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.
Power train, Jul 15, 2014
TOTAL 4 WHEELS LOCK AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. RECENTLY, A VERY UNSAFE INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED TO ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS DRIVING ON 202 SOUTH HEADING TOWARDS WEST CHESTER, PA NORTH OF EXIT 29; MY SPEED WAS ABOUT 50 MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR WENT FROM 50 MPH TO A COMPLETELY UNCONTROLLED FULL STOP WITH 1 TO 2 SECONDS. THE TIRES LEFT SKID MARKS ON THE ROAD. THE SEAT BELTS AVOID ME FROM BEING THROWN OUT OF THE CAR. I TRIED TO MOVE THE CAR IN ORDER TO AVOID TRAFFIC COMING AT ME AT 50 MPH BUT I COULD NOT. THE WHEELS OF THE CAR SUDDENLY LOCKED UP AND THE CAR COULD NOT BE MOVED. LUCKILY, THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT ANYONE GETTING HEART. ALSO ALL THE INCOMING CAR AT THE HIGHWAY SPEED WERE ABLE TO SUDDENLY AVOID HITTING ME. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR ANY INDICATION THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A MULTI CAR ACCIDENT WITH POSSIBLE MAJOR INJURIES OR POSSIBLE FATALITIES. THE POLICE COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS CAN HAPPEN AND THEY HAVE NEVER ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE MERCEDES DEALER. THE DEALER CALLED ME BACK TELLING ME THAT IT WAS THE SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I CALLED MERCEDES AND THEY RESPONDED BY SAYING THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE TRANSFER CASE. I INDICATED THAT THE CAR IS PARKED IN A GARAGE AND I WOULD HAVE SEEN THE LEAK FROM THE TRANSFER CASE. I WOULD LIKE THIS INCIDENT BE SERIOUSLY REVIEWED BY MERCEDES IN ORDER TO AVOID THIS FROM OCCURRING ON THE ROAD AGAIN AND BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OR OTHER GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES. AGAIN, LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Jul 13, 2014
MY 2009 C300 WAS JUST TOWED TO THE BENZ DEALER FOR THE "TECHNICAL SVS BULLETIN" KNOWN AS LI80-57-P051521. (THE KNOWN AND DOCUMENTED INTERNAL ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK CAUSING CRANK FAILURE THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED BY THE NHTSA.) I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY BENZ IS NOT ASSISTING WITH THIS MATTER. LAST YEAR I JUST REPLACED THE BACK LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE THAT WAS SMOKING AND BURNING; CAUSING MY BRAKE LIGHTS TO GO OUT AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO ITEMS IN MY TRUNK. NOW FINALLY, THAT PART IS NOW BEING RECALLED! WHY IS BENZ AWAITING FOR SOMETHING BAD TO HAPPEN BEFORE THEY TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR PARTS. WITH ALL OF THE DOCUMENTED COMPLAINTS OF THE C300 CAR NOT CRANKING DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK, WHY IS BENZ BEING ALLOWED TO GO FORWARD WITHOUT A RECALL OF THIS FAULTY PART THEIR INSTALLING IN THESE CARS? IT SEEMS VERY EVIDENT THAT THOUGH BENZ HAS DOCUMENTATION OF "CONSISTENT FAILURE" OF THE EIS/ESL ON THE C300S, THEY'RE REFUSING TO RECALL THE CARS FOR THESE ISSUES IN AN ATTEMPT TO GENERATE CONSTANT BUSINESS FOR THE BENZ DEALERSHIPS. (FOR INSTANCE, WHEN I WALKED INTO THE DEALERSHIP, MY SERVICER WAS ABLE TO QUOTE ME A PRICE ON THE REPAIR OF MY CAR WITHIN SECONDS AS HE STATED THAT HE JUST COMPLETED THE SAME REPAIR ON A CAR SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR AS MINE THE DAY BEFORE....UUMM...WHAT A COINCIDENCE!) THIS RACKET THAT BENZ IS RUNNING HAS COST ME $1,000.00. THIS HAS TO BE AGAINST THE LAW. I'LL HAVE TO LOOK UP THE TEXAS DECEPTIVE TRADE ACT AND/OR REPORT THIS TO THE TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL. *TR
Electrical system, Jul 9, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH AND THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000. UPDATED 09-15-14 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THAT PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE KEY BECAME DIFFICULT TO REMOVE FROM THE IGNITION. UPDATED 2/23/2015 8JS
Steering, Jul 8, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE EXACT PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jul 8, 2014
WITHOUT ANY WARNING, MY CAR WILL NOT START. THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY, BUT NO LUCK. THE KEY OPEN THE DOOR, THE LIGHTS INSIDE OF THE CARE COME ON, AND THE SCREEN STILL POPS UP ON THE DASHBOARD. THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND YOU CAN NOT CHANGE THE GEAR. I HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. CAR HAS ALMOST 70 K MILES ON IT. VERY DISSAPOINTED TO READ THE OTHER COMPLAINTS AND THE PROJECTED COST TO FIX. ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO I ALSO PAID OUT OF POCKET FOR THE REAR LIGHT PANEL DUE TO IT NOT WORKING. I RECENTLY LEARNED THAT THE REAR LIGHTING ISSUE IS AN OFFICIAL RECALL. NOW THE HURDLE BEGIN FOR ME TO GET REFUNDED FOR NEARLY $500. :( *JS
Electrical system, Jul 8, 2014
IN 2010 I PURCHASE 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300 FROM A DEALER. CAR WAS NICE AND PERFECT UNTIL A YEAR LATER I HAVE TO CHANGE THE LOW BEAM AND EYES LIDS LIGHT BULB. EVERYTHING WAS CHANGE MY CAR ELECTRICAL WAS BAD MY HEADLIGHTS KEEP GETTING DAMAGE. I CHANGED LIGHT BULBS ABOUT 4 TIMES A YEAR. AND TODAY ON MY WAY HOME FREON WORK MY CAR TAIL LIGHTS MSG STARTING TO SHOW. I TAKE A LOOK THE BULB WAS FINE UNTIL I SMELL THE BURNING CAME OUT OF MY TAIL LIGHTS HARNESS I SAW A BURN WIRE START SPARKING SO I STOP THE CAR AND PULL IT OUT BECAUSE I'M AFRAID IT WILL SPARKING TO THE FUEL TANK. I LOOK UP ONLINE WHAT IS THE COST. IT SEEM LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAS THE SAME ISSUE AS ME. NOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO BESIDE LOOKING ON INTERNET AND FIND THE WAY TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. HTTP://M.MBWORLD.ORG/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=465331&STYLEID=20 THIS LINK WILL SHOW EVERYBODY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AND I DON'T KNOW WHY MERCEDES NEVER RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF I KEEP ON DRIVING AND THE WIRE SPARK TO THE FUEL. PLEASE HELP I'M NOT ASKING THIS JUST FOR MYSELF BUT FOR OTHER PEOPLE WHO DOESN'T KNOW. THANK YOU. *JS
Steering, Electrical system, Jun 30, 2014
MY CAR LEFT ME STRANDED AT WORK. WHEN I WAS LEAVING WORK MY CAR WOULD NOT START THE STEERING WAS COMPLETELY LOCKED . THE CAR WOULD NOT EVEN START THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD TURN ON WAS THE RADIO AND A MESSAGE OF NOT TO FORGET TO REMOVE YOUR KEY. I COULD NOT EVEN GET THE CAR OUT OF GEAR. I WOULD CRANK IT AND NOTHING, IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. I NEVER RECEIVED A MESSAGE TO WARN ME THAT SOMETHING WAS FAULTY.. BEFORE TAKING CAR INTO DEALERSHIP I DID MY RESEARCH ONLINE AND SPOKE WITH A SERVICE TECH AT MERCEDES AND SAID THAT IT WAS POSSIBLY EIS FAILURE AND STEERING LOCK. AFTER SO MANY COMPLAINS LIKE MINE ONLINE I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THIS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. WHAT IF THIS WOULD OF HAPPENED WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND MY STEERING LOCKED? WHO KNOWS?...IS MERCEDES WAITING FOR SERIOUS ACCIDENTS TO HAPPEN? THESE FAILURES ARE REALLY A CALL FOR A RECALL..IF THERE ARE ANYMORE MERCEDES OWNERS OUT THERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM FILE YOUR COMPLAINTS MAYBE IF MORE OF US COMPLAIN THEY WILL DO A RECALL. THIS IS NOT CHEAP TO FIX IT COST FROM $1200 TO $1700. I BOUGHT A MERCEDES BELIEVING I WAS BUYING A DEPENDABLE VEHICLE NOW I AM HAVING SECOND THOUGHTS AFTER ALL I HAVE READ... *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jun 6, 2014
PRIOR TO PULLING INTO MY GARAGE, I SMELLED BURNING ELECTRICAL WIRING. ALL WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH PANEL FOR THE LEFT REAR LIGHTS CAME ON. I OPENED THE TRUNK TO SEE IF A LIGHT BULB BURNED OUT, AND SMELLED THE BURNING WIRES. OPENING THE PANEL COVERING THE LEFT REAR LIGHTS, I SAW A BURN THROUGH SCORCHED CIRCUIT BOARD. ON CLOSER EXAMINATION, I NOTICED THE GROUND WIRE WAS THIN AND THE CAUSE OF THE SEVERALLY OVERHEATED AND PARTIALLY MELTED AREA ON THE LEFT REAR LAMP ASSEMBLY. SINCE THEN, THE MERCEDES DEALER REPLACED THE CIRCUIT AT MY EXPENSE. ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO, THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. IT WAS ALSO A THIN GROUND WIRE THAT HAD OVERHEATED AND PARTIALLY MELTED THE CIRCUIT BOARD. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Jun 4, 2014
I DROVE MY CAR TO WORK AND PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT. I EXITED THE CAR AND LOCKED THE DOORS WHEN I REMEMBERED THAT ON THIS DAY, THE TREE CUTTING CREW WILL BE SERVICING THE PARKING LOT. I RETURNED TO THE CAR TO MOVE IT BUT WHEN I TURNED THE KEY MY IGNITION WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY EVEN THOUGH ALL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE REMOTE DOOR LOCKS AND RADIO WERE WORKING FINE. I JUMP STARTED THE VEHICLE WITH ANOTHER CAR NONETHELESS TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T A DEAD BATTERY. THE CAR WOULDN'T START. I'VE OWNED THE CAR FOR MANY YEARS BUT NOTHING LIKE THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED. TO COME OUT TO A CAR WITH A WORKING BATTERY AND NOT STARTING. I HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO CHECKED ALL FUSES AND WIRING ONLY TO DETERMINE THAT IT WAS THE EIS OR ESL UNIT. THIS IS THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK MECHANISM THAT MALFUNCTIONED. I ENDED UP SPENDING OVER $1000 TO GET THIS FIXED. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jun 4, 2014
I RECEIVED A WARNING ON MY DASHBOARD THAT MY RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT, RIGHT TURN SIGNAL AND BACK LIGHT NEEDED TO BE CHECKED AND MALFUNCTIONING. THE MESSAGE CAME AND WENT FOR SEVERAL DAYS. WHEN I OPENED THE COMPARTMENT WHERE THE TAIL BULB CARRIERS AND ASSEMBLY WERE, I SAW THAT SOME OF THE LIGHTS WERE VERY DIM. THE CARRIER ITSELF WAS PIPING HOT. SO MY FIRST REACTION WAS TO REPLACE THE BULBS. I DID. SAME PROBLEMS, NOTHING WAS FIXED. THE NEXT DAY, EVERYTHING CLEARED UP...SO I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE FINE. A WEEK LATER, IT CAME BACK. WHEN I OPENED UP THE COMPARTMENT AGAIN, IT WAS SUPER HOT, AND I NOTICED THAT THE WIRING WAS BROWNING AND IT BURNT MY FINGER. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WILL COST HUNDREDS TO REPLACE AND NOT COVERED. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, May 27, 2014
