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.
Steering, Air bags, Jul 22, 2016
TAKATA RECALL.. MY AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON AND I FEAR THAT THEY ARE NOT WORKING. ALSO, MY CAR WILL NOT RESTART AFTER STOPPING AT A STORE. IN READING THE COMMENTS IN A RECENT FORUM, I AM NOT THE ONLY MERCEDES BENZ OWNER HAVING THIS PROBLEM. BASED ON THE COMMENTS THE ISSUE IS WITH THE STEERING COLUMN (EIS/ELS) AND IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE DEALER ALSO VERIFIED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES AND THE COST TO REPAIR IT IS $2100.00 UPWARD.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 21, 2016
CAR WON'T START AND STEERING WON'T UNLOCK...WHENEVER I STOP AND CUT THE ENGINE OF AND TRY STARTING G THE CAR IT WON'T DO ANYTHING. THEN AFTER A GOOD HOUR IT WILL START...THEN I DRIVE HOME AND STOP IT WON'T START. EVERYDAY TWICE A DAY... WHEN J GO TO WORK OR WHEN I COME HOME.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 21, 2016
CAR WILL NOT CRANK NOR WILL IT RELEASE STERING WHEEL. IT STATES TO REMOVE KEY. HAD IT TOWED AND DEALER REVIEWED IT AND IT IS ALSO THE EIS. HAD TO PAY TO ORDER PART AND ALSO HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. JUST GLAD THIS HAPPENED WHERE I WORK AT AND NOT WHILE TRAVELING.
Structure, Jul 7, 2016
TROUBLE WITH SUN ROOF ASSEMBLY. MECHANIC WARNED ME NOT TO USE IT AS IT IS DEFECTIVE AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED BUT MUST BE REPLACED WHICH WOULD COST TOO MUCH MONEY. THE CAR WAS PURCHSED USED AND THIS WAS NOT INDICATED AT THAT TIME. HE WARNED ME AFTER I BOUGHT IT.
Steering, Electrical system, Jul 6, 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. 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. IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WITH CHILDREN THAT'S A SAFETY RISK AND I BELIEVE MERCEDES SHOULD RECALL THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE AND BE LOYAL TO ITS CUSTOMERS.
Seat belts, Jun 24, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WITH THE SEAT BELT LATCHED, THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Steering, Electrical system, Jun 21, 2016
WENT TO START MY CAR YESTERDAY MORNING AND WOULD NOT START. VERY ODD MESSAGE ON THE DISPLAY I HAD NOT SEEN BEFORE LIKE "REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION". STEERING WHEEL LOCKED BUT SOME LIGHTS WORKED AND NEW BATTERY REPLACE LAST WEEK. TOWED IT TO "GRANNY'S GARAGE" WHO TOLD ME ONLY THE DEALER CAN REPAIR THIS. NOW BEING TOWED TO DEALER IN SANTA BARBARA. SOUNDS EXACTLY WHAT OTHER 2009 C300 OWNERS HAVE STATED ESP/EIS FAILURE. I WILL KNOW TOMORROW. THIS IS SUCH A WELL DOCUMENTED AND CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE 2009 C300 AND MERCEDES REALLY SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS AND RECALL. PERFECT FOR A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, IN MY OPINION., ESPECIALLY SINCE THE "DEALER" IS THE ONLY ONE ALLOWED TO REPAIR.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Air bags, Structure, Jun 14, 2016, crash
"TAKATA RECALL" I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AROUND 10:30 AM IN MY 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300 ENJOYING THE COMMUTE. AS I APPROACHED THE STOP LIGHT.....BLANK!!!! I LASTLY REMEMBER BREAKING ....TO OPEN MY WATERING EYES TO SEE THAT I HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AND DON'T RECALL ANYTHING AT ALL. AS I GET UP IN REALIZED THAT MY HEAD HURTS AND THERE WAS A SMALL TEAR IN THE STEERING WHEEL AS A SMALL PORTION OF THE BAG DEPLOYED BUT NOT FULLY.. IT APPEARED TO BE A FAULTY BAG THAT HAS CAUSED THIS SERIOUS INCONVENIENCE.
