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U.S. public vehicle records

2013 Mercedes-Benz C250: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

277 owner complaints analyzed

7 distinct recall campaigns

60,850 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 109 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 162 of 277 complaints (58.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior196.9%
Fuel system concerns124.3%
Engine operation103.6%
Braking behavior93.2%
Electrical and battery issues51.8%
Transmission and shifting31.1%

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
162
Engine
46
Fuel/Propulsion System
24
Steering
19
Unknown Or Other
19
Power Train
14
Electrical System
13
Structure:Body
10
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags162
Engine46
Fuel/Propulsion System24
Steering19
Unknown Or Other19
Power Train14
Electrical System13
Structure:Body10

Air Bags: 162; Engine: 46; Fuel/Propulsion System: 24; Steering: 19; Unknown Or Other: 19; Power Train: 14; Electrical System: 13; Structure:Body: 10

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
18
25,000 to 49,999
24
50,000 to 74,999
33
75,000 to 99,999
21
100,000 to 149,999
12
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00018
25,000 to 49,99924
50,000 to 74,99933
75,000 to 99,99921
100,000 to 149,99912
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 18; 25,000 to 49,999: 24; 50,000 to 74,999: 33; 75,000 to 99,999: 21; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 1

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (33). 168 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.

2012
1
2013
4
2014
10
2015
6
2016
3
2017
29
2018
79
2019
65
2020
35
2021
9
2022
12
2023
7
2024
6
2025
8
2026
3
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20121
20134
201410
20156
20163
201729
201879
201965
202035
20219
202212
20237
20246
20258
20263

2012: 1; 2013: 4; 2014: 10; 2015: 6; 2016: 3; 2017: 29; 2018: 79; 2019: 65; 2020: 35; 2021: 9; 2022: 12; 2023: 7; 2024: 6; 2025: 8; 2026: 3

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 12 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 10 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10479500 · 2012-10-09 (October 9, 2012)

HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE FRONT END OF A BRAND NEW 2013 MERCEDES C CLASS WAS DESTROYED. VEHICLE WAS LESS THAN A MONTH OLD. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND I WONDER HOW THAT COULD BE WHEN THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS SMASHED IN. MERCEDES PRIDE THEIR VEHICLES ON SAFETY AND I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT THEIR NEW MODELS MAY NOT LIVE UP TO THAT STANDARD. AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED IN THIS ACCIDENT TO MINIMIZE INJURY OR DEATH. THESE NEW MODELS ARE SLOWLY TAKING TO THE STREETS AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED TO SEE IF THERE IS WARRA…

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10479500 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10509934 · 2013-04-29 (April 29, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ C250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 1 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED A SLIGHT ODOR OF GASOLINE FUEL INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A LARGE AMOUNT OF FUEL LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL SUPPLY HOSE WAS DETACHED FROM THE HIGH PRESSURE PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,942. UPDATED 7/10/13 *CN THE CONSUM…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,942 miles reported. Look up ODI 10509934 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10510997 · 2013-05-07 (May 7, 2013)

A DEFECTIVE RIM ON MY 2013 C250 CRACKED FROM INSIDE WHILE THE CAR WAS GOING AT BARELY 25MPH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI CAMPUS CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHICH COULD HAVE JEOPARDIZED MY DAUGHTER'S LIFE HAD SHE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY AT A HIGHER SPEED. THE CAR IS NEW AND THE TIRES ARE IN IMMACULATE CONDITION. GEICO SAYS BENZ SHOULD PAY FOR THE DEFECTIVE PRODUCT, BENZ SAYS GEICO SHOULD PAY FOR IT. I THINK THIS RIM SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE IT IS A DANGEROUS PRODUCT THAT CAN GET PEOPLE KILLED IF IT HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS TRAVELING AT HIGHER SPEED…

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10510997 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10512302 · 2013-05-16 (May 16, 2013)

THE GAS BECOMES NON RESPONSIVE WHILE DRIVING AND OR HAVE TO STOP THE CAR RESTART IT ,THE DEALERSHIP STATES THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES BEFORE AND THE LAST TIME ON THE FREEWAY AND WAS INVOLVED IN A NEAR MISS WITH AN 18 WHEELER WITCH COULD HAVE ENDED MY LIFE AND POSSIBLY OTHERS ON THE FREEWAY I AM PETRIFIED TO DRIVE THIS CAR SINCE THEN WHICH HAPPENED A FEW DAYS AGO I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND AND CLAIMING THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAR .THIS IS A SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM …

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10512302 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10515271 · 2013-06-12 (June 12, 2013)

