Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
14
Latest Feb 10, 2014
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Nov 2, 2008
What this page shows
Our database holds 14 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaints, most recent first
Showing 1–14 of 14
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 10, 2014
AT 43,500 AND 54 MONTHS THE TRANSMISSION IN THE CAR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN PROPERLY SERVICED AT THE MERCEDES DEALER. I BELIEVE THIS MODEL/MAKE HAS DEFECTS AS I HAVE BROUGHT IT BACK FOR SERVICE MANY TIMES. *TR
NHTSA ID
10563723
Incident
Feb 3, 2014
Mileage
43,400 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 4, 2014
THE WIRES WITHIN BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS OF MY 2009 MERCEDES C300 HAVE THEIR INSULATION SO DETERIORATED THAT THE WIRES ARE FULLY EXPOSED. THIS ISSUE CAUSES THE LIGHTS TO CUT IN AND OUT WITHOUT WARNING WHICH HAVE OCCURRED DURING HIGHWAYS SPEEDS AND OR RURAL AREAS IN PUERTO RICO. THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION IS NOT BEING TAKEN CARE OF BY THE MANUFACTURER WITH VARIOUS ATTEMPTS TRIED. *TR
NHTSA ID
10562864
Incident
Feb 3, 2014
Mileage
49,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Dec 19, 2013
LIGHTS IN THE BACK RIGHT PANEL ARE NOT WORKING.... GOT MESSAGE STATING THEY WERE OUT....CHECKED THEM AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTION IS BURNED AND LOOKS LIKE WIRES ARE FRIED. *TR
NHTSA ID
10556638
Incident
Dec 5, 2013
BrakesExterior lighting
Filed Nov 12, 2013
DIM LEFT STOP LIGHT. MELTED PLUG. MERCEDES BENZ C300 2009 W204. *TR
NHTSA ID
10551868
Incident
May 18, 2013
Mileage
71,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jul 16, 2013
THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS ON MY MB C350 SHOWS SIGNS OF A BURNING/MELTING ON THE CONNECTOR. I INITIALLY RECEIVED A NOTICE ON MY DASH THAT THE RIGHT REAR BULB WAS BAD AND NOT WORKING. I CHECKED THE CONNECTORS AND IT SHOWED SIGNS OF MELTING/BURNING. AFTER ADJUSTING THE WIRES, THE LIGHTS WOULD WORK UNTIL THE CAR WOULD HIT A BUMP AND I WOULD HAVE TO AGAIN RESET THE WIRES. *TR
NHTSA ID
10525200
Incident
Feb 29, 2012
Transmission
Filed Jul 1, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES C350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED, THE TRANSMISSION SURGED FORWARD AT A HIGH RATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32000.
NHTSA ID
10340967
Incident
Nov 9, 2009
Mileage
15 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 23, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHENEVER THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE I WOULD VIOLENTLY SWITCH INTO GEAR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLIGHTLY SURGE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON THIRTEEN DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHERE SEVERAL DIFFERENT PARTS HAVE BEEN SERVICED ON THE TRANSMISSION;HOWEVER THE CONTACT IS STILL EXPERIENCING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAS NOTICED THE FAILURE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 14000.
