Mercedes-Benz C-Class Complaints

3,817 consumer complaints on file.

#11674814July 20, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My car caught on fire due to AC malfunction
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11674663July 18, 2025
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, SERVICE BRAKES
On 4 different occasions car brake assist activated causing car to come to an immediate stop and jerk. At stop light as I started to accelerate a left turn car came to an immediate stop almost causing the car behind hit rear end. Brake assist light activated. This happened twice. And twice when in reverse backing out of a parking space and backing into driveway. Dealership notified look at my car and stated they did not see anything wrong. 4th incident happened within 30 minutes after leaving Wilmington Mercedes Benz.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11674095July 16, 2025
SUSPENSION
Rear subframe crossmember rotting, needs replacement. It seems to be a common problem with this vehicle and the assumption by most professional is that it a faulty part supplied by a third party to Mercedes. The rest of the cars undercarriage is pristine, making me wonder why just this one part would rust out.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11673323July 14, 2025
AIR BAGS
I was driving normally last week when the driver's head restraint system (known by Mercedes as Neck Pro) unexpectedly and without warning blew at my head. The noise was very loud, and the headrest slammed against my head. Luckily, I was driving approximately 20-25 miles per hour, daytime, on a residential street without too many other vehicles. I was able to pull over to investigate what happened and ensure I wasn't injured and did not collide with any objects in the road. If this had happened on the highway at highway speeds with a less attentive driver, I could see this potentially resulting in a major collision. The road was fat, no bumps, weather was clear. There is no reason why this happened. From what I can tell, the system looks like it failed (plastic clips broke off) and the system did not intentionally deploy. It has not been repaired and is available for inspection. I have not taken it to the dealership for review. The vehicle is in perfect condition with no warnings. It very recently passed Maryland state inspection.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11672484July 10, 2025
ENGINE
My Mercedes Benz 2014 W204 C250 initially had a noise during startup. The startup noise became louder and now my car does not start. Also, the check engine light indicate a cam shaft position sensor error. Looking online it appears that my problem is exactly like the problem described in a NHTSA report on 2012-2015 W204 and W172 vehicles(C250 and SLK250) equipped with the M271 engine. I would like NHTSA assistant in getting my Mercedes Benz W024 C250, VIN [XXX] included as part of extended recall of the same car and engine and repaired. If more information is needed, please contact me. [XXX] [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
#11672076July 8, 2025
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
Failed component: Front Sunroof Clip What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Sunroof clip, yes. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The glass pane lifted while the car was in motion and had to be held down to secure it until the car stopped. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No While merging to enter the freeway at approx 45-50 mph I opened my sunroof. At about halfway back the glass began to lift up off the track/railing as if it was going to fly off the track. Had I not been holding the button to open the sunroof I would not have noticed and the entire glass pane would have blown off, possibly damaging the car or worse flying off and hit another car. I had to hold the glass in place to keep it from flying off until I was able to exit the freeway. Once I stopped the car to inspect the sun roof I noticed the clip that secures the glass to the track was broken (crumbled) in the sunroof track. I removed the pieces of broken plastic from the track and was then able to close the sunroof. I am now unable to safely open my sunroof while the vehicle is in motion.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11671505July 7, 2025
STEERING
The ESL has failed and it has happened in a lot of these cars.i was unable to move my steering wheel.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11671654July 7, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Upon purchasing my 2016 C300, I starting experiencing a right pull whenever I press on the brakes. I was very concerned as I use this vehicle to assist with dropping and pick up of my 2 grandchildren. The more I drove the car, the more unsafe especially when I attempt to bring my car to a stop. I took the car to a local mechanic and I was advice to take it to a Mercedes dealership. The mechanic also advice that it was an issue with the REAR SUB FRAME. A week later I took the car in to Mercedes as suggested and a day later I received a call and video from Mercedes that the subframe was broken and that is why I am getting that hard pull whenever I brake. Mercedes also stated that the control arm bracket is barely on and it is causing the vehicle to flex.