2011 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Air bags is the leading concern among 516 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 5th highest complaint count among 23 C-Class model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 516

Of the 2011 reports, 15 involved a crash and 8 involved a fire. 14 people were injured.

Primary concernAir bags269 reports · 52% of complaints
Owner complaints516Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationshipNo recalls on fileNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Air bags269
  2. Suspension62
  3. Structure50
  4. Electrical system46
  5. Fuel/propulsion system43
  6. Other or unspecified37
  7. Steering35
  8. Exterior lighting21

Recalls and investigations

No safety recalls on file.

Representative owner complaints: air bags

269 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Air bags, Dec 12, 2016

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V363000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

  2. Air bags, Dec 12, 2016

    TAKATA RECALL -- WHAT OTHER ALTERNATIVES ARE AVAILABLE SINCE THE MANUFACTURERS ARE TAKING FOREVER TO COMPLETE THIS PROCESS? DOES ANYONE IN AMERICA MAKE AIRBAGS? I TOOK MY CAR TO TYSINGER TODAY AND ASKED THEM TO JUST DEACTIVATE BOTH AIRBAGS AND THE GUY SAID IT WAS AGAINST THE LAW, BUT I FOUND A FORM REGARDING DEACTIVATION OF THE BAGS. SO, WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO DEACTIVATE THE BAGS? I FEEL LESS AT RISK DRIVING THIS CAR WITHOUT THOSE BAGS RUPTURING. I SHOULDN'T BE FORCED TO DRIVE WITH THOSE AIRBAGS AND CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER CAR. MY HUSBAND BOUGHT THIS CAR AS A SURPRISE THIS YEAR -- SURPRISE IS ON ME -- NOT HAPPY WITH THIS SITUATION, WE SHOULD FEEL SAFE IN OUR CARS! *TR

  3. Air bags, Dec 10, 2016

    TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL

  4. Air bags, Dec 2, 2016

    TAKATA INFLATERS. MAY 2016 AND JULY 2016 RECALLS NOT COMPLETED.

  5. Air bags, Nov 29, 2016

    TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PART DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

  6. Air bags, Nov 8, 2016

    LETTER FROM SENATOR TOOMEY ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL DIFFICULTIES. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS ATTEMPTING TO SELL THE VEHICLE, UNTIL THE IT WAS DISCOVERED THERE WAS A RECALL. *JB

  7. Air bags, Oct 21, 2016

    TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

  8. Air bags, Sep 26, 2016

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

  9. Air bags, Sep 19, 2016, crash

    I WAS IN ACCIDENT ON 8/15/16 SIDE IMPACT I WANT TO KNOW WHY THE SIDE AIRBAGS DIDN"T DEPLOY, THE CAR WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. I WAS DRIVING ON A THE CITY STREET THE YOUNG MAN THOUGHT HE HAD THE RIGHT OF WAY TO TURN LEFT WITH INCOMING TRAFFIC AND HE STRUCK MY CAR FROM THE SIDE.

  10. Air bags, Sep 7, 2016

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V363000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 10/19/16*LJ UPDATED 10/24/16.*JB

  11. Air bags, Sep 1, 2016

    I AM TRYING TO GET HELP REPLACING THE TAKATA AIR BAG, I HAVE CALLED MERCEDES-BENZ USA AND THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND BOTH SAID DRIVE SAFELY!! I WOULD LIKE TO SELL THE CAR BUT AM UNABLE TO SELL IT WITH THE RECALL.

  12. Air bags, Aug 22, 2016

    TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL

  13. Air bags, Aug 16, 2016

    TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

  14. Exterior lighting, Air bags, Aug 15, 2016

    TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO SCHEDULE THE REPAIR APPOINTMENT. THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V363000 (AIR BAGS), BUT THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

  15. Air bags, Aug 4, 2016

    TAKATA RECALL. MERCEDES WILL NOT CHANGE THE AIRBAGS IN MY CAR DUE TO THEM NOT HAVING A REPLACEMENT. THEY COULD NOT HELP US IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER AND TURNED US AWAY.

  16. Air bags, May 13, 2016

    TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) BUT THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE SUPPLIED TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SPECIFIC TIME FRAME. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

  17. Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Sep 8, 2015, crash

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE AT A STOP, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY ACCELERATED TO 30 MPH. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE STEERING COLUMN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED KNEE AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

  18. Air bags, Aug 27, 2014

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. ON ONE OCCASION, THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXIT A HIGHWAY AND THE HEAD RESTRAINT AIR BAG DEPLOYED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO BECOME UNCONSCIOUS. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A HEAD CONCUSSION AND NECK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,442.

  19. Air bags, Jan 21, 2013, crash

    THE AIR BAGS ON MY C300 MERCEDES 2011 DID NOT DEPLOY DURING FRONT CRASH. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED AT A T INTERSECTION STREET. I WAS AT THE FRONT LANE AT A T INTERSECTION STOPPING DURING RED LIGHT. A VOLVO CAR FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE INTERSECTION THAT WAS TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN-INTO THE STREET THAT I WAS STOPPING ON- CRASHED INTO MY VEHICLE FRONT TO FRONT AS A RESULT OF AVOIDING GETTING CRASHED BY ANOTHER CAR THAT WAS PASSING RED LIGHT INTO IT'S OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE VOLVO THAT CRASHED INTO MY CAR FRONT TO FRONT PUSHED MY VEHICLE ABOUT 10 FEET BACK WORDS AND CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO AN SUV WITH THE REAR RIGHT SIDE OF MY VEHICLE INTO THE REAR LEFT SIDE OF THE SUV THAT CAUSED MY CAR TO STOP. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. I THEN HAVE REQUESTED FROM THE COLLISION CENTER AT THE MERCEDES DEALER WHO HANDLED MY CAR, TO LOOK INTO THE AIR BAGS TO CHECK WHETHER THERE WERE A MANUFACTURE DEFECT WITH THE AIRBAG FOR NOT DEPLOYING. FEW DAYS LATER, MY CAR WAS REPORTED A TOTAL LOSS. *TR