NHTSA ID
10313318
Incident
Nov 14, 2008
Mileage
14,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 24, 2009
BOUGHT A NEW 2009 C300 MERCEDES AT A DEALER IN SAN DIEGO. CAR HAS ROUGH IDLE AND SHAKES FOR 30 SECONDS IN THE MORNING. DEALER CHECKED AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THEY ARE BLAMING IT ON STRICT EMISSION ISSUES AS THE SOURCE OF THE ROUGH IDLE. HOOD DOES NOT LATCH UNLESS SLAMMED HARD. DEALER CLAIMED THEY HAD ADJUSTED LATCH BUT STILL THE SAME. *TR
NHTSA ID
10289654
Incident
Oct 10, 2009
Mileage
1,400 mi
Visibility
Filed Sep 6, 2009
I PURCHASED A C300 IN APRIL 2009, WITHIN A FEW DAYS I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE DRIVER SIDEVIEW MIRROR. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SALESMAN THAT SOLD ME THE CAR TOOK CARE OF ARRANGING THE REPAIR. THEY HAD TO ORDER THE MIRROR AND GAVE ME A LOANER. I WAS NEVER GIVEN AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT CAUSED THE CRACK. *TR
NHTSA ID
10282986
Incident
Apr 30, 2009
Mileage
450 mi
BrakesElectricalTransmission
Filed Jun 4, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING SEVERAL COMPUTER DEFECTS. WHILE PARKED ON A HILL AND ATTEMPTING TO PLACE THE GEAR SHIFTER INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL FORWARD INSTEAD OF BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL FORWARD APPROXIMATELY ONE FOOT AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. DURING THIS TIME, THE STEERING WOULD LOCK AND THE BRAKES WOULD LOSE POWER. IT WOULD TAKE TREMENDOUS FORCE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER COULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS. THERE WERE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN PERFORMED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 7,000.
NHTSA ID
10272853
Incident
Sep 30, 2008
Mileage
7,000 mi
AirbagsSteering
Filed May 17, 2009
Crash reported1 injury reported
MY DAUGHTER WAS IN A CRASH TODAY ON MAY 16, 2009 SHE WAS DRIVING MERCEDES 2009 C300 AND SHE SAID THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK SUDDENLY BEFORE SHE CRASH, SHE WAS DRIVING ONLY AT 15MPH THAT WHY THE IMPACT WAS NOT SO SEVERE, WE ARE VERY LUCKY THAT SHE JUST HAS MINOR INJURIES. *TR
NHTSA ID
10268930
Incident
May 16, 2009
Mileage
10,000 mi
Steering
Filed Feb 11, 2009
I BOUGHT A NEW 2009 MB C300 FOR MY WIFE LAST NOVEMBER, LESS THAN THREE MONTH LATER, ITS POWER STEERING QUITTED TO WORK WITHOUT ANY MALFUNCTION SIGN. IT WILL TAKE A PROFESSIONAL WRESTLER TO GET IN AND OUT ITS PARKING PLACE. THIS IS NOT THE WORST PART YET. AFTER NUMEROUS FAILED ATTEMPTS TRYING TO CONTACT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF MY DEALER, I DROVE THE CAR TO THE DEALER THAT IS 40 MILES AWAY FROM MY HOUSE. ONLY THING THEY DID TO THE CAR WAS THAT A SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE OPENED THE HOOD AND ADDED SOME FLUID, WHICH LATE TURNED OUT TO BE USELESS. HE WANTED ME TO SET A SERVICE APPOINTMENT THAT WAS 15 DAYS LATER. I WAITED ALMOST TWO HOURS TRYING TO GET SOMEBODY TO TEST DRIVE MY CAR AND TELL ME IF IT'S SAFE TO DRIVE, WHICH THEY NEVER DID. RIGHT NOW, THE ONLY THING I CAN DO IS TO LOOK AT MY WORLD RENOWNED LUXURY SEDAN C300 MADE BY SUPERIOR GERMAN TECHNOLOGY SITTING IN MY CAR POT. WHAT A JOKE! *TR
NHTSA ID
10258305
Incident
Feb 10, 2009
Mileage
1,400 mi
Driver assistanceSeat belts
Filed Feb 6, 2009
