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
670 reports, newest first.
Air bags, Oct 26, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Oct 24, 2016
TAKATA RECALL. MERCEDES BENZ HAS FAILED TO ACCOMMODATE MY VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS RECALL. THEY HAVEN'T EVEN NOTIFIED ME ABOUT IT. THEY SAY THAT THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO.
Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Oct 24, 2016
WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR IN THE PARKING LOT AFTER GROCERY SHOPPING IN THE EVENING, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE RADIO AND LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WORKED AND THE SEAT MOVED, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. I HAD THIS CAR CHECKED NOT TOO LONG AGO AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE, BUT THE CAR JUST DECIDED NOT TO WORK SUDDENLY. THIS IS ESPECIALLY SCARY FOR A FEMALE STRANDED IN A PUBLIC PARKING LOT AT NIGHT. I DID NOT GET ANY WARNING MESSAGES BEFORE THE INCIDENT. I HAD TO CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND TRY JUMP STARTING IT FIRST, WHICH WASN'T THE PROBLEM AS THE BATTERY WAS FULLY CHARGED. I ENDED UP HAVING TO TOW THE CAR EARLY NEXT MORNING BECAUSE THE DEALER WAS CLOSED AND HAD TO TAKE A CAB HOME. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER AND STATED ALL THE "SYMPTOMS", MB KNEW RIGHT OFF THE BAT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, WHICH TO ME IS ALARMING. THEY TOLD ME THEY ARE 99% SURE IT IS EITHER ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH OR ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK PROBLEM AND IT WOULD COST ME $1200 TO REPAIR IT. IT OBVIOUSLY IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE. THEY ARE VERY WELL AWARE OF IT, YET THEY ARE NOT DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT, AS (THEY SAY) IT IS NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM. HOW IS THIS NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM WHEN THE DRIVER DOESN'T GET A SLIGHTEST WARNING OR EVEN A MESSAGE THAT THE CAR WON'T START AND WILL LEAVE YOU STRANDED WHEREVER YOU ARE? AS A YOUNG FEMALE LIVING IN A CITY WITHOUT FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO HELP OUT, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT IN A PUBLIC SPACE, THIS IS QUITE FRIGHTENING. I ALMOST HAD A PANIC ATTACK, BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AND NEVER HAD TO CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE ONLY REASON I HAD GOTTEN A MERCEDES BENZ WAS FOR ITS SAFETY. MB SITE STATES: "TRUE TO THEIR HERITAGE, THEY'RE ENGINEERED TO PROTECT YOU IN WAYS YOU MIGHT NEVER HAVE IMAGINED. AND WITH THE HOPE THAT YOU'LL NEVER HAVE TO." HOW DID MB PROTECT ME? MB HAS ONLY ENGINEERED THE CAR TO RIP OFF CUSTOMERS AND NOT LIVE UP TO ITS BRAND. THIS IS VERY DISAPPOINTING. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Oct 18, 2016
ESI AND KEY WENT OUT AND CAR ONLY HAS A BIT OVER 100,000 MILES; LOCKS STEERING AND SHIFTER.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Seat belts, Oct 17, 2016
I BOUGHT MY MERCEDES BENZ AND NOTICE THAT MY TAIL LIGHT AND THE LIGHT ON THE FRONT OF THE CAR WILL TURN ON BY ITSELF WHILE MY CAR WAS PARKED IN THE MORNING MY CAR BATTERY WILL BE DEAD NEEDING A CHARGE. I HAD A RECALL FROM MERCEDES BENZ DEALER AND I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND SUPPOSEDLY THEY FIX IT AND THE CAR HAD GOTTEN WORSE. IT HAD BURNED THE HARNESSES AND FOG HARNESS, WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR WAS ACTING LIKE SHUTTING OFF THE RADIO AND AC WILL START SHUTTING OFF AND TURNING ON AT THE SAME TIME WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. RIGHT NOW MY CAR ONLY HAVE WORKING THE HIGH BEAM. I BEEN GETTING A LOT OF RECALLS FOR THIS CAR BUT REALLY IT SEEMS LIKE I'M LOOSING MY TIME . *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Oct 8, 2016
MY CAR WILL NO LONGER START. ALTHOUGH THE LIGHTS AND RADIO STILL WORK, THE WINDOWS AND AC DON'T, AND THE CAR WON'T START, NOR CAN I CHANGE THE GEAR. IT SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COLUMN/ EIS. I NOW HAVE TO TAKE IT INTO THE BENZ DEALERSHIP AND PAY A HEFTY AMOUNT TO GET IT FIXED, SINCE NO OTHER MECHANIC CAN SEEM TO DO IT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2009 C300 YET THERE'S NOT A RECALL ON IT. GO FIGURE.
