2014 Mercedes-Benz C250 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2014 Mercedes-Benz C250, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags9345.4%
- Engine2311.2%
- Steering188.8%
- Electrical136.3%
- Fuel system115.4%
- Body & structure115.4%
- Brakes94.4%
- Driver assistance83.9%
- Powertrain (other)73.4%
- Visibility31.5%
- Exterior lighting31.5%
- Tires & wheels21.0%
- Other / unspecified21.0%
- Seat belts10.5%
- Suspension10.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-Benz C-250. The contact stated that the driver’s side seat air bag warning light was illuminated. The air bag was visible through the seat and was able to be moved manually. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic but was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V010000 (Air Bags); however, the VIN was not included in the recall, and the recall referenced the front passenger’s seat air bag. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 111,300.
The contact owned a 2014 Mercedes-Benz C250. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V010000 (Air Bags) and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list. The manufacturer was contacted regarding the issue. The local dealer was not notified.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
my car overheats badly and shakes and it is starting to smoke from the hood in snowy conditions
I was coming off the freeway on 9/25/25, and when I pressed on the breaks they completely locked up and would not break at all. The car turned off, no warning lights nothing, and I continued to hit the break and the car would not stop, then all of a sudden it came to a stop almost colliding within inches of hitting the Semi-Truck in front of me. This is the second time in one year that this has happened to me, I have had the car checked out the first time last year immediately, and even paid to diagnose it, nothing, I had the brakes and rotors replaced last June of 2024 when this happened. Since then the car has only been in the dealership to get the car Fully checked out mutltiple times within 2024, 2025 and repaired by Mercedes dealership. On 9/25/25 this happened to me and it was a traumatic experiance when I pressed the break and the break got super hard and in a Locked position and would not come to a stop, there was no warning lights, no engine lights, nothing. (increased braking effort, and potentially I was inches of collision risk. I had the car towed to the nearest shop and was told this is a collapsed break booster Vacuum pump, and possibly the hose and lines and possibly further problems but they would need to replace the Vacuum pump first. After I looked to see if there was a recall on the vacuum pumps in that model on google and it says the following; Google- 2014 Mercedes c250 recall on Vacuum pump A-Premium Vacuum Pump Compatible With Select Mercedes ...Yes, there was a recall on certain Mercedes-Benz vehicles, including some 2014 C250 models, related to a defective brake booster vacuum hose. The recall involves hoses that may delaminate over time, leading to a loss of vacuum, increased braking effort, and potentially a collision risk. To check if your specific 2014 C250 is affected by this recall, you should contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer or visit the Mercedes-Benz USA website to check for open recalls for your vehicle's VIN.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
The electronic steering lock (ESL) system on my 2014 Mercedes-Benz C250 failed without warning, leaving the vehicle completely unable to start. When attempting to start the vehicle, the key would insert but the vehicle would not crank or start, and the steering lock malfunction prevented normal operation of the vehicle. The vehicle became stranded and inoperable. This failure created a safety risk because the vehicle could not be moved and left me stranded unexpectedly. If this failure were to occur in an unsafe area or emergency situation, it could place the driver and passengers at risk. After researching the issue, I found numerous reports online from other owners of similar Mercedes-Benz C-Class models experiencing the same ESL/EIS failure. This appears to be a common issue affecting these vehicles. At this time, the problem has not yet been repaired. UNKNOWN if the manufacturer has inspected the vehicle. No warning lights or prior symptoms appeared before the failure. The malfunction happened suddenly and without warning.
The "ESL Module" in this model is designed to unlock the steering and ignition when the vehicle key's passcode matches, using a small, mechanical motor with significantly poor durability. The problem is that this motor's failure is unpredictable, and many users of this model have been stranded and unable to start their vehicles due to the motor's lifespan ending. Even when the car is painstakingly brought to a dealership, repairs cost approximately $1,800 to $2,000, or owners are resorting to unofficial bypasses using a device called an ESL Emulator from the aftermarket. I'd like to request NHTSA to start a thorough investigation into this issue and a RECALL order for the affected models to be issued to MBUSA. Thank you.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-Benz C250. The contact stated that the vehicle was difficult to start. Additionally, the steering wheel was difficult to turn to the left or the right. The vehicle was eventually started and driven to a dealer; however, after the vehicle was parked and turned off, the contact attempted to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to restart. The dealer replaced the battery however, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that the dealer then traced the failure to an anti-theft sensor that shut off the vehicle to deter vehicle theft. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.
