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
476 reports, newest first.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, May 5, 2016, crash
AFTER BACKING OUT OF HANDICAP PARKING SPACE AND MOVING FORWARD AT A SLOW SPEED MY VEHICLE WAS REAR-ENDED, AT WHICH POINT THE VEHICLE FORCEFULLY ACCELERATED FORWARD INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE (FORCEFULLY MOVING THIS VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY THREE FEET) THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SPEED THROUGH THE HANDICAP PARKING LOT AS I CONTINUED TO BRAKE WITHOUT RESULTS OF STOPPING. THIS VEHICLE RAN THROUGH A STOP SIGN AND INTO THE FRONT ENTRANCE ROAD OF THE VA HOSPITAL.( THIS ROAD HAS HEAVY TRAFFIC AND PEDESTRIAN USAGE) THE ONLY WAY TO STOP MY VEHICLE WAS TO JUMP THE CURB AND RUN INTO A TREE. I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT MY VEHICLE WAS THE ONLY THING DAMAGED. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DEVASTATING EVENT IF DISABLED WHEELCHAIR PERSONS OR PEDESTRIANS HAD BEEN IN THE PATH OF THIS OCCURRENCE. I AM REPORTING THIS TO SAY THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER C300 2010 MERCEDES BENZ AND NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THIS COULD CAUSE DEATHS. I HAVE A WITNESS TO MY BRAKE LIGHTS GOING ON AND OFF AS I TRIED TO STOP THIS CAR.
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.,.
Power train, Apr 18, 2016
STARTING MAKING FAINT NOISE AT 60,000 MILES. BY 63,000 MILES, IT WAS A LITTLE LOUDER SO I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE. TRANSFER CASE AND TRANSMISSION NEED REPLACING. THIS IS A MERCEDES?? NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY BY 10,000 MILES, COME ON! SUCH A DISAPPOINTMENT FOR MY FIRST MERCEDES.
Air bags, Apr 15, 2016, crash
TAKATA RECALL CAR WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. CAR WAS STATIONARY AT A STOP SIGN, REAR ENDED, PUSHED INTO CROSS TRAFFIC, HIT ANOTHER CAR, SPUN AROUND AND HIT A LIGHT POLE. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.
Exterior lighting, Apr 14, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAYED THAT THE PARKING LAMPS FAILED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE THE PARKING LAMPS AND OBSERVED THAT THEY WERE MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.
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.
Steering, Mar 26, 2016
I WENT TO DRIVE MY CAR TO TEST MY NEW WHEELS I JUST PURCHASED THE DAY BEFORE. I PUT THE KEY IN, IT WOULD NOT START AND MY STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. I THOUGHT IT MAY BE MY KEY BUT AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, I FOUND OUT THAT IT'S NOT MY KEY AT ALL AND THAT IT'S THE ESL WHICH SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUES. THANK GOD MY CAR WAS IN THE GARAGE. I'M ASKING FOR MERCEDES-BENZ TO DO A RECALL SINCE THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE. I'VE ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR TWO MONTHS. THIS IS A DISAPPOINTMENT.
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
Power train, Feb 25, 2016
GEAR SHIFTER WILL GET STUCK IN PARK WHEN PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE, SUCH AS A DRIVEWAY OR SMALL HILL. I ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO PARK ON A FLAT SURFACE IF I WANT TO GET MY SHIFTER OUT OF PARK. I HAVE TO TAP ON THE TOP OF THE SHIFTER AND CONTINUE TO TRY TO GET IT OUT OF PARK. THIS CAN TAKE ANYWHERE FROM 10-30 MINUTES AND HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. VERY FRUSTRATING AND I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. NOW I HAVE TO PUT MONEY IN TO FIX IT ALREADY. WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM? FROM MY RESEARCH, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH PLENTY OF MERCEDES HAS THIS PROBLEM.
Steering, Feb 16, 2016
I INSERTED THE KEY AND TRIED TO START THE ENGINE, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. ALL LIGHTS OFF, NO WINDOW POWER. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. A CAR WITH ONLY 60,000 MILES WITH A BAD IGNITION SWITCH?!!! THESE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE VERY COMMON IN THE 2008-2012 MERCEDES BENZ.