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11671664July 7, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I was driving around my neighborhood one day with my panoramic sunroof open and at the red light i wanted to close the sunroof (california summer sun is no joke) and it made this really big 'THUMP' noise, thought the sunroof glass cracked. After the big THUMP noise, the sunroof wouldnt close and this is after the light turned green so i am driving slowly because there was rattling noise coming from the sunroof and didnt want the sunroof to fly out from the car. So i had to pull over and try to figure out if its okay to drive with stuck sunroof with it rattling noise. after that i tried to close and open the sunroof and wouldnt move or do anything, it was just stuck. So i turned my hazzards on then drove slowly back home. after about 30 mins playing with sunroof in my garage, hoping that i will close (then at least i can still drive my car without being scared that it will fly out from my car), finally go it to closed but now it doesnt work at all. then i have found out that from 2014 to 2018 pano sunroof is known issue and there were safety recall on some pano sunroof already on this model. i called 6 places and they told me (besides from how many they had already repaired) the holder on the sunroof rail is broken so the whole rail assy needs to be replaced. imagine if i was on a freeway going 65+ and if this would have happend and this HUGE pano sunroof flew out from my car... this is very big safety issue and that probably why 2017 (same pano sunroof) was on a recall.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11671701July 7, 2025
SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to an independent mechanic for a routine maintenance check, the contact was informed that there was severe corrosion on the subframe of the vehicle. The contact was informed that the vehicle was unsafe to drive and that several failures might occur due to the failure. The contact stated that recently, while depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle swerved, and the contact lost control of the vehicle. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that there was a warranty on the vehicle related to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was informed that the vehicle was no longer covered under the warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11670521July 1, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250. The contact stated while driving 35-40 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal was significantly stiff, and the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that upon standing on the brake pedal, the vehicle responded as needed. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving 65 MPH. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the vacuum pump was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to Mercedes-Benz of Beaumont (1865 I-10 S, Beaumont, TX 77701), where it was test-driven, and the dealer became aware that the brake pedal was extremely firm. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the vacuum pump needed to be replaced. The part was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the failure increased, causing the contact to engage the parking brake to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 96,826.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11669468June 26, 2025
ENGINE
Check Engine light came on recently, fault code P052E is identified by scanner. Car has 60,000 miles on original it. MB dealer wants to charge $300 for diagnostics, repair job (parts and labor) may cost over $2,000. Since this is critical emission compliance part/system, why is it not recalling?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11669469June 26, 2025
STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the roof panel detached from the vehicle and fractured. The contact stated that the roof panel had previously been replaced, but the failure occurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the front roof panel needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V854000 (Structure); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11669488June 26, 2025
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
Picked my 5 year old Granddaughter up from camp we had a down tornado warning and we were driving home suddenly the sunroof opens it starts raining on us I hurried and pushed the button to close it when I did it made a loud crunch noise and almost shut but stayed vented and one side is higher than the other. When you try to close it or open it it does move a like but I’m scared it will break on us
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11669230June 25, 2025
STRUCTURE:BODY
On Tuesday, June 24th, 2025, the glass panel located between the windshield and sunroof on my 2020 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG unexpectedly detached and flew off while driving. This posed a serious safety risk to me and others on the road. There were no prior warning lights, messages, or symptoms before the failure occurred. This appears to have resulted from heat stress weakening the bonding that secures the panel to the vehicle—an issue consistent with NHTSA Recall 23V854000. That recall covers my exact year, make, and model, yet my specific VIN has not been included for reasons unknown, despite experiencing the exact same failure described in the recall notice. The issue was confirmed by Mercedes-Benz of Boston, where my vehicle is currently located. The failed component is available for inspection upon request. The dealer quoted me approximately $2,200 for repairs but declined to cover the cost under warranty since my VIN is not part of the active recall. I have opened a case with Mercedes-Benz Corporate to request full or partial reimbursement, and I am reporting this to NHTSA so that my VIN may be considered for inclusion in the recall.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11667937June 19, 2025
