2009 Mercedes Benz C
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
Have the VIN?
Vehicles › Mercedes Benz › C › 2009
These records cover every 2009 Mercedes Benz C. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Owner complaints
14 complaints2 involved a crash2 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Power train
At 43,500 and 54 months the transmission in the car had to be replaced. the car has always been properly serviced at the mercedes dealer. I believe this model/make has defects as I have brought it back for service many times. *tr
- Exterior lighting
The wires within both of my headlights of my 2009 mercedes C300 have their insulation so deteriorated that the wires are fully exposed. this issue causes the lights to cut in and out without warning which have occurred during highways speeds and or rural areas in puerto rico. this dangerous situation IS not being taken care of by the manufacturer with various attempts tried. *tr
- Electrical system · Exterior lighting
Lights in the back right panel are not working.... Got message stating they were out....checked them and electrical connection IS burned and looks like wires are fried. *tr
- Exterior lighting · Service brakes
Dim left stop light. Melted plug. Mercedes benz C300 2009 W204. *tr
- Electrical system · Exterior lighting
The rear tail lights on my mb C350 shows signs of a burning/melting on the connector. I initially received a notice on my dash that the right rear bulb was bad and not working. I checked the connectors and it showed signs of melting/burning. after adjusting the wires, the lights would work until the car would hit a bump and I would have to again reset the wires. *tr
- Power train › Automatic transmission
Tl*the contact owns a 2009 mercedes C350. The contact stated that when the accelerator pedal was engaged, the transmission surged forward at a high rate. The failure occurred intermittently. The dealer was unable to duplicate or diagnose the failure. The failure mileage was 15 and the current mileage was 32000.
- Power train › Automatic transmission
Tl*the contact owns a 2009 mercedes benz C300. Whenever the contact placed the vehicle into reverse or drive I would violently switch into gear causing the vehicle to slightly surge forward. The vehicle has been taken to the dealership on thirteen different occasions where several different parts…
Tl*the contact owns a 2009 mercedes benz C300. Whenever the contact placed the vehicle into reverse or drive I would violently switch into gear causing the vehicle to slightly surge forward. The vehicle has been taken to the dealership on thirteen different occasions where several different parts have been serviced on the transmission;however the contact IS still experiencing the failure. The contact has noticed the failure since the vehicle was purchased. The current and failure mileages were 14000.
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
Bought a new 2009 C300 mercedes at a dealer in san diego. Car has rough idle and shakes for 30 seconds in the morning. Dealer checked and found nothing wrong. They are blaming it on strict emission issues as the source of the rough idle. Hood does not latch unless slammed hard. Dealer claimed they had adjusted latch but still the same. *tr
- Visibility
I purchased a C300 in april 2009, within a few days I noticed a crack in the driver sideview mirror. I took the car to the dealership and the salesman that sold me the car took care of arranging the repair. they had to order the mirror and gave me a loaner. I was never given an explanation as to what caused the crack. *Tr
- Electrical system · Power train › Automatic transmission · Service brakes, hydraulic
Tl*the contact owns a 2009 mercedes benz C300. the contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing several computer defects. while parked on a hill and attempting to place the gear shifter into reverse, the vehicle would roll forward instead of backwards. the vehicle would roll forward…
Tl*the contact owns a 2009 mercedes benz C300. the contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing several computer defects. while parked on a hill and attempting to place the gear shifter into reverse, the vehicle would roll forward instead of backwards. the vehicle would roll forward approximately one foot as if it were in neutral. during this time, the steering would lock and the brakes would lose power. it would take tremendous force to depress the brake pedal and stop the vehicle. the dealer and manufacturer could not assist with the repairs. there were no recalls available. the dealer could not determine the cause of the failure. no repairs have been performed. the vin was unknown. the failure and current mileages were less than 7,000.
