2014 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 284 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 9th highest complaint count among 23 C-Class model years with reports.
Of the 2014 reports, 20 involved a crash and 4 involved a fire. 17 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints: other or unspecified
23 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 12, 2024
I was driving on the highway my car sort of hesitated for a brief second then continued on as if nothing about one mile later my car began to slow down while I was in traffic so asap I pulled over at this point I could only go about 40 miles per hour which was very terrifying at that time it came a complete stop. After restarting the car 3-4 times it stayed running I continue home which was about 12 miles from my current location. For the next few days I did not go any where. I then had an appointment to have the 80,000 mile maintenance I mentioned the problem I was then told I need a throttle body replacement costing more than $2000 that I can not afford. At that time I started researching my own problem. My relative who works on 18 wheel truck for a living, . that perhaps it just may need cleaning rather than replacement . Also per my research this happens quite often with this model it also stated that Mercedes C250 was the worst Mercedes of that year many many owners have had this problem. The yellow ESP light come on saying it is off also my hold brake no longer works. It work at my prior dealer appointment it while going to appointment afterwards it did not work since over 9 years seldom used I wasn't concerned thus that is the message that appears when car fails Mercedes wants me to pay I believe $2000 problem not needed
Other or unspecified, Jul 25, 2023
Windshield seal failure, moisture in car
Suspension, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Jan 27, 2023
Completely rotted & rusted sub-frame. Caused braking/stability/steering issues and was completely undriveable. Cost $2300 to fix, another $1000 for car rental as well as lost time at work. There have also been many reports of this problem with other drivers of the same model of vehicle. NO warning lamps or messages whatsoever, only knew the level of damage once I brought it into auto shop.
Other or unspecified, Sep 30, 2022
I purchased my car one year ago from a Mercedes dealership - 8/31/2021. I brought it in for service at the same dealership a week ago and they told me the rear subframe rusted from the inside out and it FAILED inspection. The parts are $5,100 and not available until some time in Q1 2023. There is no way a car rusts from the INSIDE OUT in one year. I have another vehicle in the same driveway, same everything and there is no rust anywhere. We have had all of our cars at least 10 years. This was a "new" car for us. MBUSA said they could do nothing because I own the car and didn't get financing from them. My dealership so far is not helpful. My service guy (he has been for 10 years) says this is common?? My client (a different car manufacturer) says it is not and it is terrible. I don't know why it rusted but this is a defect in the car because we didn't flood it. It's dangerous.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Sep 23, 2022
Steering lock mechanism fails without warning and leaves vehicle and occupants stranded in potentially dangerous location. No onsite repair possible. Vehicle must be towed to authorized dealer for repair. > Safety of car occupants was at risk. > No warning prior to failure. > Repair cost ~!500. Unsure of reliability of replacement unit > My dealer says this is a frequent occurrence. 6+ repairs / month for this model car at this dealer, Expects same frequency at others > Dealer service agent stated he personally believes it should be covered by a recall or free repair. > Filed formal complaint with Company (Mercedes-Benz) but reimbursement was refused. > Similar stranding incident on same car occurred in 05/2021 and car require tow to same dealer who suspected same problem but was unable to duplicate and/or repair the failing component at that time
Suspension, Structure, Other or unspecified, Aug 18, 2022
Failed component: The subframe on my Mercedes C300 broke on one side and was almost broken on the other. It would be available for inspection as it is sitting in the Mercedes dealer bone yard waiting on the part to be shipped from Germany around September 17th. It also ruined my back tires & now I have to replace them too. I understand that in the UK the Mercedes dealers are fixing this problem free of charge but there seems to be no recalls! Safety: I was entering the freeway on a rainy afternoon. My car was fishtailing very badly. At first I thought is was the highway itself as we had not had rain for quite some time. I tried to accelerate 4 or 5 times with the same fishtailing. I pulled off the busy freeway onto the shoulder & sat for a few minutes to collect my thoughts as I didn't know what was wrong. Then I drove very slowing to the next exit & a few more miles home. I drove very slowly a few miles the next morning to the Mercedes dealership. Inspected: The Mercedes dealer told me the subframe was broken and the car was not drivable! Couldn't find the part in the US so ordered from Germany with at least more than a month to wait. Warnings: There were absolutely no warning lights what so ever! Additional: The dealership did not have any loaner cars. I went for 5 days without a car to drive. I finally purchased another vehicle as I depend on it to do my job. It is going to cost over $4,400 to fix.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Aug 12, 2022
INSIDE HANDLE DOOR left broke 2019 and right broke 8/10/2022, Senior people is hard to open a broken door and if an accident will happen they can not came out of the car. We took the car to Mercedes Benz dealer and they want to charge to fix it. We took to independent mechanic the 1st time on 2019 and they charge us like $1,000. Now the right handle door is broke 8/10/2022. We need Mercedes Benz to fix it ASAP. This issue is happen a lot to Mercedes Benz
Other or unspecified, Mar 7, 2022
While parked and locked the cars trunk will randomly open on its own. It has happened at home, work, other parking lots. I will check and make sure it’s closed and I will come bs k to the trunk open.