A known issue by many mB owners related to Steering Wheel Lock or ESL system. Car will not start due to a known defect related to a part installed inside the steering wheel preventing owners from starting car safely and to get to destination safely.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
I was driving on the highway my car sort of hesitated for a brief second then continued on as if nothing about one mile later my car began to slow down while I was in traffic so asap I pulled over at this point I could only go about 40 miles per hour which was very terrifying at that time it came a complete stop. After restarting the car 3-4 times it stayed running I continue home which was about 12 miles from my current location. For the next few days I did not go any where. I then had an appointment to have the 80,000 mile maintenance I mentioned the problem I was then told I need a throttle body replacement costing more than $2000 that I can not afford. At that time I started researching my own problem. My relative who works on 18 wheel truck for a living, . that perhaps it just may need cleaning rather than replacement . Also per my research this happens quite often with this model it also stated that Mercedes C250 was the worst Mercedes of that year many many owners have had this problem. The yellow ESP light come on saying it is off also my hold brake no longer works. It work at my prior dealer appointment it while going to appointment afterwards it did not work since over 9 years seldom used I wasn't concerned thus that is the message that appears when car fails Mercedes wants me to pay I believe $2000 problem not needed
I bought my 2014 C250 back in 2017 with 17K miles and currently has 58,570 miles. The issue is with fast acceleration from a stop or slow moving. When trying to accelerate to merge with traffic after a few seconds the vehicle goes into limp mode and the check engine light comes on. In limp mode I am only able to accelerate very slowly and this is a major concern for my safety. This has been and ongoing issue over the past few years and I have learned to reset it temporarily (around 10 times) with a YouTube fix. I recently found out that there was a recall for the high pressure fuels pump on some C250 models but mine was never included. I also found out that the recall time limit has expired. Please investigate and expand the recall along with the time limit so my vehicle will be included.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-Benz C250. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed in a rainstorm, the contact observed water entering the vehicle from underneath the driver's side footwell, causing extensive water damage. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 93,000.
unknown but I have submitted a previous complaint.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
I was coming off the freeway on 9/25/25, and when I pressed on the breaks they completely locked up and would not break at all. The car turned off, no warning lights nothing, and I continued to hit the break and the car would not stop, then all of a sudden it came to a stop almost colliding within inches of hitting the Semi-Truck in front of me. This is the second time in one year that this has happened to me, I have had the car checked out the first time last year immediately, and even paid to diagnose it, nothing, I had the brakes and rotors replaced last June of 2024 when this happened. Since then the car has only been in the dealership to get the car Fully checked out mutltiple times within 2024, 2025 and repaired by Mercedes dealership. On 9/25/25 this happened to me and it was a traumatic experiance when I pressed the break and the break got super hard and in a Locked position and would not come to a stop, there was no warning lights, no engine lights, nothing. (increased braking effort, and potentially I was inches of collision risk. I had the car towed to the nearest shop and was told this is a collapsed break booster Vacuum pump, and possibly the hose and lines and possibly further problems but they would need to replace the Vacuum pump first. After I looked to see if there was a recall on the vacuum pumps in that model on google and it says the following; Google- 2014 Mercedes c250 recall on Vacuum pump A-Premium Vacuum Pump Compatible With Select Mercedes ...Yes, there was a recall on certain Mercedes-Benz vehicles, including some 2014 C250 models, related to a defective brake booster vacuum hose. The recall involves hoses that may delaminate over time, leading to a loss of vacuum, increased braking effort, and potentially a collision risk. To check if your specific 2014 C250 is affected by this recall, you should contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer or visit the Mercedes-Benz USA website to check for open recalls for your vehicle's VIN.