- Air bags › Side/window · Steering
My daughter was in a crash today on may 16, 2009 she was driving mercedes 2009 C300 and she said that the steering wheel lock suddenly before she crash, she was driving only at 15mph that why the impact was not so severe, we are very lucky that she just has minor injuries. *Tr
- Steering
I bought a new 2009 mb C300 for my wife last november, less than three month later, its power steering quitted to work without any malfunction sign. It will take a professional wrestler to get in and out its parking place. This IS not the worst part yet. after numerous failed attempts trying to…
I bought a new 2009 mb C300 for my wife last november, less than three month later, its power steering quitted to work without any malfunction sign. It will take a professional wrestler to get in and out its parking place. This IS not the worst part yet. after numerous failed attempts trying to contact the service department of my dealer, I drove the car to the dealer that IS 40 miles away from my house. Only thing they did to the car was that a service representative opened the hood and added some fluid, which late turned out to be useless. He wanted me to set a service appointment that was 15 days later. I waited almost two hours trying to get somebody to test drive my car and tell me if it's safe to drive, which they never did. right now, the only thing I can do IS to look at my world renowned luxury sedan C300 made by superior german technology sitting in my car pot. What a joke! *Tr
- Electronic stability control (esc) · Seat belts
I was involved in a crash where I was run off the road and into a center median steel barrier. My mercedes C300 IS equipped with electronic stability program (esp) and active seatbelt restraints (both of which failed in the crash). The roads were slick, however, when a car swerved over on me and I…
I was involved in a crash where I was run off the road and into a center median steel barrier. My mercedes C300 IS equipped with electronic stability program (esp) and active seatbelt restraints (both of which failed in the crash). The roads were slick, however, when a car swerved over on me and I attempted to hit the brakes to avoid being hit, my car began to fish-tail and I lost control of the vehicle. At the time, a warning light came on indicating (post-crash) that my esp malfunctioned. In addition, upon impact, my seat restrained me, however, when the car bounced back into the center of the highway, the seatbelt came completely detached from where it's holder (where you click it in). The rest of the safety features worked (airbags, active head-rest restraints, steel framing, etc.) however, if the esp failed or malfunction, then there was no possible way to prevent the accident based on the vehicles failure to deliver in a panicked situation. The mercedes esp program IS suppose to enable the driver the ability to correct the vehicle from oversteer (fish-tailing) in critical situations, and it did not do so. At the time, I was traveling at 55 mph. The brake-assist program helped to decelerate the vehicle minimally, and I slammed into the guardrail around 50-55 mph. I am concerned that the esp and seatbelt failed in this crash. I'm very fortunate to have survived this accident. Took pictures for evidence, and plan to go back to the car upon review by the mercedes accident specialist to access why there was an evident failure in both of these safety features (critical to preventing such an accident)! *Tr
- Equipment adaptive/mobility
I purchased a 2009 mercedes benz C300 luxury sedan in october 2008 in atlanta, ga. I drove the car off the lot with 37 miles on the odometer. I house the car in my garage. I'D had the car in my possession for a little less than two weeks when I woke one chilly morning to discover a crack in the…
I purchased a 2009 mercedes benz C300 luxury sedan in october 2008 in atlanta, ga. I drove the car off the lot with 37 miles on the odometer. I house the car in my garage. I'D had the car in my possession for a little less than two weeks when I woke one chilly morning to discover a crack in the driver's side mirror. I immediately phoned the dealership and was told to bring the car in for evaluation. service assessed the damage and advised me that they'd recently (the day before) become aware that the heating elements were cracking the mirrors in the c class models. They then apologized for the inconvenience, gave me a loaner car (free of charge) while my car was being repaired (free of charge), and advised me that, although mercedes benz does not allow preemptive repairs, they would repair the passenger side mirror (free of charge) should it crack in the future. They told me that the passenger side would be fixed even if the warranty had otherwise expired. the part repaired was the auto defrosting/ dimming driver's side mirror. I'm unsure if this defect IS exclusive to the c class models. *Tr
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Loss of rear lighting assembly
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of loss of rear lighting in model year (MY) 2008-2011 Mercedes Benz C-Class vehicles.Complainants alleged that one or both rear lighting assemblies fail to illuminate (i.e., all lights housed within the assembly extinguish…
