NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
IN 13 MONTHS AND 9,000 MILES, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 3 CONTINENTAL EXTREME CONTACT DWS TIRES DUE TO BULGING SIDEWALLS. ONE OF THOSE 3 WAS THE FIRST REPLACEMENT ON JULY 15, 2014. THE FIRST BULGING SIDEWALL HAPPENED 12 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THEM. *TR
MY CAR LEFT ME STRANDED AT WORK. WHEN I WAS LEAVING WORK MY CAR WOULD NOT START THE STEERING WAS COMPLETELY LOCKED . THE CAR WOULD NOT EVEN START THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD TURN ON WAS THE RADIO AND A MESSAGE OF NOT TO FORGET TO REMOVE YOUR KEY. I COULD NOT EVEN GET THE CAR OUT OF GEAR. I WOULD CRANK IT AND NOTHING, IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. I NEVER RECEIVED A MESSAGE TO WARN ME THAT SOMETHING WAS FAULTY.. BEFORE TAKING CAR INTO DEALERSHIP I DID MY RESEARCH ONLINE AND SPOKE WITH A SERVICE TECH AT MERCEDES AND SAID THAT IT WAS POSSIBLY EIS FAILURE AND STEERING LOCK. AFTER SO MANY COMPLAINS LIKE MINE ONLINE I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THIS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. WHAT IF THIS WOULD OF HAPPENED WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND MY STEERING LOCKED? WHO KNOWS?...IS MERCEDES WAITING FOR SERIOUS ACCIDENTS TO HAPPEN? THESE FAILURES ARE REALLY A CALL FOR A RECALL..IF THERE ARE ANYMORE MERCEDES OWNERS OUT THERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM FILE YOUR COMPLAINTS MAYBE IF MORE OF US COMPLAIN THEY WILL DO A RECALL. THIS IS NOT CHEAP TO FIX IT COST FROM $1200 TO $1700. I BOUGHT A MERCEDES BELIEVING I WAS BUYING A DEPENDABLE VEHICLE NOW I AM HAVING SECOND THOUGHTS AFTER ALL I HAVE READ... *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS SHORTED OUT REPEATEDLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING), BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE ANY CONFIRMATION OF THE REPAIR AND THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH DRAINED THE POWER AND BATTERY SOURCE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
I DROVE MY CAR TO WORK AND PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT. I EXITED THE CAR AND LOCKED THE DOORS WHEN I REMEMBERED THAT ON THIS DAY, THE TREE CUTTING CREW WILL BE SERVICING THE PARKING LOT. I RETURNED TO THE CAR TO MOVE IT BUT WHEN I TURNED THE KEY MY IGNITION WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY EVEN THOUGH ALL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE REMOTE DOOR LOCKS AND RADIO WERE WORKING FINE. I JUMP STARTED THE VEHICLE WITH ANOTHER CAR NONETHELESS TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T A DEAD BATTERY. THE CAR WOULDN'T START. I'VE OWNED THE CAR FOR MANY YEARS BUT NOTHING LIKE THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED. TO COME OUT TO A CAR WITH A WORKING BATTERY AND NOT STARTING. I HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO CHECKED ALL FUSES AND WIRING ONLY TO DETERMINE THAT IT WAS THE EIS OR ESL UNIT. THIS IS THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK MECHANISM THAT MALFUNCTIONED. I ENDED UP SPENDING OVER $1000 TO GET THIS FIXED. *TR