I RECEIVED A MESSAGE TO CHECK THE REAR RIGHT (PASSENGER) LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNAL. I JUST PURCHASED THE CAR USED ON MAY 20, 2014, AND BEGAN GETTING THE DASHBOARD WARNING A FEW DAYS LATER, BUT IT WAS INTERMITTENT. ON MAY 26, 2014, I INSPECTED OF THE BULB CARRIER AND PIN CONNECTOR AND NOTICED THAT THE CONNECTION INVOLVING THE BROWN WIRE ON THE PIN CONNECTOR WAS BURNED AND THE CORRESPONDING CONNECTION ON THE BULB CARRIER WAS ALSO BURNED/DISINTEGRATED AND THE AREA AROUND THE BROWN WIRE WAS VERY HOT. IT IS DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHEN THE FAILURE ACTUALLY HAPPENED. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, May 21, 2014
DEFECTIVE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL): HI, MY STEERING LOCK JUST WENT ON ME AS WELL AND WAS LEFT STRANDED WITH NO CAR THIS PAST WEEKEND! MY 2009 C300 4MATIC SPORT HAS APPROX. 56,000 MILES ON IT AND I AM OUT OF WARRANTY. I CALLED MB USA AND BEGGED FOR WARRANTY ASSISTANCE BUT WAS BASICALLY TOLD NO BECAUSE AS A SECOND OWNER I DID NOT HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED ENOUGH TIMES AT THE LOCAL MB DEALERSHIP! I GUESS I HAVEN'T SPENT ENOUGH MONEY TO DATE ON UNWARRANTED REPAIRS AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP?? AFTER EXTENSIVE ONLINE RESEARCH I TOO FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2008 AND 2009 MB C300, AND MOST LIKELY LATER MODELS AS WELL!. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL) FAILURE TYPICALLY HAPPENS RIGHT AFTER EXPIRATION OF THE BASIC WARRANTY. JUST LIKE THE THOUSANDS OF MB C300 OWNERS STUCK IN THIS SITUATION, I NEED MY VEHICLE AND HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO SHELL OUT THE MONEY FOR THIS REPAIR! (OVER $1,000). I AM SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE THIS CAR ANYWHERE FAR IN FEAR THAT ANOTHER TECHNICAL/MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN WILL OCCUR. IN ADDITION TO ESL FAILURE, ANOTHER CONCERN OF MINE IS FINDING OUT THAT ELECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM (EIS) FAILURE IS ANOTHER COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 08-09 MB C300'S. SHAME ON MERCEDES FOR NOT ISSUING A RECALL ON THE ESL & EIS ISSUES AND STICKING IT TO THE CONSUMERS. I TOO PLAN ON CONTACTING MY ATTORNEY REGARDING THIS ISSUE. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, May 18, 2014
MY VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FAILURE OF ITS STARTING AND STEERING LOCK FUNCTIONS. THE UNDERLINE PROBLEM AND AREAS OF CONCERN IS THE FREQUENCY OF THIS FAILURE AND THE DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH HAVING THE VEHICLE IMMOBILIZED WHEN THE ASSOCIATED PARTS FAIL. MERCEDES BENZ HAS NOT TAKEN ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE YET IT CAN'T BE FIXED WITHOUT DEALERSHIP INTERVENTION. THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE BESIDES HAVING YOUR CAR TOWED IS IN THE EXCESS OF $1,000.00. IN MY CASE I HAVE BEEN QUOTED &1700.00! ALTHOUGH MY PARTICULAR INSTANCE HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED, THERE IS NO EXCEPTION THAT IT CAN OCCUR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOTION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF AND THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK IN ANY POSITION. UPDATED 11/24/2014 *JS
Electrical system, May 11, 2014
A SMOKE CONDITION CAME FROM THE TRUNK, UPON INSPECTION TAILLIGHT BULB HOUSING WAS FOUND MELTED, ALL BULBS WERE NONE WORKING AS A RESULT. *TR
Steering, Power train, Fuel/propulsion system, May 6, 2014
FIRST DAY WHEN RECEIVING MY KEYS FOR A BRAND NEW MERCEDES C350 2009 AT THE DEALERSHIP...ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON. LATER FINDING OUT IT WAS THE FUEL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A MONTH LATER OF GETTING A BRAND NEW CAR CORROSION WAS FOUND IN THE TAILLIGHTS. THEN FINDING OUT CORROSION ON THE BRAKE PADS. MONTHS AFTER THIS THE POWER TRAIN WAS SLIPPING UP... THE RPMS OF THE CAR WOULD SURGE UP HIGH AND REMAIN STUCK AT HIGH RPMS. IF I ACCELERATED THE GAS IT WOULD SHOOT UP HIGHER TO HIGHER RPMS AND THE CAR WOULD MAKE THE NOISE BUT IT WOULDN'T MOVE. I THOUGHT IF I LET GO OF THE GAS THINKING THE RPMS WOULD RETURN BACK DOWN... BUT IT WOULDN'T...HUGE SAFETY ISSUE WHEN YOUR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY AND HAVE NO CONTROL TO DRIVE YOUR CAR. I WOULD HAVE TO PULL OVER SOME HOW AND TURN OFF THE CAR FOR THE RPMS TO COME BACK DOWN SO I CAN DRIVE IT AGAIN. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK SEVERAL TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THEY COULD NEVER DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. THEREFORE, NOTHING GOT FIXED OR REPLACED JUST CONSTANT SOFTWARE UPDATES WERE STATED WERE DONE. SOON AFTER TAKING MY CAR OVER 5+ TIMES FOR THIS SAME ISSUE, MY SRS STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. I GOT THAT REPLACED AND PAID FOR IT A YEAR AGO. NOW BACK TODAY EXACTLY 12 MONTHS LATER REPAIRING IT AGAIN - SRS MALFUNCTION...AGAIN STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK ALL ALONE. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRING MY CAR FOR SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS, GETTING STRANDED, TOWING MY CAR, PAYING FOR ALL REPAIRS AND GIVING UP WEEKENDS AND WORK TIME TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP. I HATE THIS CAR! THAT I'M ABSOLUTELY HAVE NO PEACE OF MIND, I DON'T FEEL SAFE, CAR IS NOT RELIABLE, HAS EXTREMELY POOR QUALITY. NOT WORTH IT AT ALL! *TR
Exterior lighting, Apr 24, 2014
I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND A MESSAGE LIGHT CAME ON SAYING CHECK REAR RIGHT BRAKE LAMP, TURN LAMP ,AND TAIL LAMP SO I STOPPED BY THE AUTO PART STORE TO HAVE THEM REPLACE THE BULBS AND THEY FOUND THE LIGHT HOLDER AND THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE LIGHTS HAD MELTED. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 23, 2014, fire
RIGHT REAR PASSENGER LIGHTING ASSEMBLY CAUGHT FIRE. WIRING HARNESS AND LIGHT BULB CARRIER WERE BURNED. RIGHT REAR TURN AND BRAKE LIGHTS ARE INOPERABLE. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 15, 2014
RIGHT REAR TAILLIGHT PIG TAIL OVERHEATED AND SHORTED OUT LAMP HOLDER. YOU CAN SEE THE BURN MARKS WHERE IT WAS TOO HOT. HAS TO BE REPLACED. *TT
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 15, 2014
AS I WAS DRIVING I HAD A LIGHT COME ON MY DASH TELLING ME I HAD LOW COOLANT AND THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE IT FILLED. THIS HAS HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIMES SINCE MY SHORT OWNERSHIP OF THIS VEHICLE. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A SEALED UNIT AND SHOULD NOT BE LOSING ANTIFREEZE ANYWHERE. I HAD THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT AND I DO NOT HAVE ANY LEAKS WHATSOEVER. WHEN I ADD THE COOLANT, IT SEEMS TO BE FAIRLY LOW. I AM CONCERNED THAT I MAY HAVE SOME BIG ISSUES ON MY HANDS AND COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE A HYDRO-LOCKING OF THE ENGINE PROBLEM CREATING A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE LEADING TO A CRASH. AFTER A BIT OF RESEARCH I AM FINDING THAT THE MB C63 HAS "HEAD BOLT" ISSUES LEADING TO THE LOSS OF COOLANT AND ENGINES BLOWING UP AND OR HYDRO-LOCKING. I FEAR THIS ISSUE MAY HAPPEN TO ME AND WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE THIS BEING LOOKED INTO AS I FEEL MB HAS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF RESPONSIBILITY HERE WITH REGARDS TO THE SAFETY OF THEIR PATRONS. THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME. *TT