With no prior warning indicator on braking issues with my 2014 C250, I travelled from Ormond Beach FL to Savannah GA, on I-95 with one stop in Kingsland GA. I still had no warning indicator on breaking issues as I took the off-ramp to Savannah. A failure occurred with the braking system as I exited I-95, with no vehicle warning indicator shown before or after I came to a stop. I had to exert maximum pressure on the brake to stop, requiring an expansion clear length of off-ramp to do so. An elderly, weaker person or even my wife wouldn’t have had the strength to stop over the distance I stopped it in. Luckily there was no vehicles stopping in front of me, otherwise I would have hit them at high speed. At Savannah Mercedes they found a Faulty Vacuum Pump, & like me were perplexed that no prior warning indicator showed up on my vehicle. This issue has obviously caused me great concern & indicates an inherent dangerous & life-threatening condition with my, & I assume other 2014 C-250’s, if not other years and models. If this dangerous failure had occurred on I-95 as traffic slowed to a stop, I would have run into the vehicle in front of me & my wife & could have been killed. More menacingly, it would most probably have been reported that I wasn’t paying attention & it was my fault rather that a catastrophic dangerous manufacturer failure with my vehicle. It sadly seems to me that this scenario may actually have happened with some MB vehicles and the driver/s are not around to say.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
Driving on [XXX] to Atlanta GA my car would not automatically shift and began to vibrate badly. I was almost hit by other vehicles as I pulled off the highway to check car out. Car was vibrating badly in idle and when I resumed my trip back home the car would not accelerate properly and caused tremendous stress and danger. Figured out that car would not shift automatically and I was forced to shift the car manually. Car would sputter and vibrate badly and would only slightly less vibrate to where I could drive it home in gear D5 and would less vibrate at 75+ mph very dangerous, and would lose power and shake violently going up highway hills. I prayed all the way home and barely made it shaken. I called my Mercedes Benz Dealer from the highway and immediately scheduled appointment on 8/15/24. This was a major safety hazard and life threatening situation with my Mercedes Benz C250 2014 car. My car 100% serviced over the years at dealership I bought it from Rick Hendricks Mercedes Benz of Lake Norman NC. Thank you for your time! Actor & Model [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I was trying to merge onto a freeway from a complete stop and because this freeway has an extremely short on-ramp, you need to get up to a high speed in very little time. As such, I put my car in Sport driving mode and accelerated very hard from a complete stop. The car accelerated as normal for a few seconds (I reached approximately 40 to 50 MPH), then I felt the car lag and felt a loss of power. The car was in limp mode and I couldn’t accelerate even though I was pressing the gas pedal all the way to the floor. A few seconds after this occurred, I notice that the check engine light turned on. I was able to maintain a speed around 50 MPH and got off the freeway. I took my car to both the Mercedes dealership and an independent mechanic and both diagnosed a failure of the high pressure fuel pump. I also tried to see if this will happen again and after hard acceleration in regular driving mode, the exact same issues occurred. I have read that there are issues with the high pressure fuel pump with my car model and I ask that you guys please investigate thoroughly to see if a recall would be necessary. Losing power while accelerating is extremely dangerous and a huge safety hazard for all drivers on the road. I could have easily been rear ended by another driver since I couldn’t accelerate to a faster speed. I have not yet replaced the high pressure fuel pump but plan to do so in the next few days. Attached is the diagnostic invoice from the Mercedes dealership. As stated on the invoice, please note that my car only has 43,000 miles, which makes the high pressure fuel pump failure very surprising.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
Driving on [XXX] to Atlanta GA my car would not automatically shift and began to vibrate badly. I was almost hit by other vehicles as I pulled off the highway to check car out. Car was vibrating badly in idle and when I resumed my trip back home the car would not accelerate properly and caused tremendous stress and danger. Figured out that car would not shift automatically and I was forced to shift the car manually. Car would sputter and vibrate badly and would only slightly less vibrate to where I could drive it home in gear D5 and would less vibrate at 75+ mph very dangerous, and would lose power and shake violently going up highway hills. I prayed all the way home and barely made it shaken. I called my Mercedes Benz Dealer from the highway and immediately scheduled appointment on 8/15/24. This was a major safety hazard and life threatening situation with my Mercedes Benz C250 2014 car. My car 100% serviced over the years at dealership I bought it from Rick Hendricks Mercedes Benz of Lake Norman NC. Thank you for your time! Actor & Model [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-Benz C250. The contact stated while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle jerked and then the traction control warning light illuminated. The contact released the accelerator pedal and was able to press the accelerator pedal again to regain normal operation of the vehicle. The contact continued to drive the vehicle for a few months without experiencing another failure. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer for routine maintenance where it was diagnosed that the differential mounting flange was cracked on the driveshaft. The contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V654000 (Power Train) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired due to the parts not being available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 61,192.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
I prchased used with no visible damage to the windshield. In the inclement weather for no apparent reason my windshield began to crack as I was driving the vehicle. I pulled over as soon as I could. The crack stoped and I called the Mercedes Benz manufacture to no avail. I decided to research to see if this is common and the article says, "that the 2014 Mercedes Benz" windshields are known to crack in extrem cold and hot conditions. The windshield has continued to spider and crack in different direction. I feel threathened at this point and featful for my life that this will implode in my face while driving. I did in good faith reach out to someone.