2013 MERCEDES BENZ C-250 TURBBO CHARGED ENGINE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ACCELERATION AND VEHICLE STALLING ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN AT AN INTERSECTION, AND THEN ATTEMPT TO STRAIGHTEN OUT AFTER THE TURN, IT FELT AS THOUGH THE ENGINE WAS ABOUT TO STALL, AND HE WAS UNABLE TO PROCEED FORWARD. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS, THE VEHICLE FELT AS THOUGH IT WAS RE-STARTING AND THEN WAS ABLE TO PROCEED FORWARD. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WAS A NORMAL ACTION WITH THE TURBO CHARGED ENGINE. MERCEDES BENZ REFERRED TO…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10515271 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10568044 · 2014-03-09 (March 9, 2014)

WAS ACCELERATING UP HILL AFTER MAKING RIGHT TURN; CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, VEHICLE SEEMED TO STALL AND WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE IN TRAFFIC SITUATION; MAXIMUM SPEED VEHICLE WOULD GET TO IS 17 MPH. IMMEDIATELY TOOK TO DEALER WHO RAN DIAGNOSTICS, BUT DID NOT IDENTIFY PROBLEM; PERFORMED COMPUTER "RESET" AND TOLD TO BRING BACK IF MORE PROBLEMS. SEVERAL HOURS LATER, SAME ISSUE RETURNED WITH MAXIMUM SPEED OF 7 MPH; CEL AND MULTIPLE DASH WARNING LIGHTS INCLUDING TRACTION CONTROL APPEARED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF…

Owner-reported narrative. 24,426 miles reported. Look up ODI 10568044 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10621886 · 2014-08-12 (August 12, 2014)

SLUGGISH ACCELLARATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE LAST 2 MONTHS. IT HAS HAPPEN ON A TAKE OFF FROM A RED TO A GREEN LIGHT. WHERE I'M COMPLETELY STOPPED AND FROM 0 MPH SPEED I START TO ACCELLARATE & THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT STALLS, ALMOST AS IF IT'S GETTING NO FUEL. I CAN HAVE MY FOOT TOTALLY DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL & THE CAR HESITATES OR DOESN'T MOVE AT ALL. I HAD AN INCIDENT WHERE I WAS BEHIND A SEMI TRUCK, I ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES FAST BEFORE INCOMING TRAFFIC. THE CAR DID NOT MOVE & I ALMOST GOT HIT FROM BEHIND BECAUSE THE CAR W…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10621886 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10627249 · 2014-08-21 (August 21, 2014)

2014-08-04: ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 80 KM/H AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF - DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. 2014-08-05: BROUGHT VEHICLE TO 550 TERMINAL AVENUE. THEY SAID IT WAS JUST THE FAULT-PUMP AND THAT IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. THEY ADVISED ME THAT THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PART FROM GERMANY. VEHICLE WAS LATER RETURNED THE SAME DAY. (23505 KM) 2014-08-06: THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING OUT THE DRIVE WAY, SO I HAD IT TOWED TO 550 TERMINAL AVENUE. (23514 KM). THEY REPLACED A THROTTLE ACTUATOR. 2014-08-12: VEHICLE WA…

Owner-reported narrative. 23,490 miles reported. Look up ODI 10627249 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

7 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

17V177000 · Electrical System:Software | Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-Inactive

Reported: 2017-03-14 (March 14, 2017)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 AMG GT-S, GLC300, CLA250 and GLE300d 4Matic vehicles, 2013 C250, E350 BlueTec and G63 AMG vehicles, 2008-2014 C300 vehicles, 2013-2014 C300 4Matic and ML350 4Matic vehicles, 2009 C350 vehicles, 2014 CLS550, E350 4Matic, E350 Coupe 4Matic, E350 Wagon 4Matic, GLK350 and SL550 vehicles, 2012 CLS550 4Matic vehicles, 2012-2016 E350 vehicles, 2016-2017 GL450 4Matic vehicles, 2012-2014 ML350 4Matic BlueTec vehicles, 2015 S550, S550 4Matic and C300 4Matic Sedan vehicles, 2015-2016 C300 Sedan vehicles, and 2017 SL63 AMG vehicles. Various control units on these vehicles may have been updated with incorrect software, potentially affecting the correct deployment of the air bags in the event of a crash.

Consequence: If the air bags do not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, there would be an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update software in the affected control units, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
17V252000 · Steering

Reported: 2017-04-12 (April 12, 2017)

Mercedes-Benz USA LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2014 C250, C300 4MATIC, GLK250 4MATIC BLUETEC and GLK350 vehicles, 2013 C250 Coupe, C350, C350 4MATIC Coupe, C350 Coupe and C63 AMG Coupe vehicles, and 2013-2015 GLK350 4MATIC vehicles. The steering coupling connecting bolt may have been insufficiently tightened, possibly resulting in a loss of steering.

