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U.S. public vehicle records

Mercedes-Benz C300 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

2,216 owner complaints analyzed

26 distinct recall campaigns

61,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2010 to 2016 model years. Data snapshot: . 753 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 733 of 2,216 complaints (33.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior24511.1%
Steering behavior1948.8%
Fuel system concerns1336.0%
Electrical and battery issues1255.6%
Engine operation371.7%
Transmission and shifting281.3%

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.

Air Bags
733
Engine
258
Suspension
241
Electrical System
239
Unknown Or Other
237
Fuel/Propulsion System
198
Structure:Body
193
Steering
186
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags733
Engine258
Suspension241
Electrical System239
Unknown Or Other237
Fuel/Propulsion System198
Structure:Body193
Steering186

Air Bags: 733; Engine: 258; Suspension: 241; Electrical System: 239; Unknown Or Other: 237; Fuel/Propulsion System: 198; Structure:Body: 193; Steering: 186

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
133
25,000 to 49,999
147
50,000 to 74,999
188
75,000 to 99,999
138
100,000 to 149,999
122
150,000 and above
25
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,000133
25,000 to 49,999147
50,000 to 74,999188
75,000 to 99,999138
100,000 to 149,999122
150,000 and above25

Under 25,000: 133; 25,000 to 49,999: 147; 50,000 to 74,999: 188; 75,000 to 99,999: 138; 100,000 to 149,999: 122; 150,000 and above: 25

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (188). 1,463 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.

2009
1
2010
2
2011
6
2012
6
2013
16
2014
44
2015
71
2016
102
2017
315
2018
233
2019
286
2020
138
2021
132
2022
341
2023
230
2024
162
2025
101
2026
30
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20091
20102
20116
20126
201316
201444
201571
2016102
2017315
2018233
2019286
2020138
2021132
2022341
2023230
2024162
2025101
202630

2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 6; 2012: 6; 2013: 16; 2014: 44; 2015: 71; 2016: 102; 2017: 315; 2018: 233; 2019: 286; 2020: 138; 2021: 132; 2022: 341; 2023: 230; 2024: 162; 2025: 101; 2026: 30

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 245 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 194 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 133 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 10403924 · 2011-05-31 (May 31, 2011)

I WAS ENTERING THE ONTARIO SOUTH BOUND ON RAMP TO THE I 15 FREEWAY , IN MY 2010 C300 MERCEDES BENZ, WHEN THE ENGINE SURGED TO 6000 RPMS AND I LET UP ON THE GAS, COASTED, AND WHEN I APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR, IT SURGED AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES, AND EACH TIME I COASTED UNTIL I COULD GET OFF THE FREEWAY AT THE NEXT OFF RAMP. I THEN APPLIED NORMAL PRESSURE TO CONTINUE AND THE CAR PROCEEDED IN A NORMAL MANNER, SO I DROVE TO A SHOPPING CENTER AND STARTED TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE ENGINE ACCELERATED AGAIN TO 6000RPMS, AND I FLEW OVER A…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,777 miles reported. Look up ODI 10403924 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10413806 · 2011-07-20 (July 20, 2011)

ON JULY 18, 2011, I WAS WAITING IN A LINE OF TRAFFIC FOR A SIGNAL LIGHT TO CHANGE, AND AS THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME BEGAN TO MOVE, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND MY 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300 LURCHED FORWARD AND REARENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THE FORWARD MOTION WAS VERY FORCEFUL AND THE IMPACT WAS HEAVY. THIS WAS UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION, AS I HAD NOT DEPRESSED TO ACCELERATOR AND WHILE I AM DEEMED AT FAULT I FEEL THIS MOVEMENT IS DEFINITELY RELATED TO ANOTHER INCIDENT IN THIS VEHICLE REPORTED ON MAY 21, 2011. PLEASE REFER TO ODI # …

Owner-reported narrative. 6,664 miles reported. Look up ODI 10413806 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10627462 · 2014-08-22 (August 22, 2014)

SPEED DEPENDENT FRONT END NOISE AND VIBRATION. INSPECTION BY MB AUTHORIZED DEALER INDICATES: "FRONT TRANSFER CASE COMING APART". MB CUSTOMER SERVICE INDICATES THAT THE PROBLEM IS A "ONE OFF" BUT OFFERED A 50% DISCOUNT ON REPAIR. REPAIR COST IS $7000. SUSPECT THAT THIS IS NOT A "ONE OFF" AND THE PROBLEM IS MORE FREQUENT GIVEN THE IMMEDIATE OFFER OF A DISCOUNT ON REPAIR. FAILURE OF THE FRONT TRANSFER CASE AT ANY SPEED CAN AND MOST LIKELY WILL CAUSE WHEEL LOCK UP, ENGINE FAILURE, LOSS OF POWER ASSISTED CONTROLS (STEERING AND BRAKING), LOSS OF ELEC…

Owner-reported narrative. 67,410 miles reported. Look up ODI 10627462 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10648458 · 2014-10-17 (October 17, 2014)

