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.
Tires, Jun 22, 2011
I OWN A 2009 C300 SERIES MERCEDES BENZ. WE BOUGHT OUR CAR IN 2010 AS A DEMO WITH ONLY 12,000 MILES ON IT FROM THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP. WE HAD TO CHANGE OUT ONE OF THE TIRES 2 MONTHS AFTER WE GOT THE CAR DUE TO A BIG BUBBLE NOT IN THE TIRE. A MONTH LATER, WE THEN HAD TO CHANGE OUT THE BACK TIRE DUE TO A NAIL BEING IN THE TIRE AND THEY SAID THEY WASN'T ABLE TO FIX IT. THESE ARE CONTINENTAL TIRES WHICH ARE VERY EXPENSIVE. TODAY, 2011, THESE BACK TIRES ARE COMPLETELY WORN OUT AND NEED TO BE CHANGED AGAIN. I AM NOT SURE IF THESE TIRES ARE DEFECTS ARE WHAT.... I AM VERY TIRED OF THIS, I THOUGHT I WAS BUYING THE BEST.... *TR
Tires, May 31, 2011
MY COMPLAINT DOESN'T INVOLVE ONE INCIDENT, RATHER A SERIES OF ISSUES WITH THE TIRES ON MY 2009 MERCEDES C300. I HAVE HAD 11 FLAT TIRES OVER THE COURSE OF 2 1/2 YEARS, AND I'VE HAD NEW TIRES FAIL REPEATEDLY ON 1ST IMPACT FROM NOT ONLY POTHOLES, BUT ALSO VERY SMALL UNEVEN PARTS IN THE ROADS. I'VE HAD THE INNER WALLS OF MY TIRES FAIL REPEATEDLY EVEN WITHOUT IMPACT, AND MERCEDES CLAIMS IT IS NOT A PRODUCT ISSUE. THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THERE ARE TWO APPROVED TIRE TYPES FOR MY CAR, THE 17" CONTINENTAL LOW PROFILE CONTIPROCONTACT TIRES WHICH I HAVE AND WHICH MERCEDES SERVICE TEAM CONTINUES TO PUT ON MY CAR AND A MICHELIN MODEL WHICH I'M TOLD COSTS ABOUT $20/TIRE MORE AND WHICH MERCEDES WILL NOT USE AS REPLACEMENTS. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE BECAUSE OF THE HIGHER COST ASSOCIATED WITH THE MICHELIN TIRES. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED, FRUSTRATED AND DISSATISFIED WITH THIS DRIVING EXPERIENCE, AND TO THIS POINT, THE BENZEL BUSCH MERCEDES DEALERSHIP IN ENGLEWOOD, NJ, HAS NOT RECTIFIED THE SITUATION. IT'S GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE I'M BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP EVERY MONTH OR TWO, AND 2 MONTHS AGO, I HAD TO GO TWICE IN ONE DAY. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE CAR, AND NOBODY THAT I KNOW WHO ALSO DRIVES ON THE SAME ROADS AS ME HAS ANYWHERE NEAR THE LEVEL OF INCIDENTS. MERCEDES ALSO CHECKED THE WHEEL ALIGNMENT, RIMS AND CHASSIS, AND THEY HAVE TOLD ME IT'S NOT AN ISSUE WITH ANY OF THOSE EITHER. ANY HELP WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED. *TR
Exterior lighting, May 6, 2011
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE CONTACT NOTICED THERE WAS WATER INSIDE OF THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS TURN SIGNALS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SHE HAD TO PAY THE REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 23,000.
Tires, Apr 13, 2011
TIRES HAVE EXCESSIVE WEARING AND MAKE A LOT NOISE AT MEDIUM-HIGH SPEED. *TR
Air bags, Nov 30, 2010, crash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK. THE CONTACT HIT HIS CHEST ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND HIS HEAD ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO SENT SOMEONE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE INVESTIGATOR STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE NOT DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 24,000.
