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, Dec 1, 2015
THIS IS THE 2ND TIME IN 8 MONTHS THAT THE CAR HAS A FAULTY IGNITION STEERING LOCK. STEERING WHEEL LOCKS, CAR WILL NOT START AND MESSAGE COMES UP TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION. CAR UNUSABLE, HAS TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP.THE REPAIR COST $1500, NOT EXACTLY CHEAP. THERE ARE COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I AM REALLY REALLY SURPRISED THIS HAS NOT LED TO A RECALL TO DATE.
Electrical system, Nov 30, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Electrical system, Nov 29, 2015
I BOUGHT THIS CAR 27 DAYS AGO. FRIDAY NIGHT, I OPENED MY GARAGE DOOR AND GOT IN. IT WOULD NOT TURN ON. AFTER GETTING IT INSPECTED, I WAS GIVEN THE NEWS ABOUT THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, I WAS BAFFLED BY HOW MANY PEOPLE WITH IDENTICAL CARS DISHED OUT THOUSANDS TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR FROM THE DEALERSHIP. WHAT WAS MOST SURPRISING IS HOW IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN AT JUST ABOUT 80K MILES, LIKE CLOCKWORK. MY CAR HAS 78K MILES. THIS REPAIR WON'T BE COVERED BY THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY THAT I HAD JUST SPENT THOUSANDS ON. WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL YET? THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON, CONSISTENT PROBLEM AMONG THESE CARS. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY NEARLY $2,000 JUST BECAUSE MY CAR IS AT 80,000 MILES.
Steering, Electrical system, Nov 27, 2015
MY C300 WAS FUNCTIONING PERFECTLY WITH NO ISSUES. WHEN I CAME OUT TO START THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY. I HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT'S THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK FAIL. I LOOKED THIS UP AND IT IS SOMETHING VERY COMMON WITH THE 2009 MODEL. THERE ARE SEVERAL POST ON THE INTERNET ASKING FOR THIS TO BE A RECALL ITEM.
Electrical system, Nov 20, 2015
MY CAR ALL OF THE SUDDEN WOULDN'T START. I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO JUMP THE CAR, THE BATTERY IS FINE. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF CHANDLER AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS A STEERING LOCK ELECTRICAL FAULT. THE STEERING LOCK WAS REPLACED AT A COST TO ME OF $1065.33 (INVOICE #MBCS314273). UPON RESEARCHING THE ISSUE ON THE INTERNET, THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM- MANY OTHER FOLKS REPORTED THE SAME OR VERY SIMILAR (IGNITION SWITCH) ISSUE: HTTP://MBWORLD.ORG/FORUMS/C-CLASS-W204/438212-2011-C300-TOWED-DEALER-IGNITION-SWITCH.HTML
Electrical system, Nov 20, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
Electrical system, Nov 19, 2015
DROVE MY 2009 MERCEDES C300 SPORT TO EMISSIONS STATION FOR TESTING. THE TECH TURNED OFF THE CAR AND THEN ATTEMPTED TO RESTART IN ORDER TO START/COMPLETE EMISSIONS TESTING AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. THE KEY WOULD TURN BUT WOULD NOT START THE VEHICLE. TURNING THE KEY RESULTED IN OPERABLE INTERIOR LIGHTS, RADIO AND THE LOCKS WORKED BUT NOTHING ELSE. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO DEALER AND, JUST LIKE OTHER OWNERS, THE CAUSE IS A "BAD" STEERING LOCK. COSTS UPWARDS OF $1000 TO FIX, POSSIBLY DOUBLE THAT IF THE IGNITION MODULE ALSO NEEDS REPLACING, WHICH THEY WON'T KNOW UNTIL THEY CAN REPLACE THE STEERING LOCK FIRST. MY CAR HAS 122K MILES, PURCHASED CERTIFIED PRE OWNED. I HAVE SAFETY CONCERNS REGARDING THIS ISSUE SINCE IT SEEMS IT COULD HAVE OCCURRED WHILE I WAS OPERATING THE VEHICLE.
Steering, Nov 19, 2015
PUT KEY INTO IGNITION, STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T UNLOCK. INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAYS "REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION". TURN KEY TO ACCESSORY, NO LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD, RADIO REMAINS OFF, WINDOWS DON'T WORK. TURN KEY ALL THE WAY TO START CAR, NOTHING HAPPENS.
