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2013 Mercedes-Benz C300 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 261 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300, most often about the air bags (38% of complaints, typically around 68,000 miles). It is 6th of 17 C300 model years by number of complaints and has 6 recalls.
Most common 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300 problems
Air bags
99 complaints · 38%Half of these problems showed up before 68,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
I went to an authorized mb dealer and they did the recall for the steering column but not for the air bags. I also believe a recall should be made due to the fact that oil has siphoned its way up the cam magnets and solenoids thru the engine wiring harness to the main fuel computer and has caused the engine to be out…
The contact owns a 2013 mercedes C300. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the airbag sensor light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to mercedes- benz of atlanta south located at (3775 royal south pkwy, atlanta ga) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the air bag sensor was…
Suspension
67 complaints · 26%Half of these problems showed up before 100,000 miles. Parts named most often: subframe/mounting bracket.
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, she started to hear an abnormal sound. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact continued driving to her residence however while depressing the brake pedal the vehicle was pulling to the left. The contact…
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle started shuddering inadvertently, almost causing the contact to lose control of the steering wheel. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to a certified independent…
Body and structure
58 complaints · 22%Half of these problems showed up before 80,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
Interior door handle on doors, specifically the driver side door, will break, and the person is unable to get out of the car. This is a very serious matter, but mercedes benz company has not put out a recall on this. Many owners have complained about this issue with no results. The owners have to pay for this out of…
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that the vehicle had previously been serviced by an independent mechanic for brake pads and rotor replacement; however, the failure recurred with noises coming from the vehicle while driving. The vehicle was taken back to the mechanic, who diagnosed that…
Steering
26 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 68,000 miles.
I went to an authorized mb dealer and they did the recall for the steering column but not for the air bags. I also believe a recall should be made due to the fact that oil has siphoned its way up the cam magnets and solenoids thru the engine wiring harness to the main fuel computer and has caused the engine to be out…
The electronic steering lock failed while in the parked position. A tiny motor inside has burned up and it now prevents you from starting the vehicle. The dealership will not sell me a replacement to repair on my own and I must take it in to them for repair at a cost of over $1800.00. This is a very common defect…
Electrical
19 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 68,500 miles. Parts named most often: horn, instrument cluster/panel, wiring.
My mercedes benz c-300 4matic got rain water on the inside of the car and damaged the electrical. The car was parked on the street and all the windows was up. The drivers and passenger side of the car in the front under the dashboard was soaking wet from rain water. I do not know how the water got inside of the car. I…
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, several unknown warning lights started flashing off and on. The contact stated that the turn signal stopped working on the passengerâs side of the vehicle. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic…
Other or unspecified
19 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 43,000 miles.
I had just entered the highway and less than a half a mile from entering the highway my sunroof exploded. There were no cars near me and no debris near my car. I contacted mercedes benz and they seem very unconcerned. When this occurred glass went everywhere, all over me and both the front and back sets. I was driving…
The welds of the exhaust pipes to the muffler broke causing the muffler to slip of the pipes. This vehicle has been taken care of all schedule maintenance perform and driven only under normal driving conditions.
Brakes
16 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 35,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300. While driving approximately 55 MPH and attempting to stop the vehicle, the brake pedal traveled to the floor and the vehicle failed to stop. In order to stop the vehicle, the contact had to wait until the vehicle came to a stop and then turned off the vehicle. The vehicle…
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300. While driving 10 MPH, the vehicle independently accelerated. The contact attempted to stop the vehicle by depressing the brake pedal; however, the brakes failed and the vehicle crashed into a fence. The air bags failed to deploy. As a result, a police report was filed and…
Engine
8 complaints · 3%2013 C300 4matic luxury model. 1/26 - my engine stop while waiting for traffic light. (2nd trip of the day) it's not eco stop/start kind of stop. The car won't start when I release my brake and all the warning lights at dash were on. 1/29 - today when I started the car this morning the engine stop 1-2 seconds after I…
The contact owned a 2013 mercedes benz C300. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the engine compartment caught fire. The fire department extinguished the fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, mercedes of naperville located at 1569 ogden avenue naperville…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2013 Mercedes-Benz C300 recalls
Infotainment and connectivity: communication
Risk: An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Mbusa has initiated an over the air (OTA) remote update. Mbusa will also notify owners, and dealers will check software for a successful OTA or update the communication module software as needed, free of charge. The recall began december 23, 2019. Owners may contact mbusa customer service at 1-800-367-6372. Mbusa's number for this recall is 2019120008.
