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: other or unspecified
31 reports, newest first. Show all
Seat belts, Seats, Other or unspecified, Jun 3, 2025, crash
1. Driver seat back broke in a rear collision. Documented in EMS report and Kentucky State Police official investigation photos. 2. Driver head rest failed, completedly came off during rear collision. Front passenger side did not fail. Documented in Kentucky State Police official investigation photos. 3. Driver side seat belt failed, completedly came off during rear collision.Documented in Kentucky State Police official investigation report and photos. Driver sustained massive and severe injuries. Prior issues: both front door and left rear door handle interior plastic broke and had to be repair. Major safety issue
Other or unspecified, May 20, 2023
The interior door handles are not engineered correctly and break easily. I have had to replace mine 3 time at $1000 every time it breaks. This is a big Safety Hazard should I have to exit the vehicle for any type of emergency. It can also put people in harms way as most people due not have $1000 on hand to dump out every time one of these handles break and would have to wait conciderable time before repairs can be made. The car may be the only means they have to get to work. Very unsafe situation.
Suspension, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Mar 17, 2023
Rusted rear sub frame that needs to be replaced. Premature rusting that Mercedes needs to repair at no cost. Also, premature battery drain on new battery. Needs to be fixed by Mercedes at no cost.
Other or unspecified, Dec 3, 2022
During service B maintenance, a technician found rear subframe rusted through. Reportedly, there has been a large number of Mercedes C300’s with this very same problem, and Mercedes has a widely acknowledged the issue with rotted sub-frames. It’s a serious safety issue which led to recalls in other countries.
Other or unspecified, Suspension, Oct 5, 2022
The rear subframe rusted and broke
Other or unspecified, Back over prevention, Oct 1, 2022
Rear sub frame is corroded as shown to me by the Mercedes mechanic in a video he sent me.The car is available for inspection. I am nervous to drive now after hearing about the related problems others are having such as braking issues and swaying when the brakes are applied. The way I found out about the rear sub frame corrosion was when I needed work done at the dealer. This problem should not be happening to all of these vehicles. In other countries, Germany and Canada, to name a couple, Mercedes dealers are fixing this through a recall. Why not the US? The date below is when the mechanic told me about the problem and that it would cost $8000. to $10,000 to repair
Other or unspecified, Jun 30, 2022
The rear subframe rusted out. This seems to be common for this vehicle. Mercedes should replace for free. It’s recalled in other countries.
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Dec 26, 2021
After parking my car , turned ignition off, did some work for 45 minutes I came back attempting to start the car. The car won’t start, I am not hearing any of the normal sound that usually takes place when I place the key in ignition. Message on dashboard telling me to remove the key. Car will not start. After checking battery and calling mechanic they tell me the my steering wheel lock is bad. The ESL went bad out of nowhere. Car won’t start, steering wheel is locked and the only way to fix it is to take it Mercedes’ dealer and pay over $2000. I search on google and found out that this is a common issue with my 2010 C300. This is a manufacturing defect and Mercedes should recall it and pay for repair. In my case I parked my car in my garage, imagine if I was traveling on highway way and the steering wheel locks or failed on the side of busy interstate hwy. the worst part is that Mercedes dealer did nothing t warn me when I bought the car about this issue especially since it is know since 2008, and they will not allow after market parts to be installed by other mechanics. So this is defective and Mercedes should be forced to recall and replace for free. We should not wait for someone to die before this is fixed. This happened without any warning PLEASE FORCE MERCEDES TO RECALL AND FIX THE ESL NOW.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Engine, Mar 20, 2021
AUG 12, 2020 TOOK C300 TO FLETCHER JONES MOTORCARS OF FREMONT. I PAID FOR THEM TO DO AN OIL & FILTER CHANGE AFTER THEY DID PERFORM RECALL 2018120017 ~ 18P9193104 CAUSE: RECALL 2019120027. PAID $204.65 THAT DAY. 01/21/21- AFTER DRIVING, W MY SIGNIFICANT OTHER, AT CITY SPEED LIMIT TO FEDEX WHICH IS 1 MILE FROM MY HOUSE ON SAME STREET, AND BACK, MY SIG OTHER COULDN'T PUT BACK THE SEAT AND THE AIRBAG LIGHTS WERE ON. I HAD TO DRIVE TO WORK NEXT DAY, UNSAFE...PRESSED UP AGAINST STEERING WHEEL BECAUSE I'M 6 FEET. SOMEHOW THAT WENT AWAY. 03/09/21- I TOOK IN THE CAR, BY TOW TRUCK, BACK SAME PLACE FLETCHER JONES AND HAD A BEE SERVICE PER MANUFACTURERS SPECIFICATIONS SERVICE DEALT ON MY CAR THEY PERFORMED BE SERVICE WITH BRAKE FLUID FLUSH NUMEROUS OTHER STUFF I'M ALSO REPORTED TO THEM A MISFIRING BECAUSE I DID HOOK UP AN OBD2 BUT DURING THEIR ROAD TEST THEY JUST NOTED A STRONG VIBRATION FROM THE DRIVELINE THEY RAN A QUICK TEST FOUND NO FAULT BUT NOTED COLLAPSED BACKSLASH WORN MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTS AND RECOMMEND REPLACEMENT THEY ALSO NOTED VOLTAGE RELATED FAULTS HOWEVER THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY WOULD PASS THEIR TESTS AND THEY RELEASED MY CAR TO ME AFTER CHARGING ME $576.97. TODAY, 03/19/21- HAD TO TOW MY CAR AGAIN FROM APPROXIMATELY THREE BLOCKS AWAY BECAUSE IT JUST TURNED OFF ON ME WITH A MESSAGE BRAKE SRS EDT, AND SOMETHING ABOUT IT FAILING. NOW...IM STUCK BECAUSE MERCEDES SCREWED ME!