The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-Benz C250. The contact stated that the vehicle was getting water inside the cabin from a leak coming from the sunroof. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle started jerking and making a choking sound as if the vehicle was going to shut off. The check-engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who determined that there was an electrical failure related to the leak coming from the sunroof leak and that there were corroded cam blocks. The cable for the sunroof was replaced along with the mats on the floor. The contact was unsure if the engine was repaired. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was intermittently illuminated, and the jerking of the vehicle persisted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 54,315.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns 2014 Mercedes-Benz CL250. The contact stated while driving at night the driver’s side headlight became inoperable. Additionally, while using the left turn signal there was an abnormal clicking noise detected. The check left turn signal, driver’s side low beam, running lights and driver’s side parking light message was displayed. Additionally, while driving at night on another occasion, the passenger’s side headlight became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the gasket had deteriorated, and moisture was in the headlamps. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000. The VIN was not available.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MERCEDES-BENZ C250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SRS INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
I BOUGHT A 2014 C250 MERCEDES WITH CONTINENTAL TIRES DOT: HW4TNXH61413 IN NOVEMBER OF 2013. TWO OF THE FOUR TIRES CONTINUE TO LOSE TIRE PRESSURE AND HAVE DEVELOPED SIDE WALL BUBBLES. THE CAR IS DRIVEN DAILY AND HAS 20,000 MILES ON IT.
THIS IS IN REGARDS TO THE CONTINENTAL CONTI PRO CONTACT TIRES BEING DEFECTIVE. I HAVE 2 TIRES THAT WERE ON MY CPO 2014 MERCEDES BENZ THAT I PURCHASED A FEW MONTHS AGO THAT HAVE DEVELOPED BUBBLES IN THE SIDEWALL FROM NO IMPACT. I PUT LESS THAN 9,000 MILES BEFORE THE DEFECT SURFACED. MY DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT THEY AREN'T WARRANTED OR DEFECTIVE? THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD AND A CAR THAT MY FAMILY DRIVES DAILY. I HAVE STARTED CONTACT DIRECTLY WITH CONTINENTAL.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
unknown but I have submitted a previous complaint.
I bought the car from a used car dealer and 4 days later I was going 70 miles a hour down a highway and the studs broke on my right rear tire and the tire fell off.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS DRIVING ON I-10 EASTBOUND AT APPROXIMATELY MILE MARKER 180 TO 182, WHEN I MADE A LANE CHANGE TO LET A FASTER MOVING VEHICLE PASS ME. I WENT FROM THE LEFT TO RIGHT LANE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70 OR 75 MPH, (SPEED LIMIT ON I-10 IS 75 MPH). UPON ENTERING THE RIGHT LANE I SAW A TRACTOR TRAILER BRAKE LIGHTS, AND I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE IN MY C 250, AND IT CAUSED THE CAR WHEELS TO LOCKED UP, WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE CAR TO SKID, AND SWERVE THE BACK END. THE C 250 DID SLOW DOWN SOME, BUT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AFTER THE C 250 IMPACTED THE REAR BUMPER OF THE TRAILER ATTACHED ON THE TRACTOR TRAILER TRUCK. THE C 250 SLIDE APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET, THERE WERE TIRE TRACKS ON THE PAVEMENT, WHICH SHOWS THE TIRES LOCKED UP. THE REAR ENDED OF THE CAR ALSO SWERVED, AND IT DIDN'T SEEM LIKE THE C 250 WAS SLOWING DOWN, ONCE THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THERE WAS ALSO SOME SKIPPING OF THE TIRES. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED BUT WAS LATE, AND CAUSED ME TO IMPACT THE WINDSHIELD WITH MY HEAD. THERE IS ALSO A HOLE IN THE AIRBAG THAT IS BIGGER THEN A SILVER DOLLAR, WHICH SHOWS SIGN OF TEARING AND FRAYING. THE SEAT-BELT DETACHED AT IMPACT WHICH FORCED ME FORWARD AND DIDN'T RESTRAIN ME FROM ME HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL AND WINDSHIELD. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-Benz C250. The contact stated while driving 60-62 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The check engine warning light, the traction control warning light, and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after several attempts. The contact was able to continue driving. The dealer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to AutoZone. The vehicle was taken to AutoZone, where it was diagnosed that the fuel injectors and the ECM had failed. The contact sent a diagnostic report to the used car dealer where the vehicle was purchased, but no assistance was provided. Additionally, the contact stated that the control arm had fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 123,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .