RoadVitals

2015 Mercedes-Benz C 300 Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance 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.
22
Latest Feb 7, 2025
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.
6%
of 379 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 forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2015 Mercedes-Benz C 300 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 22 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 driver-assistance

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

Driver assistance
Filed Feb 7, 2025

Check engine light came on, it has to be with the Positive Crankcase Ventilation Valve. So I found out that other people are experiencing the same thing. So I know that there is a recall by the manufacturer. And I want to do the same for me.

NHTSA ID
11641447
Incident
Nov 14, 2024
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 10, 2023

Blind Spot Assis Inoperative. This message appears on dashboard showing the malfunction of the blind spot sensors. This always happen when the weather temp is hot and also while driving during rain. This concern is putting me, my wife and kids in high risk and unsafe driving condition. I did some research and found out that the manufacture of this car put these electronic sensors inside the rear bumper behind both rear wheels and are exposed so whenever driving, rain, dirt, salt and all road debris splash all over these electronic sensor causing them to corrode and destroyed as a result of water and salt getting inside these fragile electronic sensors and then, the whole blind spot system inoperative and of course high risk to get involved into an accident.

NHTSA ID
11537702
Incident
Aug 5, 2023
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Jul 18, 2023

Engine Crankcase (pcv) Problems on Mercedes Benz C300 and harness issue. I’ve noticed this is a very common issue many owners as myself have experienced and no action for a recall.

NHTSA ID
11532943
Incident
Mar 15, 2023
Driver assistanceEngineSuspension
Filed Jun 28, 2023

Mercedes 2015 C300 crank case ventilation hose has a defect and it is well-known to the manufacturer. This causes recurring engine and exhaust problems for a large number of car owners, and it should be part of a recall.

NHTSA ID
11529358
Incident
May 12, 2023
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 13, 2022

I took my vehicle to the dealership to have recall worked on (top sunroof panel) apparently they refused to work on it because my sunroof is not working. I received a letter after i financed the vehicle stating that there was a recall so to take it in to the dealership and if sunroof needed to be fixed it would. Long story short, back in July the panel detached from my vehicle while i was on the freeway. Thankfully I didn’t cause an accident but I would like some help so the dealership can fix the recall.

NHTSA ID
11479093
Incident
Jul 15, 2022
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 29, 2022

Reported to local dealer and corporate office about the issues with shift module not shifting at random, meaning that the vehicle won't shift from park to drive or reverse, and so forth. The local dealer tried to reprogram the software, but the problem still persists. When plugging in my OBD II & DTC readers, code U0103 appairs which translates to "Lost communication with gear shift control module". My concern with this is that I've had this issue while in traffic, which would make my vehicle a hazard. When it comes to the collision prevention system, the system randomly turns on and off, meaning that when it's needed it might turn on, but when it's not needed it randomly turns on. Once again, addressed this with a local dealer and Mercedes Benz corporate with no avail. My concerns here is that the vehicle could prematurely brake causing an accident or not brake at all causing an accident.

NHTSA ID
11476508
Incident
Jul 29, 2022
Driver assistanceSteeringSuspension
Filed Mar 27, 2021

THE C300 4MATIC SPECIFICALLY SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE SOMETHING NEAR THE FRONT END SQUEAKS AND MAKES ALL TYPES OF NOISES

NHTSA ID
11405111
Incident
Feb 25, 2021
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Mar 23, 2021

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON/ FOWL ORDER COMING FROM AC UNIT/ LOUD GAS SMELL WHEN START IGNITION IN THE MORNING

NHTSA ID
11404560
Incident
Oct 31, 2020
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 21, 2021

ON FEBRUARY 9TH, DURING MY MORNING COMMUTE ON THE INTERSTATE THE CAR LOST POWER TO THE DRIVETRAIN. MESSAGE THAT DISPLAYS WAS "COLLISION ASSIST PLUS INOPERATIVE" ALONG WITH CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE. WITH AN AMBER ESP LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THERE WAS NO ENGINE LIGHT ON. WHEN THIS MESSAGE APPEARED THE CAR WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE (LIMP MODE). IN AVOIDANCE TO BEING IN A REAR END COLLISION I QUICKLY PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE CAR AND TURNED BACK ON. INOPERATIVE MESSAGE, LIMP MODE AND ESP LIGHT WAS CLEARED. I CALLED DEALER TO NOTIFY. MY THOUGHT WAS THE BATTERY IS A DUD (WAS REPLACED THE DAY PRIOR), THE CAR NEEDS A SOFTWARE REBOOT DUE TO THE NEW BATTERY OR CAR WAS NOT CONNECTED TO THE "MEMORY SAVER" CORRECTLY. OR THE SENSORS WERE DIRTY. SO I DID THE EASIEST. I WASHED THE CAR. THIS PROBLEM CONTINUED TO HAPPEN 5-6 TIMES MORE OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS STALLING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65-75 MPH. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS & LIFE THREATENING. NO ENGINE PROBLEMS APPARENT. SEEMS TO BE RADAR OR SOFTWARE. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, I FOUND MANY OTHER WITH THIS SAME ISSUE ON NHTSA. I ATTACHED A PICTURE OF CAR SHOWING MESSAGE WITH NO POWER. MY SEATBELT WAS OFF AS I WAS ON SIDE OF ROAD TRYING TO GET TO GAS STATION. THIS ISSUE IS CLEARED BY TURNING CAR ON / OFF. THEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN HOURS OR A DAY LATER, LOSS OF POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. COAST OVER.