I RECEIVED A WARNING ON MY DASHBOARD THAT MY RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT, RIGHT TURN SIGNAL AND BACK LIGHT NEEDED TO BE CHECKED AND MALFUNCTIONING. THE MESSAGE CAME AND WENT FOR SEVERAL DAYS. WHEN I OPENED THE COMPARTMENT WHERE THE TAIL BULB CARRIERS AND ASSEMBLY WERE, I SAW THAT SOME OF THE LIGHTS WERE VERY DIM. THE CARRIER ITSELF WAS PIPING HOT. SO MY FIRST REACTION WAS TO REPLACE THE BULBS. I DID. SAME PROBLEMS, NOTHING WAS FIXED. THE NEXT DAY, EVERYTHING CLEARED UP...SO I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE FINE. A WEEK LATER, IT CAME BACK. WHEN I OPENED UP THE COMPARTMENT AGAIN, IT WAS SUPER HOT, AND I NOTICED THAT THE WIRING WAS BROWNING AND IT BURNT MY FINGER. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WILL COST HUNDREDS TO REPLACE AND NOT COVERED. *TR
I RECEIVED A MESSAGE TO CHECK THE REAR RIGHT (PASSENGER) LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNAL. I JUST PURCHASED THE CAR USED ON MAY 20, 2014, AND BEGAN GETTING THE DASHBOARD WARNING A FEW DAYS LATER, BUT IT WAS INTERMITTENT. ON MAY 26, 2014, I INSPECTED OF THE BULB CARRIER AND PIN CONNECTOR AND NOTICED THAT THE CONNECTION INVOLVING THE BROWN WIRE ON THE PIN CONNECTOR WAS BURNED AND THE CORRESPONDING CONNECTION ON THE BULB CARRIER WAS ALSO BURNED/DISINTEGRATED AND THE AREA AROUND THE BROWN WIRE WAS VERY HOT. IT IS DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHEN THE FAILURE ACTUALLY HAPPENED. *TR
DEFECTIVE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL): HI, MY STEERING LOCK JUST WENT ON ME AS WELL AND WAS LEFT STRANDED WITH NO CAR THIS PAST WEEKEND! MY 2009 C300 4MATIC SPORT HAS APPROX. 56,000 MILES ON IT AND I AM OUT OF WARRANTY. I CALLED MB USA AND BEGGED FOR WARRANTY ASSISTANCE BUT WAS BASICALLY TOLD NO BECAUSE AS A SECOND OWNER I DID NOT HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED ENOUGH TIMES AT THE LOCAL MB DEALERSHIP! I GUESS I HAVEN'T SPENT ENOUGH MONEY TO DATE ON UNWARRANTED REPAIRS AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP?? AFTER EXTENSIVE ONLINE RESEARCH I TOO FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2008 AND 2009 MB C300, AND MOST LIKELY LATER MODELS AS WELL!. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL) FAILURE TYPICALLY HAPPENS RIGHT AFTER EXPIRATION OF THE BASIC WARRANTY. JUST LIKE THE THOUSANDS OF MB C300 OWNERS STUCK IN THIS SITUATION, I NEED MY VEHICLE AND HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO SHELL OUT THE MONEY FOR THIS REPAIR! (OVER $1,000). I AM SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE THIS CAR ANYWHERE FAR IN FEAR THAT ANOTHER TECHNICAL/MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN WILL OCCUR. IN ADDITION TO ESL FAILURE, ANOTHER CONCERN OF MINE IS FINDING OUT THAT ELECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM (EIS) FAILURE IS ANOTHER COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 08-09 MB C300'S. SHAME ON MERCEDES FOR NOT ISSUING A RECALL ON THE ESL & EIS ISSUES AND STICKING IT TO THE CONSUMERS. I TOO PLAN ON CONTACTING MY ATTORNEY REGARDING THIS ISSUE. *TR
MY CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON, EVENTUALLY FOUND OUT IT WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTION. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, I FOUND IT IS VERY COMMON ON THE C CLASS. COST OVER $1K TO REPAIR, AND MERCEDES OF USA DECLINED TO COVER ANY OF THE EXPENSE EVEN THOUGH THE ISSUE IS COMMON.