Electrical system, Nov 16, 2015
I HAVE A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300 85K MILES I HAD THIS CAR FOR OVER 2 YEARS AND I'M UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE .I HAD A COUPLE OF PROBLEMS WITH IT TAIL LIGHT ,SEAT BELT AND NOW THIS ...TWO DAYS AGO I WENT TO A FRIEND HOUSE THERE WAS NO PROBLEM GETTING THERE BUT WHEN I TURNS THE CAR OFF FOR TWO MINS , THE KEY WOULDN'T START THE CAR. WHEN PUT THE KEY IN THE RECEIVER THE CAR READ THE KEY BUT NONE OF THE LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD COME ON AND WOULDN'T UNLOCK THE THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE SHIFT KNOB WHEN A OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR THE CAR WITH TELL ME TO REMOVE THE KEY TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND IT CAME OUT TO BE A BAD EIS SWITCH THAT WASN'T READING THE KEY ,IT COST ME $1,670 I DID A RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND IT COME OUT TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS TYPE OF CAR AFTER 70K MILES....THEY SHOULD MAKE A RECALL FOR THIS MATER
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Nov 16, 2015
I WENT TO CLASS ON THE DATE OF 11/13/2015 AND WHEN I CAME OUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS ADVISED IT WOULD BE $952.56 FOR AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE DUE TO NO FAULT OF MY OWN AND CAN HAPPEN AT ANYTIME. SO I INQUIRED ON HOW LONG THIS WOULD BE COVERED FOR? I WAS TOLD ITS ELECTRICAL AND CAN HAPPEN AT ANYTIME, IT'S LIKE A CELLPHONE OR A COMPUTER. YET THOSE HAVE WARRANTIES AGAINST ISSUES LIKE THAT WHEREAS SOMETHING I PAID THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS DOES NOT. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ONLINE AND DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY HAVE NOT RECALLED THIS AND CONTINUE TO RIP CONSUMERS OFF. SOME EVEN ADVISING THIS HAS HAPPEN TO THEM ON THE ROAD WHICH COULD VERY WELL LEAD TO A MAJOR ACCIDENT , IT IT HAS NOT ALREADY.
Other or unspecified, Nov 9, 2015
KNOCKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. WAS TOLD IT COULD BE A CRACKED DRIVERSHAFT. GOOGLED AND SEE THAT THERER ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINT ON THIS MODEL. MERCEDES SHOULD BE PUTTING OUT A RECALL.
Exterior lighting, Nov 3, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE REAR PASSENGER LIGHTING FAILED TO ILLUMINATE ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE CORRODED CONNECTORS AND BULB HOLDERS WOULD NEED TO BE CHANGED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Nov 2, 2015
VEHICLE WOULD NOT START ONE DAY. WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK BUT WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE KEY WAS IN IGNITION. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND AM BEING TOLD IT IS EIS. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 80,000 ON IT. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG THIS YEAR AND MODEL. WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED BY MERCEDES?
Steering, Oct 23, 2015
CAR WAS WORKING FINE. CAME OUT OF A RESTAURANT, AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START. RECEIVED ERROR MESSAGE ON CONSOLE TO "REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION". CAR WAS TOWED TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A FAULTY IGNITION STEERING LOCK, IT WOULD COST $1300 TO REPAIR AND I WOULD BE OUT OF A CAR FOR AT LEAST 1 WEEK WHILE THEY ORDERED THE PART.
Electrical system, Oct 23, 2015
FAULTY EIS - VEHICLE WON'T START. VEHICLE PARKED. WENT TO GO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT TO NO AVAIL. STEERING WHEEL IN LOCK POSITION AND TRANSMISSION WILL NOT DISENGAGE FROM PARK. VERY COMMON PROBLEM. SURPRISED THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL TO FIX THIS APPARENT PROBLEM.
Steering, Oct 20, 2015
CAR WON'T START DEALER REPLACED BATTERY; NOW THE CAR IS ON A STEERING LOCK FAILURE..MUST BE TOWED IN THE DEALER...I WAS TOLD A LOT OF THE 2009 MB C300 HAS THIS PROBLEM.
Steering, Oct 20, 2015
MY CAR IS A 2009 WITH 33,200 MILES ON IT AND THE EIS/ESL (STEERING LOCK) FAILED. I HAD TO PAY $1800 FOR THE DEALER TO FIX IT. HOW DOES A CAR WITH SO LITTLE MILEAGE HAS A MAJOR PROBLEM LIKE THIS? THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME ISSUE SHOULD WARRANT AN INVESTIGATION
Electrical system, Oct 16, 2015
THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM HAS FAILED AND THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE STARTED. THE STEERING LOCK IS ENGAGED, SO THE STEERING WHEEL CANNOT BE MOVED. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN IT OCCURRED BUT STRANDED THE OPERATOR. DIAGNOSIS INVOLVES TOWING TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEN IN EXCESS OF $1000 REPAIR BILL. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED FAULT WITH THE EIS MODULE HOWEVER NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED.
