2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Brakes Problems

Went to the Mercedes dealership service department to replace the rear subframe that suddenly broke while I was driving due to extreme rust/corrosion. The dealership stated that it was being covered under the extended warranty due to the recall related to the rust/corrosion issue with the subframe. I was advised by the mechanic that the brake lines will need to be replaced due to extreme rust/corrosion in the rear at the same exact location of the rear subframe, making the vehicle very dangerous to drive because the brake lines could break at any moment and cause sudden brake failure. I was quoted a very significant amount to replace the rusted brake lines and per the dealership, it will not be covered under any extended warranty and/or recall.

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.

2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO PROBLEM WITH BRAKES. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MOISTURE CAUSED CORROSION IN THE BRAKE BOOSTER. THE CONSUMER REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 22V315. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DECLINED ANY ASSISTANCE STATING THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REIMBUREMENTS THE PAYMENT DESPITE BEING OUT OF WARRANTY.

I took my vehicle to the Mercedes dealer for inspection on 7/13/22. It passed inspection, but I was told that the brake lines were very corroded and they recommended replacement before driving. Their cost to repair was $2825. I only have 54,000 miles on the vehicle. I checked on the internet to see if there were any other reported brake line issues with a 2009 Mercedes C300 and was shocked to see how many people had the same issue, some reporting that they lost brake power and had a very terrifying experience. Of course I am now afraid to drive the vehicle and not sure what my course of action will be. With the number of reported incidents, I feel that Mercedes used inferior materials that corrode readily and should have some accountability in remedying the situation. I am including some photos of the corrosion that were provided to me by the dealer.

K frame and sub frame deteriorates. There is a recall in Canada.

CALIPER ON THE BRAKES WERE STICKING CAUSE THE ROTORS TO WARP- REPLACED ALL PARTS AFTER 3,000 MILES SAME THING HAPPENED-- TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEAL SHIP - REPLACED NEW CALIPERS ROTORS-3500 MILES LATER SAME THING HAPPENED TOOK THE CAR BACK AGAIN - REPLACED ALL THE PARTS 5000 MILES LATER SAME THING IT IS NOW JUNE AND THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR A WEEK AGAIN. *TR

FRONT BRAKES CHECKED BY AN INDEPENDENT SHOP AND WAS ADVISED THAT FRONT PADS HAVE UNEVEN WEAR, INSIDE PADS WAS 2 MM, OUTSIDE PAD AT 8MM BECAUSE THE CALIBER IS NOT SQUEEZED IN EVENLY. BRING THE CAR BACK TO DEALER UNDER THE 50K MILES OR 4 YEAR WARRANTY FOR BRAKE CHECKED: DEALER ONLY REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS BUT NOT THE CALIBER WITH REASON THE HARDNESS OF THE PADS ARE SO SOFT AND CAUSE THE ISSUE. MB DEALER IS NOT STANDING WITH WARRANTY ON THE ENGINEERING MECHANICAL DEFECT: TRY TO MAKE A QUICK FIX AND NOT EXPENSIVE ONLY ON A MAJOR PROBLEM. AFTER 5K OR 10K, THE UNEVEN WILL OCCURRED AGAIN AND THE SERVICE BRAKE LIGHT WILL NOT ON BECAUSE OF THE UNEVEN WEAR, WILL COST MORE MONEY FOR ME ON THE ROTOR, BRAKE PAD AND CALIBER AGAIN. AN INVESTIGATION AND A RECALL FROM MB NEEDS TO PERFORM FOR ALL THE MB C300 YEAR 2009 FOR A CALIBER CHECK. *TR

AT 5:00PM, I WAS DRIVING THE MERCEDES BENZ C300, YEAR 2009, 9010 MILES IN THE PARKING LOT OF YMCA IN LA CANADA, CA AT 3 MILES/HR. I PREPARED TO STOP THE CAR AND STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, SUDDENLY, THE ENGINE REV UP AND ACCELERATED. THE CAR JUMPED OVER THE STOP BUMPER BUT I PRESSED VERY HARD ON THE BRAKE AND FINALLY THE CAR STOPPED AND THE ENGINE WAS OFF. THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS ABOUT 2 FEET FROM THE WALL AT THE PARKING LOT. I WAS SO SCARED BECAUSE IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I EXPERIENCED THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. I WENT TO THE GYM AND AT 6:30PM I DROVE THE CAR BACK HOME, IT IS ABOUT 6 MILES FROM MY HOUSE. I REALLY FEEL UNSAFE WITH MY ALMOST BRAND NEW MB. I'LL TAKE OFF FOR WORK NEXT MONDAY AND WILL TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR CHECKING. I WAS LUCKY THIS TIME WITH NO DAMAGE OR INJURY BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING VERY SLOWLY IN THE PARKING LOT AND READY TO STOP. HOWEVER I DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE CHANCE NEXT TIME, IT'S SO DANGEROUS, I CAN GET KILL OR SOMEBODY CAN GET HURT IF MY CAR JUMPS AGAIN. I DO THE RESEARCH AND SEE THE COMPLAINT # 10330370 ON 05/23/2010. THE CASE WAS ALMOST THE SAME: WHEN THE DRIVER STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND THE MB UNINTENDED ACCELERATED. PLEASE DO THE INVESTIGATION BY NOW AND FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME ANYTIME. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE PARKWAY AT ~40 MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN BY STEPPING ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN BUT ACCELERATED. AND STRUCK THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. EVERY TIME I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR ACCELERATED SO THAT THE CAR STRUCK THE CAR IN FRONT TWICE. I TRIED TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND WAS UNABLE TO. FINALLY, I PUSHED HARD ON THE BRAKE ENOUGH TO SLOW IT DOWN AND I WAS TEN ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE RACED BUT I WAS THEN ABLE TO TURN IT OFF. DESPITE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

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.