Consequence: A loss of steering can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the steering coupling connecting bolt, tightening it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
17V627000 · Air Bags:Frontal

Reported: 2017-10-06 (October 6, 2017)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling these vehicles: 2014-2018 CLA250, CLA250 4Matic, CLA45 AMG 4Matic, 2015-2018 GLA250, GLA250 4Matic, GLA45 AMG 4Matic, C300 4Matic, C63S AMG, 2012-2014 C250, C350, C300 4Matic, E550 4Matic, 2013-2014 C63 AMG, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2013-2015 C350 4Matic Coupe, GLK250 4Matic BlueTec, GLK350, GLK350 4Matic, 2016-2017 C350e, C43 AMG, 2015 C400 4Matic, 2016-2018 C63 AMG, GLC300, GLC300 4Matic, 2017-2018 C300 Coupe, C300 4Matic Coupe, C43 AMG, C63 AMG Coupe, C63S AMG Coupe, C300 Cabriolet, C300 4Matic Cabriolet, C43 AMG Cabriolet, C63 AMG Cabriolet, C63S AMG Cabriolet, GLC300 4Matic Coupe, GLC43 AMG, GLC43 AMG Coupe, 2014 E350 Coupe, E350 4Matic Coupe, E350 Cabriolet, E400 Hybrid, 2015-2017 E400 Coupe, E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabriolet, 2014-2017 E550 Coupe, E550 Cabriolet, B250e, 2014-2016 E250 BlueTec, E63 AMG 4Matic Wagon, 2012-2013 E350 BlueTec, 2012-2016 E350, E350 4Matic, 2015-2016 E400, E400 4Matic, 2012 E63 AMG, 2014-2015 E250 4Matic BlueTec, 2013-2016 E350 Wagon, 2017 GLC300d 4Matic, and 2018 GLC350e 4Matic. The driver's air bag may unexpectedly deploy due to insufficient grounding of the steering components if an electrostatic discharge occurs and the air bag clockspring is broken.

Consequence: If the driver air bag inadvertently deploys, it can increase the risk of injury and a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will add sufficient grounding to the steering components, free of charge. The recall began in December 6, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
18V043000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2018-01-10 (January 10, 2018)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013 C250, C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe 4Matic, C300 4Matic, C350, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG, C63 Coupe, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, E550 Cabrio, E350 Coupe 4Matic, E550 Coupe, GLK350 4Matic, GLK250 Bluetec 4Matic, GLK350, SLS Coupe, SLS AMG GT Coupe, and SLS Roadster vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, MBUSA is recalling certain 2010 C300, C300 4Matic, C63 AMG, E350 Coupe, E550 Coupe, GLK350, and GLK350 4Matic vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." MBUSA is also recalling certain 2009 C300, C300 4Matic, C63 AMG, and C350 vehicles ever registered in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MO, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI and WY or "Zone C." In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. Mercedes issued an interim notification to owners on February 23, 2018. A second notice will be mailed when remedy parts are available. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
19V010000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2019-01-09 (January 9, 2019)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2014 C250, C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 4Matic Coupe, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio, SLS AMG Coupe, 2014-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, GLK 350, GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, 2015-2017 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400 Coupe, 2014-2017 E550 Cabrio, and 2014-2016 E550 Coupe vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally, MBUSA is recalling certain 2012-2014 C250, E350 4Matic Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2011 C300, 2011-2014 C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, SLS AMG Coupe, 2015-2016 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400 Coupe, 2011-2016 E550 Cabrio, E550 Coupe, 2011-2015 GLK350 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, and 2013-2015 GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic vehicles ever registered in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." MBUSA is also recalling certain 2012-2014 C250, E350 4Matic Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2010-2011 C300, 2010-2014 C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 Coupe, 2011-2014 E350 Cabrio, SLS AMG Coupe, 2015-2016 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400 Coupe, 2016-2017 E550 Cabrio, 2010-2016 E550 Coupe, 2010-2015 GLK350 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, and 2013-2015 GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic vehicles ever registered in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MO, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began March 29, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
19V787000 · Communication

Reported: 2019-11-01 (November 1, 2019)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2017 vehicles due to a software fault that may cause the date and time for the emergency call system (eCall) to differ from the actual date and time, potentially relaying an inaccurate vehicle location. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V787-4620.pdf

Consequence: An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: MBUSA has initiated an Over the Air (OTA) remote update. MBUSA will also notify owners, and dealers will check software for a successful OTA or update the communication module software as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019120008.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
21V638000 · Air Bags:Frontal

Reported: 2021-08-13 (August 13, 2021)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2016 E400 Coupe, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2011-2014 E350 Coupe, and 2012-2014 E350 Cabrio vehicles. An incorrect front passenger air bag may have been installed during a prior repair.

Consequence: An incorrect air bag may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag on the affected vehicles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 10, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

NHTSA campaign record ↗