Mercedes-Benz C-Class Complaints (2011)

516 consumer complaints on file.

#11430074August 23, 2021
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated he started to smell an abnormal fuel odor and noticed a spot where fuel had leaked onto the garage floor. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that while inspecting the vehicle, he noticed both fuel tank covers were cracked. The contact drove another vehicle to the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V557000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11430095August 23, 2021
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
07/31/2021 Fuel smell in the cabin, and in the garage, and a small paddle of gas formed under the car, but at that time I wasn't sure if it was the A/C condense, or gas. Took car out of the garage and left it there overnight. Drove the car next day and the smell was less noticeable, and it disappeared in about two days. Next two weeks did not ill up the tank completely, and there was no smell or leak. Yesterday, Sunday, Aug 22nd, I filled the car with gas again until the pump stopped, and the smell came back instantly, as I was driving home. Parked the car in the driveway and immediately noticed a large paddle of gas forming under the left rear wheel. Removed back seat and both fuel tank pump metal covers, and both plastic fittings/covers were leaking gas, more so on the driver's side. There are hairline fractures in both covers, and both are leaking gas. Removed both covers and siphoned gas out of the car until the leak stopped. I went to Hendrick's MB of Durham and asked about the recall, they denied that my car qualifies. The parts alone were quoted at $1229.12, without labor, and I was told fuel tank worth about $1,000.00 (without labor) may need to be changed as well. NHTSA recall campaign 2013020002 mentions my car. My defect is worse than most because both sides leak gas, not just the pump, and both have visible with naked eye fractures that leak gas. I cannot understand how is my risk of fire and death while driving less than that of other MB's with exactly the same failure, in the same class, and the same C300, for the same year. I expect the cost of repair with labor to be more than $3,500 .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11427640August 3, 2021
STRUCTURE:BODY, POWER TRAIN
On July 1, my daugther who is driving the car since about 8 months noticed a strange noise coming from the rear of the car. Since I was in Europe at that time I could not give her any assistance. On July 16 we both took a drive to Rhode Island to visit a college. I was the one driving, and I could also hear the noise coming from the rear. On the highway there was a back-up developing and I had to hit the brakes a littler harder. In doing so. the car was very unstable and it look like if the rear was going to overtake the front of the car. I was very scary even for myself who is a long time experience driver. After returning home I took the car to a mechanic and have him look at it. The resulting diagnosis revealed that the subframe was completely rusted out and was about to get disconnected from the under carriage of the car at any moment. The mechanic had a hard time to find a replacement part, and was finally able to locate an OEM subframe in California, the only one in the US. The price for the part alone was $1,500. I had no choice other than to have the car repaired at the mechanic since it was at that time undrivable. The total repair was almost $3,200. I took 2 pictures of the replaced subframe (see attached). The car is a 2011 MB C300-4-matic with just 100,800 miles on it. The was purchased used, with about 12,000 miles, in Febr. 2012 from Mercedes Benz of Westford, MA, which had used the car as a loaner/company car. The car was well maintained, used up until 2020 by my daughter's mother. She then bought herself another, newer C300 (2017 model) and decided to gift her older car to the daughter instead of trading it in. We thought, we knew a lot about the car and considered it a low risk transfer for a new, still learning driver. I will also file a formal complaint with Mercedes Benz if I have figured out the correct contact point. The internet shows, other people have experienced similar situations. And eventually, see also your ID-# 10504684 and 11023618.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11425681July 20, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The rear tail light housing harness melted due to an electrical issue. This caused my rear tail light & break lights not to function.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11425064July 16, 2021
STEERING
2008-2011 Mercedes models were manufactured with cheap electronic steering locks that fail often. While I haven’t experienced a failure while driving, the system is and has been extremely problematic and unreliable. It is highly plausible that the system could fail while driving due to the cheap components and unreliable and faulty programming. I urge the NHTSA to look into this and require Mercedes to replace these ESL’s with a safer, more reliable steering component that doesn’t have the potential to suddenly lock or unlock due to a unforeseen failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11425036July 15, 2021
SUSPENSION
The rear sub-frame of my Mercedes failed and resulted in a dangerous situation due to left rear suspension attachment point breaking free. Braking became uncontrollable. This seems to be a common problem in the 2008-2014 C300 Mercedes based on a quick scan of the internet.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11417788May 19, 2021
STRUCTURE
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS A CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DISCOVERED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR SUB-FRAME HAD CRACKED AND SEPARATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT YET CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11415479May 6, 2021
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
A STRONG SMELL OF GAS IS COMING FROM BACK SEAT (PASSENGER SIDE)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11403678March 18, 2021
SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING, I HIT MY BRAKES AND IT WERE AS IF AN INVISIBLE HAND GRABBED THE STEERING WHEEL AND TURNED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT. I NEARLY WENT OVER A MOUNTAIN. I DROVE SLOWLY HOME BUT EACH TIME I WOULD HIT MY BRAKES THE SAME WOULD HAPPEN. LONG STORY SHORT, MY 2011 C300 WITH 80K MILES, BOUGHT FROM THE SHOWROOM AND GARAGE KEPT HAS A RUSTED AND BROKEN SUBFRAME. MY VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVABLE. I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION ALSO THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER HAS A TERRIBLE MOLDY ODOR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11403697March 18, 2021
SUSPENSION
I WAS DRIVING MY 2011C-CLASS ON I-95 NORTH OF PHILADELPHIA WHEN I HAD TO SLOW DOWN DUE TO TRAFFIC. WITHOUT WARNING THE REAR OF THE CAR STARTED FISHTAILING ALMOST CAUSING A MULTI-VEHICLE ACCIDENT WHICH WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURIES OR WORSE. I EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND TOOK SMALLER STREETS TO GET TO MY MECHANIC WHO HAS SERVICED THE CAR SINCE THE MERCEDES EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED. UPON INSPECTION HE NOTICED THE REAR SUBFRAME WAS ROTTED OUT COMPLETELY AND THE TOE ARM WAS NOT ATTACHED. I HAVE OWNED THIS CPO CAR SINCE JUNE 2012. THE CAR IS GARAGE KEPT AND THERE ARE NO OTHER ISSUES OR RUST ON THE CAR. IT HAS APPROXIMATELY 129,000 MILES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT AS OTHER OWNERS WITH THIS MODEL HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEMS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11394661February 4, 2021
SUSPENSION
REAR SUBFRAME HAS ROTTED THROUGH. THE CONTROL ARM CONNECTION HAS COME LOOSE. NO OTHER RUST ON THE CAR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11388175January 14, 2021
STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION
PROBLEM STARTED TO BECOME APPARENT WHEN THE CAR BEGINS TO MOVE FROM A STOP. A CLUNKING SOUND WAS HEARD NEAR THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE. ISSUE BECAME MORE PROMINENT ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN BRAKING AT SPEEDS OVER 40MPH THE REAR END WOULD WAVER AND THE CAR WOULD START TO FISHTAIL. THE PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE REAR SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE SUBFRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED WHERE IT IS CONNECTED TO A TORSION LINK. RUST WAS BAD ENOUGH THAT THE PART OF THE SUBFRAME CONNECTED TO THIS SUSPENSION LINK FAILED COMPLETELY AND BROKE AWAY FROM THE REST OF THE SUBFRAME. THIS IS A 9 YEAR OLD CAR AND THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AT 73,000 MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11387771January 12, 2021
AIR BAGS
ABS LIGHT WAS FIXED, BYT LIGHT IS BACK ON
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11386823January 6, 2021
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, WHEN THE MULTIPLE "LIGHTS OUT" WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO HER RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICED THE BROWN WIRE WAS MELTED AND BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER MERCEDES-BENZ OF CHERRY HILL (2151 NJ-70, CHERRY HILL, NJ 08002:(856) 663-3200), WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE "LIGHT ASSEMBLY UNIT" TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF YET. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING), HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED WITH PRIOR OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11385182December 28, 2020
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
CAR INTERIOR SMELLS OF FUEL AFTER FILLING UP THE TANK. THE SMELL IS ALSO NOTICEABLE WHEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE. MY MERCEDES E350 ALSO HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE FUEL CELL SENDING UNIT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11377050November 30, 2020
SUSPENSION
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, WENT TO APPLY BRAKES AND CAR SWERVED VIOLENTLY TO THE RIGHT, AND CAR BODY FELT LIKE IT WAS 'SWIMMING' AROUND ON THE FRAME. CAR FELT VERY UNSTABLE. TOOK CAR TO MERCEDES DEALERSHIP, AND CONFIRMED THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME WAS COMPLETELY CRACKED. TECHNICIAN NOTED WHAT APPEARED TO BE "RUST PROOFING SPRAY ON THE RUSTED AREA". MERCEDES DEALERSHIP QUOTED $4,000 FOR REPAIR. THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS PART IN CANADA. MERCEDES DEALERSHIP CLAIMED NO KNOWLEDGE OF CANADIAN RECALL. AM AWAITING FOLLOW UP CALL FROM MERCEDES BENZ CORPORATE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11373194November 5, 2020
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
CAR WILL SMELL LIKE FUEL AFTER FILLING UP ON FULL TANK. I TOOK THE CAR INTO MERCEDES OF GREENWAY IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON. THEY DISCOVERED A LEAK IN FUEL SYSTEM, IT'S CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON BECAUSE OF THE INADEQUATE PRESSURE. WHEN I HAD THE CAR PARKED IN MY GARAGE, MY WHOLE HOUSE SMELLED LIKE FUEL ! IT'S A BIG SAFETY ISSUE/FIRE HAZARD. I'VE SEEN OTHER 2011 C300 ARE EXPERIENCING SAME ISSUES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11372990November 4, 2020
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FILLED GAS TANK FULL START GASOLINE IS LEAKING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE - LOCATION REAR PASSENGER SIDE. PLACED A PAN AND COLLECTED APPROXIMATELY A QUART OF GASOLINE IN 4.5 HOURS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11364403October 14, 2020
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
PLASTIC TOP OF FUEL PUMP LOCATED UNDER BACK SEAT CRACKS AND FUEL VAPORS ENTER THE CAR. BELIEVE THE PART IS DEFECTED TO CRACK FOR NO REASON OR UNDER STRESS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11361835October 2, 2020
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2011 MERCEDES BENZ C300. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE ACCLERATED OVER A CEMENT PARKING BARRIER AND INTO A TREE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*JS
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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