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Mercedes-Benz

2014 Mercedes-Benz C250

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz C250 has 222 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (44% of all complaints), specifically: i was driving on i-10 eastbound at approximately mile marker 180 to 182, when i made a lane change to let a faster moving vehicle pass me. i went from the left to right lane with the cruise control set at 70 or 75 mph, (speed limit on i-10 is 75 mph). upon entering the right lane i saw a tractor tr. ⚠️ 8 fire reports filed.

8 fire reports 18 crash reports 15 injuries

222

Total Complaints

0

Recalls Issued

/5

Safety Stars

2.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

97 complaints
44%
  • I WAS DRIVING ON I-10 EASTBOUND AT APPROXIMATELY MILE MARKER 180 TO 182, WHEN I MADE A LANE CHANGE TO LET A FASTER MOVING VEHICLE PASS ME. I WENT FROM THE LEFT TO RIGHT LANE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70 OR 75 MPH, (SPEED LIMIT ON I-10 IS 75 MPH). UPON ENTERING THE RIGHT LANE I SAW A TRACTOR TR
  • TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 MERCEDES BENZ C250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, A CRASH WAS ATTEMPTED TO BE AVOIDED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED FACE LACERATIONS AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A SHOULDER INJURY THAT REQU
  • THOUGH I APPEAR TO HAVE MANAGED ONLY MINIMAL INJURY IN THE RANDOM MALFUNCTIONING DEPLOYMENT OF MY STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG WITHOUT BEING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT OR COLLISION, I WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY MY CAR'S AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY WHILE I WAS DRIVING 50, 60 OR 70 MPH. I WAS ACTUALLY PARKED WHEN THE AIRBAG
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 11 crashes

I WAS DRIVING ON I-10 EASTBOUND AT APPROXIMATELY MILE MARKER 180 TO 182, WHEN I MADE A LANE CHANGE TO LET A FASTER MOVING VEHICLE PASS ME. I WENT FROM THE LEFT TO RIGHT LANE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70 OR 75 MPH, (SPEED LIMIT ON I-10 IS 75 MPH). UPON ENTERING THE RIGHT LANE I SAW A TRACTOR TR

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

23 complaints
10%
  • I WAS DRIVING FOUR DAYS AFTER I LEASED MY BRAND NEW C250 2014 MERCEDES, AND THE CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY STREET. THE COP AND I COULDNT EVEN MOVE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE STREET. I AM WORRIED THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. THUS I HAVE BEEN CALLING MERCEDES TO PLEASE REPLACE THE CAR WITH A SAFE ONE. *T
  • LEASED OUR MERCEDES AND SHORTLY AFTERWARDS WE STARTED EXPERIENCING HESITATION, LAGGING AND EVEN STALLING OF THE VEHICLE AS WE TRIED TO ACCELERATE. TWICE THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED AS WE PULLED INTO TRAFFIC, NARROWLY ESCAPING POSSIBLE INJURY AND DAMAGING SEVERAL CARS. HESITATION HAS OCCURRED WITHOUT WAR
  • I LEASED MY VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER OF 2013. THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN TO AND FROM WORK AND IN THE BEGINNING I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM. A FEW MONTHS AGO I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 70 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHILE WOULD VIOLENTLY SHAKE WHE TR
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

I WAS DRIVING FOUR DAYS AFTER I LEASED MY BRAND NEW C250 2014 MERCEDES, AND THE CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY STREET. THE COP AND I COULDNT EVEN MOVE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE STREET. I AM WORRIED THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. THUS I HAVE BEEN CALLING MERCEDES TO PLEASE REPLACE THE CAR WITH A SAFE ONE. *T

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

18 complaints
8%
  • DRIVING ON A FOUR-LANE STREET (TWO LANES ON EACH SIDE) WITH MY TWO KIDS. THE 2014 C250 HAD A MALFUNCTION WITH THE ELECTRIC STEERING: AUTOMATICALLY JERKING THE CAR TO THE RIGHT. I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND HIT THE CURB. IT FELT LIKE WE WENT AIRBORNE. I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO TRY
  • I WAS DRIVING ON GLADES ROAD, BOCA RATON, FL. I HEARD A LOUD NOISE, SAW SMOKE AND LOST MY POWER STEERING. I MANAGED TO PULL INTO TOWN CENTER MALL, GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND SAW THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE BOCA RATON POLICE CAME, #5 FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO M
  • TAKATA RECALL: TO DATE NOTHING HAS HAPPENED. HOWEVER, MY AUTO IS LISTED IN THE AIRBAG RECALL NOTICE AS HAVING DEFECTIVE GROUNDING IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH COULD LEAD TO A PREMATURE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG.
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

