Mercedes-Benz C-Class Complaints (2011)

516 consumer complaints on file.

#11539978August 22, 2023
SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2011 C300 4matic Sport I'm very concerned about the front subframe after going over the invoice and everything that was replaced on the rear subframe due to a recall Mercedes issued. But wait doesn't the whole subframe have severe rust corrosion all throughout yes it does per mechanic/technician. I'm having steering issues while driving the vehicle when applying the breaks the vehicle pulls very hard to the left the whole car swerves to the left very dangerously. After getting it checked out the mechanic/ technician pointed out that the control arm snapped from the Front subframe due to severe corrosion. I'm not understanding how the recall was only for the rear subframe only. The whole entire subframe is severely rusted. Front subframe which may experience premature wear of the front axel carrier and a fracture risk, potentially resulting in sudden loss of steering control. After internal endurance testing determined the front axle carrier supplied for certain Mercedes SUV’s and cars may weaken prematurely. An investigation revealed the root cause of the problem was due to a manufacturing defect in which the parts did not receive proper corrosion protection. My front subframe did not receive the proper corrosion protection. It's available for inspection. It's currently still at the dealership due to being unsafe to drive. I'm having steering issues while driving the vehicle when applying the breaks the vehicle pulls very hard to the left the whole car swerves to the left very dangerously. The problem has been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. The vehicle or component has Not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives. Only Dealer and independent service center did the inspection. No warning indicators no other symptoms, this issue took place around February - March of 2023. When I received the letter about the subframe recall I was excited thinking the issue would be fixed. But No it's unsafe
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11533725July 21, 2023
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Each time I filled my gas tank, there was an overpowering odor of gasoline inside the car and outside on the passenger side. Once the tank would get down below 3/4 of a tank, the odor would dissipate until down to a 1/4 of a tank it would go away completely.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11533736July 21, 2023
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I suspect a failure in the fuel tank / system seal, which is allowing gas fumes into the cabin. There is a strong smell of gasoline inside the cabin especially after a full tank refill. This issue was also a problem for my 2008 Mercedes Benz E350. It has not been inspected but since my E350 had a similar extended warranty repair, I assume this would be similar. The strong fumes and odor in the cabin is a health risk of breathing the fumes or explosion. There are no warning lamp to indicate this failure. No recalls or extended warranty currently to fix this problem.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11533738July 21, 2023
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ENGINE
There is a crack in the flange causing a fuel leak in my C300 2011 Mercedes-Benz built March 2011. A strong gas smell fills the car. This situation is extremely dangerous and should be included in the recall that was approved for vehicles C300 manufactured from April 2011-July 2011. Please include my vehicle in this recall. There is only a one month difference.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11528210June 21, 2023
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
My check engine light came on approximately one month ago. Once tested it indicated a fuel vapor leak. I pulled out of a driveway and a large stream of fuel spilled all over the roadway. Approximately 7 feet in length about 5 inches in width was on the road. I took it to a Mercedes repair shop and they informed me I had a fuel leak and that it was not safe to drive. There was corrosion and rust forming on the tank which seems very odd since the car is garage kept and we don't get much snow in Kentucky. My daughter rides in this car with me and they told me it is very dangerous and needs repaired. If I was to drive over a cigarette we could essentially blow up. I had a second shop look at it and they also informed me I had a fuel leak and would need to replace the fuel tank. I was told there was a recall on some models of Mercedes for this issue but can't seem to find one on my year make and model. Please help with this matter so my daughter and I can remain safe as well as others around us. Seems like we are in a ticking time bomb.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11522090May 15, 2023
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes C300. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH the check engine began flashing and the vehicle stalled. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle and smoke was observed emanating from the front driver's tire. The contact stated that the fire exploded from the engine compartment. Additionally, the contact stated that she was locked in the vehicle by the driver's seatbelt, but was able to get out of the vehicle. The fire department extinguished the fire and a report was taken. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was towed to a salvage lot. The contact was not sure if the vehicle restarted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11517021April 14, 2023
STRUCTURE:BODY
Good morning. I previously reported incident [XXX] about a subframe issue w/ my 2011 Mercedes Benz C-300. This morning I received a warranty extension from the originally expired 4 years/50,000 mile to 20 years/unlimited miles. The notice says that repairs must be performed by an authorized Mercedes Benz dealership. I had the auto fixed privately and filed the NHTSA request. I called their CS and was told that I would need to visit a dealership, but to be honest I think that would be fruitless. Can MB be compelled to reimburse me for the cost incurred? Regards, [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11517129April 14, 2023
STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION
Like apparently the majority of this model year C300, the rear subframe is completely disintegrated. This is a known issue but Mercedes has not communicated it nor fixed it. I was told, and as the photos clearly indicate, this very likely could have resulted in a catastrophic or fatal accident as the entire rear is corroded. I have photo and video support as well as the inspection from a mechanic.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11514167March 28, 2023
STRUCTURE, VISIBILITY
The contact owned a 2011 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that upon entering the vehicle, he noticed that the inside of the vehicle was flooded with water. The contact then stated that he noticed that water had leaked from the sunroof and entered the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the wiring harness was severely damaged and could not be repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided a case number. The failure mileage was 82,242.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11514093March 27, 2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING, SUSPENSION
Car slow down and stop and cannot start in traffic….