Vehicle speed control, Nov 17, 2010
I OWN A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ, MODEL C-300. THE ISSUE IS THE LOCATION OF THE CRUISE CONTROL ARM ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN. IN AMERICA CARS THE TURN SIGNAL ARM IS IN THAT SPOT ON THE TOP, IN THIS CAR IT IS ON THE TOP. SO IF YOU REACH FOR THE TURN SIGNAL ARM YOU TOUCH THE CRUISE CONTROL ARM FIRST BY MISTAKE. AS SOON AS YOU TOUCH THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED AND STATS TAKING OVER. A VERY GRAVE SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Equipment, Oct 20, 2010
NAVIGATION SYSTEM SHOWS I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ATLANTIC. 2 DEALERS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANY ISSUES. ONE OF THEM SAID THE GOV.'T SHUTS OFF THE NAVIGATION SATELLITE AND THIS CAUSES THIS. THIS IS REALLY STRANGE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFELY ISSUE AS I CAN DIRECT ME TO UNSAFE, UNSECURED AREAS AND CAUSE MAJOR HARM AND DAMAGE TO BOTH THE CAR AND OCCUPANTS. *TR
Tires, Oct 20, 2010
TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR KEEPS COMING ON. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO 2 DIFFERENT RETAILERS AND THEY JUST RESET THE TPM. THEY CANNOT FIND ANY ISSUES WITH THE TIRES OR THE TPM. THIS MEANS THAT THE TPM SOFTWARE IS DEFECTIVE. ONE OF THEM SAID TO JUST LOOK AT THE TIRES TO CHECK IF THERE IS ENOUGH PRESSURE AND KEEP DRIVING. I CALLED THE BENZ CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY JUST REFERRED ME BACK TO THE RETAILERS. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 14, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD FAIL TO START INTERMITTENTLY AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD SPORADICALLY MISFIRE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DUMPING FUEL INTO THE ENGINE WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD MISFIRE. WHEN THE CONTACT WAS FINALLY ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY FOR APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MINUTES. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED A REPLACEMENT 2010 VERSION OF THE SAME VEHICLE WHILE THE 2009 MODEL WENT THROUGH A SERIES OF TESTS. THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED IN THE 2010 MODEL. THE MANUFACTURER THEN ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,900.
Power train, Jul 1, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES C350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED, THE TRANSMISSION SURGED FORWARD AT A HIGH RATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32000.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, May 23, 2010
AT 5:00PM, I WAS DRIVING THE MERCEDES BENZ C300, YEAR 2009, 9010 MILES IN THE PARKING LOT OF YMCA IN LA CANADA, CA AT 3 MILES/HR. I PREPARED TO STOP THE CAR AND STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, SUDDENLY, THE ENGINE REV UP AND ACCELERATED. THE CAR JUMPED OVER THE STOP BUMPER BUT I PRESSED VERY HARD ON THE BRAKE AND FINALLY THE CAR STOPPED AND THE ENGINE WAS OFF. THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS ABOUT 2 FEET FROM THE WALL AT THE PARKING LOT. I WAS SO SCARED BECAUSE IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I EXPERIENCED THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. I WENT TO THE GYM AND AT 6:30PM I DROVE THE CAR BACK HOME, IT IS ABOUT 6 MILES FROM MY HOUSE. I REALLY FEEL UNSAFE WITH MY ALMOST BRAND NEW MB. I'LL TAKE OFF FOR WORK NEXT MONDAY AND WILL TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR CHECKING. I WAS LUCKY THIS TIME WITH NO DAMAGE OR INJURY BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING VERY SLOWLY IN THE PARKING LOT AND READY TO STOP. HOWEVER I DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE CHANCE NEXT TIME, IT'S SO DANGEROUS, I CAN GET KILL OR SOMEBODY CAN GET HURT IF MY CAR JUMPS AGAIN. I DO THE RESEARCH AND SEE THE COMPLAINT # 10330370 ON 05/23/2010. THE CASE WAS ALMOST THE SAME: WHEN THE DRIVER STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND THE MB UNINTENDED ACCELERATED. PLEASE DO THE INVESTIGATION BY NOW AND FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME ANYTIME. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Air bags, Vehicle speed control, May 13, 2010, crash
I WAS DRIVING ON THE PARKWAY AT ~40 MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN BY STEPPING ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN BUT ACCELERATED. AND STRUCK THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. EVERY TIME I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR ACCELERATED SO THAT THE CAR STRUCK THE CAR IN FRONT TWICE. I TRIED TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND WAS UNABLE TO. FINALLY, I PUSHED HARD ON THE BRAKE ENOUGH TO SLOW IT DOWN AND I WAS TEN ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE RACED BUT I WAS THEN ABLE TO TURN IT OFF. DESPITE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
Power train, Feb 23, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHENEVER THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE I WOULD VIOLENTLY SWITCH INTO GEAR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLIGHTLY SURGE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON THIRTEEN DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHERE SEVERAL DIFFERENT PARTS HAVE BEEN SERVICED ON THE TRANSMISSION;HOWEVER THE CONTACT IS STILL EXPERIENCING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAS NOTICED THE FAILURE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 14000.
