2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 476 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 6th highest complaint count among 23 C-Class model years with reports.
Of the 2010 reports, 20 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 20 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
87 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Electrical system, Sep 18, 2016
CAR WAS OPERATING FINE WHEN I GOT HOME AROUND NOON PARKED ON THE STREET OUTSIDE MY HOUSE, AT 2PM I WAS TRYING TO LEAVE. WHILE STARTING THE CAR THE WARNING SHOWED UP ON MY DASH STATING "REMOVE KEY FROM THE IGNITION". CALLED AAA TO ENSURE THAT THE BATTERY WAS OK. AAA SHOWED UP AND INSPECTED THE CAR. BATTERY WAS UP TO STANDARDS. MECHANIC SAID TO USE A SPARE KEY TO TEST OUT THE ISSUE. GRABBED A SPARE KEY AND THE SAME WARNING SHOWED UP ON THE DASH. MECHANIC SAID THAT I NEED TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND GET MY EIS SYSTEM REPLACED AND A STEERING COLUMN. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY TOLD ME THE SAME THING. HERE YOU GO, FINAL BILL $1,600 OUT THE DOOR. MAKE THIS A RECALL ITEM IF EVERYONE IS HAVING THIS ISSUE.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Sep 8, 2016
TOOK CAR FOR ROUTINE SERVICE AT LOCAL MB DEALERSHIP ON 9/3/16 AND WAS TOLD BOTH FRONT PARKING LAMPS/LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING, FURTHER INFORMED THAT IT IS NOT SIMPLE LIGHT BULB BLOW OUT BUT SOMETHING HAS CAUSED THE WHOLE MOLDING/CASING HOLDING THE LIGHT HAS MELTED AND THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE ADVISER STATED THAT HE HAS SEEN THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM BEFORE WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. I AM NOT A TECHNICAL PERSON AND CAN FORWARD EMAIL AND THE DETAILS OF ISSUE AS PROVIDED BY DEALERSHIP. I CONSIDER THIS SERIOUS SAFETY AND FIRE HAZARD AND WANTED TO KNOW IF THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO YOU BEFORE BY CONSUMERS OR BY THE MANUFACTURER MERCEDES BENZ. MILEAGE ON FORM IS APPROXIMATE
Steering, Electrical system, Aug 10, 2016
VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY ON THE SIDE OF A HIGHWAY DUE TO A LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING. VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. MINUTES LATER, ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO TURN VEHICLE BACK ON. VEHICLE DID NOT TURN ON (ENGINE DID NOT TURN). VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HOME WHERE SAME PHENOMENON OCCURRED, VEHICLE DID NOT TURN ON ALTHOUGH KEY WAS INSERTED AND IGNITION SWITCH ROTATED, ENGINE WOULD NOT START. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED: FAULTY ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL) AND ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH (EIS), SUM WAS ABOUT $1,600. ALL WEB INFORMATION POINTS TO A COMMON PROBLEM AND MAY POSE SAFETY HAZARD, ESPECIALLY WHEN TRYING TO AVOID UNSAFE SITUATIONS, SUCH AS PARKED ALONGSIDE A HIGHWAY WHERE CARS SPEED BY AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. ISSUE IS KNOWN AND MERCEDES BENZ FAILS TO ACKNOWLEDGE PREMATURE FAILURE OF IGNITION COMPONENTS.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Jul 20, 2016
CAR WONT START, REPLACED BATTERY, COMMON ISSUE WITH C300 TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP IT WOULD COST $1332 FOR STEERING LOCK TO START 5.0 INCLUDES IF NEEDED TO CUT OUT LOCK PIN
Electrical system, Jul 13, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTING FAILED. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE INTERIOR LIGHTING REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND DRAINED THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUSE BOX FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 22, 2016
AFTER I TURN THE CAR OFF, THE FRONT LEFT LIGHT ON THE TOP CONTINUES TO STAY ON. IF I MOVE THE KNOB BACK AND FORTH SLIGHTLY, THEN SHUTS OFF, AT LEAST FOR A WHILE. I JUST HAD TO DEAL WITH A DEAD BATTERY YESTERDAY WHEN I WAS GETTING READY TO LEAVE WORK. FROM WHAT I HAVE RECENTLY RESEARCHED, THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AMONG THIS MODEL. HAS A RECALL BEEN MADE FOR THIS? WILL THIS CAUSE ANY OTHER ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE? IF IT IS A SHORTAGE IN THE ELECTRICAL, AM I IN DANGER OF THE VEHICLE NOT REACTING APPROPRIATELY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT OR AT A HIGHER SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY? IS THERE ANY RISK OF IT CATCHING FIRE? THERE IS ALSO A SENSOR THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I AM NOT THAT CAR SAVVY, BUT I BELIEVE IT MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH FUEL INJECTION OR SOMETHING FILTERING PROPERLY. IS THAT ANOTHER COMMON ISSUE?
