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, Apr 12, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SRS CONTROL UNIT SENSOR AND AIR BAG WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE REMEDIED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V711000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE FAILURES RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.
Other or unspecified, Apr 8, 2016
MY 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300 WILL NO LONGER RECOGNIZE MY KEYS. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM LIES WITHIN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE. INITIALLY I WAS ABLE TO ACCESS MY VEHICLE & WAS ABLE TO ATTEMPT TO START THE ENGINE. HOWEVER, THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER, BUT THE DASH WOULD LIGHT UP, INSTRUCTING TO TAKE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THINKING THE PROBLEM WAS THE BATTERY, I WAITING UNTIL THE FOLLOWING DAY TO HAVE MY VEHICLE LOOKED AT, HOPEFULLY BY A PROFESSIONAL. CURRENTLY, NEITHER OF MY KEYS WILL EVEN ALLOW ME TO ACCESS THE VEHICLE. THE ACTUAL POP OUT KEY WILL ALLOW ME INTO THE DRIVER SIDE, BUT THERE IS NOT MUCH ELSE I CAN DO FROM THERE. THE TRUNK WON'T POP, THE LIGHTS WILL NOT COME ON, AND THE IGNITION DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS EVEN A KEY IN IT. AFTER DOING SOME LIGHT RESEARCH I'VE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR/MAKE/MODEL. IF THE COMPUTER SYSTEM HAS INDEED MALFUNCTIONED, HOW MANY COMPLAINTS FOR THIS PROBLEM DOES IT TAKE BEFORE THE MANUFACTURER CONSIDERS THIS A RECALL ISSUE? MY VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, ALTHOUGH FROM THE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS I HAVE SEEN, THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THIS TYPE OF MALFUNCTION. MY VEHICLE IS SAFELY PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, HOWEVER IF THE CIRCUMSTANCES WERE DIFFERENT, AND I WAS STUCK IN A NOT SO SAFE PART OF TOWN, THIS COULD BE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE FOR YOUNG WOMEN LIKE MYSELF. I'M LOOKING FOR A BIT OF INSIGHT ON WHAT STEPS NEED TO BE TAKEN TO AVOID HAVING TO SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OUT OF POCKET FOR AN ISSUE THAT ULTIMATELY COULD JUST BE A GLITCH IN THE SYSTEM THAT MERCEDES BENZ COULD HANDLE ACCORDINGLY.
Air bags, Apr 5, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V711000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Steering, Electrical system, Mar 28, 2016
WHEN LEAVING TO CATCH A FLIGHT I ENTERED MY GARAGE AND UNLOCKED MY CAR LIGHTS CAME ON MY DAY WAS GOING NORMAL. WHEN I WENT TO START MY VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT START. IT SAID TO REMOVE MY KEY FROM THE IGNITION. MY CAR WOULDN'T START. MY HUSBAND AND I CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ OF HENDERSON AND THEY HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THEIR SHOP. I HAD PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WITH MY VEHICLE SO I WAS SURE I WOULD BE OK. ON MONDAY I RECEIVED AND CALL FROM MERCEDES BENZ OF HENDERSON STATING THAT THE IGNITION LOCK MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND IT WOULDN'T BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY I PURCHASED. SINCE I AM NOT A MECHANIC I ASKED WHAT THE IGNITION LOCK MODULE WAS AND FOUND OUT IT WAS THE COMPUTER THAT READS MY KEY AND PREVENTS THEFT. BASICALLY THE COMPUTER FAILED AND THINKS THAT MY CAR IS STOLEN. THE COST TO REPAIR THIS IS OVER $1,000. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNFAIR. MERCEDES CARS ARE NOT CHEAP NOT TO MENTION PAYING MORE A MONTH TO HAVE ADDITIONAL WARRANTY COVERAGE. I AM APPALLED THAT MERCEDES HAS NOT DONE A RECALL ON THEIR VEHICLES FOR THIS ISSUE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY RISK FOR THOSE WHO ARE TRAVELING ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE LIKE MYSELF A WOMEN TRAVELING ALONE. THANK GOD THIS HAPPENED AT HOME AND NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT AS I TRAVEL BACK TO CALIFORNIA OFTEN I THINK IT IS OUTRAGEOUS TO ASK CUSTOMERS TO PAY FOR A DEFAULT/GLITCH IN A VEHICLES COMPUTER. I HAVE CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ USA TO GET HELP WITH THIS ISSUE AS THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THEIR CUSTOMERS LIKE MYSELF WHO HAVE HAD AND ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THE 2009 C300.
Exterior lighting, Mar 25, 2016
TAKATA RECALL RIGHT TAIL LIGHT HAS A BROWN BURNT WIRE, AND THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT IS DIM. SO I BELIEVE IT MAY HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. I WAS WONDERING IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I NEED TO PAY FOR OR WOULD THIS BE SOMETHING THAT I COULD GET A RECALL ON? THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET WHILE BRAKING.