WENT TO START CAR AND NOTHING. STEERING LOCKED AND DIFFICULT, DUE TO ALL WHEEL DRIVE TO TOW. THERE ARE MANY CASES DOCUMENTED ABOUT EIS/ESL FAILURES ON MERCEDES ENTHUSIAST FORUMS. THE PROBLEM IS PREVALENT ON THE INTERNET. THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS ON A CROWDED HIGHWAY, IN A CRIME RIDDEN AREA OR JUST IN AN EMERGENCY. THE CAR WILL START ONE MINUTE AND WON'T ON THE NEXT START. MERCEDES CLAIMED NO FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE IN MY CASE. THE CAR WAS 2 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10648458 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10766408 · 2015-09-21 (September 21, 2015)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300. UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL FILTER WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10766408 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10893094 · 2016-08-04 (August 4, 2016)

OUR 2010 MERCEDES C300 WITH 24,500 MILES CAR STARTED TO SELL GASOLINE APPX A WEEK AGO. WE FOUND OUT THAT MERCEDES HAS SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR OTHER CARS AND I BELIEVE THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM SINCE IT INVOLVES GASOLINE. THE MERCEDES DEALER STATED THAT OUR CAR DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE OTHER RECALLED MODELS. THE SMELL IS CONSTANT AND WE CANNOT EVEN PARK OUR CAR IN OUR GARAGE DUE TO THE FUMES AND STRONG SMELL. MERCEDES OF PALM SPRING LIKE TO CHARGE US $256 JUST TO LOOK AT THE …

Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10893094 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10406697 · 2011-06-15 (June 15, 2011)

2010 C300 MERCEDES BENZ. CONSUMER STATES THE FOG LIGHT IS DEFECTIVE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE RIGHT SIDE GLASS FOG LIGHT COVER CRACKED WITHOUT ANY EXTERNAL FORCE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE REPLACEMENT COST WOULD BE $300. THE DEALER STATED THE LIGHT MIGHT SHORT CIRCUIT THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IF LEFT UNCOVERED. THE CONSUMER STATED ON APRIL 9, 2011 THE LEFT SIDE GLASS FOG LIGHT COVER CRACKED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED IT, BECAUSE THEY SAID IT WAS DEFECTIVE. HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT REPLAC…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10406697 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10458638 · 2012-05-16 (May 16, 2012)

I WAS DRIVING DOWN RT 70 IN MARLTON, NJ ON MONDAY MAY 7, 2012 WHEN EVERY LIGHTS IN MY CAR LIT UP. I THEN TOOK IT TO MERCEDES AT APPROXIMATELY 1:00 P.M. I SAT THERE WAITING FOR THEM TO TELL ME WHAT WAS GOING ON. I DECIDED AT 1:50 TO FIND OUT AND I WAS TOLD BY MY SERVICE TECH DAN SWUWEK THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND THAT HE DID NOT KNOW HOW LONG IT WOULD BE TO FIX IT. I HAD TO GET A RENTAL. HE CALLED ME THE NEXT DAY AND INDICATED THAT A PART WAS ORDERED. I THEN CALLED HIM BACK LATER IN THE DAY WHEN HE SAID THAT IT WAS NOT THE PART T…

Owner-reported narrative. 33,653 miles reported. Look up ODI 10458638 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10864882 · 2016-05-14 (May 14, 2016)

PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE CREATING A SAFETY ISSUE AS PASSENGER COULD NOT OPEN DOOR FROM INSIDE IN AN EMERGENCY. FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE CAR STALLS IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION REQUIRING IMMEDIATE EVACUATION FROM THE CAR OR RISK MAJOR INJURY OR DEATH (E.G, CAR FIRE, STUCK ON A RAILROAD TRACK, ETC.) THE PASSENGER WOULD BE STUCK IN THE CAR. LOWERING THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS DOES NOT OFFER ENOUGH CLEARANCE TO REACH OVER THE DOOR TO OPEN THE OUTSIDE HANDLE FROM THE INSIDE. MERCEDES REQUIRES THE PURCHASE OF AN ENTIRE DOOR PANEL TO REPAIR THE CHEAP PLAS…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10864882 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10651251 · 2014-10-29 (October 29, 2014)

TRANSMISSION HAS GONE COMPLETELY OUT AT 30,000 MILES AND MERCEDES REFUSES TO RESPOND. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10651251 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10660473 · 2014-11-24 (November 24, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, A HUMMING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE SHIFT LEVER UNDER THE VEHICLE AND NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE BEARING FAILED AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 99,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10660473 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2010
6
2011
6
2012
6
2013
6
2014
5
2015
11
2016
13
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20106
20116
20126
20136
20145
201511
201613

2010: 6; 2011: 6; 2012: 6; 2013: 6; 2014: 5; 2015: 11; 2016: 13

Year-by-year records

Mercedes-Benz C300 model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
20104536Not available
201148060
201226560
201325960
2014945-1
201538011+6
201628513+2