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, Exterior lighting, Feb 15, 2016
THERE ARE TWO PROBLEMS THAT HAVE SHOWN UP ALL AT THE SAME TIME JUST RECENTLY. OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS IT SEEMS THAT EVERYDAY WHEN I GO LEAVE IN MY CAR I AM GETTING A NEW WARNING MESSAGE ABOUT ANOTHER LIGHT I NEED TO CHECK. AT FIRST IT WAS PROMPTING ME TO CHECK THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT WHICH APPEARS TO BE WORKING FINE. BUT NOW THE LIST HAS GROWN TO INCLUDE THAT TAIL LIGHT, A TURN SIGNAL LIGHT, LICENSE PLATE LIGHT AND A COUPLE MORE EVEN THOUGH TO ME IT APPEARS THAT ALL ARE WORKING FINE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHT WHICH IS TRULY OUT. HOWEVER THE WARNING ARE LISTED FOR ALL THESE MALFUNCTIONING LIGHTS. THE SECOND ISSUE IS WITH THE POWER STEERING. IT STARTED MAKING A DISTRESSING NOISE ONE EVENING ON MY DRIVE HOME, IN WHICH I WAS ABLE TO REACH MY HOME WITHOUT TROUBLE. HOWEVER WHEN I TRIED TO LEAVE THE NEXT MORNING THE POWER STEERING ON THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY NOT WORKING AND I WAS HAVING SUCH A HARD TIME TURNING THE WHEEL BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVE THAT I THOUGHT IT SMART NOT TO TAKE IT OUT ON THE ROAD AND PULLED IT BACK UP INTO MY DRIVEWAY WHERE IT HAS SAT FOR THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS. LUCKILY MY SON IS AWAY AT BOARDING SCHOOL BUT HE DOESN'T NEED HIS CAR THERE SO I HAVE HAD IT AVAILABLE TO GET ME TO WORK AND BACK UNTIL I HAD THE TIME TO LOOK INTO THE ISSUE WITH MY CAR WHICH I AM DOING NOW.
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
Exterior lighting, Jan 11, 2016
A LITTLE LESS THAN A YEAR AGO MY DRIVER SIDE INNER PARKING LIGHT BULB FAILED, AND ABOUT A WEEK LATER THE PASSENGER SIDE INNER PARKING LIGHT BULB FAILED AS WELL. WHEN I WENT TO REPLACE THEM, THE BULB AND HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY SHOWED VISIBLE DAMAGE FROM WHERE IT APPEARED AS IF BOTH BULBS CAUGHT ON FIRE AND MELTED INTO THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, PERMANENTLY DAMAGING BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. THERE WAS THE PRESENCE OF CHARRING ON THE BULB SOCKET AS WELL. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO EXCEPT TO REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. IF IT WERE MERELY ONE BULB THAT FAILED IN THIS MANNER, I WOULD HAVE CHALKED IT UP TO MAYBE A FAULTY BULB OR SOCKET, BUT IT IS VERY ODD THAT IT OCCURRED ON BOTH INNER PARKING LIGHT ASSEMBLY. FORTUNATELY
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.
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.
Air bags, Dec 7, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000.
Exterior lighting, Dec 3, 2015, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS MELTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE PARKING LIGHT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS MELTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,114.
Air bags, Oct 28, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG WARNING INDICATOR FLICKERS ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED IR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
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?
Steering, Sep 29, 2015
THE STEERING COLUMN MODULE IS DEFECTIVE AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. IT CAUSES THE CAR NOT TO START AS IF THE BATTERY IS DEAD BUT ITS ACTUALLY SOMETHING MUCH MORE SERIOUS AND EXPENSIVE.
Steering, Sep 24, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT DISPENSED POWER STEERING FLUID INTO THE RESERVOIR, HOWEVER, MOMENTS LATER, THE FLUID LEAKED ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
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.
Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 21, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300. UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL FILTER WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.