TO WAIT FOR A SOLUTION TO BE DONE WHEN I AM BEING TOLD THAT THESE AIRBAGS IF DEPLOYED CAN KILL ME OR MY PASSENGERS (WHICH ARE MY CHILDREN) I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A REMEDY BUT JUST KEEP GETTING TOLD THAT THERE IS ONE COMING. 2 YEARS IS LONG ENOUGH TO FIGURE IT OUT. THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN IS NOT SOMETHING TO MESS WITH! PLEASE MAKE THEM FIX THIS PROBLEM OR BUY THE DANG CAR BACK! THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE TAIL LIGHT SENSOR AND LIGHT ITSELF, IT KEEPS SAYING TO CHECK IT AND IT DIMS BUT IT'S NOT IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT.
PASSENGER SIDE LOWBEAM LIGHT BURNT OUT APPROX 2 MONTHS AGO, BULB REPLACED. FIVE DAYS AGO PASSENGER SIDE LOWBEAM LIGHT BURNT OUT AGAIN. PARKED CAR AFTER ABOUT A 15 MILE DRIVE, WITHIN 30 MINUTES CAR WAS ON FIRE AND ENTIRE FRONT END BURNT COMPLETELY. SHOULD THERE BE A RECALL FROM MERCEDES FOR FAULTY WIRING TO HEADLIGHTS BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED OR THEIR HOME DESTROYED IF FIRE STARTS WHILE CAR PARKED IN GARAGE?
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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