Exterior lighting, Apr 14, 2014
MY EXTERIOR TAIL LIGHTS ALL WENT OUT, THIS INCLUDES FOG LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS AND INDICATOR LIGHTS. PUT IN NEW BULBS AS WELL AS MADE SURE THE WIRES WERE CONNECTED WELL BUT IT REMAINS OUT. *JS
Engine, Apr 11, 2014
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A HEADBOLT FAILURE RESULTING IN COOLANT FLOODING ONE OF THE CYLINDER, LEAKING INSIDE THE ENGINE AND CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS DRIVING AT 20MPH AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE, OTHERWISE IT WOULD MOST LIKELY RESULT IN A CRASH. MERCEDES-BENZ USA DENIES THE WIDESPREAD NATURE OF THE PROBLEM AFFECTING ALL OF THE M156 ENGINES, EVEN THROUGH IN 2010 MERCEDES-BENZ ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN DIRECTING REPLACEMENT OF THE HEADBOLTS WITH THE NEW IMPROVED DESIGN AND I PERSONALLY KNOW 3 OTHER OWNERS WHOSE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM. MERCEDES-BENZ WOULD NOT RECALL THE AFFECTED ENGINES AS IT WOULD COST THEM MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, INSTEAD THEY CHOSE TO PUT THE CONSUMERS AT RISK AND HAVE THE CONSUMERS COVER THE REPAIR COST AS THE FAILURE TENDS TO HAPPEN SHORTLY AFTER THE BASE WARRANTY EXPIRES. *JS
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 11, 2014, fire
MARCH 1 2014 I NOTICE MY WIFE DASH WAS LIGHTING UP WITH REAR BRAKE LIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I OPENED THE TRUNK AND HIT THE BRAKE COMPARTMENT AND IT CAME BACK ON. APRIL 11 2014 THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND I TRIED DOING THE SAME THING BUT NOTHING. OPENED THE BRAKE COMPARTMENT AND DISCONNECTED EVERYTHING ON THAT SIDE AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM THE DEALERSHIP. DON'T WANT ANOTHER MELT DOWN BACK THERE IN THE TRUNK. IF THIS IS THE BEST COMPANY OUT THERE JUST ANNOUNCE A RECALL AND FIX YOUR CUSTOMERS FAULTY EQUIPMENT. *JS
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 10, 2014, fire
THE DASH WARNED ME THAT MY REAR TAIL LIGHTS WERE MALFUNCTIONING. THE MESSAGE CAME AND WENT FOR SEVERAL DAYS UNTIL IT WAS ON CONTINUOUSLY. I ACCESSED THE ELECTRICAL COMPARTMENT AND THE GROUND SIDE OF PLUG, THE SOCKET AND THE WIRE WAS MELTED AND HAS BEEN ON FIRE. I HAVE PICTURES ON DROPBOX: LINK ATTACHED HTTPS://WWW.DROPBOX.COM/SC/W4TM7B28PHH9LAL/-DZ3HTMLS-. *TR
Exterior lighting, Apr 10, 2014
REAR LIGHTING DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK, I HAVE GOTTEN ERROR CODES ONE DAY AND THE LIGHTS WORK THE NEXT. I HAVE READ PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS ON THE LIGHTING ISSUE. ONE TIME ITS A BULB ON THE RIGHT AND NEXT ITS A BULB ON THE LEFT. TODAY THEY ALL WORK.. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 9, 2014
COMPONENTS OF THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES HAVE OVERHEATED AND RENDERED THE UNITS INOPERATIVE. AS A RESULT, THE TAIL LIGHTS NO LONGER WORK. THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE AND COMMON OCCURRENCE IN AGING ASSEMBLIES OF THIS TYPE. *TR