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.

Complaints by model year
  1. 670

Of the 2009 reports, 17 involved a crash and 19 involved a fire. 16 people were injured.

Primary concernElectrical system222 reports · 33% of complaints
Owner complaints670Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationshipNo recalls on fileNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Electrical system222
  2. Air bags213
  3. Steering158
  4. Exterior lighting138
  5. Suspension37
  6. Other or unspecified33
  7. Structure28
  8. Service brakes27

Recalls and investigations

No safety recalls on file.

Representative owner complaints: service brakes

27 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Air bags, Vehicle speed control, May 13, 2010, crash

    I WAS DRIVING ON THE PARKWAY AT ~40 MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN BY STEPPING ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN BUT ACCELERATED. AND STRUCK THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. EVERY TIME I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR ACCELERATED SO THAT THE CAR STRUCK THE CAR IN FRONT TWICE. I TRIED TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND WAS UNABLE TO. FINALLY, I PUSHED HARD ON THE BRAKE ENOUGH TO SLOW IT DOWN AND I WAS TEN ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE RACED BUT I WAS THEN ABLE TO TURN IT OFF. DESPITE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

  2. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Power train, Electrical system, Jun 4, 2009

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING SEVERAL COMPUTER DEFECTS. WHILE PARKED ON A HILL AND ATTEMPTING TO PLACE THE GEAR SHIFTER INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL FORWARD INSTEAD OF BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL FORWARD APPROXIMATELY ONE FOOT AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. DURING THIS TIME, THE STEERING WOULD LOCK AND THE BRAKES WOULD LOSE POWER. IT WOULD TAKE TREMENDOUS FORCE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER COULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS. THERE WERE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN PERFORMED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 7,000.