Full defect summary
Mercedes-benz USA, llc. (mbusa) is recalling certain 2013-2017 vehicles due to a software fault that may cause the date and time for the emergency call system (ecall) to differ from the actual date and time, potentially relaying an inaccurate vehicle location. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.NHTSA.gov/odi/rcl/2019/rmisc-19v787-4620.pdf
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Mbusa will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began march 29, 2019. Owners may contact mbusa customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Full defect summary
Mercedes-benz USA, llc (mbusa) is recalling certain 2014 c250, c300 4matic, c350, c63 amg, e350 4matic coupe, e350 cabrio, e350 coupe, sls amg cabrio, sls amg coupe, 2014-2015 c250 coupe, c350 4matic coupe, c350 coupe, c63 amg coupe, glk 350, glk250 bluetec 4matic, glk350 RWD, 2015-2017 e400 4matic coupe, e400 cabrio, e400 coupe, 2014-2017 e550 cabrio, and 2014-2016 e550 coupe vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of al, ca, fl, ga, hi, la, ms, sc, tx, pr, as, gu, the mp, and vi or "zone a." additionally, mbusa is recalling certain 2012-2014 c250, e350 4matic coupe, sls amg cabrio, 2012-2015 c250 coupe, c350 4matic coupe, c350 coupe, c63 amg coupe, 2011 c300, 2011-2014 c300 4matic, c350, c63 amg, e350 cabrio, e350 coupe, sls amg coupe, 2015-2016 e400 4matic coupe, e400 cabrio, e400 coupe, 2011-2016 e550 cabrio, e550 coupe, 2011-2015 glk350 4matic, glk350 RWD, and 2013-2015 glk
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Mbusa will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. Mercedes issued an interim notification to owners on february 23, 2018. A second notice will be mailed when remedy parts are available. Owners may contact mbusa customer service at 1-877-496-3691.
Full defect summary
Mercedes-benz USA, llc (mbusa) is recalling certain 2013 c250, c250 coupe, c350 coupe 4matic, c300 4matic, c350, c350 coupe, c63 amg, c63 coupe, e350 cabrio, e350 coupe, e550 cabrio, e350 coupe 4matic, e550 coupe, glk350 4matic, glk250 bluetec 4matic, glk350, sls coupe, sls amg gt coupe, and sls roadster vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands or "zone a." additionally, mbusa is recalling certain 2010 c300, c300 4matic, c63 amg, e350 coupe, e550 coupe, glk350, and glk350 4matic vehicles ever registered in the states of arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, o
Air bags: frontal
Risk: If the driver air bag inadvertently deploys, it can increase the risk of injury and a crash.
Fix: Mbusa will notify owners, and dealers will add sufficient grounding to the steering components, free of charge. The recall began in december 6, 2017. Owners may contact mbusa customer service at 1-877-496-3691.
Full defect summary
Mercedes-benz USA, llc. (mbusa) is recalling these vehicles: 2014-2018 cla250, cla250 4matic, cla45 amg 4matic, 2015-2018 gla250, gla250 4matic, gla45 amg 4matic, c300 4matic, c63s amg, 2012-2014 c250, c350, c300 4matic, e550 4matic, 2013-2014 c63 amg, 2012-2015 c250 coupe, c350 coupe, c63 amg coupe, 2013-2015 c350 4matic coupe, glk250 4matic bluetec, glk350, glk350 4matic, 2016-2017 c350e, c43 amg, 2015 c400 4matic, 2016-2018 c63 amg, glc300, glc300 4matic, 2017-2018 c300 coupe, c300 4matic coupe, c43 amg, c63 amg coupe, c63s amg coupe, c300 cabriolet, c300 4matic cabriolet, c43 amg cabriolet, c63 amg cabriolet, c63s amg cabriolet, glc300 4matic coupe, glc43 amg, glc43 amg coupe, 2014 e350 coupe, e350 4matic coupe, e350 cabriolet, e400 hybrid, 2015-2017 e400 coupe, e400 4matic coupe, e400 cabriolet, 2014-2017 e550 coupe, e550 cabriolet, b250e, 2014-2016 e250 bluetec, e63 amg 4matic wago
Steering
Risk: A loss of steering can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Mbusa will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the steering coupling connecting bolt, tightening it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began may 2017. Owners may contact mbusa customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Full defect summary
Mercedes-benz USA llc. (mbusa) is recalling certain 2013-2014 c250, c300 4matic, glk250 4matic bluetec and glk350 vehicles, 2013 c250 coupe, c350, c350 4matic coupe, c350 coupe and c63 amg coupe vehicles, and 2013-2015 glk350 4matic vehicles. The steering coupling connecting bolt may have been insufficiently tightened, possibly resulting in a loss of steering.
Electrical: software
Risk: If the air bags do not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, there would be an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: Mbusa will notify owners, and dealers will update software in the affected control units, free of charge. The recall began april 21, 2017. Owners may contact mbusa customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Full defect summary
Mercedes-benz USA, llc (mbusa) is recalling certain 2016 amg gt-s, glc300, cla250 and gle300d 4matic vehicles, 2013 c250, e350 bluetec and g63 amg vehicles, 2008-2014 c300 vehicles, 2013-2014 c300 4matic and ml350 4matic vehicles, 2009 c350 vehicles, 2014 cls550, e350 4matic, e350 coupe 4matic, e350 wagon 4matic, glk350 and sl550 vehicles, 2012 cls550 4matic vehicles, 2012-2016 e350 vehicles, 2016-2017 gl450 4matic vehicles, 2012-2014 ml350 4matic bluetec vehicles, 2015 s550, s550 4matic and c300 4matic sedan vehicles, 2015-2016 c300 sedan vehicles, and 2017 sl63 amg vehicles. Various control units on these vehicles may have been updated with incorrect software, potentially affecting the correct deployment of the air bags in the event of a crash.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Questions about the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300
- What are the most common problems with the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (99 complaints, typically around 68,000 miles); suspension (67 complaints, typically around 100,000 miles); body and structure (58 complaints, typically around 80,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300 have?
- 6 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from November 1, 2019 (infotainment and connectivity). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2013 a bad year for the Mercedes-Benz C300?
- It is 6th of 17 C300 model years by number of complaints, with 261 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.