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 24, 2009
BOUGHT A NEW 2009 C300 MERCEDES AT A DEALER IN SAN DIEGO. CAR HAS ROUGH IDLE AND SHAKES FOR 30 SECONDS IN THE MORNING. DEALER CHECKED AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THEY ARE BLAMING IT ON STRICT EMISSION ISSUES AS THE SOURCE OF THE ROUGH IDLE. HOOD DOES NOT LATCH UNLESS SLAMMED HARD. DEALER CLAIMED THEY HAD ADJUSTED LATCH BUT STILL THE SAME. *TR
Visibility, Sep 6, 2009
I PURCHASED A C300 IN APRIL 2009, WITHIN A FEW DAYS I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE DRIVER SIDEVIEW MIRROR. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SALESMAN THAT SOLD ME THE CAR TOOK CARE OF ARRANGING THE REPAIR. THEY HAD TO ORDER THE MIRROR AND GAVE ME A LOANER. I WAS NEVER GIVEN AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT CAUSED THE CRACK. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Power train, Electrical system, Jun 4, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING SEVERAL COMPUTER DEFECTS. WHILE PARKED ON A HILL AND ATTEMPTING TO PLACE THE GEAR SHIFTER INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL FORWARD INSTEAD OF BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL FORWARD APPROXIMATELY ONE FOOT AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. DURING THIS TIME, THE STEERING WOULD LOCK AND THE BRAKES WOULD LOSE POWER. IT WOULD TAKE TREMENDOUS FORCE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER COULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS. THERE WERE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN PERFORMED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 7,000.
Steering, Air bags, May 17, 2009, crash
MY DAUGHTER WAS IN A CRASH TODAY ON MAY 16, 2009 SHE WAS DRIVING MERCEDES 2009 C300 AND SHE SAID THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK SUDDENLY BEFORE SHE CRASH, SHE WAS DRIVING ONLY AT 15MPH THAT WHY THE IMPACT WAS NOT SO SEVERE, WE ARE VERY LUCKY THAT SHE JUST HAS MINOR INJURIES. *TR
Steering, Feb 11, 2009
I BOUGHT A NEW 2009 MB C300 FOR MY WIFE LAST NOVEMBER, LESS THAN THREE MONTH LATER, ITS POWER STEERING QUITTED TO WORK WITHOUT ANY MALFUNCTION SIGN. IT WILL TAKE A PROFESSIONAL WRESTLER TO GET IN AND OUT ITS PARKING PLACE. THIS IS NOT THE WORST PART YET. AFTER NUMEROUS FAILED ATTEMPTS TRYING TO CONTACT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF MY DEALER, I DROVE THE CAR TO THE DEALER THAT IS 40 MILES AWAY FROM MY HOUSE. ONLY THING THEY DID TO THE CAR WAS THAT A SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE OPENED THE HOOD AND ADDED SOME FLUID, WHICH LATE TURNED OUT TO BE USELESS. HE WANTED ME TO SET A SERVICE APPOINTMENT THAT WAS 15 DAYS LATER. I WAITED ALMOST TWO HOURS TRYING TO GET SOMEBODY TO TEST DRIVE MY CAR AND TELL ME IF IT'S SAFE TO DRIVE, WHICH THEY NEVER DID. RIGHT NOW, THE ONLY THING I CAN DO IS TO LOOK AT MY WORLD RENOWNED LUXURY SEDAN C300 MADE BY SUPERIOR GERMAN TECHNOLOGY SITTING IN MY CAR POT. WHAT A JOKE! *TR
Seat belts, Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 6, 2009, crash
I WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHERE I WAS RUN OFF THE ROAD AND INTO A CENTER MEDIAN STEEL BARRIER. MY MERCEDES C300 IS EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM (ESP) AND ACTIVE SEATBELT RESTRAINTS (BOTH OF WHICH FAILED IN THE CRASH). THE ROADS WERE SLICK, HOWEVER, WHEN A CAR SWERVED OVER ON ME AND I ATTEMPTED TO HIT THE BRAKES TO AVOID BEING HIT, MY CAR BEGAN TO FISH-TAIL AND I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AT THE TIME, A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING (POST-CRASH) THAT MY ESP MALFUNCTIONED. IN ADDITION, UPON IMPACT, MY SEAT RESTRAINED ME, HOWEVER, WHEN THE CAR BOUNCED BACK INTO THE CENTER OF THE HIGHWAY, THE SEATBELT CAME COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM WHERE IT'S HOLDER (WHERE YOU CLICK IT IN). THE REST OF THE SAFETY FEATURES WORKED (AIRBAGS, ACTIVE HEAD-REST RESTRAINTS, STEEL FRAMING, ETC.) HOWEVER, IF THE ESP FAILED OR MALFUNCTION, THEN THERE WAS NO POSSIBLE WAY TO PREVENT THE ACCIDENT BASED ON THE VEHICLES FAILURE TO DELIVER IN A PANICKED SITUATION. THE MERCEDES ESP PROGRAM IS SUPPOSE TO ENABLE THE DRIVER THE ABILITY TO CORRECT THE VEHICLE FROM OVERSTEER (FISH-TAILING) IN CRITICAL SITUATIONS, AND IT DID NOT DO SO. AT THE TIME, I WAS TRAVELING AT 55 MPH. THE BRAKE-ASSIST PROGRAM HELPED TO DECELERATE THE VEHICLE MINIMALLY, AND I SLAMMED INTO THE GUARDRAIL AROUND 50-55 MPH. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE ESP AND SEATBELT FAILED IN THIS CRASH. I'M VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE SURVIVED THIS ACCIDENT. TOOK PICTURES FOR EVIDENCE, AND PLAN TO GO BACK TO THE CAR UPON REVIEW BY THE MERCEDES ACCIDENT SPECIALIST TO ACCESS WHY THERE WAS AN EVIDENT FAILURE IN BOTH OF THESE SAFETY FEATURES (CRITICAL TO PREVENTING SUCH AN ACCIDENT)! *TR
Equipment adaptive/mobility, Nov 2, 2008
I PURCHASED A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300 LUXURY SEDAN IN OCTOBER 2008 IN ATLANTA, GA. I DROVE THE CAR OFF THE LOT WITH 37 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I HOUSE THE CAR IN MY GARAGE. I'D HAD THE CAR IN MY POSSESSION FOR A LITTLE LESS THAN TWO WEEKS WHEN I WOKE ONE CHILLY MORNING TO DISCOVER A CRACK IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR. I IMMEDIATELY PHONED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD TO BRING THE CAR IN FOR EVALUATION. SERVICE ASSESSED THE DAMAGE AND ADVISED ME THAT THEY'D RECENTLY (THE DAY BEFORE) BECOME AWARE THAT THE HEATING ELEMENTS WERE CRACKING THE MIRRORS IN THE C CLASS MODELS. THEY THEN APOLOGIZED FOR THE INCONVENIENCE, GAVE ME A LOANER CAR (FREE OF CHARGE) WHILE MY CAR WAS BEING REPAIRED (FREE OF CHARGE), AND ADVISED ME THAT, ALTHOUGH MERCEDES BENZ DOES NOT ALLOW PREEMPTIVE REPAIRS, THEY WOULD REPAIR THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR (FREE OF CHARGE) SHOULD IT CRACK IN THE FUTURE. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE WOULD BE FIXED EVEN IF THE WARRANTY HAD OTHERWISE EXPIRED. THE PART REPAIRED WAS THE AUTO DEFROSTING/ DIMMING DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR. I'M UNSURE IF THIS DEFECT IS EXCLUSIVE TO THE C CLASS MODELS. *TR