2009 Mercedes Benz C350 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
65 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
60,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 37 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 25 of 65 complaints (38.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 20 | 30.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 12 | 18.5% |
| Braking behavior | 6 | 9.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 3.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 3.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.5% |
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 | 25 |
| Steering | 20 |
| Electrical System | 15 |
| Exterior Lighting | 12 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Seats | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
Air Bags: 25; Steering: 20; Electrical System: 15; Exterior Lighting: 12; Engine: 5; Seats: 3; Service Brakes: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 2
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 28 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 | 5 |
| 2015 | 13 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 20 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2013: 4; 2014: 5; 2015: 13; 2016: 13; 2017: 20; 2018: 5; 2019: 1; 2021: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 20 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 12 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 6 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 10586814 · 2014-05-06 (May 6, 2014)
FIRST DAY WHEN RECEIVING MY KEYS FOR A BRAND NEW MERCEDES C350 2009 AT THE DEALERSHIP...ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON. LATER FINDING OUT IT WAS THE FUEL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A MONTH LATER OF GETTING A BRAND NEW CAR CORROSION WAS FOUND IN THE TAILLIGHTS. THEN FINDING OUT CORROSION ON THE BRAKE PADS. MONTHS AFTER THIS THE POWER TRAIN WAS SLIPPING UP... THE RPMS OF THE CAR WOULD SURGE UP HIGH AND REMAIN STUCK AT HIGH RPMS. IF I ACCELERATED THE GAS IT WOULD SHOOT UP HIGHER TO HIGHER RPMS AND THE CAR WOULD MAKE THE NOISE BUT IT WOULDN'T MOVE. I TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 5 miles reported. Look up ODI 10586814 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10631809 · 2014-09-09 (September 9, 2014)
I WAS LEAVING WORK, CAR WAS PARKED IN THE LOT, KEY WOULD TURN,LIGHTS AND DASH CAME ON, COULD NOT GET THE CARE OUT OF PARK, ONLY CLICKING SOUNDS FROM THE ENGINE. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER, THEY JUST CALLED AND SAID THE STEERING LOCK WAS BAD, REPAIR BILL IS $1100. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 30,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10631809 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10546745 · 2013-10-04 (October 4, 2013)
A DASHBOARD WARNING INDICATOR CAME ON, INDICATING MY RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. I OPENED UP THE TRUNK, AND LOCATED THE HARNESS THAT HOLDS THE REAR TAIL LIGHT BULBS. THERE WAS A BURN MARK IN THE HARNESS THAT HOLDS THE LIGHT BULBS. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD ME THE WIRING SHORTED OUT, AND IT NEEDS REPLACED. I HAVE THE PDF FILE THAT THE DEALER SENT ME INDICATING THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED.... THERE IS AN OUTSTANDING NHTSB COMPLAINT FILED ALREADY... HTTP://BLOGS.AUTOMOTIVE.COM/NHTSA-PROBING-MERCEDES-BENZ-C-…
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10546745 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10556792 · 2013-12-20 (December 20, 2013)
MY TAIL LIGHTS STARTED TO GOING IN AND OUT. WHEN I WENT TO CHECK THE BULBS ALL BULBS ARE GOOD AND THERE IS BURN MARKS ON THE CASING HOLD IN THE BULB AND WIRING FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHTS. THERE IS A SHORT IN THE TAIL LIGHT WIRING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10556792 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10533697 · 2013-08-05 (August 5, 2013)
PASSENGER SIDE REAR BRAKE LIGHT, DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL, SIDE MARKER, AND REAR LIGHT NOT OPERATIONAL. IT STARTED WITH THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL WORKING ON AND OFF, IT WOULD WORK FOR A WEEK OR TWO AND THEN ONCE IN A WHILE IT WOULD MALFUNCTION. NOW NONE OF THE LIGHTS ARE OPERATIONAL. UPON INSPECTING THE INSIDE OF THE SOCKET ASSEMBLY ONE OF THE WIRES LOOKED COMPLETELY CORRODED AND UPON TOUCHING IT WAS VERY HOT WHEN THE LIGHTS WERE ON. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10533697 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10565536 · 2014-02-23 (February 23, 2014)
COMPLAINT: C-CLASS REAR LIGHT MELTING ISSUE. REAR BULB LIGHT FAIL ERROR. REPORTING A BURNING SMELL OF MELTING PLASTIC AND FAILURE OF REAR TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS. I WENT OUT ON THE INTERNET AND SAW I WASN'T THE ONLY ONE THIS HAPPENED TO AND THAT THE U.S. SAFETY REGULATORS HAVE OPENED A PROBE OF AN ESTIMATED 218,000 MERCEDES C-CLASS SEDANS HAVE BEEN REPORTED. I CALLED THE MERCEDES-BENZ OF SEATTLE AND EVERYONE THAT I TRIED TO TALK TO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE IT AT ALL. OF COURSE I HAD THE IT REPAIRED AND IT COST $541.41 AGAIN …
Owner-reported narrative. 30,545 miles reported. Look up ODI 10565536 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10732781 · 2015-07-08 (July 8, 2015)
CAR HAD IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED TRANSMISSION LOCKED IN PARK. DASH LIGHTS AND DOOR LOCKS OPERATE.CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER.THIS HAS BEEN A LARGE PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES FOR YEARS.THERE SHOULD BE A MANUFACTUER RECALL NOT A CONSUMER EXPENSE. THANK YOU,PLEASE HELP
Owner-reported narrative. 84,350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10732781 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10816185 · 2015-12-24 (December 24, 2015)
I HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING LOCK MODULE WHICH COST NEARLY $1200. THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000 KM. THE CAR STARTED FINE IN THE MORNING AND WAS PARKED FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES IN THE GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE CAR AND TRIED TO START IT, IT WOULD NOT CRANK. THE ALARM TURNED OFF FINE, RADIO AND LIGHTS WORKED, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER READ THE KEY AND GOOD ME TO REMOVE IT BEFORE EXITING THE VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION AND STEERING WHEEL WERE LOCKED IN PARK. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED T…
Owner-reported narrative. 683,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10816185 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10558017 · 2013-12-31 (December 31, 2013)
I'VE NOTICED A SEVERE GASOLINE SMELL (INSIDE AND OUTSIDE) AND VEHICLE WILL STALL AT TIMES WHEN STARTING THE CAR, SO WE TOOK IT A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND GET IT FIXED. THEY FOUND LEFT FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS LEAKING FROM A PLASTIC WELD. IT SEEMS LITTLE ODD TO HAVE THIS TYPES OF ISSUES AT A SUCH YOUNG AGE OF THE CAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 45,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10558017 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10732156 · 2015-07-06 (July 6, 2015)
THE CAR HAS A STRONG GAS SMELL INSIDE THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE THE REAR OF THE DRIVER PASSENGER TIRE WELL AREA AND ITS A STRONG SMELL.
Owner-reported narrative. 58,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10732156 at NHTSA ↗