Mercedes-Benz C-Class Complaints

3,817 consumer complaints on file.

#11744607June 16, 2026
TIRES
2 of 245/40HR18XL & 2 of 225/45HR18XL... All 4 tires replaced I purchased a 2023 Mercedes-Benz C300 from Benzel Busch motor car (an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer) in [XXX] in XXX. Since purchase, this vehicle has had repeated, unresolved defects. The Check Engine warning light has illuminated numurous times, resulting 4 separate towing incidents. Despite multiple warranty repairs, the same issues keep recurring. At only 10,167 miles, one tire required replacement due to abnormal wear. At only 22,780 miles, all 4 tires required full replacement for the same reason. In total 5 tires have been replaced within 22,780 miles, strongly suggesting an underlying vehicle defect (alignment, suspension or steering) rather then normal wear. I paid $1,700 out of picket for the 22,780 miles tire replacement, as tires are not typically covered under warranty. I believe this cost resulted directly from an unresolved vehicle defect, not drive behavior. I filed a formal complaint with Mercedes-Benz USA Customer Assistance Center and received Case No. XXX. I was told reimbursement would not be provided. Desired Resolution: Reimbursement of $1,700 for the tire replacement caused by an unresolved vehicle defect, and a written explanation of how Mercedes-Benz USA will address the recurring mechanical issues. Supporting docyments available: Repair orders, tire receipt, email correspondence. 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
#11744612June 16, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Transmission failed, yes available for inspection Very bad safety issue Yes it has been confirmed by dealship Yes by the deanship Yes there was warning lamps that appeared in January 2026
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11744047June 14, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Over the past few weeks Ive had instances where the car has power but wont crank, Ive had the SRS light come on the dash but after it starting it goes away.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11743560June 11, 2026
SUSPENSION
Dealership: Mercedes-Benz of Santa Fe, 2586 Camino Entrada, Santa Fe, NM 87507 I am filing this complaint regarding multiple unresolved safety defects in my 2024 Mercedes-Benz C300 persisting across numerous repair visits since February 2026. Defect 1 – Recurring Strut Assembly: Following an AC sensor replacement on February 11, 2026, a loud rattling noise emerged from the dashboard/strut area. The vehicle was retained 22 days without resolution. The strut plate was repaired, but the noise recurred. Parts were ordered for the strut assembly, requiring me to drive the defective vehicle for approximately two additional weeks. As of June 8, 2026, the noise remains unresolved. A defective strut assembly affects handling, stability, and steering — creating serious risk at highway speeds. Defect 2 – Safety Systems Disabled: Following the strut plate repair, all driver assistance systems — including collision avoidance and lane keeping — were completely disabled. A warning message confirmed the systems were inoperable. A subsequent software update was required to restore them. Defect 3 – Check Engine Light; Dealer Advised Continued Operation: While driving with the unrepaired strut assembly, the check engine light illuminated. I have photographic evidence. Service Manager Simon explicitly advised me it was safe to continue driving. I contest this. I was not provided a loaner vehicle. Inaccurate Service Records: On June 5, 2026, service notes falsely stated the check engine light was not illuminated. I presented photographic evidence to service representative Robert Rodriguez, who verbally confirmed the photograph. The record was not corrected, potentially obscuring defect patterns from NHTSA review. I respectfully request NHTSA add this complaint to the public database, investigate whether this model has a safety-related defect pattern, and review the dealership's practice of advising consumers to operate vehicles with known structural defects.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11742978June 9, 2026
SUSPENSION
REAR SUB FRAME RUST NEEDS INSPECTED SUPER CLANKY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11742426June 6, 2026
SEAT BELTS