NHTSA ID
11397252
Incident
Feb 9, 2021
Mileage
91,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Dec 20, 2019

WHILE I WAS TRAVELLING ON HIGHWAY, I GOT AN ALERT ABOUT COLLISION SYSTEM BEING INOPERABLE, I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, IT WAS INVESTIGATED AND WAS TOLD TO ME THAT I HAD AN ACCIDENT? I DID NOT. I AM THINKING IT WAS SOME KIND OF AN ELECTRICAL/RADAR SENSOR ISSUE? IT DID NOT AFFECT MY SPEED OR ABILITY TO ACCELERATE

NHTSA ID
11290270
Incident
Nov 28, 2019
Mileage
86,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed May 25, 2019

CAR LOOSES SPEED WHILE DRIVING IN THE STREET OR A HIGHWAY. NO CODE HAVE BEEN DETECTED IN THE COMPUTER. I HAVE BEEN TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THEY HAVEN'T FOUND WHAT'S THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
11209979
Incident
Jul 14, 2018
AirbagsDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed May 14, 2019

12/6/17 AIRBAG FRONTAL,8/31/17 ELECTRIAL SYSTEM STARTER ASSEMBLY,8/31/17 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING ENGINE,4/21/17 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SOFTWARE AND 4/21/17 AIRBAG FRONTAL SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE.RECALL ON THESE PARTS.

NHTSA ID
11207403
Incident
May 14, 2019
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Mar 20, 2019

WHEN ACCELERATING WITH MY MERCEDES C300, THE CAR IS ACTUALLY LOOSING POWER. THE EFFECT IS REINFORCED AS THE CONTROLLING SYSTEM IS BLOCKING THE ACCELERATION. RESULT IS THAT THE CAR IS BRAKING SUDDENLY INSTEAD OF ACCELERATING. IT IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS WHEN TRYING TO PASS ANOTHER CAR ON THE HIGH WAY AS THE CAR WILL BRAKE. I ALMOST EXPERIENCED TWICE AN ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO THIS ACCELERATION/BAKE ISSUE. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT MERCEDES REPAIR CENTER. THEY CONFIRMED TO ME THAT MERCEDES ISSUED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN FOR AN ELECTRICAL CABLE REPLACEMENT DUE TO THAT FAILURE. THE ISSUE DESCRIBED ON THE TB IS IDENTICAL TO THE EXPERIENCE ISSUE. I CONTACTED MY MERCEDES DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THEY INFORMED ME THERE IS NO RECALL AND DON'T CONSIDER THIS ISSUE A SAFETY ISSUE. THEY WON'T REPLACE THE ELECTRICAL CABLE UNLESS I PAID FOR THE "SERVICE". THE CABLE HAS NOT BEEN DAMAGED OR DISCONNECTED. IT IS SIMPLY FAULTY AND MERCEDES KNOWS THE ISSUE AS THEY ISSUED A TB FOR THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
11190184
Incident
Feb 13, 2019
Mileage
49,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 30, 2018

MY NAVIGATION AND CENTRAL CONTROL PANEL NOT FUNCTIONING AND FREEZING WITH MESSAGE "PLEASE WAIT". CAUSED SO MANY SAFETY PROBLEMS, INCLUDING BACKUP CAMERA NOT WORKING, TEMPERATURE CONTROL AND AIRFLOW SCREEN NOT SHOWING UP, BLUETOOTH PHONE SYSTEM NOT WORKING TO TAKE HAND-FREE CALLS, AND NO RADIO STATION IS WORKING AND/OR ONLY ONE UNKNOWN RADIO STATION TUNEUP BUT CAN'T SWITCH TO ANOTHER STATION AT ALL TO LISTEN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC INFORMATION. IT'S BEEN ALREADY 3 WEEKS AND I VISITED DEALERSHIP AND CALLED MERCEDES BENZ CUSTOMER SERVICES BUT NO HELP/SOLUTION AVAILABLE SO FAR. ASKED ME TO JUST WAIT FEW MORE DAYS.

NHTSA ID
11082163
Incident
Mar 8, 2018
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 21, 2018

RADIO, BLUETOOTH TELEPHONY COMMAND CONTROL STOPPED WORKING (ERROR MESSAGE SAYS 'DEVICE UNAVAILABLE'); ON MAR 19 2018, MERCEDES BENZ DEALER (CHICAGO) REPRESENTATIVE SAID THE CAR NEEDS SOFTWARE UPDATE BUT COULD NOT SAY WHEN THE UPDATE WILL BE AVAILABLE. LACK OF HANDS-FREE TELEPHONY MAKES DRIVING UNSAFE.