Electrical system, May 14, 2016
MY PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT (UPPER EYELID) COMES ON AFTER I HAVE TURNED OFF THE IGNITION SWITCH. ALSO REAR BRAKE LIGHT.I GO IN SIDE TO WORK AND SOME TELLS ME MY LIGHTS ARE ON .FINALLY ONE SATURDAY I WAKE UP TO A DEAD BATTERY. I DON'T WANT TO GET STRANDED ANYPLACE,
Electrical system, May 5, 2016
FRONT RIGHT PARKING LAMP MELTED INTO HEADLIGHT FIXTURE. WAS TOLD MY MB DEALER YESTERDAY IT WAS DUE TO THE HEADLIGHT OVERHEATING AND I NEED TO PAY TO REPLACE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT $900.00 THEY HAD SIMILAR ISSUES WITH TAIL LIGHTS AND HAD A RECALL ON CARS TO REPLACE. MAYBE SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH FRONT LIGHT ALSO.,.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 16, 2016
CAR DOESNT WANT TO START , CAR HAS 85K ON IT . WELL MAINTAINED, BATTERY WAS 4 MONTHS OLD , EIS SWITCH.
Steering, Electrical system, Jan 3, 2016
I DROVE MY 2010 C300 TO AN APPOINTMENT 2 MILES AWAY AND WENT TO START THE CAR AFTER AN APPOINTMENT AND IT WOULD NOT START...TRIED HAVING IT JUMPED BUT IT DIDN'T WORK...HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO TOLD ME IT WAS AN ELECTRINIC STEERING MALFUNCTION AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR $1460...THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE UNTIL IT JIST STOPPED WORKING...UNACCEPTABLE AND FROM WHAT I HABE LEARNED THIS IS A RAMPANT PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A RECALL.
Steering, Electrical system, Jan 3, 2016
2010 MERCEDES C300 HAS 57000 MILES. DROVE IT 2 MILES IN THE MORNING TO GET GONTO AN APPT AND THE THE CAR WOULD NOT START...THOUGHT MAYBE THE BATTERY BUT WHEN THE JUMP DIDNT WORK I HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO SAID IT WAS THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUM THAT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR $1460...NO OTHER INDICATION THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG...JUST STOPPED WORKING. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A RECALL...NEVER GETRING ANOTHER MERCEDES.
Electrical system, Oct 27, 2015
THE AUTO LOCK WOULD RANDOMLY UNLOCK AND LOCK AT THE WRONG TIME CAUSING THE DOOR HANDLE TO NOT BE RESPONSIVE ANYMORE.. MERCEDES CHARGED 1000 DOLLARS TO FIX HIS WHEN IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND A VERY BIG SAFETY ISSUE. UNFORTUNATELY I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX MY DOOR WHICH MAKES ME THINK IF I GET INTO A CAR ACCIDENT WHAT WOULD I DO?
Electrical system, Sep 13, 2015
PASSENGER WAS ATTEMPTING TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR HANDLE AND THE DOOR HANDLE BROKE. LEAVING DOOR HANDLE TENSION LESS. FORCING ME TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW TO LET PASSENGER OUT OF THE CAR.
