2013 Mercedes-Benz C300 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
259 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
80,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 75 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 99 of 259 complaints (38.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 60 | 23.2% |
| Steering behavior | 21 | 8.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 11 | 4.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 2.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.4% |
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 | 99 |
| Suspension | 63 |
| Structure:Body | 41 |
| Steering | 26 |
| Unknown Or Other | 19 |
| Electrical System | 16 |
| Service Brakes | 15 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 13 |
Air Bags: 99; Suspension: 63; Structure:Body: 41; Steering: 26; Unknown Or Other: 19; Electrical System: 16; Service Brakes: 15; Structure:Frame And Members: 13
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 14 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 15 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 19 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 15 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 14; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 19; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 4
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (19). 184 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 |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 14 |
| 2018 | 39 |
| 2019 | 33 |
| 2020 | 18 |
| 2021 | 16 |
| 2022 | 68 |
| 2023 | 30 |
| 2024 | 10 |
| 2025 | 11 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2013: 4; 2014: 4; 2015: 4; 2016: 6; 2017: 14; 2018: 39; 2019: 33; 2020: 18; 2021: 16; 2022: 68; 2023: 30; 2024: 10; 2025: 11; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 60 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 11 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 10495131 · 2013-01-29 (January 29, 2013)
2013 C300 4MATIC LUXURY MODEL. 1/26 - MY ENGINE STOP WHILE WAITING FOR TRAFFIC LIGHT. (2ND TRIP OF THE DAY) IT'S NOT ECO STOP/START KIND OF STOP. THE CAR WON'T START WHEN I RELEASE MY BRAKE AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS AT DASH WERE ON. 1/29 - TODAY WHEN I STARTED THE CAR THIS MORNING THE ENGINE STOP 1-2 SECONDS AFTER I STARTED IT. (2ND TRIP OF THE DAY) ALL WARNING LIGHT AT DASH WERE ON. I TOOK OUT MY KEY THEN PLUG IN TO START IT AGAIN. THIS TIME ENGINE STARTED, BUT BOTH ENGINE AND CAR SHAKE LOOKS LIKE IT?S GOING TO STOP. I WAIT FOR 6-7 SECOND…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10495131 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10808848 · 2015-12-07 (December 7, 2015)
PROBLEM IDENTICAL TO ONE IN WETHERSFIELD CT. LISTED AS VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. HAPPENED TO BOTH MY WIFE AND MYSELF ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING UP THE DRIVEWAY AND ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE SHUT OFFT ALONG WITH BRAKES NOT WORKING AND STEERING WHEEL UNABLE TO TURN.ONE HOUR LATER AFTER SHE LEFT THE CAR I WENT OUT AND IT STARTED AND ALL WARNIG LIGHT WERE OUT. MY INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A CITY STREET PRIOR TO COMING TO A STOP SIGN ABS LIGHT CAME ON VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKES STEERING OR POWER. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELLING SLOW AFTER STOPPING…
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10808848 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10747991 · 2015-08-11 (August 11, 2015)
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 15MPH AND THE AIRBAG IN THE DRIVERS STEERING WHEEL DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. MERCEDES DECLINES TO COMPLETE AN INSPECTION AND OFFERED TO REPLACE AND RETURN THE VEHICLE TO ME. I AM CONCERNED WITH THE DECISION TO NOT COMPLETE AN INSPECTION DUE TO THE SEVERE NATURE OF THE SITUATION. I WAS BURNED AND BRUISED ON MY LEFT ARM AND SWERVED INTO THE OTHER LANE DUE TO THE SHOCK OF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. I AM NOT COMFORTABLE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND I DO NOT FEEL THAT IT IS SAFE.
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10747991 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11440058 · 2021-11-10 (November 10, 2021)
Vehicle subframe has rusted through and parts of left rear suspension components are free, and one is about to poke a hole in the fuel tank. The right side is about to do the same. Everyone’s safety is at high risk with this problem. The car abruptly pulls to the left when applying the brakes as well as causing the car to shimmy on the interstate. I took it to my mechanic who to.d me what has happened, and I had it towed to the Mercedes dealership who confirmed the problem. When you search the internet you find a highly alarming number of peop…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11440058 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11456581 · 2022-03-14 (March 14, 2022)
I bought my c300 Mercedes-Benz in 2013 from the Euro Motorcars dealership in Germantown, MD. On about February 15, I heard some clanking/banging in the rear of my car. I thought it was the rear driver side break. I took the car to my local mechanic and he indicated the rear sub-frame had rusted though and it was banging on the gas tank (see attachments). Very dangerous, I should not drive.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11456581 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11047217 · 2017-11-18 (November 18, 2017)
THOUGHT BATTERY WAS DEAD, BUT HAD THE BATTERY WAS TESTED BY AAA AND SAID IT WAS FINE. KEY FOB TURNS AND NOTHING HAPPENS. CAR DOESN'T START, NOTHING HAPPENS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11047217 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11118887 · 2018-08-10 (August 10, 2018)
I WENT TO AN AUTHORIZED MB DEALER AND THEY DID THE RECALL FOR THE STEERING COLUMN BUT NOT FOR THE AIR BAGS. I ALSO BELIEVE A RECALL SHOULD BE MADE DUE TO THE FACT THAT OIL HAS SIPHONED ITS WAY UP THE CAM MAGNETS AND SOLENOIDS THRU THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS TO THE MAIN FUEL COMPUTER AND HAS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO BE OUT OF TIMING. ACCORDING TO YOUR AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP'S TECH THIS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO SEIZE. ACCORDING TO RESEARCH THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH RECALLS FOR OTHER ENGINES BUT IS STILL HAPPENING ON NUMEROUS MERCEDES BENZ VEHICLE…
Owner-reported narrative. 68,031 miles reported. Look up ODI 11118887 at NHTSA ↗