NHTSA ID
11080684
Incident
Mar 18, 2018
Mileage
31,550 mi
Body & structureBrakesDriver assistance
Filed Feb 22, 2018
Crash reported

I WAS DRIVING AT APPROX. 20-25 MPH DURING DAY LIGHT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS LIGHT BLINKED ON MY DASHBOARD FOR APPLYING THE BRAKES BECAUSE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AS WELL AS BRAKE ASSIST PLUS SYSTEM GOT ACTIVATED AS WELL. BUT STILL MY VEHICLE END UP HITTING THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME. THE BRAKE ASSIST PLUS SYSTEM WHICH IS CLAIMED BY MERCEDEZ TO TAKE BRAKE AUTOMATICALLY TO BRING THE SYSTEM TO HALT IN CASE OF EMERGENCY DID NOT WORK AND IT END UP HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE

NHTSA ID
11074407
Incident
Dec 15, 2017
Mileage
32,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Dec 12, 2016

WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY & LOCAL ROADS, THE CAR SUDDENLY BECAME UNRESPONSIVE AND STARTED SHOWING MESSAGES THAT ALL SYSTEMS ARE INOPERATIVE. PRE SAFE FUNCTIONS LIMITED,AND INOPERATIVE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON ALONG WITH THE BLINDSPOT NOT ACTIVATED, ESP SYSTEM WAS OFF AS WELL. THE CAR STARTED SLOWING DOWN AND HAD TO BE PULLED OVER TO TURN OFF AND ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3-4 TIMES AND ON BUSY ROADS, CAR IS SENT TO THE SHOP AND ONLY HAS 27000 MILES. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE AS I COULD DIE IN A CAR ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS [XXX] CAR. MERCEDES NEED TO RECALL THIS ASAP, IF THEY ARE NOT THEN WE SHOULD OPEN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST THEM AS THEY ARE PLAYING WITH OUR LIVES. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10934825
Incident
Dec 11, 2016
Mileage
27,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Nov 16, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS INOPERATIVE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT RODENTS CHEWED THE WIRING AND THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,800.

NHTSA ID
10926485
Incident
Nov 15, 2016
Mileage
1,800 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 29, 2016

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

NHTSA ID
10920041
Incident
Sep 14, 2015
Mileage
400 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Jul 21, 2016

COLLUSION PREVENTION SYSTEM INOPERATIVE. CAUSES CAR TO SLOW SLOW DOWN AND OR STOP WHILE ON THE ROAD. POSES A SEVERE LIFE THREATENING DRIVING CONDITION FOR ME AND OTHER DRIVERS. MANY OTHER MERCEDES BENZ OWNERS ACROSS THE USA, CANADA, AND JAPAN ARE COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ERROR MESSAGE AND ISSUES. MY MBUSA ADVISOR STATED HER VEHICLE IS DOING THE SAME THING. MY SERVICE ADVISOR AT THE DEALERSHIP STATED ITS MICE THAT ARE EATING THE WIRES. I AM TAKING MY VEHICLE TO TWO OTHER MECHANICS FOR OPINIONS ON THE CAUSE OF THE ERROR MESSAGE. I HAVE DOCUMENTS FROM OTHER MERCEDES BENZ OWNERS WHO HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME ISSUE AND ERROR MESSAGE.

NHTSA ID
10887534
Incident
Jul 21, 2016
Mileage
18,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed May 13, 2016

WAS DRIVING ON CITY STREET, AND THE COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST DISABLED WARNING SIGN CAME ON AND I LOST POWER TO THE CAR. I'M TOLD THIS IS CALLED "LIMP MODE." I TRIED TO PICK UP SPEED BY PRESSING THROTTLE TO THE FLOOR, BUT GOT NO REACTION AT ALL. THEN SOME POWER CAME BACK, BUT NOT MUCH. EACH TIME I BRAKED TO STOP FOR LIGHT OR TURN THIS WOULD HAPPEN. AFTER I GOT HOME I RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND IT SEEMED NORMAL AGAIN. HOWEVER I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT, ESPECIALLY SINCE IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS MY POWER STEERING ALSO FAILED, AND HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER. THEY RAN TESTS AND NO CODE FOR FAILURE WAS FOUND. THEY SAID THEY FOUND SOME SOFTWARE UPDATES WHICH THEY DID. UNFORTUNATELY, AFTER I PICKED UP THE CAR FROM SERVICE I SAW THAT MY MAIN COMPLAINT WASN'T EVEN MENTIONED. ONLY THAT I SOMETIMES HAD PROBLEM WITH COLLISION CONTROL WARNING GOING OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON.

NHTSA ID
10864838
Incident
May 12, 2016
Mileage
12,295 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 30, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT COASTED OVER TO AN EMERGENCY LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,200.

NHTSA ID
10713916
Incident
Apr 24, 2015
Mileage
1,200 mi

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 .