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: steering
158 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Aug 19, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. IN ADDITION, AS THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, REMOVE KEY WAS DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
Steering, Aug 18, 2015
CAR STEERING LOCK IS BROKEN: PARKED ON A HILL FACING UPHILL AND WHEN I GOT BACK IN MY CAR I COULDN'T START MY ENGINE. LIGHTS, RADIO, DISPLAY ALL WORK FINE, BUT THE ENGINE DOESN'T TURN ON. WINDOWS, HORN, BLINKERS ARE ALL LOCKED. HAD TO GET IT TOWED, DIAGNOSED WITH STEERING LOCK FAILURE. APPARENTLY IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES OF MY MAKE AND MODEL.
Steering, Aug 17, 2015
THE CAR DIDN'T TURN ON. I CALLED THE TOWING COMPANY THINKING THAT IT WAS THE BATTERY, BUT THEY CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS NOT THE BATTERY. I TOWED THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC. MY MECHANIC CONFIRMED TODAY THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE STEERING LOCK WHICH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AND IT COST OVER $1,400. I DID SEARCH THE INTERNET AND THOUSANDS OF THIS MODEL OWNER HAS EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL IMMEDIATELY.
Steering, Aug 4, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Steering, Jul 23, 2015
I NEED TO REPLACE THE STEERING LOCK PART AND I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT DOESN'T COVER THIS ITEM WHICH COST FOR THE PARTS IS $1200 WITHOUT LABOR. WAS TOLD BY MERCEDES THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS PART AND THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO ORDER THE PART WHICH WILL TAKE SEVERAL DAYS.
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
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Steering, Jun 24, 2015
THE EIS, AT WORK MY CAR WON'T START HAD TO TOW HOME CAR START AT HOME BUT WHEN TURN OFF CAR WENT BACK TO NOT STARTING. KEY IN IGNITION BUT IT'S LIKE IGNITION WILL NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY. BAD IGNITION SWITCH STEERING VOLUME ECT.. REPAIR COST $1100 ... VERY PISSED SEEMS LIKE THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WHY HAVEN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL ALREADY.. I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SOME OF THE COSTING FEE BACK AND KNOW THAT I'M GOOD FOR FUTURE ISSUE WITH 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, Jun 8, 2015
I HAVE SEVERAL FRIENDS WITH THE SAME MODEL CAR, WHO HAS HAD THE SAME COMPLAINT! I WAS WONDERING IF THEIR IS A RECALL OF THE STEERING COLUMN PARTS?
Steering, Jun 5, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO GET THE STEERING COLUMN UNLOCKED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED, AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
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...
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, Apr 29, 2015
IN THE MORNING, TRY TO START MY 2009 C300 AND THE CAR DID NOT START AND THE STEERING GOT LOCKED OFF OF THE BLUE. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AT DELRAY BEACH, FL. THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED TO BE RELATED TO: MANUFACTURING DEFECTED 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 $1464.00 FOR THE DEFECTED STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY. I SEARCHED ON INTERNET AND A LOT OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM (PLEASE SEE THE LINK PROVIDED). 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 42K MILEAGE AND THE STEERING LOCK IS MANUFACTURING DEFECTED AND IT IS NOT CONSIDERED NORMAL WEAR & TEAR AND THEREFORE THIS SHOULD BE REPAIRED WITHOUT CHARGE. UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS LIKE TO 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. WE AS OWNER OF THE MERCEDES-BENZ SHOULD UNIT AND COMPLAIN TO MERCEDES HEADQUARTER AND NHTSA AND REQUEST THIS DEFECT SHALL BE CONSIDER AS A RECALL. I AM CONCERN IF THE STEERING LOCKS BECAUSE OF THE DEFECTED PART WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN DURING DRIVING AND OTHER CASES. THANK YOU. HTTP://WWW.CAR-RECALL.COM/MERCEDES-BENZ/C300/2009 HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2009/MERCEDES/C300/STEERING/PROBLEM.ASPX. *TR
Steering, Apr 27, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.
