2009 Mercedes-Benz C350 Owner Complaints

Vehicle has lost its ability to be driven. Car alarm has gone of a multitude of times at different hours of day and night. Finally we were told that the steering column needs to be replaced. According to tow truck driver, Auto lock person, this is common from the 300 series of Mercedes Benz. Obviously very costly. My car is worthless at this point. I believe that the Mercedes Benz should have a recall on the steering column lock. Obviously, this is not only a defect but, also causing safety issues with it just turning off and not able to restart.

NHTSA ID

11660551

Incident

Mar 14, 2025

Rear brake lines corroded leading to loss of brake fluid while on the road. My at the time 4 year old son and I were in the car (I was the driver). This was in December of 2022 so almost two years ago. Earlier that year, MB dealership warned me about rear sub frame being corroded, too, but the cost of repairs ($7,000) were out of reach. There were no warning signs the day brake line started leaking other than a dashboard message to check the brake fluid and I felt I could not really stop my car. Car was taken to a local shop and the rear brake lines were repaired for $1,158. on 12/12/2022. Then this spring 2024 rear sub frame fell apart while switching my winter wheels to all year wheels/tires. MB USA honored this repair through the extended warranty.

NHTSA ID

11612908

Incident

Dec 12, 2022

Total shutdown of complete system…brakes, steering and engine at around 25-to 30 MPH. No warning. Happened two times…once before M-B service and once after service for problem. It checked out OK from dealership months before only to have it happen again. Was lucky to avoid a crash both times. Sold to dealership. Wrote my safety concerns for a new owner to local dealership and corporate.

NHTSA ID

11531281

Incident

Jun 13, 2023

REAR SUBFRAME RUSTED THROUGH ON BOTH SIDES AND BROKE WHILE DRIVING ABOUT A YEAR AGO. NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. THERE WAS 55,000 MILES ON THE CAR AT THE TIME. ALSO, I HAVE ANOTHER VEHICLE SAME W204 CAR SERIES 120,000 MILES ON THIS CAR. VIN [XXX]. LAST WEEK THE REAR SUBFRAME BROKE ON THAT CAR WHILE DRIVING. CAME VERY CLOSE TO HAVING SERIOUS WRECK ON I77. MERCEDES REPLACED AND PAID FOR THE FIRST VEHICLES SUBFRAME. I PAID FOR THE LABOR. THEY ARE GIVING ME 30% OFF THE REPAIR OF THE ONE NOW IN THE DEALERS SHOP. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A MERCEDES SERVICE MANAGER THAT THIS IS A PREVALENT PROBLEM AROUND THE COUNTRY AND THAT MERCEDES KNOWS THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE SUBFRAME ON THIS MODEL. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ON THE WEB AND FOUND MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF SOMEONE HAS DIED FROM THIS PART FAILURE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS FOR A RECALL. IT WILL SAVE SOME LIVES. REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC

NHTSA ID

11386995

Incident

Dec 28, 2020

Mileage

120,000 mi

I HAVE CONTINUED TO HAVE LIGHTING ISSUES WITH FRONT, REAR, AND SIGNAL LIGHTING. I AM CONSTANTLY HAVING TO PAY TO REPLACE THESE LIGHTS EVERY YEAR. NOW MY POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION EBS LIGHT HAS COME ON. THIS IS JUST TOO MUCH. I JUST PAID $1300 FOR SERVICE B AND SOME OTHER THINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I AM TIRED OF ALWAYS HAVING TO PAY TO REPLACE LIGHTS.

NHTSA ID

11166631

Incident

Jan 12, 2019

HI, ON MY COMMUTE HOME FROM WORK, I WAS GETTING READY TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY BY DECELERATING. MY CAR SWERVED AND ALMOST LOST CONTROL WHEN I BEGAN TO PRESS THE BRAKES. THERE WERE NO CARS AT 7AM ON THE WEEKEND, SO I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE 1/4 MILE EXIT RAMP. I CONTINUE HOME, BUT FEEL THE CAR KICKING OUT THE REAR END WHEN I BRAKE. AT SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER SPEEDS I LOOK IN THE MIRROR AS I BRAKE AND NOTICE MY REAR RIGHT WHEEL TURNING INWARDS. I GET HOME AND WHEN I WAKE UP I LIFTED THE CAR AND CHECKED TO SEE WHAT IT WAS. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT THE REAR BRACKET WELDED TO THE CROSS MEMBER THAT HOLDS THE REAR TIE ROD CRAKED.

