2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 670 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 2nd highest complaint count among 23 C-Class model years with reports.
Of the 2009 reports, 17 involved a crash and 19 involved a fire. 16 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
222 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 24, 2019, fire
"TAKATA RECALL" WHEN I WAS DRIVING AFTER A OIL CHANGE, I HEARD A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE SOMEONE HIT MY CAR. I WAS SCARED AND SHAKY SO I PULLED OVER COULD SEE ANYTHING BUT I HEARD A TICKING NOISE. THEN I REALIZED THE HEAD REST MINI AIR BAG BLEW UP AND THE WIRING INSIDE THE HEAD REST WAS BURNING. THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I COULD HAVE GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. I HAD TO PULL OVER RIGHT WHERE ALL THE TRAFFIC WAS BECAUSE MY HANDS WERE SHAKING AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THE BURNING SMELL. I HAD MY HAZARDS ON AND PEOPLE WENT AROUND ME. THEN ALL KINDS OF ALERTS WENT OFF ON MY CAR. I ONLY HAD IT FOR A YEAR AND A HALF IT SHOULDN'T DO THAT. SOMETHING IS REALLY WRONG AND THIS IS DANGEROUS WHILE SOMEONE IS DRIVING. MY TIRES AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE MUFFLER IS MAKING NOISES NOW TOO WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS CAR. IT'S TREATED WELL I'M SCARED TO DRIVE IT NOW. I'M STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON IT. IT'S WAS FOR ME FAIRLY NEW AND STILL GOOD, DO I THOUGHT. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED AND NEED SOME ANSWERS. I WAS TOLD THAT MAYBE IT'S THE EPS CONTROL UNIT BUT HAVEN'T WENT TO MERCEDES DEALER YET BECAUSE I'M DISCOURAGED ABOUT THIS CAR AND I HAVEN'T BEEN FEELING GOOD.
Electrical system, Apr 3, 2019
'TAKATA RECALL ' DRIVE MY 2009 C300 TO STORE EVERYTHING WORKED PERFECTLY . CAME OUT OF STORE CAR DEAD , NOTHING . MERCEDES TECH JUMPED CAR (NOTHING) CHECKED ALL FUSES THEY ARE GREAT . LONG SHORT EIS NEEDS REPLACING . I HAVE READ BLOG AFTER BLOG ABOUT THIS VERY SAME ISSUE YET NO RECALL . I AM A FIFTY YO WOMAN STRANDED OUTSIDE PUBLIX BY MYSELF . EXTREMELY DANGEROUS !!! COST TO REPAIR 1200 . SERIOUSLY??
Electrical system, Air bags, Nov 6, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, BOTH TURN SIGNAL INDICATORS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO FUNCTION WHEN THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 AND 18V043000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,599.
Steering, Electrical system, Air bags, Mar 14, 2018
DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND CAN CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY COMMUNICATION AS TO WHEN A FIX WILL OCCUR AND HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THERE SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAGS IF IN COLLISION IN CALIFORNIA UNTIL A FIX. ALSO MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF BEING STRANDED DUE TO IGNITION SWITCH FAIL THAT LOCKS STEERING WHEEL AND IS A $1,300 FIX.
Steering, Electrical system, Air bags, Feb 27, 2018
2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TAKATA AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ELECTRONIC SWITCH THAT IS LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE AIRBAG FREQUENTLY LOCKED THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE CAR WON'T START, WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. *JS
Electrical system, Jan 24, 2018
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AT 92,000 MILES. CAR WAS WORKING FINE AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN ONCE PARKED. DASH LIGHTS & RADIO TURNED ON, BUT CAR WOULD NOT START. HORN DID NOT WORK AND GEARS WOULD NOT SHIFT WITH KEY TURNED ON START POSITION. HAD TO GET CAR TOWED AND COST $1,400 TO FIX. ASIDE FROM THIS, I HAVE REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR, CAR COMPUTER, VALVE COVER, AND AIR FLOW SENSOR. CATALYTIC CONVERTERS ALSO WENT OUT, AL WITHIN A 4 MONTH PERIOD.
Electrical system, Jan 10, 2018
I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TURN IT TO START THE CAR AND NOTHING HAPPENS, NONE OF THE ELECTRICAL COMES ON EXCEPT FOR LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CAR DOESN'T EVEN TRY TO START. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM.