Other or unspecified, Sep 28, 2016
ELECTRONIC IGNITION LOCK WOULD NOT LET ME START THE CAR. CAR HAD BEEN DRIVING AND STARTING FINE. WENT TO WORK CAME OUT ON LUNCH BREAK, CAR WOULD NOT START. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED AND MERCEDES DEALERSHIP SAID THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR $1200.00. LOOKED UP ON LINE AND DISCOVERED THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MANY OWNERS. CALLED MERCEDES CORPORATE AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD ONLY ADDRESS THE ISSUE IF THERE WAS A RECALL. SO I AM STUCK PAYING FOR A FAULTY PART THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED.
Electrical system, Sep 24, 2016
I HAVE A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300 4MATIC, MY VEHICLE WAS JUST SERVICED ONE MONTH AGO FOR 2 RECALLS. AIRBAG/TAIL LIGHTS. AFTER MY VEHICLE IS SERVICED I ASK THE MB TECH REGARDING THE EIS SWITCH - WHICH STARTS THE VEHICLE. I WAS CONCERNED THIS MAY HAPPEN TO MY VEHICLE AND FOR HIM TO INSPECT THE ELEMENT. TECHNICIAN SAID I AM ALL SET, AND NOW MY VEHICLE IS STRANDED JUST PICKED UP BY A FLATBED TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC. I CALLED MB THE ISSUE I WAS HAVING AND I TOLD THEM THE SITUATION. THE TECH FROM SHREWSBURY MB WILL GET BACK TO ME ON MONDAY. TODAY IS SATURDAY 09/24/16.
Air bags, Sep 23, 2016, crash
TAKATA RECALL. MY DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONT END COLLISION AT AN ESTIMATED 50 MPH.
Air bags, Sep 8, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 10/28/16*LJ
Air bags, Aug 25, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C63. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V363000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Suspension, Electrical system, Air bags, Aug 24, 2016
TARAKA RECALL. SMART KEY NOT BEING RECOGNIZED , VEHICLE DEAD NEED TOW TRUCK TO DEALER VERY EXPENSIVE ,HAD BATTERY BUT ALL DEAD COST $1600.00 PLUS ON A 72000 MILE VEHICLE.ALSO FRONT SWAY STABILIZER BAR NEED TOTAL REPLACING (DEALER PART ONLY) SINCE ITS MAKING NOISE. BUSHINGS CANNOT BE CHANGED LIKE OTHERS THE WHOLE BAR NEEDS TO BE PURCHASE AT DEALER WITH BUSHING VULCANIZED TO IT. ON THE SMART KEY THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY THANK GOD
Electrical system, Aug 23, 2016
THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK SUDDENLY FAILED MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO START THE CAR. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES OF THIS ERA, THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING, AND MERCEDES IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT CHARGES APPROX. $1,200 TO REPLACE THE LOCK. THIS LEAVES MOTORISTS STRANDED.
Exterior lighting, Air bags, Aug 22, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING), 15V711000 (AIR BAGS), AND 16V081000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 15, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL COMING FROM THE FRONT AND REAR EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Electrical system, Aug 15, 2016
WITH THE VEHICLE PARKED, THE CAR WON'T START, BATTERY AND LIGHTS WORK FINE, WHEN TURNING KEY THE ENGINE DOES NOT TURN OVER. THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND IT WON'T SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. SOUNDS LIKE THE SAME EIS PROBLEM THAT SO MANY OTHERS HAVE.
Electrical system, Aug 14, 2016
WITH THE VEHICLE PARKED, THE CAR WON'T START, BATTERY AND LIGHTS WORK FINE, WHEN TURNING KEY THE ENGINE DOES NOT TURN OVER. WHEN INSERTING THE KEY IT DOESN'T MAKE THE LOCKING SOUND IT USUALLY MAKES. THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND IT WON'T SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. SOUNDS LIKE THE SAME EIS PROBLEM THAT SO MANY OTHERS HAVE RAN INTO.
