RoadVitals

2010 Mercedes-Benz C

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
1
Latest Dec 14, 2010
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Oct 4, 2010
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 2010 Mercedes-Benz C, most frequently naming the powertrain (other) category. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 11 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Powertrain (other)1100.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
10V459000

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

Oct 4, 2010
85,300 units potentially affected
The defect: MERCEDES BENZ IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 C-CLASS, MODEL 204, E-CLASS, MODEL 212, AND MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 E-CLASS COUPE/CABRIOLET MODEL 207 VEHICLES. THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY FAIL DUE TO THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID.
The risk: OWNERS MAY NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IN AREAS, SUCH AS PARKING LOTS, WHERE MAXIMUM POWER STEERING IS REQUIRED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL CHECK AND RETORQUE THE CONNECTION FITTING FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 31, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA13008ClosedEngineering Analysis

Loss of rear lighting assembly

Opened Dec 20, 2013
Closed May 12, 2014

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of loss of rear lighting in model year (MY) 2008-2011 Mercedes Benz C-Class vehicles.Complainants alleged that one or both rear lighting assemblies fail to illuminate (i.e., all lights housed within the assembly extinguish, including the stop, tail, and turn signal functions) or illuminate dimly.In some reports, complainants also alleged that the failure was accompanied by a burning smell emanating from the trunk of the vehicle.When examined, these vehicles showed evidence of overheating at the lighting assembly harness connector, including damaged (blackened) wiring and plastic.The rear lighting failures typically involved one side of the vehicle however in some cases both assemblies failed (although probably not simultaneously).ODI identified 5 fire and one injury allegations during the course of this investigation.Two fires occurred while the vehicles were parked.One originated in the vicinity of the driver?s side light assembly where the fire and associated damage was confined to the trunk area, and the fire self extinguished due to oxygen starvation.As a result of the fire, the vehicle was repurchased by Mercedes and salvaged.The second fire originated on the passenger's side and required fire department response to extinguish; the fire damaged the tail light and surrounding body panels as well as the trunk area and wiring.The vehicle was repaired and returned to service.Two firesoccurred while the vehicle was being driven.In the first instance, the driver detected an odor and pulled over to observe smoking and a small flame at the lighting assembly wiring in the trunk.The owner was able to extinguish the fire before any significant damage occurred.In the second instance, the driver smelled smoke, pulled over, and opened the trunk to find smoke and sparks emanating from the forward facing side of the tail light.The driver was able to extinguish the sparks and drive the vehicle to the dealer. A fifth fire was reported by a fleet manager who observed a vehicle with fire damage originating near one of the tail light assemblies.The injury incident occurred when a technician burned their hand while diagnosing a failed light.The technician touched the tail light wiring which was hot enough to burn him although the injury did not require medical attention.On April 10th, 2014, Mercedes notified ODI that it would conduct a safety recall to remedy the rear light assemblies in approximately 252,867 MY 2008 - 2011 C-Class vehicles including the C300, C350 and C63 AMG models.Each rear light assembly has separate bulbs that act as brake, tail lamp, backup and turn signal indicators.The bulbs are mounted in a bulb carrier which uses a common electrical ground circuit at the harness connection.According to Mercedes, oxidation due to the use of dissimilar metals on the harness and bulb carrier electrical connectors can result in increased resistance and a subsequent dimming or loss of lighting function.The heat caused by the increased resistance/oxidation can also lead to the melting of the surrounding plastic, or in some cases, present a fire hazard.In conducting recall 14V-171, Mercedes dealers will inspect the left and right bulb carriers and harness connectors for the presence of dissimilar electrical connectors and/or evidence of related thermal damage; affected bulb carriers and/or harness connectors will be replaced free of charge.Mercedes notes that service replacement bulb carriers produced from January 2012 eliminate the dissimilar metal condition and that these bulb carriers will not requ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRINGLed to recall 14V177000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 14, 2010

2010 MERCEDES BENZ C LASS. LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN WOLF ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT REGARDING PROBLEMS WITH HER 2010 MERCEDES BROUGHT FRM SPECLL OUT HBL OF TYSONS CORNER ON JULY 2010; RESPOND TO HERNDON OFFICE, ATTN: JUDY MCCARY *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE FINAL DIAGNOSIS FROM THE DEALER WAS A COMPUTER GLITCH AND SOFTWARE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER WAS REASSURED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, ON NOVEMBER 15, 2010, THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN SUDDENLY IT SHIFTED ON ITS OWN IN REVERSE AND STARTED TO MOVE BACKWARDS . THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY BRAKING, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE BACKWARD. FINALLY, SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. *JB

NHTSA ID
10371321
Incident
Oct 4, 2010
Mileage
1,700 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

LI82.85-P-055696

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

COMAND: No sound, SDARS message in central display "Device Unavailable"

LI-91-40P051830

SEAT BELTS:FRONT; SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

MERCEDES-BENZ: THE FRONT SEAT BELT CATCHES WHEN PULLED OUT, BECAUSE THE STRAP WAS NOT GUIDED BACK PROPERLY. HAPPENS ON BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE. *RM UPDATED 5/22/2012. *JS

LI-82-10-P

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

MERCEDES BENZ: NEW REPAIR METHOD FOR LOW BEAM HALOGEN LAMP BULB THAT IS INOPERATIVE. *PE

LI-05-20-P

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

MERCEDES-BENZ: THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT IS ON WITH MULTIPLE POSSIBLE TROUBLE CODES STORED. THERE COULD BE A PROBLEM WITH THE CAMSHAFT AND/OR SCORING OF A PISTON. *RM

LI-07-10-P

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

MERCEDES-BENZ: THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT IS ON WITH STORED TROUBLE CODES. IDLE SPEED LIMITS WERE SET TOO NARROW. *RM

LI-54-21

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DAIMLER/XENTRY: FUEL LEVEL INDICATOR AND RADIO FREQUENCY CENTRAL LOCKING INOPERATIVE, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REPORTS TURN SIGNALS INOPERATIVE, DIAGNOSIS OF REAR SAM NOT POSSIBLE. CONTROL MODULES. MODELS C CLASS, MODEL SERIES 204. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE UPDATED 7/8/11. *PE

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mercedes-Benz C by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2010Viewing111—
2009140244.4
2008212—
2007310—
1995100—
1994100—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.