Electrical system, Engine, Dec 3, 2017
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AT 76K MILES. GEAR SHIFT WILL NOT GET OUT OF PARK, STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT UNLOCK AND CAR WILL NOT START. KNOWN TO BE A COMMON ISSUE THAT AFFECTS ALL MERCEDES WITH ELECTRONIC IGNITION. MERCEDES SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO COURT VIA CLASS ACTION FOR THIS.
Electrical system, Nov 22, 2017
09 MERCEDES C300 THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AFTER 80K MILES THE SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM IS TO REPLACE CAR NEEDS A NEW ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL SO THEY MAKE A RECALL
Electrical system, Air bags, Nov 2, 2017
TAKATA RECALL - NHSTA RECALL NUMBER 16V081 AND 17V017 AND NHSTA RECALL NUMBER 15V711 REGARDING THE SRS CONTROL MODEL. I HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL NOTICES OF THESE 3 VERY DANGEROUS AND URGENT RECALLS. MY VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO THESE RECALLS AND NO REMEDY HAS BEEN PROVIDED FOR ALL. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THESE RECALLS FIXED, BUT I AM TOLD THEY HAVE NO PARTS TO FIX THE RECALL, NO REMEDY HAS BEEN PROVIDED AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO ADDRESS THE RECALLS - MEANWHILE, I AM AT RISK EVERY TIME I GET BEHIND THE WHEEL AND CONTINUE TO RECEIVE NOTICES ABOUT HOW DANGEROUS THIS RECALL CAN BE, LIFE THREATENING. NOW TAKATA IS FILING BANKRUPTCY AND IT HAS BEEN YEARS SINCE THE RECALLS WERE ISSUED - WHY IS THERE NO REMEDY AVAILABLE TO FIX THIS? NO DEALERSHIP WILL ADDRESS THE ISSUES, IT IN JUST AN ON GOING, NEVER ENDING GAME. I WANT TO KNOW HOW I CAN FIX MY DEFECTIVE CAR BEFORE MY WIFE, CHILDREN, OR MYSELF ARE INJURED OR KILLED DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THIS SPECIFIC RECALL.
Steering, Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 18, 2017
CAR WAS OFF AND PARKED IN THE GIANT (LIMERICK, PA) PARKING LOT. I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, TURNED IT, AND NOTHING HAPPENED. DASH READ "REMOVE KEY." I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. STEERING LOCK MECHANISM WENT BAD. FUSE 22 BLEW EVERY TIME WE PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. HAD TO REPLACE PART.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Seats, Aug 19, 2017
2 YEARS AGO MANAGER TOLD ME THE WIRING OF THE HEAD LAMPS WAS MELTING BUT HE CAN ONLY REPLACE THE WHOLE UNIT( BOTH). I TOLD HIM THAT A CAR WITH 30000 MILS THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. NOTHING HE CAN DO. THE CAR HAS STARTED TO BURN ON THE INSIDE , SMOKE COMES OUT OF THE ENGINE. CAR TRANSPORTS CHILDREN. TO AND FROM SCHOOL. EERY OTHER ONTH LAMPS BURN OUT, HAPPENING SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. FINALLY WENT TO SHOP AGAIN TODAY AND THEY PUT IT ON PAPER. WIRE COATING FALLING APART, CAUSES BURN OUT OF LAMPS. THIS IS A HUGE DANGER AND SHOULD BE RECALLED NOT PAID BY USER. HAVE SENT 2 OTHER COMPLAINTS TO NHTSA WITH NO RESOLUTION. WHY????? ADDITIONALLY CAR HAS HAD TAIL LAMP PROBLEMS SINCE THE BEGINNING WITH ONE RECALL. ADDITIONALLY THE SEAT COVER OF THE DRIVER SIDE IS COMING APART IN PIECES SINCE YEAR 2. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN?
Steering, Electrical system, Jul 12, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF LONG BEACH, 2300 EAST SPRING STREET, SIGNAL HILL, CA 90755) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK AND COLUMN FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.
