Mercedes-Benz C-Class Complaints

3,817 consumer complaints on file.

#11709707January 8, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The car jerks so hard at times randomly that it feels like I got rear ended and it is completely unsafe. It also does small jerks at times. It's happened driving 70 mph down a highway, making a right turn accelerating slowly. Going slow down the street at 35, at a red light completely stopped or stop sign. There's no rhyme or reason to it. I've taken it to Mercedes five or six times now with the same issue and they have not been able to duplicate the problem. It's currently at Jacksonville Mercedes dealership where I bought it with the foreman. He is with my permission driving it back and forth to work because I said I do not want the car back until they can duplicate the problem and fix it or recall it or give me a new one or give me my money back. One of the instances that jerked so hard that it hurt my back. None of the sensors go off when it's plugged in while they're trying to locate a problem it only happens when it's being driven and again there's no rhyme or reason to when it happens. It does happen pretty regularly at least 10-12 times hard over the last year and the little ones happen more frequently at least 20 to 30 over the last year the last time being when I drove it on 1/5/26. Miles have been from 200 to 9100. It been happening for a year now. Mercedes Clearwater and Mercedes Jacksonville will have all of the files from the five or six times I've brought it in. I also attempted to get a lemon law request through Mercedes executive services in March or April which they denied because they couldn't duplicate the problem, but there was never a serious attempt to duplicate it by Mercedes until now that it's at the Jacksonville location where I purchased it from. The Foreman and GM there are taking it more seriously and the foreman again is driving it back and forth to work in hopes of duplicating the problem.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11709762January 8, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HANDLE:INTERIOR
The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-Benz C350. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the front driver’s side interior door latch detached. The contact had to reach through the front driver’s side window to open the front driver's side door using the exterior door handle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle remained at the residence. A dealer was contacted and informed the contact that there was an unknown recall related to the failure; however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11708959January 5, 2026
SUSPENSION
Purchased this car in September 2024 for our [XXX] son. Upon inspection at our local Mercedes Dealership on December 1, 2025, we were informed that the rear subframe should be immediately replaced as there is a rusted hole in the subframe, "compromising the structural integrity of the rear of the vehicle." We were informed that the prior bulletin issued for 2010-2014 C-Class models did not include our 2015 C-Class. We were quoted over $5200 to repair the subframe. There were no warning messages, lights problems that were noted, prior to inspection. 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
#11708992January 5, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
While driving at approximately 65 mph on the I-405 freeway in Irvine, CA during rainy conditions, my 2019 Mercedes-Benz C300 suddenly and completely lost acceleration without warning. At the same moment, a Check Engine Light illuminated on the dash. I was forced to coast across all lanes and stop in the emergency shoulder in a very unsafe area with high-speed traffic passing close by in low visibility rainy conditions. Multiple vehicles nearly struck us, including one that had to emergency brake directly behind my car in the shoulder. I contacted AAA and the vehicle had to be towed because it was not safe or driveable. My girlfriend was also in the car and both of us experienced significant fear and distress during and after the incident. My mechanic retrieved fault code P019185 and stated this is a known software problem with the engine control unit that requires a Mercedes software update and reset of mixture adaptations per a manufacturer LI/service document. This means the manufacturer appears aware of the defect and the required software fix, yet I received no recall notice or safety warning. A sudden total loss of engine power at highway speeds creates an extreme crash risk and life-threatening danger to the driver, passengers, and surrounding traffic. There have been other serious drivability issues with this vehicle in the past (misfires, coolant pipe failure, etc.), but this incident was the most dangerous. I am reporting this because this defect appears safety-related and could easily cause a fatality if it happens to someone else at freeway speeds. Diagnostic Note from official Mercedes-Benz Fletcher Jones of Newport Beach Mechanic: “FAULT CODE P019185, WILL START WITH PERFORMING THE SOFTWARE UPDATE OF ME CONTROL UNIT, RESET THE MIXTURE ADAPTIONS PER LI DOCUMENT AND RECHECK.” Tow Provider: AAA — tow confirmation available if needed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11708321January 2, 2026
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that whenever the fuel tank was full, there was a fuel-burning odor coming from the engine and entered the vehicle through the A/C vents. In addition, when the vehicle was cold, the odor was entering the vehicle through the A/C vents. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a collision center specializing in foreign vehicles, where it was diagnosed that the fuel rail and injectors had a fuel leak. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure persisted. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V961000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). However, the VIN was not included. The contact stated that his mother owned the vehicle in the past and gave the vehicle to the contact two years ago. The contact's mother remembered receiving a recall letter; however, the contact's mother was unsure if the vehicle had been repaired in the past. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11708103December 31, 2025
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
UNKNOWN it was just one day I started my car and turned the A/C on and I started getting this strong gasoline smell. I went on like a saw there is a recall for this problem for the M274 engines.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11707655December 29, 2025
STEERING
The contact owns a 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that the vehicle had failed to start after several attempts; however, the infotainment system was turned on. The contact stated that the engine failed to start. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact related the failure to an unknown steering coupling interlock mechanism recall. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the residence. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 98,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11707032December 25, 2025
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Fuel hose system leaking. Inhalation of gas fumes caused headaches and nausea. Risk of vehicle fire. Yes, the problem has been confirmed by a Mercedes dealer. This is a known issue with Mercedes C300 2015 models and other years. There have been other complaints/lawsuits against Mercedes not wanting to pay for the issue. No warnings just strong gas smell.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11706568December 22, 2025
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