Air bags, Jun 14, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER HEAD REST AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE SRS MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 08/16/16*LJ UPDATED 08/31/16.*JB
Steering, Electrical system, Jun 13, 2016
MY M.B. 2009 HAS ONLY 52690 MILES, RARELY DRIVING. ON MAY 28TH, 2016, MY WIFE DROVE THE CAR TO SEE HER COUSIN, WHEN GOT OUT AT 10:00PM, CAR WAS NOT STARTING, BATTERY WAS OK, LIGHT ON, RADIO ON, WINDOWS NOT ON. NEEDED TO WAIT UNTIL MONDAY MORNING, TOWED TO DEALER: EIS STEERING LOCK FAILED, COST $1121.88 FOR THE EIS. SERVICE CONSULTANT ADVISED MANY M.B HAS THE SAME FAILURE. GO TO NHTSA, SAW A LOT OF COMPLAINT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE INCIDENT AND ISSUE A RECALL WITH M.B., IT'S VERY UNSAFE FOR DRIVING BECAUSE IT CAN HAPPENED ANY TIME, MOSTLY NIGHT TIME WITH A FEMALE DRIVER. ONLY M.B. CAN REPAIR THE EIS AND IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE.
Exterior lighting, Jun 8, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C350. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT FAILED TO WORK AND VARIOUS INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) IN 2013, BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT FAILED AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
Steering, Jun 8, 2016
CAR WOULDN'T START. POWER AND BATTERY WAS FINE. GOOGLED SYMPTOMS AND WATCHED A YOUTUBE VIDEO ON A FAILED ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK. JIGGLED THE STEERING WHEEL A FEW TIMES, TAPPED THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF THE STEERING WHEEL A FEW TIMES, TURNED THE KEY AND IT STARTED. APPARENTLY, THIS UNLOCKS THE ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THIS CAN LEAVE A PERSON STRANDED IN DANGEROUS PLACES OR IT COULD LEAVE YOU STRANDED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.
Air bags, May 28, 2016
TAKATA RECALL: I RECEIVED A NOTICE OF RECALL # 16V-08, STATING THAT A DEFECTIVE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG COULD RUPTURE AND CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IN MY 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C350. AFTER CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER, I WAS TOLD THAT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE UNAVAILABLE AND THAT THE WAIT FOR RECALL REPAIRS WILL BE CONSIDERABLE. MEANWHILE I'M LEFT DRIVING A CAR THAT CAN SERIOUSLY INJURE OR KILL ME IN THE EVENT OF AN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. I TOLD THE MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVE THAT THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND ASKED REPEATEDLY FOR EITHER A LOANER CAR WHILE WAITING FOR PARTS, OR FOR MERCEDES TO BUY BACK MY CAR. IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS I WAS TOLD THAT NO SUCH ACTION IS POSSIBLE. WHY SHOULD I PUT MY LIFE IN DANGER FOR AN UNSPECIFIED LENGTH OF TIME FOR A DEFECT THAT MERCEDES IS RESPONSIBLE? ALL AFFECTED OWNERS SHOULD BE OFFERED NO-CHARGE LOANERS, REIMBURSEMENT FOR RENTAL CARS OR A BUY-BACK OF THEIR VEHICLES.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, May 28, 2016
CAR WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT. I WAS 120 MILES FROM HOME WHEN THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START -- EVEN THOUGH THE BATTERY, LIGHTS, STEREO, GAUGES, ETC. ALL WORKED FINE. STILL, THE ENGINE WOULDN'T EVEN CRANK, HAD CAR TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MERCEDES REPAIR FACILITY (IT WAS A SUNDAY AND THE LOCAL MERCEDES SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT OPEN). THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH (EIS) AND OTHER PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1526.94. MONTHS LATER I VISITED THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL OF MERCEDES AND THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS REFUSING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. WITH A PROBLEM THIS WIDESPREAD -- WHICH CAN OCCUR MULTIPLE TIMES DURING THE LIFE OF THE CAR -- MERCEDES SHOULD FOOT THE BILL. I WOULD HAVE COMPLAINED EARLIER BUT ONLY NOW LEARNED THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME DEFECT. MY CAR HAD ONLY 37,110 MILES AT THE TIME. I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED MY MERCEDES.