DRIVING ON A FOUR-LANE STREET (TWO LANES ON EACH SIDE) WITH MY TWO KIDS. THE 2014 C250 HAD A MALFUNCTION WITH THE ELECTRIC STEERING: AUTOMATICALLY JERKING THE CAR TO THE RIGHT. I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND HIT THE CURB. IT FELT LIKE WE WENT AIRBORNE. I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO TRY

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

13 complaints
6%
  • I WAS DRIVING FOUR DAYS AFTER I LEASED MY BRAND NEW C250 2014 MERCEDES, AND THE CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY STREET. THE COP AND I COULDNT EVEN MOVE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE STREET. I AM WORRIED THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. THUS I HAVE BEEN CALLING MERCEDES TO PLEASE REPLACE THE CAR WITH A SAFE ONE. *T
  • DRIVING ON A FOUR-LANE STREET (TWO LANES ON EACH SIDE) WITH MY TWO KIDS. THE 2014 C250 HAD A MALFUNCTION WITH THE ELECTRIC STEERING: AUTOMATICALLY JERKING THE CAR TO THE RIGHT. I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND HIT THE CURB. IT FELT LIKE WE WENT AIRBORNE. I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO TRY
  • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MERCEDES BENZ C250. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND WAS TOWED BY THE DEALER, WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED.
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 1 crashes

I WAS DRIVING FOUR DAYS AFTER I LEASED MY BRAND NEW C250 2014 MERCEDES, AND THE CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY STREET. THE COP AND I COULDNT EVEN MOVE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE STREET. I AM WORRIED THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. THUS I HAVE BEEN CALLING MERCEDES TO PLEASE REPLACE THE CAR WITH A SAFE ONE. *T

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

13 complaints
6%
  • I CALLED MY COMPANY THEY SAID WE DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS
  • 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,
  • I WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND THE AIRWAY DID NOT DEPLOY
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

I CALLED MY COMPANY THEY SAID WE DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)
$500
ENGINE(~50K mi)
$500
STEERING(~50K mi)
$500
ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)
$500
OTHER(~50K mi)
$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 222 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

  • AIR BAGS: I WAS DRIVING ON I-10 EASTBOUND AT APPROXIMATELY MILE MARKER 180 TO 182, WHEN I MADE A LANE CHANGE TO LET A FASTER MOVING VEHICLE PASS ME. I WENT FROM THE LEFT TO RIGHT LANE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70 OR 75 MPH, (SPEED LIMIT ON I-10 IS 75 MPH). UPON ENTERING THE RIGHT LANE I SAW A TRACTOR TR

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ENGINE: I WAS DRIVING FOUR DAYS AFTER I LEASED MY BRAND NEW C250 2014 MERCEDES, AND THE CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY STREET. THE COP AND I COULDNT EVEN MOVE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE STREET. I AM WORRIED THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. THUS I HAVE BEEN CALLING MERCEDES TO PLEASE REPLACE THE CAR WITH A SAFE ONE. *T

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • STEERING: DRIVING ON A FOUR-LANE STREET (TWO LANES ON EACH SIDE) WITH MY TWO KIDS. THE 2014 C250 HAD A MALFUNCTION WITH THE ELECTRIC STEERING: AUTOMATICALLY JERKING THE CAR TO THE RIGHT. I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND HIT THE CURB. IT FELT LIKE WE WENT AIRBORNE. I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO TRY

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ELECTRICAL: I WAS DRIVING FOUR DAYS AFTER I LEASED MY BRAND NEW C250 2014 MERCEDES, AND THE CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY STREET. THE COP AND I COULDNT EVEN MOVE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE STREET. I AM WORRIED THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. THUS I HAVE BEEN CALLING MERCEDES TO PLEASE REPLACE THE CAR WITH A SAFE ONE. *T

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)

Mercedes-Benz C250 — Year Comparison

How does 2014 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.

Full years-to-avoid analysis →

NHTSA Safety Rating

No NHTSA safety rating available

At a Glance

Complaints
222
Recalls
0
Fire reports
8
Crash reports
18
Injury reports
15
Segment avg
80

Check a Specific VIN

See recalls for YOUR 2014 Mercedes-Benz C250