A SMOKE CONDITION CAME FROM THE TRUNK, UPON INSPECTION TAILLIGHT BULB HOUSING WAS FOUND MELTED, ALL BULBS WERE NONE WORKING AS A RESULT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE WARNING LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
MY VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FAILURE OF ITS STARTING AND STEERING LOCK FUNCTIONS. THE UNDERLINE PROBLEM AND AREAS OF CONCERN IS THE FREQUENCY OF THIS FAILURE AND THE DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH HAVING THE VEHICLE IMMOBILIZED WHEN THE ASSOCIATED PARTS FAIL. MERCEDES BENZ HAS NOT TAKEN ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE YET IT CAN'T BE FIXED WITHOUT DEALERSHIP INTERVENTION. THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE BESIDES HAVING YOUR CAR TOWED IS IN THE EXCESS OF $1,000.00. IN MY CASE I HAVE BEEN QUOTED &1700.00! ALTHOUGH MY PARTICULAR INSTANCE HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED, THERE IS NO EXCEPTION THAT IT CAN OCCUR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOTION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF AND THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK IN ANY POSITION. UPDATED 11/24/2014 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO CHANGE THE GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE NOR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE MORE THAN ONCE. THE VEHICLE STALLED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND WAS ONLY ABLE TO DRIVEN AT A SPEED OF LESS THAN 20 MPH EACH TIME THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER A THIRD TIME FOR FURTHER INSPECTION, DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000. UPDATED 09/15/14*LJ UPDATED 1/16/15 *JS
RIGHT REAR PASSENGER LIGHTING ASSEMBLY CAUGHT FIRE. WIRING HARNESS AND LIGHT BULB CARRIER WERE BURNED. RIGHT REAR TURN AND BRAKE LIGHTS ARE INOPERABLE. *TR
I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND A MESSAGE LIGHT CAME ON SAYING CHECK REAR RIGHT BRAKE LAMP, TURN LAMP ,AND TAIL LAMP SO I STOPPED BY THE AUTO PART STORE TO HAVE THEM REPLACE THE BULBS AND THEY FOUND THE LIGHT HOLDER AND THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE LIGHTS HAD MELTED. *TR
TROUBLE WITH SUN ROOF ASSEMBLY. MECHANIC WARNED ME NOT TO USE IT AS IT IS DEFECTIVE AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED BUT MUST BE REPLACED WHICH WOULD COST TOO MUCH MONEY. THE CAR WAS PURCHSED USED AND THIS WAS NOT INDICATED AT THAT TIME. HE WARNED ME AFTER I BOUGHT IT.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING), 15V711000 (AIR BAGS), AND 16V081000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
COMPONENTS OF THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES HAVE OVERHEATED AND RENDERED THE UNITS INOPERATIVE. AS A RESULT, THE TAIL LIGHTS NO LONGER WORK. THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE AND COMMON OCCURRENCE IN AGING ASSEMBLIES OF THIS TYPE. *TR
RIGHT REAR TAILLIGHT PIG TAIL OVERHEATED AND SHORTED OUT LAMP HOLDER. YOU CAN SEE THE BURN MARKS WHERE IT WAS TOO HOT. HAS TO BE REPLACED. *TT
REAR LIGHTING DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK, I HAVE GOTTEN ERROR CODES ONE DAY AND THE LIGHTS WORK THE NEXT. I HAVE READ PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS ON THE LIGHTING ISSUE. ONE TIME ITS A BULB ON THE RIGHT AND NEXT ITS A BULB ON THE LEFT. TODAY THEY ALL WORK.. *TR