Exterior lighting, Oct 15, 2015
REAR LIGHTING CONSULS FAILING WHILE IN MOTION CAUSING RIGHT TURN BLINKER, REVERSE LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHTS, AND SAFETY LIGHTS TO NOT FUNCTION.
Electrical system, Oct 14, 2015
STEERING WHEEL LOCKS BY NO FAULT OF DRIVER ONLY DEALERS UNLOCK IT FOR $1112. 00.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Oct 14, 2015
FRONT PARKING LAMPS POOR CONNECTION WIRES INSULATION COME OFF VERY EASY FROM THE FRAME PLUG, PLUS WIRES ARE TO SHORT TO MAKE CORRECTION(SPLICE) INSIDE THE HEAD LIGHT HOUSING. ALL THIS HAPPENED AFTER THE CAR WAS REPAIR FROM RECALL ON TAIL LIGHTS. I SAW ON THE INTERNET AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAS THIS PROBLEM FOR THIS PROBLEM, I WAS DRIVING ON THE DARK STREET AND ALL LIGHTS WENT OFF LIKE FOR 5 SECONDS, THAT WHY I GOT SCARE, I WAS WITH MY WIFE AND MY 5 MONTHS OLD DAUGHTER, MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD REPORT THIS AS RECALL, IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM I NEED TO CHANGE THE WHOLE HOUSING, I TOOK THE CAR TO DOWNT TOWN LA SERVICE DEPARTMENT, FOR ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION LOCK SWITCH, I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND ALSO A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD THIS PROBLEM. I HOPE SOME ONE WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE C300 MODELS. THANK YOU *TR
Steering, Oct 13, 2015
WHEN I PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION IT WOULD NOT START, MY RADIO WILL PLAY BUT MY CAR WOULD NOT. THERE WAS OTHER RECALL ISSUE FOUND IN MY VEHICLE AND MERCEDES DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK AND I NEED TO GET IT REPLACE IN ORDER FOR MY CAR TO START AGAIN. IT IS UNFAIR THAT AS A CUSTOMER I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS WHEN IT CLEARLY SAYS ITS AN ELECTRONIC PROBLEM?? THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR IS COSTING ME ALMOST $1,400.00 MONEY I CAN'T AFFORD.
Electrical system, Oct 12, 2015
MY DAUGHTER TOOK MY WIFE'S 2009 MERCEDES C300 TO SCHOOL AND WHEN SHE GOT INTO THE CAR AFTER STOPPING FOR COFFEE IT WOULD NOT START. YOU TURN THE KEY AND NOTHING HAPPENED. VERIFIED THAT THE CAR WAS IN PARK AND CHECKED ALL OF THE SYSTEMS. STILL NOTHING. HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK AND HAVE IT TAKEN TO OUR REPAIR SHOP. AM BEING TOLD IT IS THE ELECTRIC STEERING LOCK SYSTEM AND WILL COST ALMOST $1000 TO FIX. AFTER CHECKING ONLINE THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. SINCE THIS CAN STRAND A PERSON IT SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE RECALL LIST. THANK GOODNESS MY DAUGHTER HAD ONLY DRIVEN A FEW BLOCKS AWAY AND STOPPED FOR COFFEE. IT WAS IN A OPEN PARKING LOT, BUT IF IT HAD BEEN IN A "NOT SO GOOD AREA" THAT COULD PUT HER IN JEOPARDY. THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO BE AN ALL TOO FREQUENT, AND VERY EXPENSIVE FIX.
Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Oct 7, 2015
ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING 40 MPH WARNING ON THE DISPLAY CAME ON STATING THE" EBR, ABS, ESP ARE INOPERATIVE" AND A WARNING DISPLAY STATING "POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION". POWER STEERING WAS FINE, BUT IT WAS A VERY NERVE WRECKING DRIVE. DEALERSHIP IS STATING IT IS THE ESP MODULE AND PUMP THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, WHICH CAN ONLY BE DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP.
Steering, Electrical system, Oct 7, 2015
CAR WOULDN'T START. LUCKILY THAT CAR WAS AT OUR HOUSE. AFTER RESEARCH FOUND THAT THE 2009 C300 HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE EIS (ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH). AFTER A 5-6 HOURS THE CARS IGNITION STARTED WORKING, BUT FROM READING OTHERS EXPERIENCE THE IGNITION COULD DISABLE FOREVER AT ANY TIME. COST TO REPAIR IS $1500 AND ONLY BE DONE AT A DEALERSHIP.