RoadVitals

2013 Mercedes-Benz C204.9

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.
5
Latest Oct 20, 2020
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.
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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.
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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.
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Overview

Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C204.9, most frequently naming the airbags, engine and driver assistance categories. 18 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

  • Airbags228.6%
  • Engine228.6%
  • Driver assistance114.3%
  • Electrical114.3%
  • Fuel system114.3%

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

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

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

Engine
Filed Oct 20, 2020

MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT MY 2013 MERCEDES C250 HAS A TIMING CHAIN/CAMSHAFT ADJUSTER SPROCKET PROBLEM AND THAT IT HAPPENS A LOT ON THESE CARS. I FOUND HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE ONLINE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT STARTS USUALLY AS SOON AS THE WARRANTY ENDS. THE COST TO FIX IT AT THE DEALERSHIP IS $5600. IT IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AS YOUR ENGINE WILL EVENTUALLY GET DAMAGED WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING AND CAUSE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
11365443
Incident
Mar 1, 2020
Mileage
117,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 26, 2020

I HAVE ONLY OWNED THE CAR FOR 4 MONTHS & THE AIRBAG LIGHT TURNED ON. THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE AT REFUSES TO LOOK AT IT UNLESS I PAY THEM FIRST.

NHTSA ID
11361240
Incident
Sep 25, 2020
Engine
Filed Jul 7, 2020

NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT SPUTTERING OR SHUDDERING WHEN STARTING MY CAR ALONG WITH GRAYISH BLUE/BLACK SMOKE FROM EXHAUST. I ALSO HAVE HAD CASES OF DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THEN IT HESITATES, WHICH PUTS MY FAMILY AND I IN DANGER . DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THEY COULD NOT FIND ROOT CAUSE AND THEY STATED IT WAS WORKING TO MB SPECIFICATION. EVENTUALLY I GOT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT JUST WHEN IT GOT OUT OF EXTENDED WARRANT AND THEN THE STATED I HAD GOTTEN OIL THROUGH MY CAMSHAFT SENSORS AND THEN THROUGH MY HARNESS. COST OF REPAIR WAS OVER 10K. SUBSEQUENTLY ABOUT A YEAR LATER I HAVE BEEN GETTING THE SAME SPUTTERING AND SHUDDERING WITH THE SAME SMOKE AND THEY ARE NOW SAYING I HAVE SOME TIMING ISSUE CODES. I HAVE THEY CAR SINCE IT WAS BRAND NEW AND BOUGHT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR EVER REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE. THE ISSUE MENTIONED IS NOW HAPPENING AGAIN IN 2020

NHTSA ID
11338014
Incident
Apr 3, 2018
Mileage
76,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Apr 18, 2020

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CODE P0002. ACCELERATING IN ANY FORM FROM THE STREET OR ESPECIALLY THE HIGHWAY MERGING ON, THERE IS A SUPERIOR LOSS OF POWER/ACCELERATION. VERY DANGEROUS AS YOU ARE A HAZARD COMING INTO THE HIGHWAY AND DO NOT HAVE ADEQUATE ACCELERATION WHEN ON RAMPS ARE A VERY SHORT DISTANCE. I BELIEVE IT'S THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AS COUNTLESS OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
11321521
Incident
Apr 17, 2020
Mileage
60,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Apr 1, 2020

VEHICLE WAS STOLEN IN FLORIDA I PURCHASED IT AFTER BEING FIXED AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WHERE ELECTRICAL ISSUES AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND LIGHTS PERTAINING TO AIRBAGS WOULD FLASH. AFRAID BAGS WOULD GO OFF WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
11319960
Incident
Mar 31, 2020
Mileage
32,659 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

NCU - HVAC Warra

EQUIPMENT

To enhance the satisfaction of our customers, avoid further costs of litigation and return focus to its core businesses, Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) has entered into a settlement regarding claims relating to alleged mold and mildew type odors originating from the HVAC system in certain Mercedes-Benz vehicles. As part of the settlement, MBUSA has agreed to offer sliding-scale warranty coverage for certain vehicles diagnosed as having mold or mildew type odors originating from the HVAC system?although that coverage will not take effect until the settlement is judicially approved and other events occur; likely not until December 7, 2020 at the earliest (see below). If the settlement becomes effective, coverage will include cleaning of the evaporator and replacement of the HVAC filters

LI91 45-P-066075

SEAT BELTS

Seat belt extender toothed rack sluggish or makes noises

LI42.47-P-068271

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS

"Tire pressure loss detection system inoperative" message in instrument cluster in yellow.

LI05 20-P-067123

ENGINE

Oil in engine wiring harness

LI46.35-P-055436

STEERING

Red display message in instrument cluster "Power Steering Malfunction - See Owner's Manual" immediately after engine start

LI46.10-P-055432

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

AMG Performance steering wheel heavily worn/soiled

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 C204.9 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2014800—
2013Viewing500—
2012300—
2011200—

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.