WIRING HARNESS ON REAR TAIL LIGHT MELTED CAUSING THE TAIL LIGHT CIRCUIT BOARD TO STOP WORKING ,CAUSING THE BRAKE LIGHTS ,REVERSE LIGHTS AND BLINKER TO STOP WORKING.SPOKE WITH MERCEDES BENZ DEALER SHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT THEY WERE NOT GONNA FIX IT FOR FREE AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS.THIS IS A HAZARD CAUSE I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR,WHEN MY LIGHTS WENT OUT.AFTER LOOKING AT THE MELTED HARNESS WIRE THIS IS ALSO A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER BEFORE SOME ONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED. MERCEDES BENZ IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO CORRECT IT.... *TR
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND SMELLED AN INTENSE BURNING. I HAD BEEN GETTING THE TAILLIGHT ERROR CODES AND THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS A FUSE. DECIDED TO FINALLY RESEARCH ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT IT IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE THAT MERCEDES TAILLIGHTS/WIRING SPONTANEOUSLY CATCH ON FIRE. I REMOVED THE HARNESSES FROM THE TAILLIGHTS AND NOTICED THE PLUG HAD ALMOST BEEN ENTIRELY DESTROYED/BURNED ON THE RIGHT REAR, AND WAS STARTING TO BURN ON THE LEFT REAR. I LOST ALL POWER TO MY TAILLIGHTS AT APPROXIMATELY 11:30 AT NIGHT, AND THE HEADLIGHTS STARTED SHUTTING OFF AND ON RANDOMLY. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE STILL TURNING OFF AND ON RANDOMLY, APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THE AUTO DIM SETTING. I HAVE PICTURES OF EVERYTHING, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NOW PAID TO FIX THE TAILLIGHT HARNESSES (A COST OF OVER $240 IN PARTS) BECAUSE MERCEDES HAS NOT WILLINGLY RECALLED THIS FIRE HAZARD AND KNOWN DEFECT. TO BE HONEST, I AM PISSED. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHERE I CAN SEND THE DEFECTIVE PARTS AND/OR PICTURES TO. *TR
THE DASH WARNED ME THAT MY REAR TAIL LIGHTS WERE MALFUNCTIONING. THE MESSAGE CAME AND WENT FOR SEVERAL DAYS UNTIL IT WAS ON CONTINUOUSLY. I ACCESSED THE ELECTRICAL COMPARTMENT AND THE GROUND SIDE OF PLUG, THE SOCKET AND THE WIRE WAS MELTED AND HAS BEEN ON FIRE. I HAVE PICTURES ON DROPBOX: LINK ATTACHED HTTPS://WWW.DROPBOX.COM/SC/W4TM7B28PHH9LAL/-DZ3HTMLS-. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE LOCATED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V711000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE.
ALL REAR TAIL LIGHTS STOP WORKINGI REPLACED THE LIGHTS. MERCEDES DEALERSHIP SAID THE WIRES HAD FRIED AND THAT THEY HAD SEEN MANY CASES SIMILAR TO THE REAR LIGHTS. $600 TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. *TR
THE TAIL LIGHT COMPLETELY MELTED THE CIRCUT BOARD AND STOPPED WORKING. *TR
REAR LIGHT ASSEMBLY FAILURE DUE TO A MELTED ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. *TR
MARCH 1 2014 I NOTICE MY WIFE DASH WAS LIGHTING UP WITH REAR BRAKE LIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I OPENED THE TRUNK AND HIT THE BRAKE COMPARTMENT AND IT CAME BACK ON. APRIL 11 2014 THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND I TRIED DOING THE SAME THING BUT NOTHING. OPENED THE BRAKE COMPARTMENT AND DISCONNECTED EVERYTHING ON THAT SIDE AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM THE DEALERSHIP. DON'T WANT ANOTHER MELT DOWN BACK THERE IN THE TRUNK. IF THIS IS THE BEST COMPANY OUT THERE JUST ANNOUNCE A RECALL AND FIX YOUR CUSTOMERS FAULTY EQUIPMENT. *JS
THE DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT HOUSING HAS BURNT OUT AND KNOCKED OUT ALL LIGHTS IN THE CLUSTER. THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE, BUT THERE HAS YET TO BE A RECALL FOR THIS. *TR
