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, Oct 16, 2015
THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM HAS FAILED AND THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE STARTED. THE STEERING LOCK IS ENGAGED, SO THE STEERING WHEEL CANNOT BE MOVED. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN IT OCCURRED BUT STRANDED THE OPERATOR. DIAGNOSIS INVOLVES TOWING TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEN IN EXCESS OF $1000 REPAIR BILL. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED FAULT WITH THE EIS MODULE HOWEVER NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED.
Electrical system, Oct 14, 2015
STEERING WHEEL LOCKS BY NO FAULT OF DRIVER ONLY DEALERS UNLOCK IT FOR $1112. 00.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Oct 14, 2015
FRONT PARKING LAMPS POOR CONNECTION WIRES INSULATION COME OFF VERY EASY FROM THE FRAME PLUG, PLUS WIRES ARE TO SHORT TO MAKE CORRECTION(SPLICE) INSIDE THE HEAD LIGHT HOUSING. ALL THIS HAPPENED AFTER THE CAR WAS REPAIR FROM RECALL ON TAIL LIGHTS. I SAW ON THE INTERNET AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAS THIS PROBLEM FOR THIS PROBLEM, I WAS DRIVING ON THE DARK STREET AND ALL LIGHTS WENT OFF LIKE FOR 5 SECONDS, THAT WHY I GOT SCARE, I WAS WITH MY WIFE AND MY 5 MONTHS OLD DAUGHTER, MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD REPORT THIS AS RECALL, IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM I NEED TO CHANGE THE WHOLE HOUSING, I TOOK THE CAR TO DOWNT TOWN LA SERVICE DEPARTMENT, FOR ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION LOCK SWITCH, I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND ALSO A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD THIS PROBLEM. I HOPE SOME ONE WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE C300 MODELS. THANK YOU *TR
Electrical system, Oct 12, 2015
MY DAUGHTER TOOK MY WIFE'S 2009 MERCEDES C300 TO SCHOOL AND WHEN SHE GOT INTO THE CAR AFTER STOPPING FOR COFFEE IT WOULD NOT START. YOU TURN THE KEY AND NOTHING HAPPENED. VERIFIED THAT THE CAR WAS IN PARK AND CHECKED ALL OF THE SYSTEMS. STILL NOTHING. HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK AND HAVE IT TAKEN TO OUR REPAIR SHOP. AM BEING TOLD IT IS THE ELECTRIC STEERING LOCK SYSTEM AND WILL COST ALMOST $1000 TO FIX. AFTER CHECKING ONLINE THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. SINCE THIS CAN STRAND A PERSON IT SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE RECALL LIST. THANK GOODNESS MY DAUGHTER HAD ONLY DRIVEN A FEW BLOCKS AWAY AND STOPPED FOR COFFEE. IT WAS IN A OPEN PARKING LOT, BUT IF IT HAD BEEN IN A "NOT SO GOOD AREA" THAT COULD PUT HER IN JEOPARDY. THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO BE AN ALL TOO FREQUENT, AND VERY EXPENSIVE FIX.
Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Oct 7, 2015
ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING 40 MPH WARNING ON THE DISPLAY CAME ON STATING THE" EBR, ABS, ESP ARE INOPERATIVE" AND A WARNING DISPLAY STATING "POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION". POWER STEERING WAS FINE, BUT IT WAS A VERY NERVE WRECKING DRIVE. DEALERSHIP IS STATING IT IS THE ESP MODULE AND PUMP THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, WHICH CAN ONLY BE DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP.
Steering, Electrical system, Oct 7, 2015
CAR WOULDN'T START. LUCKILY THAT CAR WAS AT OUR HOUSE. AFTER RESEARCH FOUND THAT THE 2009 C300 HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE EIS (ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH). AFTER A 5-6 HOURS THE CARS IGNITION STARTED WORKING, BUT FROM READING OTHERS EXPERIENCE THE IGNITION COULD DISABLE FOREVER AT ANY TIME. COST TO REPAIR IS $1500 AND ONLY BE DONE AT A DEALERSHIP.