Electrical system, Aug 12, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING MECHANISM WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, May 27, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HEAD LAMP CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. AS A RESULT, THE BATTERY DRAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO REPAIRED THE VEHICLE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Apr 5, 2015
I BOUGHT MY MERCEDES BRAND NEW, AND THERE SEEMS TO BE MULTIPLE PEOPLE WITH SAME ISSUE. I HAVE A LITTLE OVER 40000 MILES, AND MY CAR IS HAVING STARTING ISSUES. I TURN THE KEY, AND EVERYTHING COMES ON BUT THE CAR WON'T START, AND GOES INTO AN EMERGENCY COOL DOWN MODE WITH THE ENGINE FANS TURNING ON FULL BLAST. IT MAY BE THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM (EIS) THAT A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE MENTION. MERCEDES NEEDS TO DO A RECALL, AS THIS SEEMS TO BE A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Mar 19, 2015
I DROVE 500 MILES FROM CHICAGO TO MISSISSAUGA, ONT. CANADA. TRIP WAS UNEVENTFUL. THE DAY AFTER I DROVE THE CAR TO A HONDA CAR DEALERSHIP , IRONICALLY, TO LOOK FOR A CAR FOR A RELATIVE AND PARKED. RETURNING ONE HOUR LATER I WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS WITH THE REMOTE BUT WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR EVERYTHING EXCEPT FOR THE RADIO WENT DEAD. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP 7 KILOMETERS AWAY. THE PROGRAMMED PART HAD TO BE ORDERED SO IT TOOK TWO BUSINESS DAYS TO GET MY CAR BACK AT A COST OF $1071US. IT WAS TROUBLING TO REFLECT ON THE POSSIBILITY THAT THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED ON ONE OF THE REST AREAS I STOPPED AT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE ALONG THE ROUTE. I CAN'T DECIDE WHETHER I WOULD RATHER NOT HAVE THIS SYSTEM AND HAVE MY CAR STOLEN OR LEFT STRANDED WITH THE NEAREST TOWN MILES AWAY. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE SYSTEM JUST MALFUNCTIONED JUST LIKE A LIGHT WOULD BLOW OUT. NOT GOOD ENOUGH SYSTEM FOR AN EXPENSIVE CAR. THANKS FOR YOUR INVOLVEMENT. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Feb 20, 2015
I RECENTLY HAD AN ISSUE WITH MY EIS ON MY 2010 C300, THE CAR HAD ROUGHLY 60000 MILES WHEN THE ISSUE OCCURRED. I PARKED MY CAR IN A PARKING GARAGE, AND WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE WORK, THE CAR WOULDN'T START. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOCKED, AND I WAS UNABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. THE ISSUE SEEMS TO BE ONE THAT OCCURS IN A LARGE NUMBER OF MERCEDES CARS WITH SIMILAR MAKE/MODEL/MILEAGE, WHICH IS GENERALLY RIGHT OUTSIDE OF THE MILEAGE FOR THE STANDARD WARRANTY. MERCEDES DOESN'T ALLOW THE ISSUE TO BE FIXED BY LICENSED DEALERS, AND CAN ONLY BE FIXED BY A DEALERSHIP. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND SOMEWHAT OF AN ETHICAL DILEMMA. I AM NOT SURE IF THE EIS WOULD EVER GO OUT WHILE DRIVING, BUT IF SO, THAT COULD RESULT IN SAFETY ISSUES FOR THE DRIVER. *TR
Electrical system, Dec 14, 2014
WENT INTO WORK AND CAME BACK OUT TO MY CAR NOT STARTING. BATTERY JUST RECENTLY REPLACED WITHIN THE PAST 6 MONTHS. HAD THE BATTERY CHARGED AND TRIED TO DO A JUMP AND STILL NOTHING. HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED TO THE AUTO SHOP ONLY TO FIND OUT I HAVE A FAILED EIS, MEANING MY ELECTRONICALLY IGNITION SYSTEM HAS FAILED AND ITS GOING TO COST ME 1000 TO FIX. MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT I FIND THIS A MAJOR INCONVENIENCE. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A RELIABLE CAR THE REASON I CHOSE TO GET THIS CAR AND SOMETHING LIKE THE IGNITION HAS FAILED. I WISH THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT MBUSA COULD DO TO PAY FOR A MAJORITY OF THE ISSUE OR EVEN DO A REIMBURSEMENT. THIS CAN BE A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL, I ALWAYS THINK WHAT IF I WAS OUT OF TOWN OR WHAT IF I HAD A EMERGENCY AND BECAUSE OF THIS GLITCH I SIMPLY HAVE NO CAR AND NOW I'M DEPENDENT ON A RIDE UNTIL I CAN GET THIS FIXED! *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 12, 2014