FOR THE THIRD TIME IN 6 MONTHS MY CAR WOULDN'T START. GOT OF WORK GETTING READY TO GO HOME AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START. TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CHECKED IT AND COULDN'T FIND A THING. THEY ASKED ME TO BRING THE SPARE KEY AND THE CAR STARTED. FAST FORWARD THREE WEEKS LATER...SAME ISSUE. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR 5 DAYS AND COULDN'T FIND NOTING SO THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY IN NOVEMBER. FAST FORWARD TO YESTERDAY FEB. 25TH. 2014 SAME THING HAPPENED. TOWED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DETERMINED IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK: EZL STEERING LOCK AND PROGRAMMING KEY. I HOPE AND PRAY MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERS THIS. I HAVE A 2009 C300. *TR
WARNING MESSAGE THAT THE BACK TAIL LIGHTS & SIGNAL LIGHTS WERE OUT. AFTER CHECK IT APPEARED THAT THE WIRE HAD MELTED. *TR
LIGHT WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON DASHBOARD FOR REAR LIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL. AFTER LOOKING @ THE CONNECTER FOUND IT SMOKING AND MELTED ... IMMEDIATELY UNPLUGGED IT. MB DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE INVESTIGATING . *TR
REAR BRAKE LIGHTS ARE STAYING ON WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AND THE PARKING LAMPS BOTH WENT OUT. THE BRAKE LIGHTS OFF WHEN CAR IS OFF BUT WHILE I'M DRIVING THEY STAY ON THE WHOLE TIME. I TOOK IT TO RAY CATENA MERCEDES AUTO SERVICE AND THEY ADVISED ME THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS NO CHARGE AS PART OF A RECALL ON ALL MERCEDES VEHICLES BUT GAVE ME A QUOTE OF 1175 FOR THE MODULE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE MODULE SHORTAGE AND LIGHTS GOING OUT IS MOST LIKELY DUE TO THE WIRING HARNESS FRYING OUT. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE A MODULE THAT WAS DUE TO A WIRING HARNESS FRYING OUT. THAT SHOULD BE A MANUFACTURER ISSUE. *TR
AS I WAS DRIVING I HAD A LIGHT COME ON MY DASH TELLING ME I HAD LOW COOLANT AND THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE IT FILLED. THIS HAS HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIMES SINCE MY SHORT OWNERSHIP OF THIS VEHICLE. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A SEALED UNIT AND SHOULD NOT BE LOSING ANTIFREEZE ANYWHERE. I HAD THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT AND I DO NOT HAVE ANY LEAKS WHATSOEVER. WHEN I ADD THE COOLANT, IT SEEMS TO BE FAIRLY LOW. I AM CONCERNED THAT I MAY HAVE SOME BIG ISSUES ON MY HANDS AND COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE A HYDRO-LOCKING OF THE ENGINE PROBLEM CREATING A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE LEADING TO A CRASH. AFTER A BIT OF RESEARCH I AM FINDING THAT THE MB C63 HAS "HEAD BOLT" ISSUES LEADING TO THE LOSS OF COOLANT AND ENGINES BLOWING UP AND OR HYDRO-LOCKING. I FEAR THIS ISSUE MAY HAPPEN TO ME AND WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE THIS BEING LOOKED INTO AS I FEEL MB HAS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF RESPONSIBILITY HERE WITH REGARDS TO THE SAFETY OF THEIR PATRONS. THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME. *TT