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Oct 5, 2015
ON 10/3/2015 THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT A GAS STATION FOR 5 MINUTES. UPON RETURNING TO THE CAR AND ATTEMPED TO SWITCH THE IGNITION ON, THE CAR WONT START. CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ IN ENGLEWOOD AND THEY OFFERED A ROAD ASSISTANCE ( $80 SERVICE CHARGE ). AFTER WAITING FOR OVER AN HOUR AND HALF THE ROADSIDE TECHNICIAN ARRIVED AND ATTEMPED TO JUMSTART THE VEHICLE WITH NO SUCCESS. HE SAID THAT WITH 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING FOR MERCEDES THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WHERE THE VEHICLE WONT RECOGNIZE THE KEY, LOCKING THE STEERING AND CUTTING OFF THE ENGINE POWER TO START UP. HE CONTACTED MERCEDES FOR A TOWING TRUCK TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THIS HAPPENED ON A SATURDAY AND HAVE TO WAIT TIL MONDAY FOR RESULTS. VEHICLE HAS 79,000 MILES ODOMETER READING. THERES MORE THEN 10,000 FEEDBACKS OVER THE INTERNET WITH THE SAME ISSUE. FIX RANGES FROM $500 TO $1500. MERCEDES HAS NOT RECALLED THIS ONGOING COMMON ISSUE.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Oct 4, 2015
THE CAR WON'T START WHEN YOU TURN THE KEY. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A MERCEDES MECHANIC AND HE CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG AFTER BEING LOOKED AT FOR A B1 SERVICE. WE THOUGHT THIS WOULD FIX IT. NOW IT WON'T START AGAIN. WHEN TURN THE KEY, EVERYTHING LIGHTS UP AS IF THE CAR IS GOING TO START BUT IT WON'T. IT HAD BEEN STARTING AFTER TURNING THE KEY A FEW TIMES AND EVENTUALLY IT WOULD CATCH. THE PROBLEM STARTED 2 WEEKS AGO, NOW IT WON'T START AT ALL.
Steering, Electrical system, Sep 22, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C350. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING BOX AND THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH (EIS) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
Steering, Electrical system, Sep 3, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Interior lighting, Sep 1, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS SHORTED OUT REPEATEDLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING), BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE ANY CONFIRMATION OF THE REPAIR AND THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH DRAINED THE POWER AND BATTERY SOURCE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Aug 22, 2015
TODAY I HAD TO GO TO WORK ANDTRIED TO PUT MY CAR ON, TO MY DISMAY IT WOULD NOT TURN ON. ALL OF THE OTHER ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS WORKED, LIKE MY CAR LOCKING AND UNLOCKING , AND THE RADIO WORKING BUT IT KEPT TELLING ME TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION AND IT WOULDNT START. I HAVE DONE ALOT OF REASEARCH AND THERE SEEM TO BE ALOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. AND I HOPE WE COULD FIX IT AND HAVE IT RECALLED BECAUSE IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX.
Electrical system, Jul 20, 2015
STOP AT GROCERY STORE CAME BACK CAR DID NOT START. ITS THE ELECTRIC STEERING DOES NOT WORK IT COST $1350 TO GET FIXED ITS BEEN HAPPENING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE AND MERCEDES DOES NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO HELP. THANKS!
Steering, Power train, Electrical system, Jul 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
Electrical system, Jun 30, 2015
MY CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON, EVENTUALLY FOUND OUT IT WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTION. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, I FOUND IT IS VERY COMMON ON THE C CLASS. COST OVER $1K TO REPAIR, AND MERCEDES OF USA DECLINED TO COVER ANY OF THE EXPENSE EVEN THOUGH THE ISSUE IS COMMON.