Exterior lighting, Mar 25, 2016
TAKATA RECALL RIGHT TAIL LIGHT HAS A BROWN BURNT WIRE, AND THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT IS DIM. SO I BELIEVE IT MAY HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. I WAS WONDERING IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I NEED TO PAY FOR OR WOULD THIS BE SOMETHING THAT I COULD GET A RECALL ON? THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET WHILE BRAKING.
Steering, Electrical system, Mar 18, 2016
STEERING LOCK IGNITION ASSEMBLY. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OR INDICATIONS THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS WAS GOING TO OCCUR. THANKFULLY I REACHED MY DESTINATION, BACKED UP IN MY YARD AND PARKED. I APROACHED MY VEHICLE BECAUSE I WANTED TO FILL UP FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK, I UNLOCKED MY DOOR, PLACED MY KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE RADIO WORKED AND ALSO THE INTERIOR LIGHTS. I TOOK THE KEY OUT AND WENT TO USE THE SPARE KEY, INSERTED IT AND WHILE THE DOOR WAS OPENED THE DISPLAY TOLD ME TO REMOVE THE KEY. THIS COULD PRESENT A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR A FEMALE WITH CHILDREN IN AN UNFAMILIAR SETTING. AFTER READING UP ABOUT THE PROBLEM I SEE THAT I AM NOT ALONE IN MY TROUBLES. I THINK THIS MALFUNCTION SHOULD INCLUDED IN A RECALL BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY RISKS INVOLVED BECAUSE IT COULD OCCUR AT ANY TIME. THANKFULLY I WAS AT HOME.
Steering, Mar 16, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO UNLOCK WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Mar 10, 2016
RECEIVED THE LETTER OF RECALL #15V711 IN DECEMBER 2015, ACCORDING TO WHICH SRS CONTROL UNIT SHALL BE REPLACED BY AUTHORIZED MB DEALER OR MBUSA WITHIN 60 DAYS FREE OF CHARGE, IT'S MARCH 10TH 2016 NOW, NOTHING HAPPENED, MB DIDN'T MAKE THE REPAIR OR EVEN CONTACT ME.
Air bags, Mar 9, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE LOCATED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V711000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE.
Steering, Electrical system, Mar 9, 2016
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE CAR WAS PARKED AND WOULD NOT UNLOCK HAD TO TOW VEHICLE TO DEALER. COST IS $1300 TO FIX NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY DEALER REDUCE PRICE TO $1100. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND ALSO A SAFETY CONCERN.
Air bags, Mar 4, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V711000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED 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.
Air bags, Mar 3, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. 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 MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Steering, Mar 3, 2016
STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY. THIS ISSUE CAN BE A SAFETY PROBLEM DUE TO CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES FOR EXAMPLE LEAVING WOMEN AND CHILDREN STRANDED IN PARTS OR AREAS WHERE IS NOT POPULATED OR IN AREAS WHERE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IS HIGH. WITHOUT ANY WARNING THIS PROBLEM HAS PRESENTED AND STILL PRESENTING CAUSING MERCEDES BENZ COSTUMERS TO BE IN A REAL BAD SITUATION SAFE WISE AND ECONOMIC WISE. THEREFORE I FEEL MERCEDES BENZ MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ISSUE.
Air bags, Mar 1, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Electrical system, Seat belts, Mar 1, 2016
TAKATA RECALL FROM DEC 2015 FIRST NOTICE FROM DEALER IT'S BEEN FAULTY FOR A LONG TIME NOW AND HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT MY SAFETY WHILE DRIVING OBVIOUSLY IT'S WELL PAST 60 DAYS CAN WE PUT SOME PRESSURE ON THEM. FIX IT NOW!!!!
Air bags, Feb 29, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V711000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Air bags, Feb 29, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V711000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Steering, Feb 24, 2016
VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. KEY TURNS IN INGNITION BUT DISPLAY INDICATES TO REMOVE KEY. WINDOWS/SUNROOF DID NOT WORK. CALLED AAA TO CHECK BATTERY. BATTERY FULLY CHARGED. TOWED TO MB AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOP STEERING LOCK MECHANISM $980.00 TO REPLACE
Air bags, Feb 23, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG (SRS) LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING), 15V711000 (AIR BAGS), AND 16V081000(AIR BAGS). THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE, PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Air bags, Seat belts, Feb 20, 2016
SRS FAULT WARNING CAME ON DASH , TOOK CAR TO DEALER THEY CHANGED A PART AND CHARGED ME FOR PARTS AND LABOR .NOW I GET A RECALL ON SAME ISSUES FROM MB AT NO COST , AND WANT TO BE REIMBURSED VIN #[XXX] 2009 C300 4MATIC RECALL NOTICE NHTSA #15V711 [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Air bags, Feb 18, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V711000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED 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, Feb 12, 2016
POWER STEERING LEAKS AT 60,000 MILES. DEALER SAYS THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PINION. IT WILL COST $2,500 TO REPAIR.
Steering, Feb 8, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY STEERING LOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,348.
Exterior lighting, Jan 26, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS OPERATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT WIRING WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.