MY NAME IS [XXX] AND I HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED MERCEDES C300 4MATIC SPORT. MY WIFE AND I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO OWN A MERCEDES FOR ITS RELIABILITY, OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AND SERVICE. ONE EVENING MY WIFE AND I WENT GROCERY SHOPPING AND AFTER COMING BACK IN TO THE CAR WE ENDED UP BEING STRANDED FOR SEVERAL HOURS WAITING FOR AN EMERGENCY ROADSIDE SERVICE TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. WE INITIALLY THOUGHT IT WOULD SIMPLY REQUIRE A JUMP START AND NEVER EXPECTED THE CAR TO HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM BECAUSE WE ALWAYS MAINTAIN OUR CARS. WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO TOW THE CAR TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP IN HUNTINGTON, NEW YORK. LET ME REMIND YOU THAT THE CAR IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD, AND HAS UNDER 45,000 MILES SO IT?S STILL YOUNG, AND NEVER HAS BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS. THE NEXT DAY A MECHANIC FROM THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME AND INFORMED ME THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE STEERING LOCK MODULE WHICH NEEDS TO BE CHANGED AND THE TOTAL COST IS $1,200. I WAS ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED BECAUSE I NEVER EXPECTED A CAR THIS PRESTIGIOUS TO HAVE PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. I THINK IS UNFAIR, EXTORTIONATE AND UNETHICAL FOR MERCEDES TO CHARGE THEIR CUSTOMERS FOR A TECHNICAL FAULT THAT CLEARLY REQUIRES A RECALL. AFTER SOME EXTENSIVE RESEARCH I CAME TO FIND THAT THIS IS A COMMON TECHNICAL ERROR THAT TO MY SURPRISE STILL HAS NOT BEEN PUT AS A RECALL. A LOT OF MERCEDES OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH IS SIMPLY UNETHICAL AND UNJUSTIFIED. A PRESTIGIOUS CAR LIKE MERCEDES SHOULDN'T LET A TECHNICAL FAULT LIKE THIS OCCUR BECAUSE OF THE PRECISE DETAILED ATTENTION THEY PUT ON EACH AND EVERY CAR THEY MANUFACTURE. EVEN IF THE PROBLEM DOES EXIST MERCEDES SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THE ISSUE AND NOT LET ITS CUSTOMERS PAY FOR MERCEDES? FAULT. WHICH IS WHY I AM SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING TAKING THIS CASE FURTHER AND FILING LEGAL SUIT. I HAVE ARRANGED AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY LAWYER ON FRIDAY TO SPEAK FURTHER ABOUT THIS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, I WAS RECEIVING ERROR MESSAGES ON MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ASKING ME TO CHECK THE REAR PASSENGER BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURNING SIGNAL BULBS. ONCE I WAS HOME, I OPENED MY TRUNK AND SMELT BURNING PLASTIC. I OPENED THE ACCESS PANEL TO THE FUSE BOX LOCATED NEAR THE PASSENGER TAILLIGHT AND INSPECTED THE AREA FOR DAMAGE. I NOTICED SOME RESIDUAL SMOKE COMING FROM THE CONNECTOR ATTACHED TO THE TAILLIGHT BULB ASSEMBLY. I REMOVED THE BULB ASSEMBLY AND THE BROWN GROUND WIRE HAD BURNED THROUGH THE PLASTIC ASSEMBLY. I REMOVED THE WIRE HARNESS FROM THE ASSEMBLY AND THE CONNECTOR CRUMBLED DUE TO THE DAMAGE. *TR
THE WIRES WITHIN BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS OF MY 2009 MERCEDES C300 HAVE THEIR INSULATION SO DETERIORATED THAT THE WIRES ARE FULLY EXPOSED. THIS ISSUE CAUSES THE LIGHTS TO CUT IN AND OUT WITHOUT WARNING WHICH HAVE OCCURRED DURING HIGHWAYS SPEEDS AND OR RURAL AREAS IN PUERTO RICO. THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION IS NOT BEING TAKEN CARE OF BY THE MANUFACTURER WITH VARIOUS ATTEMPTS TRIED. *TR
ENTIRE TAIL LIGHT ON DRIVE SIDE WENT OUT. I LOOKED AT THE LIGHTING HOUSING AND NOTED BURNT WIRES EMITTING FROM THE HOUSING. *TR
