Mercedes-Benz C300 steering problems
194 complaint narratives mention steering terms.
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.
Steering behavior evidence
194 of 2,216 complaints match this topic (8.8%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
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 10661232 · 2014-11-28 (November 28, 2014)
DEAR SIR OR MADAM: ON NOVEMBER 26, 2014 I DROVE TO THE HOSPITAL FOR WHICH I WORK. WITHIN 1 MILE OF MY DESTINATION, WHILE TRAVELING AT THE SPEED OF 45 MILES PER HOUR I HEARD A LOUD HIGH PITCHED SOUND THAT CAME FROM MY STEERING WHEEL AND IT BECAME SOMEWHAT DIFFICULT TO STEER. NO VEHICLE STATUS MESSAGE EVER SHOWED ON THE MALFUNCTION DISPLAY. I PARKED THE CAR AND CALLED THE MERCEDES BENZ AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE SOONEST AVAILABLE APPT WHEN THEY COULD LOOK AT MY CAR WAS ON DECEMBER 1, WHICH WAS 5 DAYS AWAY. NO HELP WHATSOEVER!!!! I TOOK IT TO A TRUST…
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10661232 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10672283 · 2015-01-13 (January 13, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE REVERSING AT A LOW SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V459000 (STEERING) BUT THE RECALL REMEDY FAILED TO PREVENT THE FAILURE FROM OCCURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MIL…
Owner-reported narrative. 21,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10672283 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10676129 · 2015-01-16 (January 16, 2015)
THE BELT TENSIONER FOR THE SERPENTINE BELT SEIZED UP CAUSING THE SERPENTINE BELT TO SHRED AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE UPPER AND LOWER PULLEYS. THE CAR BECAME IMMOBILE IMMEDIATELY AS ALL THE ACCESSORIES WERE RENDERED USELESS, LIKE THE POWER STEERING, ALTERNATOR, ETC. AS A RESULT, THE FOLLOWING HAD TO REPLACED: SERPENTINE BELT, TENSIONER, UPPER PULLEY, AND LOWER PULLEY. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT THIS OCCURRED WHEN I WAS PARKING IN A PARKING LOT AFTER DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND TH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10676129 at NHTSA ↗