2010 Mercedes-Benz C300

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300 has 593 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 7.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (34% of all complaints), specifically: tl*the contact owns a 2010 mercedes benz c300. while the contact was driving approximately 30 mph, when the accelerator pedal was applied there was a delayed response. a loud noise sounded and the front end of the vehicle collapsed. the air bags did not deploy but the warning indicator illuminated.. ⚠️ 8 fire reports filed.

8 fire reports 17 crash reports 17 injuries

593

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

7.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

202 complaints

34%

• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED THERE WAS A DELAYED RESPONSE. A LOUD NOISE SOUNDED AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BUT THE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SEAT BELTS WERE EXTREMELY TIGHT TO THE SEATS. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE SEAT BELTS IN THE FRONT WERE LOOSE AND THE SEAT BELTS IN THE REAR WERE TIGHT. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT
• 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.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 10 crashes

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED THERE WAS A DELAYED RESPONSE. A LOUD NOISE SOUNDED AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BUT THE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

84 complaints

14%

• ALL OF MY EXTERIOR LIGHT BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED EVERY OTHER MONTH. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT BURNED OUT THE METAL PART WHERE MERCEDES HAD TO REPLACE THE UNIT. AS OF MONDAY, APRIL 2, 2012 I HAD TO TAKE MY CAR IN THE DEALER TO REPAIR A RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT OUT. *TR ...UPDATE
• I WAS DRIVING DOWN RT 70 IN MARLTON, NJ ON MONDAY MAY 7, 2012 WHEN EVERY LIGHTS IN MY CAR LIT UP. I THEN TOOK IT TO MERCEDES AT APPROXIMATELY 1:00 P.M. I SAT THERE WAITING FOR THEM TO TELL ME WHAT WAS GOING ON. I DECIDED AT 1:50 TO FIND OUT AND I WAS TOLD BY MY SERVICE TECH DAN SWUWEK THAT IT WAS
• PASSENGER TAILLIGHT CONNECTOR/WIRING INSUFFICIENTLY DESIGNED FOR LOAD. WIRE/CONNECTOR PLASTIC IS MELTING AND CAUSING UNSAFE CONDITIONS. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2008-2010 C-CLASS AND IS FREQUENTLY NOTED IN MB OWNER'S FORUMS/WEBSITES. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“ALL OF MY EXTERIOR LIGHT BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED EVERY OTHER MONTH. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT BURNED OUT THE METAL PART WHERE MERCEDES HAD TO REPLACE THE UNIT. AS OF MONDAY, APRIL 2, 2012 I HAD TO TAKE MY CAR IN THE DEALER TO REPAIR A RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT OUT. *TR ...UPDATE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

71 complaints

12%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TOWARDS THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS REALIGNED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE
• DEAR SIR OR MADAM: ON NOVEMBER 26, 2014 I DROVE TO THE HOSPITAL FOR WHICH I WORK. WITHIN 1 MILE OF MY DESTINATION, WHILE TRAVELING AT THE SPEED OF 45 MILES PER HOUR I HEARD A LOUD HIGH PITCHED SOUND THAT CAME FROM MY STEERING WHEEL AND IT BECAME SOMEWHAT DIFFICULT TO STEER. NO VEHICLE STATUS MESSAG
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE REVERSING AT A LOW SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V459000 (STEERING) BUT THE RECALL REMEDY FAILED TO PREVENT THE F

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TOWARDS THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS REALIGNED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

LIGHTING

48 complaints

• 2010 C300 MERCEDES BENZ. CONSUMER STATES THE FOG LIGHT IS DEFECTIVE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE RIGHT SIDE GLASS FOG LIGHT COVER CRACKED WITHOUT ANY EXTERNAL FORCE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE REPLACEMENT COST WOULD BE $300. THE DEALER STATED THE LIGHT MIGHT SHORT CIRCUIT THE ENTIRE EL
• ALL OF MY EXTERIOR LIGHT BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED EVERY OTHER MONTH. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT BURNED OUT THE METAL PART WHERE MERCEDES HAD TO REPLACE THE UNIT. AS OF MONDAY, APRIL 2, 2012 I HAD TO TAKE MY CAR IN THE DEALER TO REPAIR A RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT OUT. *TR ...UPDATE
• MY CAR WILL BE PARKED AND ENGINE NOT RUNNING AND AT ANY GIVEN TIME THE UPPER FRONT HEADLIGHT ON PASSENGER SIDE AND THE BOTTOM PART OF THE REAR TAILLIGHT ON PASSENGER SIDE WILL ILLUMINATE FOR NO REASON. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHICH POSITION THE LIGHTS ARE IN. *TR... UPDATED 04-05-13 *BF

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 5 fire reports

“2010 C300 MERCEDES BENZ. CONSUMER STATES THE FOG LIGHT IS DEFECTIVE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE RIGHT SIDE GLASS FOG LIGHT COVER CRACKED WITHOUT ANY EXTERNAL FORCE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE REPLACEMENT COST WOULD BE $300. THE DEALER STATED THE LIGHT MIGHT SHORT CIRCUIT THE ENTIRE EL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

34 complaints

• VEHICLE JERKS FORWARD WHEN COMING TO A STOP. HOOD WAS NOT SECURE AND SENSOR NEVER NOTIFIED DRIVER. SEAT STOPPED WORKING. BLUETOOTH IS FAULTY. THE JERKING OCCURS EVERY WEEK, AT LEAST EVERY OTHER DAY DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM SO NO REPAIRS DONE. BLUETOOTH NOT FIXED. *TR
• MY DOOR HANDLE BROKE STRANDING ME IN MY SEAT. I HAD TO CRAWL ACROSS THE SEAT AND EXIT THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD FIXED 7 SO FAR THIS YEAR. SAFETY ISSUE THAT I CAN NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX THE ISSUE. *TR
• WENT TO EXIT CAR AND INTERIOR DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE INSIDE DOOR. CANNOT EXIT VEHICLE. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“VEHICLE JERKS FORWARD WHEN COMING TO A STOP. HOOD WAS NOT SECURE AND SENSOR NEVER NOTIFIED DRIVER. SEAT STOPPED WORKING. BLUETOOTH IS FAULTY. THE JERKING OCCURS EVERY WEEK, AT LEAST EVERY OTHER DAY DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM SO NO REPAIRS DONE. BLUETOOTH NOT FIXED. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

LIGHTING(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 593 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED THERE WAS A DELAYED RESPONSE. A LOUD NOISE SOUNDED AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BUT THE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: ALL OF MY EXTERIOR LIGHT BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED EVERY OTHER MONTH. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT BURNED OUT THE METAL PART WHERE MERCEDES HAD TO REPLACE THE UNIT. AS OF MONDAY, APRIL 2, 2012 I HAD TO TAKE MY CAR IN THE DEALER TO REPAIR A RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT OUT. *TR ...UPDATE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TOWARDS THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS REALIGNED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
LIGHTING: 2010 C300 MERCEDES BENZ. CONSUMER STATES THE FOG LIGHT IS DEFECTIVE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE RIGHT SIDE GLASS FOG LIGHT COVER CRACKED WITHOUT ANY EXTERNAL FORCE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE REPLACEMENT COST WOULD BE $300. THE DEALER STATED THE LIGHT MIGHT SHORT CIRCUIT THE ENTIRE EL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)