AT 43,500 AND 54 MONTHS THE TRANSMISSION IN THE CAR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN PROPERLY SERVICED AT THE MERCEDES DEALER. I BELIEVE THIS MODEL/MAKE HAS DEFECTS AS I HAVE BROUGHT IT BACK FOR SERVICE MANY TIMES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PUTTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, THE SWITCH FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
COMPLAINT: C-CLASS REAR LIGHT MELTING ISSUE. REAR BULB LIGHT FAIL ERROR. REPORTING A BURNING SMELL OF MELTING PLASTIC AND FAILURE OF REAR TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS. I WENT OUT ON THE INTERNET AND SAW I WASN'T THE ONLY ONE THIS HAPPENED TO AND THAT THE U.S. SAFETY REGULATORS HAVE OPENED A PROBE OF AN ESTIMATED 218,000 MERCEDES C-CLASS SEDANS HAVE BEEN REPORTED. I CALLED THE MERCEDES-BENZ OF SEATTLE AND EVERYONE THAT I TRIED TO TALK TO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE IT AT ALL. OF COURSE I HAD THE IT REPAIRED AND IT COST $541.41 AGAIN TRYING TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND WHAT I HAD SEEN ON THE INTERNET NO ONE WAS SAYING ANYTHING WHICH SHOWED ME THEY HAVE BEEN TOLD NOT TO TALK ABOUT IT. I CALLED MERCEDES CORPORATE OFFICE TO SEE IF THEY COULD TO A GOOD WILL GESTURE BUT I WAS TOLD "NO". ADD ME TO THE LIST OF COMPLAINTS. I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS AMOUNT SO I HOPE I SEE A RECALL COME THROUGH. *TR
I RECEIVED A WARNING THAT MY LEFT TAIL LIGHT WAS OUT. THE LIGHT WAS NOT OUT AND WHEN THE CAR WAS RESTARTED THE MESSAGE NO LONGER APPEARED. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND ASKED SERVICE TO CHECK THE TAILLIGHT. THE SERVICE MANAGER SHOWED ME THE LIGHT PANEL WHICH HAD MELTED PLASTIC AND BURN MARKS ON IT NEAR THE GROUNDING WIRE. HE TOLD ME I NEEDED TO HAVE IT REPLACED AS WELL AS THE CIRCUIT BOARD. I TOLD HIM I THOUGHT IT WAS RIDICULOUS TO HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH A CAR WITH 85K MILES. I JUST REPLACED AN ELECTRICAL PANEL IN THE FRONT 2 MONTHS AGO FOR $700. I ASKED IF THEY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE C AND HE SAID NO BUT HE HAD SEEN A FEW ISSUES WITH THE GROUNDING WIRE. I JUST LOOKED INTO IT TO DISCOVER IT IS UNDER NHTSA INVESTIGATION. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR
RIGHT REAR TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY COMPLETELY WENT OUT AS A RESULT OF A BAD GROUND WIRE. ON THAT SIDE THERE WAS NO BRAKE LIGHT, NO TURN SIGNAL, NO RUNNING LIGHTS, ETC. AFTER INSPECTION THE GROUND (BROWN OUTER MOST WIRE) WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE PLUG/REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS BURN MARKS AND CORROSION. I USED ELECTRICAL TAPE TO TAPE UP THE EXPOSED WIRE (DUE TO HEAT/SPARKS THE INSULATION ON THE WIRE WAS GONE). CURRENTLY, ALL FUNCTIONS OF THE TAIL LIGHT ARE DIM ( 75% DIMMER THAN THE OTHER SIDE) AND AT TIMES IT JUST COMPLETELY DOESN'T WORK. I HAVE STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR AS A RESULT OF THIS AS I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING AS I FEAR IT MIGHT LEAD TO A SMALL FIRE. *TR
DRIVER SIDE REAR LIGHTS DIMMER THAN THE OTHER SIDE THAN WENT OUT, WHEN OPEN THE COMPARTMENT, SMELLED MELTING PLASTIC. CHECKED THE PLUG THAT WENT INTO THE LIGHTS HAS MELTED. ALSO BURN MARK LEFT ON LIGHT HOUSING. *TR
