2011 Mercedes-Benz C300 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
480 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
79,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 141 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 250 of 480 complaints (52.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 53 | 11.0% |
| Steering behavior | 40 | 8.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 32 | 6.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 21 | 4.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 1.3% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 1.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 250 |
| Suspension | 57 |
| Electrical System | 43 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 38 |
| Steering | 34 |
| Structure:Body | 34 |
| Unknown Or Other | 33 |
| Exterior Lighting | 19 |
Air Bags: 250; Suspension: 57; Electrical System: 43; Fuel/Propulsion System: 38; Steering: 34; Structure:Body: 34; Unknown Or Other: 33; Exterior Lighting: 19
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 17 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 17 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 32 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 33 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 36 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 17; 25,000 to 49,999: 17; 50,000 to 74,999: 32; 75,000 to 99,999: 33; 100,000 to 149,999: 36; 150,000 and above: 6
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (36). 339 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2016 | 25 |
| 2017 | 120 |
| 2018 | 65 |
| 2019 | 78 |
| 2020 | 20 |
| 2021 | 23 |
| 2022 | 62 |
| 2023 | 31 |
| 2024 | 27 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 5; 2014: 5; 2015: 10; 2016: 25; 2017: 120; 2018: 65; 2019: 78; 2020: 20; 2021: 23; 2022: 62; 2023: 31; 2024: 27; 2025: 5; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 53 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 40 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 32 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10410605 · 2011-07-05 (July 5, 2011)
BRAKE PEDAL IS NOTCHY OR STICKS DURING THE INITIAL PORTION OF PEDAL TRAVEL. INCONSISTENT BRAKE FEEL AT EACH STOP LEADS TO OVER OR UNDER BRAKING, DEPENDING ON WHETHER OR NOT THE PEDAL STICKS. IT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED BY MERCEDES AS AN INTERNALLY LEAKING BRAKE BOOSTER, BUT THEY WON'T REPLACE IT, SAYING THE PART FALLS WITHIN SPECS. THIS CAR IS A 2011 C300W4. THIS MODEL IS NOT LISTED IN YOUR PULL DOWN MENU (I ENTERED E CLASS TO COMPLETE THE FORM). *KB
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10410605 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10445099 · 2012-01-24 (January 24, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING A PARKING SPACE, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A CURB AND SLIGHTLY CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF A BUILDING. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT SUCH A SLOW RATE OF SPEED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE BUT CONTINUED ROLLING AND WOULD NOT STOP. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MIL…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10445099 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10514039 · 2013-05-29 (May 29, 2013)
REPEATEDLY, VEHICLE REFUSES TO START ON FIRST TRY. INSERT KEY, STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKS. TURN IT, ALL LIGHTS COME ON. TURN TO START AND NOTHING HAPPENS. TURN SWITCH ALL THE WAY OFF AND THEN TRY AGAIN AND IT STARTS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 15,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10514039 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10762315 · 2015-09-08 (September 8, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE AT A STOP, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY ACCELERATED TO 30 MPH. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE STEERING COLUMN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED KNEE AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILE…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10762315 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10762669 · 2015-09-09 (September 9, 2015)
I FILLED MY GAS TANK UP FRIDAY EVENING, WENT HOME AND PARKED MY VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE. THE NEXT MORNING THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE COMING FROM THE CAR. I TOOK IT TO THE MERCEDES DEALER AND THEY SAID THE SEAL AND CAP UNDER THE PASSENGER BACK SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY WANTED TO CHARGE $434. NOT ONLY IS THIS DANGEROUS IT SHOULD NOT BE THE CONSUMERS RESPONSIBILITY WHEN THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED FAULTY MATERIAL.
Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10762669 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10916581 · 2016-10-17 (October 17, 2016)
I WAS DRIVING AND A STRONG FUEL ODOR WAS EXPERIENCED. WHEN I STOPPED THE CAR AND LOOKED UNDER THE UNDERCARRIAGE THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF FUEL. THERE IS A FUEL LEAK COMING FROM THE BOTTOM PLASTIC UNDERNEATH THE GAS TANK. IT MAY BE THE FUEL FILTER AS THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL HAD A RECALL BUT APPARENTLY MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 30 miles reported. Look up ODI 10916581 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10542609 · 2013-09-09 (September 9, 2013)
PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW IN AUGUST OF 2011. SINCE THEN THE CAR HAS DIED 3 TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE IGNITION. THE SECOND TIME, JUST 6 WEEKS AGO, THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG SO AFTER 8 DAYS, THEY GAVE THE CAR BACK TO ME. OF COURSE WHILE THEY HAVE IT, IT STARTS RIGHT UP. WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS THAT I WOULD GET IN THE CAR AND IT SIMPLY WOULD NOT START, WON'T LOCK OR UNLOCK AND TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN. NOT EVEN WHEN I TRIED THE KEY MANUALLY. IT SOUNDS ELECTRICAL TO ME. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, ONE OF THE MECHANICS…
Owner-reported narrative. 22,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10542609 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10725331 · 2015-06-15 (June 15, 2015)
ELECTRONIC INGITION SYSTEM MALFUNCITON CAR WANT START, ALL LIGHTS ON,RADIO WORKS BATTERY SEEMS TO BE OPERATING , TOOK TO DEALER EIS IS THE ISSUE, COST IS EXTREME, AFTER READING REVIEWS THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRES. NO RECALL HAS BEEN AUTHORRIZED...THIS IS AN ISSUE MERCEDEZ BENZ
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10725331 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10626453 · 2014-08-19 (August 19, 2014)
WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR LETTING OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IT FEELS AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. I SUSPECT IT'S EITHER COMING FROM THE DRIVE SHAFT OR TRANSMISSION. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP A NUMBER OF TIMES BUT CAN NOT DUPLICATE AFTER IT HAPPENED GOING ON A TEST DRIVE WITH A TECHNICIAN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 44,263 miles reported. Look up ODI 10626453 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10838635 · 2016-02-26 (February 26, 2016)
WHEN IN MOTION A GRINDING NOISE CAN BE HEARD, WHICH WAS LATER IDENTIFIED AS A TRANSMISSION BEARING. VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 69,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED BY A MERCEDES DEALER IN MOST CASES, WHICH INCLUDED A SCHEDULED TRANSMISSION SERVICE THAT WAS CONDUCTED BY MERCEDES.
Owner-reported narrative. 69,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10838635 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11029917 · 2017-09-26 (September 26, 2017)
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE "CHECK AIR BAGS" MESSAGE APPEARED. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE LOCAL DEALER (PARK PLACE MOTORCARS MERCEDES-BENZ DALLAS, 6113 LEMMON AVE, DALLAS, TX 75209, [phone removed]) INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE COULD NOT SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HANDLE AIR BAG REPAIRS. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT PAR…
Owner-reported narrative. 104,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11029917 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11058341 · 2018-01-03 (January 3, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE RETAINED EXCESSIVE WATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BENZEL-BUNCH MOTOR CAR (28 GRAND AVE, ENGLEWOOD, NJ) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE'S DRAINS WERE CLOGGED AND THEY WOULD NEED TO PERFORM A FLUSH TO REMOVE THE WATER AND REWIRE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 79,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11058341 at NHTSA ↗