This vehicle was brought to an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealership for regularly scheduled maintenance. Shortly after this service, the vehicle began experiencing significant issues including difficulty accelerating, engine hesitation while driving, and noticeable shaking at idle. This car has never overheated. The vehicle was returned to the dealership for inspection. The dealership diagnosed a cracked cylinder head and advised that the repair requires replacement of the cylinder head at an estimated cost of approximately $11,000. The failed component is available for inspection and the vehicle is currently at the dealership. The vehicle has approximately 46,000 miles, has been regularly maintained, garaged, and driven under normal conditions. These symptoms created engine performance issues that could result in loss of power or inability to accelerate while driving, creating a potential safety risk, especially in traffic or at highway speeds. I regularly transport my young grandchild in this vehicle. The possibility of sudden engine failure, loss of power, or breakdown while driving raises significant safety concerns for myself and any passengers, particularly a young child. The failure has been confirmed by an authorized Mercedes-Benz service center. During my own research, I discovered there have been recalls involving similar engines for the same model year, as well as multiple owner complaints reporting similar engine or cylinder head failures on this vehicle. I contacted Mercedes-Benz customer care on December 17, 2025, after receiving the dealership diagnosis, and was advised that I would receive a response within 72 hours. As of today, I have not received any response. I attempted to call customer care again, but the phone system would not accept a voicemail and no representative answered. My case number with Mercedes-Benz is 19653254. No prior abuse, misuse, or abnormal driving conditions occurred. The vehicle was properly maintained.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11706514December 22, 2025
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2021 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled and failed to exceed 30 MPH, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle did not require a restart. The contact also stated that while stopped at a traffic light, the vehicle was shaking abnormally. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that there was a misfire in cylinder #2. The contact was informed that the cylinder head needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where the same diagnostic information was provided, and the contact was informed that the cylinder head needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 86,078.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11705891December 18, 2025
STEERING
I am writing to formally report the premature failure and subsequent replacement of the electronic rack and pinion on my 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 4Matic sedan. This repair was performed at Sears Imported Autos on 4/19/2024, at a cost of $5,840.14. Invoice number at Sears Imported Autos is XXX. My vehicle, VIN [XXX] , had only 74,427 miles at the time of the failure. The failure of a critical steering component at such a low mileage is highly unusual and, I believe, directly attributable to a latent manufacturing defect. I have recently become aware of a prior recall (NHTSA Campaign Number 18V850000) concerning the electronic power steering rack on these EXACT vehicles. While I acknowledge that my vehicle VIN was not included in the official scope of the previous NHTSA recall, the nature and timing of my component's failure strongly mirror the documented issues of MY power steering failure. Mercedes-Benz USA Customer Care Center just informed me that my VIN does NOT qualify for the recall, but they did NOT say the failure on my car was a different part. The fact that the very same exact part failed so prematurely, a component that is expected to last for the lifetime of the vehicle under normal conditions, points to a systemic quality control issue beyond the scope of the original recall. The recall should be expanded to include my VIN and likely a few others. 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
#11705275December 16, 2025
STRUCTURE:BODY
While driving home from work, without any warning or blunt force the sunroof exploded and shattered glass was everywhere
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11704880December 13, 2025
ENGINE
Vehicle developed OBD-II code P052E related to crankcase ventilation/PCV system malfunction. Issue causes improper crankcase pressure, rough idle, oil vapor smells, and check engine light. Independent research shows this is a common failure on 2015–2017 Mercedes C300 models. Repair requires replacement of crankcase vent/PCV assembly. This appears to be a premature emissions system failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11704696December 12, 2025
STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that the convertible top support were fraying. The contact stated the parts were almost the thickness of a shoelace and enabled the convertible top to fold correctly when the top was folding down. The contact stated that the Part Number was A2057780500. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the dealer determined that the entire convertible top needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure, and the contact filed a case. The failure mileage was approximately 43,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11704054December 9, 2025
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
An independent service center diagnosed my car as having a fuel leak stemming from the fuel rail and fuel injectors. This is a fire hazard due to a gas leak. There is a gas smell in the interior cabin that I noticed approximately one month ago. I believe this pertains to NHTSA ID #21V961, and I would like NHTSA to consider including my VIN in this recall.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11704073December 9, 2025
AIR BAGS, POWER TRAIN, SUSPENSION
Driving and something came from underneath the vehicle and cause me to swerve in all the airbags deployed
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11703213December 5, 2025
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My 2016 Mercedes Benz C300 started giving off funky fumes last year in 2024, now the fumes have turned into the smell of gas in 2025. Everytime that I call the dealership on Rockside Rd./ Broadway, located in Bedford Ohio, they give me an excuse as to why it's not their responsibility to correct the issue. What can I do?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11702655December 3, 2025
STRUCTURE:BODY
I took my car for service and they found a rusted rear subframe, with a small hole in it. I was informed that the car was not safe for my annual trip from NJ to FL (about 1000 miles). I was also told that this defect was a recall for cars through 2014. My car is a 2015 and I have the same defective part - which is supposed to be manufactured with rustproof material. I am requesting that this car be recalled and the part replaced by the manufacturer.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11702507December 2, 2025
SEAT BELTS
any action on Case 11699173 ?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11702391December 2, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The car suddenly glitched and locked itself—with my dog, my purse, my phone, everything—inside on an extremely hot day. There was no one around, and it was terrifying. I had opened the passenger door for my dog to climb in, and as I walked around to the driver’s side, the doors somehow locked on their own. Panic set in immediately. My dog, my phone, and my purse were all inside, and I had no way to call for help. We had just finished a walk, and then this happened out of nowhere. I had to run around searching for someone who could help. Eventually, I found a stranger who called the police, and they had to break the door open because it was over 100 degrees outside. I was terrified my dog would pass out from the heat. There were no warnings, no alerts, no messages. If it weren’t for that random stranger who happened to be there and willing to help, I don’t know how I would have gotten my dog out. It’s a reminder of the kindness of strangers, but the glitching car was truly terrifying and not ok.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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