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of loss of rear lighting in model year (MY) 2008-2011 Mercedes Benz C-Class vehicles.Complainants alleged that one or both rear lighting assemblies fail to illuminate (i.e., all lights housed within the assembly extinguish, including the stop, tail, and turn signal functions) or illuminate dimly.In some reports, complainants also alleged that the failure was accompanied by a burning smell emanating from the trunk of the vehicle.When examined, these vehicles showed evidence of overheating at the lighting assembly harness connector, including damaged (blackened) wiring and plastic.The rear lighting failures typically involved one side of the vehicle however in some cases both assemblies failed (although probably not simultaneously).ODI identified 5 fire and one injury allegations during the course of this investigation.Two fires occurred while the vehicles were parked.One originated in the vicinity of the driver?s side light assembly where the fire and associated damage was confined to the trunk area, and the fire self extinguished due to oxygen starvation.As a result of the fire, the vehicle was repurchased by Mercedes and salvaged.The second fire originated on the passenger's side and required fire department response to extinguish; the fire damaged the tail light and surrounding body panels as well as the trunk area and wiring.The vehicle was repaired and returned to service.Two firesoccurred while the vehicle was being driven.In the first instance, the driver detected an odor and pulled over to observe smoking and a small flame at the lighting assembly wiring in the trunk.The owner was able to extinguish the fire before any significant damage occurred.In the second instance, the driver smelled smoke, pulled over, and opened the trunk to find smoke and sparks emanating from the forward facing side of the tail light.The driver was able to extinguish the sparks and drive the vehicle to the dealer. A fifth fire was reported by a fleet manager who observed a vehicle with fire damage originating near one of the tail light assemblies.The injury incident occurred when a technician burned their hand while diagnosing a failed light.The technician touched the tail light wiring which was hot enough to burn him although the injury did not require medical attention.On April 10th, 2014, Mercedes notified ODI that it would conduct a safety recall to remedy the rear light assemblies in approximately 252,867 MY 2008 - 2011 C-Class vehicles including the C300, C350 and C63 AMG models.Each rear light assembly has separate bulbs that act as brake, tail lamp, backup and turn signal indicators.The bulbs are mounted in a bulb carrier which uses a common electrical ground circuit at the harness connection.According to Mercedes, oxidation due to the use of dissimilar metals on the harness and bulb carrier electrical connectors can result in increased resistance and a subsequent dimming or loss of lighting function.The heat caused by the increased resistance/oxidation can also lead to the melting of the surrounding plastic, or in some cases, present a fire hazard.In conducting recall 14V-171, Mercedes dealers will inspect the left and right bulb carriers and harness connectors for the presence of dissimilar electrical connectors and/or evidence of related thermal damage; affected bulb carriers and/or harness connectors will be replaced free of charge.Mercedes notes that service replacement bulb carriers produced from January 2012 eliminate the dissimilar metal condition and that these bulb carriers will not requ
- Loss of rear tail light functionality
ODI initially received 21 reports of rear light assembly failure due to a melted electrical connector or housing.Since opening the initial , ODI has received a total of 114 complaints reflecting an ongoing and increasing trend.In each report, one or both rear light assemblies fail completely (i.e., all lights housed…
ODI initially received 21 reports of rear light assembly failure due to a melted electrical connector or housing.Since opening the initial , ODI has received a total of 114 complaints reflecting an ongoing and increasing trend.In each report, one or both rear light assemblies fail completely (i.e., all lights housed within the assembly extinguish, including the stop, tail, and turn signal functions) when the electrical ground connection is compromised as a result of high resistance and subsequent thermal over-heating.According to Mercedes-Benz, the over-heating of the ground wire is caused by corrosion between the connectors in the ground circuit to the tail light.ODI is aware of a total of 5 reports alleging fire including one injury allegation as a result of this issue.Analysis of subject vehicle complaint data indicates an increased likelihood of failure as the vehicles age.As a result of the evidence presented, this investigation has been upgraded to EA13-008.
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 10135912COMAND: No sound, SDARS message in central display "Device Unavailable"
- 10041639Mercedes benz: new repair method for low beam halogen lamp bulb that IS inoperative.
- 10039256Mercedes-benz: the malfunction light IS on with multiple possible trouble codes stored. There could be a problem with the camshaft and/or scoring of a piston.
- 10039252Mercedes-benz: the front seat belt catches when pulled out, because the strap was not guided back properly. Happens on both the passenger and driver's side. Updated 5/22/2012.
- 10038977Mercedes-benz: the auto-transmission switches to limp home mode or has no power. There are multiple possible fault codes. A piston may be damaged.
- 10038225Mercedes-benz: diagnostic procedures for the driver authorization system.
- 10037408Mercedes-benz: shock absorber procedure.
- 10034566Mercedes benz: reprogram mbrace (n123/4) dialed numbers to hughes. This action applies to new vehicle inventory only.
- 10034504Mercedes (xentry): engine diagnosis warning lamp activated. Magnetic short between armature and pole core due to calibration error at valve and tolerance deviation by supplying manufacturer. This causes the purge valve to jam in the open state.
Every Mercedes Benz C model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.