Suspension, Other or unspecified, Feb 4, 2022
This car has 63,792 miles on it and has been continuously garaged and well cared for. All maintenance has been done timely and by Mercedes-Benz of Tysons Corner (Virginia) since it was purchased there on 01/08/14. All required maintenance was completed as advised and the car was covered under a 7 year 75,000 mile warranty. At the recent regularly scheduled yearly maintenance service completed on 12/28/21 we were advised that the that the "rear sub-frame is beginning to rust through and has a hole on the right rear (RR) and the recommendation was the "replacement of rear sub-frame soon" at an estimated cost of $4,242.40. This car has never been in an accident. In speaking to the MB service representative about this issue, I was advised that this problem has happened to several C300's from the period 2009-2014 and that Mercedes Benz was not accepting any responsibility for the issue in the US but had issued recalls in other countries. He said Mercedes maintains that it is a "wear and tear" issue. This car has not been abused and has been well maintained. This is not an area of the country where you would expect to see this type of corrosion unless the part was defective in some manner. In researching the problem on the internet, several people write about experiencing a failure of this part although the cars were older than ours and had more mileage on them. It appears to be a safety issue should the part rust through as it could puncture the gas tank or cause the rear wheels to buckle or cause a loss of control of the auto from the auto fishtailing. I have never seen this happen to a car before and I am 75 years old and have owned a number of automobiles over the years.
Structure, Other or unspecified, May 21, 2021
On 5/15/2021, I was driving in Phoenix, AZ at about 35-40mph and heard a large bang. Was not sure what happened. Struck nothing. It was dark. The next morning I came out and noticed that the glass panel in front of my panoramic sun roof had completely shattered with a long horizontal fissure. I went to the nearest dealership and was told he has seen this happen before. I asked if it was safe to drive 4.5hrs back to my home city, Las Vegas. He said yes. When I got back I called my MB service representative, described what happened and he said there is a recall coming up 5/21/2021 for that problem. I looked it up online and it is for 2015 C-Class forward. However, my 2014 MB AMG C63 coupe is the exact same model as the 2015 MB AMG C63 coupe. So I’m questioning why my vehicle is not included?
Other or unspecified, Oct 2, 2020
THE DRIVERS DOOR HANDLE BROKE WHILE SIMPLY TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR TO EGRESS THE VEHICLE, I TOOK IT TI THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE DOOR HANDLE USED TO EGRESS THE VEHICLE WAS CALLED "TRIM" AND NOT CONSIDERED A SAFETY CONCERN. ALSO, I DISCOVERED THAT THE DOOR HANDLE WAS MADE OF PLASTIC. I WROTE TO THE MANAGER OF THE DEALERSHIP AND THE CEO BRINGING IT TO THERE ATTENTION AND WAS TOLD BY THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP FOR MERCEDES BENZ AMERICA "YOUR CONCERNS WERE DULY NOTED". I WAS CHARGED $1,217.28 TO HAVE THE BROKEN "TRIM" REPLACED WITH MORE CHEAP PLASTIC PARTS......ONE SHOULD HAVE A REASONABLE EXPECTATION OF SAFELY EGRESSING THE VEHICLE USING THE [XXX] DOOR HANDLE !! PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Other or unspecified, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 23, 2020
CABIN FILLS UP WITH FUEL SMELL, VISIBLE LEAK UNDER FUEL TANK AND BY THE FRONT LEFT TIRE. LEAK AND SMELL OCCURS BOTH IN MOTION AND STATIONARY/IDLE.
Other or unspecified, Jun 24, 2020
1.5 YEARS AFTER THE NHTSA RECALL NUMBER19V010, STILL NO ACTION BY MERCEDES. *TR
Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 25, 2019
THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP (VALENCIA) IS NOT WANTING TO CHANGE MY AIR BAGS BECAUSE I HAVE TO WAIT FOR MY YEAR. DRIVING MAKES ME FEEL UNSAFE WITH MY CHILDREN I HAVE BEEN HAVING OTHER ISSUES WITH MY CAR DUE TO THIS.
Other or unspecified, Jun 6, 2019
THE INNER DRIVER DOOR HANDLE MECHANISM FAILED LEAVING ME TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. THE CAR HAS 61K MILES. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW ISSUE, NOT WEAR AND TEAR.