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11512961March 21, 2023
SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE:BODY
My vehicle has been making very odd noises, the steering wheel keeps looking off center and the car is kicking/fishtailing at times without warning. Our mechanic has looked at the car SEVERAL times and finally discovered that the sub frame is completely rusted out and broken. We were told not to drive the vehicle anymore as it is extremely dangerous. After researching about this issue, we found that a class action lawsuit was filed in February 2023 for corrosion/rusting out of frames in 2010-2022 Mercedes Benz models. According to the information, Mercedes is refusing to cover the cost of the repairs and is not returning calls from customers effected by this issue. This information has been reported and added to the class action lawsuit. It was recommended that we report it here as well.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11507821February 17, 2023
AIR BAGS, STEERING
Hi, I dropped off my car with Mercedes-Benz Dealership in Egg Harbor Twp, NJ back on Dec 21, 2022 and still waiting on recall to be fixed and while I'm without ever since that. Please look into this recall.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11506266February 8, 2023
SUSPENSION
Rear tires were down to steel belt after replacing August 1, 2022 and less than 10,000 mile wear. I took the car to a dealership for diagnosis. The rear subframe is completely corroded and failed causing extreme wear on tires and a DANGEROUS DRIVING SCENARIO. I’ve researched and see this is a common problem on these Mercedes cars. Why is there no Mercedes recall or accountability for this common issue?This is a serious issue that could cause serious accidents and bodily harm or death..
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11505784February 6, 2023
AIR BAGS
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V081000 (Air Bags) and 19V010000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was taken to a local dealer for the recall repair; however, the vehicle remained at the dealer awaiting parts for the repair. The manufacturer was contacted and was unable to confirm when the parts would become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11505704February 5, 2023
STRUCTURE:BODY
Took my 2011 C300 4matic to a local mechanic after I noticed a dramatic pulling sensation to the left after braking. After mechanic's inspection, I was informed that the rear subframe was rotted out and that the vehicle is unsafe to drive. I still have the car available for inspection of the rear subframe. The rear subframe caused the pull to the side under braking, which alone could cause an accident. Since it also connects the suspension to the frame of the car, at any point a critical suspension component could break off from the subframe, likely causing total loss of control of the car and potentially an accident. I also took the car to a Mercedes-Benz dealership where they confirmed that the rear subframe would need to be replaced and that the car was not safe to drive. I contacted Mercedes-Benz corporate, but received no support. I was only informed that they are aware of this issue, but they will not assist in any way since there is no recall issued. I provided them with copies of the quote from the dealership.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11504976February 1, 2023
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving at approximately 55 MPH and slowing for traffic, the rear end of the vehicle started to drift to the right. The contact heard an abnormal sound coming from the rear driver’s side of the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had driven the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the entire rear subframe needed to be replaced due to extensive corrosion. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11505048February 1, 2023
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE, STEERING
Electronic steering locks are failing in these cars at an alarming rate. When it fails, the car will be stranded or if driving the car will completely lock the steering and take away control from the driver. This is a safety issue that Mercedes should be recalling and fixing because it will take people's lives away. Mercedes is aware of this issue but is failing to recall it and considering it as non-safety. When manufacturing the Electronic Steering lock, Mercedes used cheap parts that are prone to failure. This issue affected many years and models of their cars but only recalled a few cars. Once failure occurs, the car will not start and it will be required to tow it to a dealership where repairs over $2000 will be needed to fix this SAFETY issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11503537January 25, 2023
STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION
My 2011 c300 has a rotted rear subframe making the car not able to be driven. It has major ,life threatening, costly damage and this issue already has a recall all over the world but not in the United States.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11503441January 24, 2023
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated when he started the vehicle, the driver side taillights were inoperable, and the taillight warning light was illuminated. The contact examined the taillights and noticed that the wires were melted, and the taillight assembly had melted as well. The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V177000 (Exterior Lighting). The contact received no additional assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 90,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11502894January 20, 2023
STRUCTURE:BODY, STEERING, SUSPENSION
Rear sub frame and suspension welds have cracks and are broken a loose which when having to put on brakes suddenly cause car to servely pull and twist which can cause a bad accident or worse.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Mercedes-Benz C-Class