Crash reported1 injury reported
I WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHERE I WAS RUN OFF THE ROAD AND INTO A CENTER MEDIAN STEEL BARRIER. MY MERCEDES C300 IS EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM (ESP) AND ACTIVE SEATBELT RESTRAINTS (BOTH OF WHICH FAILED IN THE CRASH). THE ROADS WERE SLICK, HOWEVER, WHEN A CAR SWERVED OVER ON ME AND I ATTEMPTED TO HIT THE BRAKES TO AVOID BEING HIT, MY CAR BEGAN TO FISH-TAIL AND I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AT THE TIME, A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING (POST-CRASH) THAT MY ESP MALFUNCTIONED. IN ADDITION, UPON IMPACT, MY SEAT RESTRAINED ME, HOWEVER, WHEN THE CAR BOUNCED BACK INTO THE CENTER OF THE HIGHWAY, THE SEATBELT CAME COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM WHERE IT'S HOLDER (WHERE YOU CLICK IT IN). THE REST OF THE SAFETY FEATURES WORKED (AIRBAGS, ACTIVE HEAD-REST RESTRAINTS, STEEL FRAMING, ETC.) HOWEVER, IF THE ESP FAILED OR MALFUNCTION, THEN THERE WAS NO POSSIBLE WAY TO PREVENT THE ACCIDENT BASED ON THE VEHICLES FAILURE TO DELIVER IN A PANICKED SITUATION. THE MERCEDES ESP PROGRAM IS SUPPOSE TO ENABLE THE DRIVER THE ABILITY TO CORRECT THE VEHICLE FROM OVERSTEER (FISH-TAILING) IN CRITICAL SITUATIONS, AND IT DID NOT DO SO. AT THE TIME, I WAS TRAVELING AT 55 MPH. THE BRAKE-ASSIST PROGRAM HELPED TO DECELERATE THE VEHICLE MINIMALLY, AND I SLAMMED INTO THE GUARDRAIL AROUND 50-55 MPH. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE ESP AND SEATBELT FAILED IN THIS CRASH. I'M VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE SURVIVED THIS ACCIDENT. TOOK PICTURES FOR EVIDENCE, AND PLAN TO GO BACK TO THE CAR UPON REVIEW BY THE MERCEDES ACCIDENT SPECIALIST TO ACCESS WHY THERE WAS AN EVIDENT FAILURE IN BOTH OF THESE SAFETY FEATURES (CRITICAL TO PREVENTING SUCH AN ACCIDENT)! *TR
NHTSA ID
10257668
Incident
Feb 2, 2009
Mileage
3,500 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Nov 2, 2008
I PURCHASED A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300 LUXURY SEDAN IN OCTOBER 2008 IN ATLANTA, GA. I DROVE THE CAR OFF THE LOT WITH 37 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I HOUSE THE CAR IN MY GARAGE. I'D HAD THE CAR IN MY POSSESSION FOR A LITTLE LESS THAN TWO WEEKS WHEN I WOKE ONE CHILLY MORNING TO DISCOVER A CRACK IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR. I IMMEDIATELY PHONED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD TO BRING THE CAR IN FOR EVALUATION. SERVICE ASSESSED THE DAMAGE AND ADVISED ME THAT THEY'D RECENTLY (THE DAY BEFORE) BECOME AWARE THAT THE HEATING ELEMENTS WERE CRACKING THE MIRRORS IN THE C CLASS MODELS. THEY THEN APOLOGIZED FOR THE INCONVENIENCE, GAVE ME A LOANER CAR (FREE OF CHARGE) WHILE MY CAR WAS BEING REPAIRED (FREE OF CHARGE), AND ADVISED ME THAT, ALTHOUGH MERCEDES BENZ DOES NOT ALLOW PREEMPTIVE REPAIRS, THEY WOULD REPAIR THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR (FREE OF CHARGE) SHOULD IT CRACK IN THE FUTURE. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE WOULD BE FIXED EVEN IF THE WARRANTY HAD OTHERWISE EXPIRED. THE PART REPAIRED WAS THE AUTO DEFROSTING/ DIMMING DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR. I'M UNSURE IF THIS DEFECT IS EXCLUSIVE TO THE C CLASS MODELS. *TR
NHTSA ID
10247470
Incident
Oct 24, 2008
Mileage
800 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.