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Apr 29, 2019
CAM SOLENOID MOST C300 WILL STOP TURNING ON ALL THE CAR DOES IS ASK U TO TAKE KEY OF IGNITION.. I SEARCHED THE ISSUE AND THERE IS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. IT'S NOT FAIR TO CONSUMERS NOT TO HAVE A RECALL ON A PART THAT IS DEFECTIVE THAT COST OVER A THOUSAND TO FIX . PLEASE HELP US RESOLVE THIS MATTER
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Jan 9, 2019
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES-BENZ C63. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF SACRAMENTO, 1810 HOWE AVE, SACRAMENTO, CA 95825, 888-479-0451) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT CONSUMER STATED BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS WERE RECALLED. IT HAS BEEEN 3 YEARS THAT CONSUMER FILED A COMPLAINT STILL NO DATE FOR REPLACEMENT.*JB
Other or unspecified, Nov 24, 2018
MERCEDES KEY FOB NOT RECOGNIZED BY IGNITION. CAR LOCKS AND UNLOCKS PROPERLY BUT KEY FOB IS NOT DETECTED BY CAR. KEY FOB BATTERY IS BRAND NEW. CAR IS IMMOBILIZED AND NOT USUALABLE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!
Other or unspecified, Jul 2, 2018
SMELL IN CAR GAVE ME A SEVERE HEADACHE ALONG WITH NAUSEA AND CHEST PAINS. THERE?S BEEN A NOXIOUS ODOR IN THIS VEHICLE FOR THREE YEARS. NO ONE CAN FIND THE PROBLEM. MY GRANDCHILDREN HAVE PASSED OUT IN THE CAR FROM IT AND IT IS CAUSING ME MIGRAINES AND OTHER ISSUES. I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE THIS CAR. I NEED A SOLUTION.
Wheels, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Jan 19, 2018
ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, I PARKED MY VEHICLE ON LEVEL GROUND AT A SHOPPING CENTER AND IT ROLLED BACKWARDS OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE AND NEARLY HIT A PEDESTRIAN. I HAD TO PRESS THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I THEN PULLED BACK INTO THE SPACE AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE. I REPEATED THE SEQUENCE A THIRD TIME AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED A LITTLE AND STOPPED ON ITS OWN. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED MERCEDES OF ANNAPOLIS AND THE SERVICE PERSON EXPLAINED THAT THE GEARS WORK ON AN ELECTRONIC SYSTEM AND THE ISSUE WAS A 'FLUKE.' THE NEXT DAY, THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH MY VEHICLE. THIS TIME I PARALLELED PARKED, PLACED MY VEHICLE IN PARK AND IT ROLLED FORWARD. I HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO KEEP FROM HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF MINE. I BACKED UP MY VEHICLE AND PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND IT ROLLED FORWARD AGAIN. I DID IT A THIRD TIME AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO AN ABRUPT AND JERKY STOP.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Nov 26, 2017
NOTICES OF RECALL; SCHEDULED WITH DEALER AND NEVER RECEIVED A CALL BACK TO REPLACEMENT. THE CALL SMELLS STRONGLY OF BURNT PLASTIC SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. EVERY SINGLE CAR MAINTENANCE PERSON TELLS ME THE CAR EMITS THAT SMELL.