Air bags, Aug 8, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG MALFUNCTION SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,000. UPDATED 10/06/16*LJ
Air bags, Aug 8, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V711000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Aug 6, 2016
IN STATIONARY POSITION IN A PARKING LOT STEER WHEEL LOCKS UP WHEN PARKED WITH WHEELS FORWARD / TURNING KEY TO START ENGINE DOES NOT WORK
Other or unspecified, Aug 4, 2016
MY 2009 MB C300 IS PARKED AND WILL NOT START. I PUT THE KEY IN AND TURN IT BUT NOTHING HAPPENS. THE RADIO AND INTERNAL LIGHTS DO COME ON BUT NOT THE CAR. THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND I CAN'T PUT IT IN NEUTRAL EITHER (TO PUSH IT OUT THE GARAGE). I HAVE READ MANY FORUMS WITH MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE,IF THIS IS SO COMMEN IN THIS CAR THEN IT SHOULD HAVE A LONGER WARRANTY OR RECALL. I HAVE BEEN VERY METICULOUS IN THE CARE OF THIS CAR AND THIS UNFORTUNATELY WILL SET ME BACK FINANCIALLY AND TIME. PLEASE START AN INVESTIGATION!!!
Electrical system, Aug 1, 2016
MY MERCEDES WAS HIT IN THE FRONT IN DECEMBER AND AFTER PARTIAL REPAIRS WERE DONE, WE PICKED UP THE CAR AND ON 2ND DAY OF HAVING IT, IT WOULD NOT START. THOUGHT IT WAS BATTERY BUT OF COURSE IT WASN'T . HOOKED UP TO OUR SCANNER AND ALL KINDS OF CODES WERE DISPLAYED SO WE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED BACK TO WHERE REPAIRS WERE DONE AND THEY DETERMINED IT WAS ESL MODULE AND THEIR OPINION IT WAS CAUSED BY ACCIDENT. $2700.00 LATER OUT OF MY OWN POCKET WE HAVE CAR BACK AND FIXED. SO WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS, NOT US. I BELIEVE THAT MERCEDES SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS AND THE OTHER INSURANCE SHOULD PAY FOR THIS ALSO. I SEE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS BUT MINE I BELIEVE WAS CAUSED BY ACCIDENT.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 29, 2016
I EXPERIENCED THE INFAMOUS STEERING LOCK PROBLEM 5 DAYS AGO IN MY (NOW FORMER) 2009 MERCEDES C300. PRIOR TO THIS PROBLEM OCCURRING MY CAR SEEMED TO BE WORKING FINE. I'VE ALWAYS HAD ALL OF THE RECOMMENDED SERVICES PERFORMED ON TIME BY THE DEALER. THEN LAST SATURDAY I WAS RUNNING ERRANDS AND AFTER MY THIRD STOP MY CAR WOULDN'T START. I ASSUMED IT WAS THE BATTERY (EVEN THOUGH IT HAD BEEN REPLACED LESS THAN 2 YEARS AGO) AND I CALLED MERCEDES ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE ROADSIDE TECHNICIAN TESTED THE BATTERY AND SAID IT WAS FINE AND HE IMMEDIATELY SUSPECTED IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK PROBLEM. AFTER A BIT MORE TESTING HE CONFIRMED IT WAS AND HE SAID THE CAR WOULD NEED TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER ON A FLATBED. IT WAS SATURDAY AND THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS CLOSING BUT I GOT THERE JUST IN TIME TO GET A LOANER CAR. ONCE I GOT HOME I STARTED DOING INTERNET RESEARCH ON THE PROBLEM AND I FOUND THIS WEBSITE. I DECIDED TO GO BACK TO THE DEALER ON SUNDAY WHEN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS CLOSED AND ASK IF I COULD TRADE IN THE CAR. I PRINTED OUT ALL OF THE REPORTS ON THIS SITE AND TOOK THEM WITH ME. THE SALESPEOPLE CLAIMED THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BUT THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT IT. I WAITING UNTIL YESTERDAY WHEN I HAD THE REPAIR QUOTE BEFORE I TRADED IT IN. THE COST WOULD HAVE BEEN $1,800 BUT THEY SAID I COULD USE A 15% OFF SERVICE COUPON. I ALSO TRIED TO SHOW THE REPORTS FROM THIS SITE TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR BUT HE WASN'T INTERESTED IN SEEING THEM EITHER. I DECIDED I REALLY NEEDED A CAR THAT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY SO I TRADED IT IN LAST NIGHT. THEY SUBTRACTED $1,500 OFF THE TRADE IN VALUE FOR THIS REPAIR. I TRIED TO GET THEM TO DOCUMENT IT SO I WOULD HAVE SOME EVIDENCE IF THERE IS REPAIR REFUND OFFERED IN THE FUTURE BUT THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO DO SO.