Other or unspecified, May 6, 2019
CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON THE COURTNEY CAMPBELL CAUSEWAY HIGHWAY, ON A STRAIGHTAWAY, THAT CONNECTS CLEARWATER TO TAMPA, FLORIDA. SUDDENLY THE (CLOSED) SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED, CAUSING A VERY LOUD NOISE AND SHATTERED GLASS TO FALL DOWN INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. MY WIFE, WHO WAS DRIVING MANAGED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR AND PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. GIVEN THE CAR'S SPEED AND SURROUNDING TRAFFIC (MORNING RUSH HOUR) IT IS UNBELIEVABLE THAT THE SUNROOF EXPLOSION DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND ARRIVED ON SCENE. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED, AS THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT AND NO INJURY. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES BENZ OF TAMPA BAY. THEY TOOK PICTURES AND GAVE US A LOANER CAR AND SAID THAT THEY WOULD MAKE A DETERMINATION AS TO WHO WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 5/1/2019 AT ROUGHLY 7:45 AM. IT WAS NOT UNTIL FRIDAY, 5/3/2019 THAT WE HEARD FROM THE SERVICE CONSULTANT, INDICATING THAT THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEREFORE THE REPAIR WAS OUR RESPONSIBILITY. IT TOOK THE DEALERSHIP OVER 2.5 DAYS TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION ... SEEMS LIKE THAT DETERMINATION COULD HAVE BEEN MADE IN ABOUT 5 MINUTES. COULD IT BE THAT MERCEDES BENZ USA WAS INVOLVED IN EVALUATING THE RESULTING LIABILITY IF THEY WERE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY? GIVEN THAT THERE WAS NO IDENTIFIABLE CAUSE FOR THE EXPLODING SUNROOF, IT IS EVIDENT TO ME THAT IT'S A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT THAT COULD EASILY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH, AND YET MERCEDES BENZ ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY. A COST TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE SUNROOF GLASS WAS PROVIDED VERBALLY (OVER $1,700.00). THIS SPONTANEOUS EXPLOSION OF A SUNROOF IS APPARENTLY SOMETHING THAT HAS OCCURRED IN THE PAST WITH MERCEDES BENZ, AS WELL AS OTHER CAR MANUFACTURERS. THIS COULD HAVE A CATASTROPHIC OUTCOME ... ANY TIME IT HAPPENS.
Other or unspecified, Mar 14, 2019
THE REAR SPOILER FLEW OFF THE TRUNK OF THE CAR AND BECAME ARIBORNE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 75 MILES AN HOUR.
Other or unspecified, Jun 6, 2018
THE DRIVER'S SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE IS DEFECTIVE AND BROKEN. MBUSA REFUSES TO HONOR EXTENDED WARRANTY TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE PARTS.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, May 31, 2018, crash
I WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND THE AIRWAY DID NOT DEPLOY
Other or unspecified, Engine, May 24, 2018, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 MERCEDES-BENZ C250. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN RETRIEVING THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER AND THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR THREE MONTHS. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED, BUT A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MERCEDES BENZ OF PALM BEACH (4000 OKEECHOBEE BLVD, WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33409). THE MANUFACTURER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,200.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Nov 3, 2017
I CALLED MY COMPANY THEY SAID WE DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS
Power train, Other or unspecified, May 17, 2016
AT FIRST THE CAR WOULD HAVE A LIGHT TICKING OR KNOCKING NOISE AFTER A 15-20 MINUTE RUN ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH. LAST WEEK, FRIDAY EVENING, I STARTED SMELLING SMOKE SOMETHING LIKE PLASTIC, ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU SEARCH FOR THE SOURCE. IT SEEM AS THOUGHT THE SMOKEY SMELL IS COMING FROM THE INSIDE BUT AFTER OPENING THE DRIVERSIDE DOOR THE BURNING SMELL IS COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. ON YESTERDAY, MONDAY, FOUR DAYS SINCE I FIRST SMELL OF SMOKE, WHICH IS CONSISTENT NOW AND LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC WHO SAID RUNNING OVER A PLASTIC BAG IS THE POSSIBLE PROBLEM. SOUNDED LOGICAL UNTIL A FEW HOURS LATER AFTER A 25 MILE HIGHWAY RUN AT 70+MPH THE CAR WAS SHAKING AND STUGGLING TO STAY ON. THE SMOKEY SMELL WAS ELEVATED AND THE POWERTRAIN LIGHT WAS ON. CALLED THE MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME TO PULL OVER, WAIT AND RESTART THE CAR. NOW I'M AFAID TO DRIVE THE CAR WHICH IS SCHEDULED FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST TODAY, TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2016. WHERE THERE'S SMOKE THERE'S FIRE,
Other or unspecified, Feb 28, 2016
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY AND THE TRUNK WAS OPENED WHEN THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE WINDOW WAS NOT STRUCK. THIS OCCURRED AFTER A 200 MILE HIGHWAY TRIP WITH NO ISSUES. OBVIOUSLY, IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DIFFICULT SITUATION.