My 2019 Mercedes-Benz C300 Coupe’s front driver seat belt will not fully retract to its stowed position. This creates THREE safety hazards: 1.Passenger Trip Hazard: The extended belt causes difficulty when exiting from the rear seat — passengers can easily trip over the non-retracting belt 2.Door Damage Risk: Belt gets stuck in the door, preventing proper closure and potentially damaging the door or wearing down the seat belt webbing 3.Safety System Failure: A belt that doesn’t retract properly may not fully restrain occupants in a crash, compromising the seat belt safety system Dealer Response: My dealership told me this is “out of pocket” repair cost, even though the identical retraction issue exists in 2017–2021 C-Class Cabriolet (A205 platform) vehicles that ARE covered under Safety Recall 21V-032000. Mercedes fixed this with damping foam adjustment in the recalled Cabriolets but is refusing the same repair on C300 Coupes. Defect Pattern: This is the same design flaw in the front seat belt retractor geometry that caused the recall. The distance between the retractor and damping foam within the B-pillar doesn’t meet production specifications. Safety Risk: If occupants find the belt inconvenient due to poor retraction, they may not wear it — increasing crash injury risk. No advance warning of retractor failure exists. Request: NHTSA should investigate whether the C300 Coupe should be included in this recall or if a separate recall is needed for the same defect. Vehicle Info: 2019 Mercedes-Benz C300 Coupe
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11741727June 3, 2026
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
The 2025 c300 rwd sedan was parked outside for about an hour. After getting back into the car and reversing, the rear camera would not display. The camera/parking interface was activated however there was an error symbol where the camera image is displayed, with a camera crossed through. Restarting the car, shifting back into drive, and stowing the camera did not restore the rear camera image. The camera deploys upon reversing and the lens/housing is clean. The image is not displayed in the driver display. This is unacceptable and another software issue that causes intermittent equipment failure, disabling vital safety systems and greatly increasing the risk of a collision.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11741830June 3, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY
My 2015 C300 W205 failed at its state inspection today due to a rusted through rear subframe. I understand that the W204 warranty on this was extended to 20 years/unlimited miles but the W205 was not. I have contacted Mercedes customer care for a potential goodwill repair since this seems to be a known issue with class actions pending. This should not be failing and it’s unclear why Mercedes did not include all models with the same design in its extended warranty. The costs could be up to $7k.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11741578June 2, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, STRUCTURE:BODY
The panoramic sunroof unexpectedly shattered while the vehicle was parked in my driveway overnight. There was no collision, impact, weather event, vandalism, or any other external cause that could explain the failure. The damaged sunroof remains available for inspection upon request, and security camera footage from my property shows no outside influence that could have caused the glass to break. The unexpected failure of the panoramic sunroof created a significant safety risk. Had this occurred while I was driving, shattered glass could have fallen into the vehicle, potentially causing injury to me or my passengers, obstructing visibility, or leading to a loss of control of the vehicle. The fact that the glass failed without warning while the vehicle was stationary raises concerns about the safety and structural integrity of the panoramic sunroof system. The dealership claims that they inspected the vehicle and confirmed that the panoramic sunroof was shattered. However, they did not want to provide me with the inspection report and denied the claim responsibility and have not acknowledged the failure as a manufacturing defect. The vehicle has been inspected by the dealership. No police report was filed because there was no accident, vandalism, or criminal activity involved. At this time, the manufacturer has not independently inspected the vehicle to my knowledge. As I have seen and read online, there has been dozens of similar cases with Mercedes regarding this issue and I believe i have read there is a lawsuit. No warning messages, no recalls, no unusual noises, cracks, chips, leaks, or other symptoms were present prior to the failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11740646May 28, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes C300. The contact stated that the driver's side rear brakes and rotors were rusted. The contact stated that when the brakes were applied, they were slow to respond. The TPMS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a braking center, which declined the warranty for the aftermarket parts. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 176,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11740286May 27, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE, LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION
I had to take a detour one night coming home, the detour led to a bridge that connects to a highway. Approaching the bridge my car started to jerk and pop up with all of these notification about “blind spot assistance” is down, “car engine failure, please check user manual”, “car malfunction” with a engine battery symbol. All the while the engine light was on. All these warning was popping up one after another, while I was trying to merge onto the bridge. Mind you there is no shoulder currently during the active merging or on the bridge, but I didn’t think of what would happen next. As I merge onto the bridge at 35mph the car shuts off completely on me. My car automatically sets itself into Neutral mode and I was rolling on the bridge at 35mph, no shoulder and no brakes or gas to move properly. I called the police but they won’t dispatch a officer unless I am in a accident or about to cause on, but they heard I am rolling at 35mph and they said from her words herself “I can’t send a officer over for your reason ma’am, are you a threat to others or about to crash? Can’t you just brake?” My car system never turned back on, I stepped my foot on the brakes all the way praying something will work as I existed the bridge onto a small shoulder. The emergency brakes came on as I keep swerving onto the grass. As everyone was going 65mph I don’t know why I wouldn’t impose as a threat if I have no control over my car from oncoming traffic. This is a very dangerous situation, and my service shop said we try to retest the issue/diagnostics but couldn’t replicate the situation and told me that my car is fine. But this isn’t the first time that happened and it also wasn’t the last. I don’t know what test they’re running but telling me it’s a simple system malfunction error every time is playing with my lifespan. Do not recommend.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11739814May 24, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Strong fu Smell after filling tank recently. Checked under the passenger side rear seat and there is some fuel on the top of tank. Local mechanic confirmed and mentioned not to fill tank more than half. Requires replacement of fuel tank to fix it
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11739458May 22, 2026
ENGINE
NHTSA Safety Complaint – 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 Vehicle: 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 | Mileage: 74,662 miles What Happened I’m filing this complaint because my 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 suffered a sudden, complete engine failure at 74,662 miles, and I believe it’s a safety risk that deserves investigation. I’ve owned this car since 2016 and followed every recommended service interval. All available warranties were purchased and maintained. The car showed absolutely no signs of trouble before this happened. Last week before filing, I was driving normally when the check engine light came on without any prior warning — no oil pressure light, no temperature alert, nothing else. Within minutes, the engine shut off completely. The car rolled to a stop and I noticed oil leaking from the front of the engine. It was towed to an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealership, where they confirmed the engine suffered a catastrophic internal failure and needs to be fully replaced. Why This Is a Safety Concern No advance warning. The check engine light appeared only minutes before the engine died. That’s not enough time to safely exit a highway or busy road. A sudden total engine failure at speed affects steering, braking assist, and reaction time — it could easily cause a serious accident. Engine failure at 74,662 miles is not normal. A complete engine failure on a well-maintained luxury vehicle at under 75,000 miles strongly suggests a manufacturing defect or design flaw, possibly affecting other vehicles of the same model year. Oil leak at engine front. The leak observed at failure likely points to a specific component or seal failure. If this is a design weakness, other 2016 C300 owners may be at risk without knowing it. What I’m Requesting 1.Open an investigation into the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 for sudden engine failure and inadequate warning systems. 2.Determine whether other owners have reported similar incidents. 3.Evaluate whether a safety recall is warranted.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11739607May 22, 2026
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
When driving 75mph in order to change my favorite radio station, I must go to the center tablet, scroll until I find the station desired and then must tap it in the center or it does not change. On my 2025 MB C model you could change the channels on the steering column. I asked MB to research this issue and I was told a third party wrote the 2026 software and did not include this option! Is it not a safety concern that when doing 75 mph you must take your eyes off the road to find and change a radio channel? No One cares at MB and I was told that I need to live with it !! Really that is the solution??