Electrical system, Jul 26, 2016
GOT HOME FROM WORK PARKED MY CAR, I WOULD SAY MAYBE ABOUT 3 HRS LATER I GET ON MY CAR TO GO PICK UP MY SON AND I WASN'T ABLE TO TURN MY CAR ON. MY KEYFOB WORKED FINE WHEN I UNLOCKED AND LOCKED THE VEHICLE BUT WHEN I WOULD INSERT THE KEYFOB IN THE IGNITION I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE KEY ALL THE WAY TO THE ON POSITION. ALL THOUGH IT TURNED IN THE IGNITION IT WOULDN'T GIVE THE CAR A CRANK OR ANY POWER AT ALL, THE RADIO, WINDOWS DASHBOARD, HEADLIGHTS, NOTHING WORKED AT ALL, IT WOULDN'T EVEN UNLCOCK MY STEERING COLOUMN EITHER. WHICH MADE IT EVEN A BIGGER HASTLE TO TOW THE CAR WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LUCKILY II LEFT THE WHEELS STRAIGHT WHEN I PARKED MY VEHICLE. I'VE SEEN THAT THIS ISSUE IS COMMON ON THIS MERCEDES MODEL. IF ITS A COMMON PROBLEM MERCEDES SHOULD BE ABLE TO RECALL THIS IGNITION FAULT. THERES PLENTY OF REASONS WHY IT CAN BE A STRESSING SITUATION IF IT HAPPENS TO ANYBODY, ESPECIALLY NOT BEING ABLE TO UNLOCK THJE STEERING COLUMN. THERE CAN BE PLENTY OF WHAT IF'S (WHAT IF, U HAD UR WHEELS TURNED, WHAT IF YOUR FAR FROM HOME, UR PARKED IN A TIGHT SPACE HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET THE CAR TOWED, YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY AND YOUR CAR SUDDENLY WONT START, AT A GAS STATION PUMPING GAS AND YOUR CAR WONT START, EVEN AFTER JUST HAVING DINNER AT A RESTAURANT) IMAGINE HAVING AN ISSUE LIKE THIS AND YOU ARE WITH YPUR FAMILY ITS VERY STRESSFUL OR EVERYBODY. I'M SURE ITS HAPPENED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE BUT THEY DONT FILE A COMPLAINT OR MAYBE THEY DONT KNOW THEY CAN FILE ONE. I JUST HOPE MERCEDES CAN REALLY DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE SINCE IS VERY COMMON ON THIS MODEL 2009 MERCEDES C350.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 22, 2016
STATIONARY WHILE AT THE REST AREA DURING A HOT SUMMER DAY ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE STEERING COLUMN OR ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL) FAILED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START.CAR WON'T START AND STEERING WON'T UNLOCK... I STOPPED AND CUT THE ENGINE OF AND TRIED RESTARTING THE CAR IT WON'T DO ANYTHING. THIS PARTICULAR PART IS FAULTY ON MOST 2008-2009 MERCEDES C300. SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSANDS ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH THIS PARTICULAR PART AND AT MOMENTS THEY GET IT WORKING AND AT OTHER TIMES NOT SO MUCH. THIS PART NEEDS TO BE RECALLED SINCE IT IS A DEALER ONLY REPLACEMENT PART AND NO ONE CAN TOUCH IS BESIDES THE DEALER DUE TO THEFT AND SECURITY MEASURES. MERCEDES HAS THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE CORNERED AND IS NOT DOING ANYTHING TO WORK WITH THE CUSTOMER.