Electrical system, May 12, 2017
CAR WILL NOT START AND STEERING COLUMN IS LOCKED. POWER TO THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS BUT NO TURNOVER. LOCAL SHOP COULD NOT REPAIR. TOWED TO MERCEDES DEALER. LIKELY LOOKING AT A ~$2,000 REPAIR FOR EIS RELATED PROBLEM. CAR ONLY HAS ~90K. PURCHASES AS CPO AND BOUGHT EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT HAS ALREADY RUN OUT.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 29, 2017
THIS 2009 C300 WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP IN JACKSONVILLE FL AS A RETIREMENT GIFT FOR 20 YEARS OF NAVAL SERVICE. ABOUT A YEAR LATER I NOTICED THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS CONTINUOUSLY BLINKING DURING THE DAY. THE NEXT PROBLEM IS WITH THE FRONT HEADLIGHT UNITS EACH TIME A BLUBS BLOWS, IT FUSES EVERYTHING INCLUDING WIRES TOGETHER REQUIRING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT UNIT. THIS HAS HAPPEN THREE TIMES WITH BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLIGHT UNITS. THE DIFFERENCE IN PRICE IS $28.00 FOR A REPLACEMENT BLUB VISE $600.00 PLUS DOLLARS FOR THE ENTIRE UNIT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO PROBLEM CHARGING ME THE COST TO REPLACE A MANUFACTURES DEFECT AND SAFETY ISSUE. THERE SHOULD BE AN IMMEDIATE RECALL OF THIS UNIT.
Electrical system, Apr 27, 2017
I WENT TO WORK AND MY VEHICLE WAS JUST FINE. I LEFT FOR LUNCH BREAK STOPPED AT THE GROCCERY STORE AND WENT HOME WHICH IS JUST A FEW MILES AWAY. I PARKED MY VEHICLE WENT INSIDE TO DROP MY GROCERIES OFF AND EAT LUNCH AND WHEN IT WAS TIME TO RETURN TO WORK MY CAR WOULD NOT START! I WAS SO PISSED OFF! THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN AND THE GEARS WOULD NOT SHIFT AT ALL. I ONLY HAVE 30K MILES ON MY CAR AND ONE OWNER BEFORE ME. I AM THE ONLY DRIVER AND MY CAR IS IN IMPECCABLE SHAPE! I KNOW IT IS NOT THE BATTERY BECAUSE I JUST PUT A BRANDNEW ONE IN JUST 3 MONTHS AGO. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE BECAUSE I SEE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS REPAIR SO IT IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING ISSUE. WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT MY BENZ I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE BRAND. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A AUDI/BMW GIRL BUT VOWED I WOULD NEVER GO BACK UNTIL THIS ISSUE. MERCEDES DOES NOT TREAT IT'S CUSTOMERS RIGHT SO THIS WILL BE MY LAST BENZ! RECALL THIS ISSUE BENZ!
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 25, 2017
SOCKETS FOR THE PARKING LIGHTS ABOVE THE HEADLIGHTS MELTED. KNOWING THAT SOMETHING SIMILAR WAS ADDRESSED WITH THE TAIL LIGHTS, SEEMS TO BE RELATED. THE TAIL LIGHTS MELTED THE CARRIER AND THE CABLES NOW THE SAME IS HAPPENING ON THE FRONT OF THE CAR. I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER OF MB C300 EXPERIENCING A ISSUE. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT OUR CARS CAN CATCH UP ON FIRE.
Electrical system, Apr 12, 2017
UNABLE TO START THE CAR. ABLE TO OPERATE LIGHTS AND RADIO, BUT NOTHING ELSE. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF AN ISSUE. BATTERY WAS GOOD. CHECKED ON LINE FOR PROBLEMS WITH STARTING FOR THIS MODEL AND NOTIFIED THE DEALER. CAR WAS IN THE GARAGE AT THE TIME. THIS COULD HAVE OCCURRED AT ANY TIME. UNABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL OR TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. CAR ENDED UP BEING TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK. THIS IS NOT THE TYPE OF ISSUE THAT YOU WANT TO HAPPEN TO YOU WHEN YOU ARE AWAY FROM HOME.