NHTSA ID

11164151

Incident

Dec 30, 2018

Mileage

138,500 mi

WHEN I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IT WILL NOT TURN OVER NO LIGHTS DISPLAY ON THE DASHBOARD. THE RADIO CUTS ON AND THE ONLY THING THAT DISPLAYS ON THE DASHBOARD IS THE MILEAGE NO OTHER LIGHTS. WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED TO FIRST OR SECOND POSITION. THE DAY BEFORE WHEN MY CAR WOULD NOT START I WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION AND REPLACE IT IN THE CAR STARTED RIGHT UP THIS TIME IT DOES NOTHING. I'M BEING TOLD IT'S AN ESL STEERING WHEEL LOCK ISSUE THAT IS COMMON TO THIS CAR MODEL.

NHTSA ID

11156489

Incident

Dec 5, 2018

Mileage

150,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL - WE HAVE CALLED ALEX RODRIGUEZ MERCEDES OVER 5 TIMES AND HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT NUMEROUS TIME. HAVE ASKED EACH TIME ABOUT THE RECALL AND REPLACEMENT OF THE TAKATA AIRBAGS. WE GET THE SAME ANSWER EVERY TIME-' AS SOON AS WE GET THE REPLACEMENT WE WILL CALL YOU IN TO REPLACE. WE DON'T HAVE THE SUPPLIES RIGHT NOW. ' VERY FRUSTRATING!!

NHTSA ID

11139535

Incident

Jan 18, 2015

TAKATA RECALL AIRBAG STILL NOT REPLACED

NHTSA ID

11099052

Incident

May 31, 2018

I HAVE BEEN RECEIVING RECALL LETTERS FROM MERCEDES-BENZ SINCE MAY 2016 FOR THE DRIVER-SIDE TAKATA AIR BAG AND IN AUGUST 2016 FOR THE PASSENGER TAKATA AIR BAG AS WELL AS MAIL FROM TK HOLDINGS INC, BUT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET MY AIR BAGS REPLACED. I WAS TOLD I WAS IN A LATTER PHASE AND WOULD HEAR SOMETHING BY MARCH 2018, BUT HAVE HEARD NOTHING. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING. I HAVE LESS THAN 45,000 MILES ON MY CAR, MEANING LOTS OF LIFE LEFT IN THE VEHICLE, BUT CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR DUE TO THE RISK OF HARM AND FATALITY. I DO NOT WANT TO SELL MY VEHICLE. I JUST WANT TO GET MY AIR BAGS REPLACED, PLEASE!

NHTSA ID

11092586

Incident

May 21, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C350W. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 AND 17V017000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER MERCEDES-BENZ OF WILLOUGHBY (38750 MENTOR AVE #2, WILLOUGHBY, OH 44094) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 770-705-0600 AND STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11052482

Incident

Feb 11, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V0810000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE LOCAL DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF ANNAPOLIS, 324 6TH ST, ANNAPOLIS, MD 21403) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11051208

Incident

Feb 16, 2016

DRIVER WINDOW WILL NOT CLOSED ALL THE WAY.

NHTSA ID

11046581

Incident

Sep 1, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C350W. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 AND 16V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED FILEDS MOTORCARS AT (863) 688-8111 (4141 N FLORIDA AVE, LAKELAND, FL 33805) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE/PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11045578

Incident

Feb 5, 2016

TAKATA RECALL - IT WAS REPORTED ON FEBRUARY 11, 2016. TODAY IS NOVEMBER 7, 2017 AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR MY MERCEDES. ALMOST 2 YEARS. NOTHING HAPPENED YET, BUT IT'S SOMEWHAT SCARY KNOWING THAT IT IS DANGEROUS FOR ME TO DRIVE WITH BAD AIRBAG.

NHTSA ID

11044366

Incident

Nov 7, 2017

"TAKATA RECALL" WHAT PURPOSE DOES THIS RECALL SERVE IF THE MANUFACTURER STILL DOES NOT HAVE A "REMEDY" AVAILABLE? I HAVE 3 BENZ'S, ALL AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL AND FOR OVER 1 YEAR THE DEALER CANNOT REPAIR DUE TO "NO REMEDY YET AVAIL". SO IN THE MEANTIME, WE SHOULD DRIVE AND PRAY THAT SOMETHING TRAGIC DOES NOT OCCUR?