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A HEADBOLT FAILURE RESULTING IN COOLANT FLOODING ONE OF THE CYLINDER, LEAKING INSIDE THE ENGINE AND CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS DRIVING AT 20MPH AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE, OTHERWISE IT WOULD MOST LIKELY RESULT IN A CRASH. MERCEDES-BENZ USA DENIES THE WIDESPREAD NATURE OF THE PROBLEM AFFECTING ALL OF THE M156 ENGINES, EVEN THROUGH IN 2010 MERCEDES-BENZ ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN DIRECTING REPLACEMENT OF THE HEADBOLTS WITH THE NEW IMPROVED DESIGN AND I PERSONALLY KNOW 3 OTHER OWNERS WHOSE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM. MERCEDES-BENZ WOULD NOT RECALL THE AFFECTED ENGINES AS IT WOULD COST THEM MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, INSTEAD THEY CHOSE TO PUT THE CONSUMERS AT RISK AND HAVE THE CONSUMERS COVER THE REPAIR COST AS THE FAILURE TENDS TO HAPPEN SHORTLY AFTER THE BASE WARRANTY EXPIRES. *JS
01/11/2014....4:00 PM .I WAS DRIVING INTO THE ROCKAWAY MALL IN DOVER AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN THE TIRE HIT A BUMP ( THE LEFT FRONT DRIVERS SIDE) AND WENT INSTANTLY FLAT. I HAD TO CONTACT AAA TO CHANGE THE TIRE TO THE SPARE. I WAS UNABLE TO HAVE THE TIRE REPAIRED UNTIL JANUARY 13, 2014. I WAS TOLD THE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT AND THE TIRE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED. I HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW TIRE IN THE AMOUNT OF $268.06. 02/01/2014....6:00 PM .I WAS UP ROUTE 3 WEST IN CLIFTON DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE RED LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING THERE WAS A TIRE ISSUE. I PULLED INTO THE CLOSEST GAS STATION AND MY TIRE (THE LEFT FRONT DRIVERS SIDE) WAS COMPLETELY FLAT. I AGAIN CONTACTED AAA TO CHANGE THE TIRE. MONDAY MORNING I BROUGHT THE CAR TO LOOK AT THE TIRE, AGAIN I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE SIDEWALL BLOWING OUT, IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED AND I WAS CHARGED ANOTHER $52.99. THIS ALSO HAPPENED IN MY PREVIOUS MERCEDES C280 WITH A BUBBLE I THE SIDEWALL TWICE WITH THE SAME TIRE. I HAVE TO CONTACT THE REPAIR PERSON AS TO THE PRICE OF THE TIRE REPLACEMENT. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHICH WILL CAUSE SOMEONE THEIR LIFE. THESE CONTINENTAL PRO CONTI TIRES 225/ R45/17 H91 NEED TO BE RECALLED A.S.A.P. *TR
REAR PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHTS NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL. STARTED GETTING A CONSTANT DISPLAY MESSAGE TO CHECK REAR BREAK, FOG, AND TURN SIGNAL. FIRST CHECKED FOR BAD FUSE. FINALLY WENT TO CHECK THE BULB HOUSING AND NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE WIRES WAS FRAYED. THE WIRE WAS EXPOSED AND THE WIRE HARNESS SEEM TO BE DAMAGED AS WELL FROM THE HEAT. THE WIRES ARE BAD AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
ALL THE LIGHTS OUTSIDE OF THE CAR ARE GOING OUT. THE ENTIRE REAR LEFT LIGHT IS NOT WORKING, ALONG WITH FRONT HEAD LIGHTS. THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND I KEEP RECEIVING MESSAGES ON THE DASHBOARD. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THERE IS CORROSION ON THE WIRES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY DECELERATED AND RESPONDED TO BRAKING ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,500.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED CAUSING THE BATTERY TO FAIL. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A LOOSE WIRE THAT NEEDED TO BE ADJUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,700.
ALL REAR TAIL LIGHTS STOP WORKING, SOME IN THE FRONT NOT WORKING, ELECTRICAL WIRES WERE BURNT I REPLACED THE LIGHTS, THE DASHBOARD ALERT WENT AWAY THEN CAME BACK ON 10 MINUTES LATER. ALSO TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR INOPERATIVE ON DASHBOARD ALERT AS WELL. MY FRIEND WITH A 2008 C300 HAS THE SAME ISSUES WITH HERS TOO. *TR