I RECEIVED NOTICE OF A SAFETY RECALL INVOLVING THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS FOR MY 2010 MERCEDES C300. THIS CAR HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. HOWEVER, IT WAS REBUILT, INSPECTED, AND CERTIFIED AS ROAD WORTHY. THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO PERFORM THE RECALL WORK ON MY CAR, STATING THAT THE FACT THAT THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS INVALIDATES ANY WARRANTY AND A SAFETY RECALL IS CONSIDERED WARRANTY WORK. I FEEL THAT A SAFETY RECALL IS NOT OPTIONAL, AND THAT MERCEDES NEEDS TO PERFORM THIS WORK, REGARDLESS OF WARRANTY ELIGIBILITY. *TR
Electrical system, Oct 17, 2014
WENT TO START CAR AND NOTHING. STEERING LOCKED AND DIFFICULT, DUE TO ALL WHEEL DRIVE TO TOW. THERE ARE MANY CASES DOCUMENTED ABOUT EIS/ESL FAILURES ON MERCEDES ENTHUSIAST FORUMS. THE PROBLEM IS PREVALENT ON THE INTERNET. THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS ON A CROWDED HIGHWAY, IN A CRIME RIDDEN AREA OR JUST IN AN EMERGENCY. THE CAR WILL START ONE MINUTE AND WON'T ON THE NEXT START. MERCEDES CLAIMED NO FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE IN MY CASE. THE CAR WAS 2 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR
Electrical system, Aug 24, 2014
WENT TO START CAR WHEN THE KEY TURNED OVER LIGHTS, RADIO, ETC CAME ON BUT CAR WOULD NOT START. CAR DID NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO TURN OVER BUT WAS ELECTRONICALLY LOCKED OUT. TRIED SECOND KEY WITH NO AVAIL. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Aug 17, 2014, fire
THE WARNING SYSTEM FOR THE REAR LIGHTS HAVE BEEN GOING OFF SINCE PURCHASING THE CERTIFIED PREOWNED VEHICLE IN JUNE 2014. IT WAS RETURNED THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THE ISSUE AND NEVER FIXED. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND THE WARNING SYSTEM INFORMED ME TO CHECK ALL OF MY REAR LIGHTS. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS FUNCTIONING ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. THE LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, AND REAR FOG LAMPS WERE ALL NOT FUNCTIONING. WHEN A ROAD SIDE TECHNICIAN CHECKED THE VEHICLE HE SAW BURNT WIRES AND MELTED PLASTIC ON THE LIGHTING MOUNT. THIS OCCURRED DURING A ROUTINE TRIP FROM NEW JERSEY INTO PHILADELPHIA, PA AND INCLUDED DRIVING OVER THE BEN FRANKLIN BRIDGE. ONCE I REACH PHILLY I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE. THAT IS WHEN THE ISSUE WAS LOCATED. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. NO MORE INFORMATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED FROM THE DEALER YET. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 23, 2014
RECEIVED MESSAGE REAR LICENSE LIGHT OUT. REPLACED BULB BUT CONTINUED GETTING MESSAGE. REAR PARKING CAMERA STARTED DISPLAYING IMAGES WHEN BRAKE DEPRESSED. MESSAGES CONTINUED TO CHECK ALL REAR LIGHT BULBS. WHEN INSPECTING, I NOTICED BURN MARKS ON BULB CARRIER (PART #211-545-03-28) AND PLUG (PART #204-820-09-77). I PURCHASED NEW PARTS TO INSTALL BUT HAD DIFFICULTY REMOVING THE WIRE CLIPS FROM THE PLUG. I WAS NOT AWARE AND THE MERCEDES PARTS DEPARTMENT DID NOT MENTION I WOULD NEED TO ALSO GET CONNECTOR PINS (OR THAT THIS OVERHEATING WAS A RECURRING PROBLEM). UNABLE TO EASILY REMOVE WIRING & PINS, I DECIDED TO SEARCH INTERNET FOR GUIDANCE ON REPLACEMENT (BEFORE CUTTING WIRES) AND DISCOVERED SEVERAL WEBSITES RECITING OTHERS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH OVERHEATING OF THE GROUND WIRE CONNECTION AND THAT A RECALL INVESTIGATION HAD BEEN STARTED. IT CERTAINLY APPEARS THAT THIS PROBLEM OF OVERHEATING/MELTING OF PARTS IS A REAL FIRE HAZARD THAT IS OCCURRING FREQUENTLY ENOUGH TO AT LEAST REQUIRE THAT A NOTICE BE SENT TO CAR OWNERS TO HAVE CARRIAGES & WIRING PROMPTLY INSPECTED AND REPAIRED. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 8, 2014
ALL BULBS ON THE RIGHT SIDE TAIL LIGHT ARE NOT WORKING, THAT INCLUDES BRAKE LIGHT, REVERSE LIGHT, AND SIGNAL LIGHT. I THOUGHT THE BULBS WERE OUT BUT WHEN I WENT TO CHANGE THE BULBS THEY WERE ALL FINE. WHAT I DID NOTICED WAS THE BROWN WIRE WAS BURNT AND SO WAS THE PLASTIC THAT HOLDS THE WIRES TOGETHER, IT SEEMED LIKE THAT ENTIRE SIDE WAS BURNT AND EVEN MELTED. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND IT ALSO SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD. I'VE MENTIONED THIS A FEW TIMES TO THE DEALER. EACH TIME THEY LOOK FOR A RECALL WITH NO SUCCESS. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM DIRECTLY TO MB AND SINCE THERE STILL HASN'T BEEN A RECALL, I'M NOW REPORTING TO NHTSA. *TR