Steering, Electrical system, Jun 30, 2015
I AM ATTEMPTING TO LEAVE OFFICE DEPOT PARKING LOT AND MY CAR WILL NOT START (NO PROBLEM PRIOR TO GOING INTO THE STORE!) I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION THE LIGHTS, RADIO, DASHBOARD ALL COME ON AND I HEAR A CLICKING SOUND. HOWEVER, THE POWER WINDOWS DON'T WORK, NOR THE SUNROOF. AFTER RESEARCHING MOST OF THE NIGHT (COULDN'T REST) AND MOST OF THE DAY, IT APPEARS TO BE THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH (EIS) WHICH IS VERY COSTLY! AND THERE ARE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS OVER THE SPAN OF YEARS!!! THE NIGHTMARE STORIES (I HAD DEJA VU...EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE!) DEFIANTLY ENOUGH COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION SHOULD OPEN AN INVESTIGATION. A DEMAND FOR A RECALL IS NEEDED ASAP!!! PRICE OF REPLACEMENT/REPAIR COULD BE FROM $1,100 TO $2,200....RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 24, 2015
THEY NEED TO HAVE A RECALL ON ESI IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE .. AND ISSUE RELATED TO THIS ISSUE
Steering, Electrical system, Jun 24, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT FAILED TO START AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jun 1, 2015
YESTERDAY MY BELOVED C300 LEFT US STRANDED AT A BEST BUY PARKING LOT LATE AT NIGHT. IT WAS REALLY UPSET WHEN I JUST GET OFF WORK, AND TRY TO START MY CAR AND GO HOME TAKE A REST, BUT IT WOULD NOT START. I HAD TO LEAVE THE CAR THERE OVERNIGHT AND WAS NOT UNTIL NEXT MORNING THAT I GOT IT TO START. SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN GIVING US PROBLEMS SO I CALL THE LOCAL DEALER AND THEY GAVE ME AN APPOINTMENT FOR NEXT MONDAY. I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A VERY COSTLY AND A VERY WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH C300. BY THIS TIME I AM SURE MB KNOWS ABOUT IT, AND I DID RESEARCH ONLINE SEEMS LIKE THAT IS A COMMON ISSUE AND MB SHOULD RECALL FOR IT. UNFORTUNATELY, MB DON'T TAKE CARE OF IT, AND DO NOT COVER IT. IT IS A EIS FAILURE ISSUE.. MY 2009 C300 HAS JUST REACHED 50,000 KLMS. WE HAVE HAD IT FOR ABOUT 10 MONTHS NOW... WE ARE VERY CONCERNED AND DISAPPOINTED. MY CAR HAD TO LEAVE IN PARKING LOT OVERNIGHT WHICH IS REALLY DANGEROUS, AND I CAN'T GO TO WORK SINCE I DON'T HAVE A CAR TO DRIVE. IT'S A PAIN FOR ME, THAT I HAVE TO PAY OVER $1000, AND THIS IS MY FIRST CAR, MY FINANCIAL CAN'T REALLY HANDLE THIS UNEXPECTED ISSUE SINCE I TAKE CARE OF MY SO WELL...
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, May 21, 2015
FRONT LIGHTS SOCKET OVER HEAT AND MELTING. MANUFACTURE AND DEALERSHIP REFUSE TO REPLACE, HOWEVER CAR STILL IN FULL EXTENDED WARRANTY SAFETY ISSUE AND CAN CAUSE FIRE
Steering, Electrical system, May 4, 2015
IN THE MORNING, I TRIED TO START MY 2009 C300 AND THE CAR DID NOT START AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED OUT OF THE BLUE. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AT DELRAY BEACH, FL. THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE STEERING/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM RELATED TO IGNITION SWITCH. THE FOLLOWING REPAIR STATED ON MY REPAIR REPORT: - STEERING LOCK COMPLETE REPLACEMENT - ADDITIONAL TIME TO DRILL OUT THE OLD LOCK MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP SERVICE CHARGED ME $1,464.00 FOR THE DEFECTED STEERING LOCK/IGNITION ELECTRICAL ASSEMBLY. I SEARCHED ON INTERNET AND A LOT OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM (PLEASE SEE THE LINK PROVIDED BELOW). I CALLED THE MERCEDES-BENZ USA HEADQUARTER AT NJ AND TALK TO A DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER AND EXPLAIN TO HIM THAT MY CAR HAS ONLY 44K MILEAGE AND THE STEERING LOCK/IGNITION ELECTRONIC MALFUNCTION IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECTED AND IT IS NOT CONSIDERED NORMAL WEAR & TEAR AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. HENCE THIS SHOULD BE REPAIRED WITHOUT CHARGE AND JUSTIFY FOR RECALLS. UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS LIKE TALKING TO THE WALL AND BASICALLY MERCEDES-BENZ DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY AND TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND HIT THE CUSTOMER WITH AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR COST. I AM CONCERN IF THE STEERING LOCKS/IGNITION ELECTRICAL PART MALFUNCTIONS, WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN DURING DRIVING AND OTHER CASES. THANK YOU. P.S.: PLEASE REFER TO THE FOLLOWING JUST TWO WEB SITES. THERE ARE MORE TO SEE IF YOU SEARCH: HTTP://WWW.CAR-RECALL.COM/MERCEDES-BENZ/C300/2009 HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2009/MERCEDES/C300/STEERING/PROBLEM.ASPX HTTP://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/MERCEDESBENZ/C300/2009/
Steering, Electrical system, Apr 22, 2015
ELECTRONIC STEERING FAILURE. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. GEAR SHIFT LOCKED IN PARK. CAN TURN KEY, BUT THE ONLY THE CENTRAL DASH WORKS WITH MESSAGE "TAKE KEY FROM IGNITION". NO START UP LIGHTS ON. VEHICLE LOCKS, UNLOCKS, RADIO WORKS, BUT WON'T START. LUCKILY IT HAPPENED IN THE GARAGE WHILE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND NOT IN MOTION. $800 OUT OF POCKET FOR NEW EIS AND BLUE KEY + LABOR. SEEMS TO BE VERY FREQUENT ISSUE WITH 2008/2009 C300 MODELS. RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED AND OWNERS REIMBURSED FOR EXPENSES INCURRED GIVEN THE NUMBER OF REPORTS AND SAFETY RISKS AS SOME HAVE REPORTED IT HAPPENED TO THEM WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. DON'T NEED TO WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE GETS REALLY HURT. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Apr 18, 2015
PARKED MY CAR OVERNIGHT AND WENT TO START IT IN THE MORNING AND WOULD NOT START. THE KEY WOULD TURN BUT GOT NO LIGHTS ON THE DASH AND RADIO WOULD NOT WORK. THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT UNLOCK. TRIED TO JUMP IT BUT SAME RESULTS. BATTERY TESTED FINE, CHECKED ALL THE FUSES AND THEY WERE ALL GOOD. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET THE STEERING LOCK FAILED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A MORE THAN FREQUENT ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. THIS HAPPENED OUT OF THE BLUE WITHOUT ANY INDICATION THAT SOMETHING WAS GOING WRONG. I'M GLAD I WAS HOME AND NOT HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY. WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL? *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Apr 15, 2015
DROVE MY C300 TO WORK IN THE MORNING. WENT TO LEAVE A FEW HOURS LATER AND THE CAR WILL NOT START. RADIO, ALARM, DASH AND LOCK/UNLOCK ALL WORK BUT YOU CAN NOT HEAR THE STEERING LOCK DISENGAGE WHEN YOU PUT THE KEY IN. FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND MERCEDES HAS DONE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO FIX IT. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 6 MONTHS. IS THIS WHAT WE HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO AFTER BUYING A MERCEDES BENZ? *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 10, 2015
INTERMITTENTLY MY LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WILL GO ON, GAS GAUGE SLOWLY GOES TO EMPTY, REAR BREAK AND BLINKERS NO LONGER WORK, INTERIOR LIGHTING, AND SUN ROOF DO NOT WORK. I CAN NOT LOCK MY CAR SOMETIMES AFTER FOR ABOUT 5 MINS. IF IT HAPPENS RIGHT WHEN I TURN MY CAR ON, I CAN TRY TO TURN IT OFF AND RESTART AND IT MAY OR MAY NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS RIGHT WHEN I TURN MY CAR ON OR SOMETIMES IT NEVER HAPPENS. *TR