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11738727May 19, 2026
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2021 Mercedes Benz C. The contact stated that while driving on the highway, the vehicle began to lose power, riding rough. The check engine light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a fuel injection failure. The vehicle read diagnostic code P1CEF85. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11738871May 19, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Vehicle: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C300 4Matic Sport Problem Component: Fuel / Propulsion System Safety Issue Description: My 2012 Mercedes-Benz C300 developed a serious fuel tank leak at approximately 106,460 miles which created overwhelming gasoline fumes and rendered the vehicle unsafe to operate. The gasoline fumes were extremely strong and entered the passenger area. The fumes were severe enough that I became physically overwhelmed from the gasoline exposure and discarded clothing due to gasoline contamination and odor. A local repair facility identified the leaking fuel tank. I was informed the replacement fuel tank was allegedly on extended backorder through Mercedes-Benz channels. Because the vehicle was unsafe to drive and replacement parts were allegedly unavailable for several months, I was forced to tow the vehicle from [XXX] to [XXX] at my own expense in order to locate a repair facility that could obtain a replacement fuel tank and safely repair the vehicle. The repair invoice states: “Installed used lt fuel tank incl switchover fuel pumps replace section of steel fuel line front of tank from lower braided line.” I am submitting this complaint due to: serious gasoline leak safety concerns, severe gasoline fume exposure, potential fire hazard, and the alleged extended unavailability of replacement fuel tanks. Mercedes-Benz USA Case Number: 22302114 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
#11738906May 19, 2026
ENGINE
Upon starting engine while parked the engine vibrated roughly then stopped. Engine light and coolant light illuminated but shut off. Vehicle proceeded as normal, however, as I proceeded for the highway about 1 - 1/2 blocks and approximately 1,200 feet before approaching highway the vehicle 1200 abruptly lost acceleration; engine light and coolant light illuminated again, then engine abruptly shut down in the middle of the road causing a severe safety hazard. Putting myself and others at risk. There were no symptoms of the problems prior to the failure. Coolant leakage; sluggish engine/acceleration; jerking acceleration; coolant light illumination steady.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11738382May 17, 2026
SUSPENSION
The car would seem to shift when stopping , when tires were removed the rear subframe had rusted out completely, this is a major safety issue and could cause loss of control of the vehicle. The failure is the same as what the w204s experienced but they’re being fixed at the cost of Mercedes
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11738037May 15, 2026
ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz C300. While driving at approximately 15 mph, the contact observed smoke emanating from under the hood. The vehicle was driven to her work location and parked. Upon exiting the vehicle and opening the hood, she observed orange flames coming from the engine compartment. A parking attendant extinguished the fire, and a police and/or fire report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer and diagnosed with a fuel line leak that caused the engine harness to come apart. The leaking fuel hose from the high-pressure fuel pump caused damage to the high-pressure pump, engine harness, vacuum transducer, and coolant feed line from the thermostat to the firewall. The following components needed replacement: high-pressure fuel pump, rubber fuel hose, engine harness, pressure transducer, and intake manifold. The vehicle was repaired. Five months later, the contact experienced another failure she believes was associated with the engine fire. While parked and attempting to start the vehicle, it did not start. The vehicle was towed to a dealer and diagnosed with a faulty starter that needed replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 65,422.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11736912May 10, 2026
STEERING, AIR BAGS
After having the airbag recall for my Mercedes done, the Electronic Steering Lock failed and my car would not start and the steering wheel is locked. They said my car was ready to pick up and when I arrived the car was completely inoperable. The MB Dealership in Lynnfield, MA wants $2700 to fix it. If you google Mercedes W204 ESLfailure you will see thousand of owners on facebook, message boards and forums that have this part fail, leaving people stranded in sometime dangerous situations. There should be a recall to permanently fix this issue as owners are getting stranded. Its really an issue of "when" the ESL will fail on older models and not "if". The kicker is, the dealership said only they can fix the problem as it is an anti-theft issue. This seems very wrong, owners shouldn't be forced to pay Mercedes to fix their defective, cheap electric motors in the ESL that fail on almost every model that its in. These defective motors are what causes the steering lock failure in almost every instance. MB acts like its normal to be driving properly one day and then next your steering is completely locked and your car will not start because a $15 electronic motor in the ESL failed. Furthermore, these are All wheel drive or rear wheel drive, in addition to the locked steering wheel which makes towing very, very difficult and unsafe. Thank you
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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