Seat belts, Other or unspecified, Fuel/propulsion system, May 29, 2017
TAKATA RECALL. AFTER PURCHASING MY 2010 MERCEDES C-300 I'VE NOTICED A GAS SMELL FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BUT THIS HAS GOTTEN WORSE AFTER I PARK MY CAR IN MY GARAGE OVERNIGHT. THE ENTIRE GARAGE AND VEHICLE INTERIOR SMELL LIKE GAS. I THEN NOTICE A GAS LEAKAGE SPOT FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I HAVE FULL TANK OR HALF OF THE TANK FULL OF GAS. I RED ABOUT THIS ONLINE I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP BUT I WAS TOLD THE RECALL/ EXTENSION TANK WARRANTY DOES NOT APPLY TO MY CAR. CONCERNING THE SEAT-BELT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT IS DEFAULT. IT DOES NOT BUCKLE
Steering, Power train, Other or unspecified, May 23, 2017
I GOT MERCEDES BENZ C300 2010 IN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS, THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED POWER STEERING LOCK ISSUE; THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START AND GOT ME STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT OF A GROCERY STORE. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ONLINE AND REALIZED SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS HAVE HAD SIMILAR ISSUE. I BROUGHT THE ISSUE TO MBUSA, THEY DID NOT DENY ITS A COMMON ISSUE BUT SAID BASED ON THE HISTORY OF THE VEHICLE I AM NOT ELIGIBLE FOR ANY RELIEVE ON THE COST OF REPAIR. I FEEL IT IS UNFAIR THAT I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING I BELIEVE ITS A MANUFACTURER DEFAULT. NOW I AM COMPELLED TO PAY $1,700 FOR THE REPAIRS.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Jan 25, 2017
TAKATA FRONTAL AIRBAG AND ANOTHER DEFECTIVE PART THAT I HAD RECEIVED AN ALERT ABOUT OVER A YEAR AGO, BUT TILL TODAY'S DATE HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED. AS PART IS NOT AVAILABLE.
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?
Other or unspecified, May 22, 2016
I WAS DRIVING OFF THE GIANT FOOD LOT TODAY SUNDAY MAY 22 WHEN A MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD STATING THAT THE EBR, ESP, AND ABS COLLISION PREVENTION IS INOPERATIVE. THE CAR DOWNSHIFTED TO BELOW 10 MILES. I LIVE NEARBY SO I DROVE THE CAR SLOWLY HOME AND WILL TAKE IT TO THE DEALER ON MONDAY MAY 23, 3016.
Other or unspecified, Apr 11, 2016
THE DOOR HANDLE IS BROKEN ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE DRIVER CANNOT GET OUT RIGHTAWAY IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY. THE HANDLE WAS NOT FORCED, IT JUST START MOVING BY ITSELF. LOOKS LIFE THE CABLE IS NOT ATACHED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. HOW COME NO BODY IS LOOKING AT THIS.
Other or unspecified, Mar 12, 2016
THE DOOR HANDLES ARE BROKEN ON 3 DOORS CAUSING THE DOOR PANELS TO BE REPLACED THIS REALLY NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO BY MERCEDES AND RECALLED A MERCEDES IS A HIGH END VEHICLE AND SHOULD NOT HAVE THESE TYPE OF ISSUES
Other or unspecified, Feb 4, 2016
INSIDE DOOR HANDLES SHOULD BE RECELLED DUE TO SAFETY HAZARD I GOT TRAPPED IN MY CAR AND EVERYONE HAS SAME ISSUE ITS A $1600 FIX AND HAVE TO REPLACE DOOR PANEL
Other or unspecified, Dec 17, 2015
BAD ESL CAR COMPLETELY LOCKED NOT ABLE TO DO ANYTHING WAS STRANDED 30 MIN FROM HOME PAYED TOO MUCH MONEY FOR THE CAR THAT REALLY SUCKED.
Structure, Seats, Other or unspecified, Sep 22, 2015
PURCHASED CAR MARCH 2015 WITH A 3 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY. INSIDE DRIVERS DOOR HANDLE BROKE (PLASTIC PIECE INSIDE DOOR I BELIEVE). DEALER CLAIMS WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THIS BECAUSE IT IS COSMETIC AND IT WILL COST ME IN EXCESS OF $1100. TO GET IT FIXED. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, ONE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO OPEN THE WINDOW AND FEEL FOR THE DOOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. IN MANY SITUATIONS THIS COULD BE A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH. THIS IS JUST AS CRITICAL AS AN AIR BAG IN MY EYE. I BELIEVE THE DEALER SHOULD COVER THIS UNDER THE WARRANTY, AND MAY EVEN WARRANT A RECALL.