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, May 28, 2016
WHEN I'VE GOT TO THE CAR, PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, AND TURN THE KEY WITH NO CRANK NOISE IN THE ENGINE. AFTER A LOT OF TRIES I HAD NOTICED THAT MY STEERING WAS NOT UNLOCKING, WINDOWS DON'T WORK NO LIGHTS ON LIKE ABS, CHECK ENGINE OR ALL THE LIGHTS THAT COME ON WITH THE KEY ON THE ON POSITION, AND THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT IN NEUTRAL. AFTER TRYING TO JUMP THE CAR AND REARMING/DISARMING THE ALARM I CHECKED ON LINE AND FOUND OUT THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR MERCEDES. HERE IS WHAT I EXPERIENCED 1.PUT KEY INTO IGNITION, STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T UNLOCK. 2.INSTUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAYS "REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION". 3.TURN KEY TO ACCESSORY, NO LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD, ONLY THE RADIO WORKS, WINDOWS DON'T WORK. 4.TURN KEY ALL THE WAY TO START CAR, NOTHING HAPPENS.
Air bags, May 25, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN FEBRUARY OF 2016. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE GIVEN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Steering, Electrical system, May 14, 2016
THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE. IT WAS PARKED AND SHUT OFF. WHEN I RETURNED, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. IT WAS NOT THE BATTERY. THE STEERING WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED IN FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER HAD TO MAKE THE REPAIR AS IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH EITHER THE EIS OR A STARTER ISSUE. INSKIP MERCEDES CAN IDENTIFY EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG AS THEY DID THE REPAIR.
Steering, May 4, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL MECHANISM LOCKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
Air bags, May 3, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE SRS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PELVIS AIR BAGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
Air bags, May 2, 2016
DRIVERS SIDE SRS LIGHT IS ON AND I FEEL LIKE THE AIRBAG COULD DEPLOY WHILE DRIVING
Air bags, Apr 29, 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 PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DEALER DENIED A LOANER VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Steering, Electrical system, Apr 27, 2016
THE CAR WOULD NOT START, THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENT OF THE STEERING WHEAL MALFUNCTIONED, ONLY MBZ HAS THE PART COST $1900 TO REPLACE THE ELECTRICAL PART. DEALER TOLD ME COMMON ISSUE ITS JUST MATTER OF TIME FOR THE PART TO FAIL.
Steering, Apr 23, 2016
IGNITION SWITCH. VERY LATE AT NIGHT LEAVING WORK-PUT KEY IN -CAR IS TOTALLY DEAD- NO CLICK HEARD WHEN I PUT IN THE KEY. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. TURNED OUT TO BE IGNITION CONTROL SWITCH. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SO MANY OTHER OWNERS. SHOULD BE A RECALL. REPAIR COST WAS $987.00 AND ONLY MERCEDES CAN WORK ON THE STEERING DUE TO SECURITY ISSUES. VERY UNFAIR. EXPECTED MORE FROM MERCEDES. THEY NEED TO RECALL OR REIMBURSE.
Steering, Electrical system, Apr 20, 2016
IGNITION SWITCH - TRIED TO START THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT TURN BATTERY WAS FINE AND ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS APPEARED TO BE FINE. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS FOUND TO BE A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR SAFETY REASONS.
Steering, Apr 18, 2016
MY CAR WAS PARKED AND I TRY TO STARTED AND WOULD NOT START NO IGNITION NO POWER THE STEERING TOWER WOULD NOT MOVE. CHECK THE BATTERY AND IT WAS FULLY CHARGED TRY TO PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND I COULD NOT THE STEERING WELL WAS LOCK.