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, Apr 22, 2015
I PARKED MY 2009 C300 WITH ONLY 42K MILES ON IT IN THE GARAGE AT NIGHT. NEXT MORNING I TRIED TO START, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND WAS NOT ABLE TO START OR MOVE THE GEARS HAD TO CALL MERCEDES ROAD SERVICE TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO A MERCEDES DEALER AT DELRAY BEACH, FL. THIS HAPPENED OUT OF THE BLUE WITHOUT ANY INDICATION THAT SOMETHING WAS GOING WRONG. DIAGNOSE WAS MADE AND DETERMINE TO BE ?STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY COMPLETELY NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH ADDITIONAL TIME TO MANUALLY DRILL OUT THE OLD LOCK.? THIS WAS DUE TO A DEFECTED STEERING IGNITION SWITCH SECURITY ASSEMBLY. THE DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME $1600.00 FOR THE DEFECTED PART. I TALK TO THE DELRAY BEACH MERCEDES-BENZ SERVICE DEALERSHIP DIRECTOR AND SUPERVISOR ANS AS WELL AS MBUSA REGIONAL CASE MANAGER. IT WAS JUST WASTE OF TIME AND NONE OF THEM WANTED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. MERCEDES-BENZ ABSOLUTELY DID NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT OTHER THAN CHARGING PEOPLE FOR REPAIR OF A DEFECTED COMPLETE STEERING SECURITY ASSEMBLY. THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED RECALL AS TO DO WITH STEERING LOCK. *TR
Steering, Apr 19, 2015
THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND WAS NOT ABLE TO START OR MOVE THE GEARS HAD TO CALL MERCEDES ROAD SERVICE .TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO A MERCEDES DEALER. *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, Apr 18, 2015
STEERING WHEEL GOT LOCKED WHEN THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. LUCKILY, I WAS DRIVING OFF THE HIGHWAY APPROX. 10 MPH. TARIFFING EXPERIENCE!!! *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
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Apr 13, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO TURN ON AND THE STEERING LOCK ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE STEERING LOCK AND THE CONTROL UNIT. THERE WAS NO FURTHER INFORMATION AVAILABLE. AFTER RETRIEVING THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING, THE BRAKE EBR, ABS, ESP AND POWER STEERING FAILURE MESSAGES APPEARED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,033.
Steering, Electrical system, Apr 9, 2015
I TURNED THE KEY AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE CAR WOULD NOT START. LIGHTS WORKED. I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO HAVE IT JUMP STARTED, DID NOT WORK. I THEN HAD IT TOWED AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT A CERTIFIED MERCEDES DEALER THAT IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT CALLED ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK EIS/ESL ALSO REFERRED TO AS TECHNICAL SERVICES BULLETIN LI80-57-P051521. TOTAL COST: $1250 THIS IS MY CAR'S 3RD KNOWN DEFECT: 1) REAR TAIL LIGHTS WOULD CATCH FIRE AND FAIL (FINALLY RECALLED BY MB AND REPAIRED) 2) COMMAND KNOB FOR SATELLITE RADIO AND GPS FAILED AND NOW 3) EIS/ESL DEFECT. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Apr 1, 2015
WENT TO START MY CAR. TRIED JUMPING IT OFF THINKING IT WAS THE BATTERY CHECKED ALL THE FUSES. SPENT $70 TO HAVE TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. COME TO FIND OUT IT IS THE EIS SWITCH AND MERCEDES WILL NOT SELL HIM THE PARTS TO FIX ONLY MERCEDES CAN FIX. MY GUY SAID HE COULD FIX FOR $700, MERCEDES DEALERSHIP SAID OVER $1000. COME TO FIND OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. AS MY CAR WAS AT MY MECHANIC SHOP ANOTHER MERCEDES CAME IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ( UNBELIEVABLE ). MERCEDES TAKES PRIDE IN THE VEHICLES YET WITH A COMMON PROBLEM THEY WILL NOT FIX FOR FREE ( SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM ) THIS WILL BE MY LAST MERCEDES I OWN. AUDI WILL BE MY NEXT CAR. VERY DISAPPOINTED IN MERCEDES. *TR
Steering, Engine, Mar 12, 2015
WHEN TO GET MY CAR WAXED FOR THE WEEKEND. GOT HOME PARKED THE CAR AND WHEN MY WIFE AND I WERE READY TO GO OUT THE CAR WOULDN'T START. DASH LIGHTS, RADIO, ECT WERE WORKING BUT THE IGNITION WOULDN'T START. I CAN HEAR CLICKS FROM THE ENGINE N THE STEERING WAS LOCKED. BAG IGNITION STEERING LOCK. $1,900 TO FIX HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR UNTIL I COME UP WITH THE MONEY TO FIX IT! COMMON ISSUE FROM ALL 2008 & 2009 MERCEDES W204 C CLASS! & NO RECALL. *TR