SEAT BELTS
Front seat belts do not automatically retract.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11667088June 16, 2025
STEERING
Over the past month, my 2020 Mercedes-Benz C300 has been experiencing unexpected and increasingly concerning issues with the steering. These problems began suddenly and without any prior warning signs. Initially, the steering has been making grinding sounds more usual, particularly at lower speeds and when making tight turns. Over the following weeks, the issue became more pronounced, with occasional instances of the steering wheel resisting movement or feeling delayed in its response. At times, it feels as if the power steering system is intermittently failing or underperforming. There have been no warning lights on the dashboard, and I have not been involved in any recent accidents or incidents that could have caused physical damage to the steering system. I have maintained the vehicle in accordance with the manufacturer's guidelines, including regular servicing. but there the person before me had been in a accident and it may have been the dealership i bought it off of failed to fix it
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11666448June 12, 2025
AIR BAGS, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
The model/year Mercedes-Benz are well known for experiencing this/these particular issues. My research has shown that these year/make/model vehicles are experiencing the same type of mechanical failures nationwide. The issues all relatively begin around 75,000 miles. I've only had my car 3 years putting 30000 on it hardly driven/cared for **Issue Found:** Oil was leaking onto the ignition coil and spark plug of cylinder 3. **Source of Leak:** Valve cover gasket failure. **Recommended Repairs:** - Replace the valve cover gasket (to halt the oil leak). - Replace spark plugs and ignition coil (which were contaminated/damaged by oil). **Relevance to Warranty:** The valve cover gasket is only covered if it fails as a result of an internally lubricated engine part causing damage. Ignition coils and spark plugs are maintenance items and are not covered by warranty plans. **Required Repairs (Identified Mechanical Issues)** - **Coolant Pipe Leak – $850** **Issue:** Coolant leaking from a pipe on the side of the cylinder head. **Relevance to Warranty:** Typically not covered unless it pertains to a failure in a covered system such as the water pump or cylinder head due to an internal breakdown. This is likely classified as an external plumbing component, which is not included. - **Oil Feed Line Leak – $600** **Issue:** Oil leaking from the side of the engine, traced back to the oil feed line. **Relevance to Warranty:** This is not typically covered unless the oil feed line is part of the oil pump system and has failed due to an internal issue (usually regarded as an external line). **Other Items Found (Worsening Issues)** - **Timing Chain Rattle / Cam Adjuster Noise – $6,000** -**Issue:** Rattling sound during startup. **Diagnosis:** Noise emanating from the timing chain and camshaft adjusters. **Relevance to Warranty:** This is covered under Secure Plus, as both the timing chain and camshaft adjusters are recognized as internally lubricated par
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11666460June 12, 2025
STEERING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I drove vehicle to Publix with no problems. When i tried to start vehicle, key turns but car does not start. There is no cranking sound. I called a mechanic friend and after extensive diagnosis he determined it was the ESL Module which controls the steering. Fortunately i was not driving the vehicle when the ESL Module failed. There is a recall on Mercedes Benz c300 from 2012-2017 for the ESL Module problems but the 2011 is not included. It should be recalled since it is a safety hazard and it appears others have had similar problems according to comments on Google. I have a handicapped wife i take care of and having issues with the steering can cause accidents and injuries. There were no messages or symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. There needs to be a recall or further inspection done on the 2011 Mercedes Benz c300. Car will be towed to a Mercedes Benz dealership for Diagnostics.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11666563June 12, 2025
SEAT BELTS
The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that both the front driver’s side seat belt and front passenger's side seat belt had failed to retract as needed. There was no warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the seat belts buckles would unintendedly lodge under the seats. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V032000(Seat Belts); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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