Electrical system, Apr 9, 2017
ELS/EIS SYSYTEM. MY 2009 C300'S IGNITION/STEERING LOCKED UP. NEITHER KEY WILL WORK. CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. HAVE FOUND 100'S OF THE EXACT SAME FAULTY EQUIPMENT COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE ONLINE. ( HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2009/MERCEDES/C300/STEERING/PROBLEM.ASPX ). THIS JUST ONE OF MANY COMPLAINT SITES LISTING THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO MY LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. THEY INFORMED THAT (ONLY) MERCEDES DEALERS CAN REPAIR THE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE "CODES" REQUIRED & THAT MERCEDES WILL NOT RELEASE THESE CODES AND/OR WILL NOT SUPPLY THE REPLACEMENT PARTS TO "OTHER" GARAGES. I (NOW) HAVE TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AGAIN TO MERCEDES BENZ. COSTS RANGE (ACROSS USA), FROM $1,100.00 UP TO $3,300.. THE CAR WAS PARKED AND THERE WAS NO "PRIOR" WARNING DISPLAYED ON THE "INSTRUMENT PANEL" WARNING SYSTEM.. WITH ALL THESE EXACT SAME COMPLAINTS, REGARDING THIS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE REPAIR IS APPARENT THAT THIS IS A "FAULTY" SYSTEM AND WHY THE NHTSA HAS NOT ISSUED A "RECALL" IS BEYOND COMPREHENSION. CONSUMERS DESERVE BETTER WHEN PURCHASING AN AUTO OF SUCH "SUPPOSED" QUALITY.
Electrical system, Mar 28, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,076. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Mar 23, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENGINE, THE KEY FAILED TO TURN FROM THE OFF TO ON POSITION AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Seats, Feb 1, 2017
SECOND WARNING REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL WIRING REGARDING THE FRONT HEAD LAMPS. THE WIRING IS BURNING UP AND IT WILL CAUSE A FIRE WITH DEADLY CONSEQUENCES. THIS CAR HAS HAD A RECALL BEFORE REGARDING THE WIRING OF THE BACK STOP LIGHTS, IF NOTHING IS DONE THERE WILL BE A FIRE. THE SEAT (FRONT) COVERING IS PEELING OFF, CO. SAYS ITS NORMAL. THIS IS MY 2ND REPORT AND THE SMOKE IS GETTING HEAVIER ALL THE TIME AND IT IS AFFECTING THE COMPUTER OF THE CAR FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE IS ALWAYS PICKING UP CHILDREN WITH MY WIFE. VERY DIFFICULT TO GET PHOTO, BUT IS VISIBLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FRONT HEAD LIGHTS. THERE HAS BEEN NO FIRE YET BUT THERE IS SMOKE.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Jan 19, 2017
COMMON AND KNOWN ISSUE WITH M BENZ C300 EIS/ELS/STEERING COLUMN. CAR ENGINE JUST DIES AND WILL NOT START DUE TO ELECTRICAL COMPONENT MALFUNCTION. AN EXPENSIVE, POSSIBLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT HAS NOT BEEN RECOGNIZED BY MERCEDES-BENZ IT APPEARS FROM THE OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS FORUM AND OTHERS. MY 2009 C300 WAS RUNNING FINE. I MAINTAIN REGULAR SERVICE. STOPPED TO GRAB LUNCH. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT IN MOTION OR IN A DANGEROUS AREA OR IN THE MIDDLE OF NIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. THE CAR WOULD NOT RE-START, YET THE LIGHTS, RADIO, PANEL ALL APPEARED TO BE WORKING, ALTHOUGH "REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION" MESSAGE APPEARED. THOUGHT IT COULD BE A BATTERY OR ALTERNATOR ISSUE. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO 2 DIFFERENT PLACES, THE LAST OF WHICH WAS THE MBENZ DEALERSHIP OVER AN HOUR AWAY. THIS OCCURRED AT 80K MILES ON ODOMETER. A MAJOR SAFETY AND POSSIBLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I THOUGHT THE MB BRAND WAS ABOUT RELIABILITY, QUALITY, SAFETY. SO DISAPPOINTED. MANUFACTURER'S DEFECTIVE PRODUCT.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 24, 2016
THE WIRING TO THE HEAD LAMBS (BOTH) ARE BURNING UP, CAUSING A BURNT SMELL IN THE CAR, COMPANY SAYS TO BUY NEW HEAD LAMPS. THE ELECTRIC WIRE SYSTEM IN THE CAR HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE BEGINNING. EVIDENTLY THE HEAT IN THE MOTOR AREA IS TO MUCH FOR THE QUALITY OF THE WIRING COVERS AND THEY CAUSE LAMP BURN OUT,AND BURN THE PLASTIC WIRE COVERING. CAR IS USED FOR PLEASURE HAS VERY FEW MILES. VERY HARD TO TAKE A PICTURE , TECH HAD A HARD TIME GETTING TO IT.
Electrical system, Dec 12, 2016
ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK FAILURE COMMON PROBLEM