NHTSA ID

11044223

Incident

Jan 1, 2009

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE LOCAL DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF HONOLULU, 818 KAPIOLANI BLVD, HONOLULU, HI 96813) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11043082

Incident

Jun 13, 2016

TAKATA RECALL - MY COMPLAINT IS TO REPORT THE LACK OF TIMELINESS OF REPAIR FOR 2 MANUFACTURER RECALLS: #2016020003 AND #2016070003. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERS SEVERAL TIMES AND THE PARTS FOR REPAIR ARE NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE CAR'S SAFETY AND LACK OF INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11041950

Incident

Nov 1, 2017

TAKATA RECALL

NHTSA ID

11041889

Incident

Nov 1, 2017

"TAKATA RECALL" THERE ARE TWO RECALLS ON THE FRONT AIRBAGS ONE ISSUES IN FEBRUARY 11, 2016 AND THE OTHER MAY 25, 2016. I'VE TAKEN MY CAR IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR SERVICE AND INQUIRED ABOUT THE RECALL. AS OF TODAY THE REMEDY IS NOT AVAILABLE. THERE IS A FAULT SWITCH WITH THE HEADLIGHTS IN OFF POSITION THE LEFT RIGHT TURN SIGNAL FLASH WHEN THE KEYS ARE NOT IN THE VEHICLE. IT DRAINS THE BATTERY WHICH HAVE REPLACED TWICE. WE DETERMINED THAT IF WE KEEP THE LIGHT SWITCH IN AUTOMATIC POSITION IT DOES NOT HAPPEN.

NHTSA ID

11040645

Incident

Feb 11, 2017

WE WERE NOTIFIED OF THIS RECALL 3 YEARS AGO AND WE STILL HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THE RECALL REPAIRS MADE. WE ARE ON THE WAITING LIST WITH OUR DEALERSHIP. WE ARE NOW BEING TOLD NO REMEDY IS AVAILABLE SO WE MUST CONTINUE TO DRIVE WITH THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION.

NHTSA ID

11035609

Incident

Oct 23, 2017

TAKATA RECALL - I HAVE 2 TAKATA RECALLS (DRIVER AND PASSENGER) ON MY EHICLE AND I HAVE RECEIVED NO UPDATES IN OVER 2 YEARS ABOUT THE STATUS OF WHEN THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE TO REPLACE. EVERY TIME I ASK MERCEDES DEALERSHIP ABOUT WHEN THE TAKATA AIR BAGS WILL BE AVAILABLE, THEY HAVE GIVEN ME NO INFORMATION. THE DEALERSHIP (BOTH THE MERCEDES AT TYSONS CORNER VA AND BETHESDA MD EURO MOTORS) ONLY TELL ME THAT SOMEONE FROM TAKATA WILL NOTIFY ME WHEN THEY ARE AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11032303

Incident

Jan 1, 2015

2 YEARS AGO MANAGER TOLD ME THE WIRING OF THE HEAD LAMPS WAS MELTING BUT HE CAN ONLY REPLACE THE WHOLE UNIT( BOTH). I TOLD HIM THAT A CAR WITH 30000 MILS THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. NOTHING HE CAN DO. THE CAR HAS STARTED TO BURN ON THE INSIDE , SMOKE COMES OUT OF THE ENGINE. CAR TRANSPORTS CHILDREN. TO AND FROM SCHOOL. EERY OTHER ONTH LAMPS BURN OUT, HAPPENING SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. FINALLY WENT TO SHOP AGAIN TODAY AND THEY PUT IT ON PAPER. WIRE COATING FALLING APART, CAUSES BURN OUT OF LAMPS. THIS IS A HUGE DANGER AND SHOULD BE RECALLED NOT PAID BY USER. HAVE SENT 2 OTHER COMPLAINTS TO NHTSA WITH NO RESOLUTION. WHY????? ADDITIONALLY CAR HAS HAD TAIL LAMP PROBLEMS SINCE THE BEGINNING WITH ONE RECALL. ADDITIONALLY THE SEAT COVER OF THE DRIVER SIDE IS COMING APART IN PIECES SINCE YEAR 2. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN?

NHTSA ID

11016312

Incident

Aug 1, 2013

Mileage

30,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL. IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR AND NOTHING HAS BEEN REPLACED. TANAKA SHOULD BY MY LOAN.

NHTSA ID

11011355

Incident

May 10, 2016

RECALL ON SRS LIGHT WARNING LIGHT

NHTSA ID

11000362

Incident

Apr 7, 2017