What 516 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Mercedes-benz C-class Hybrid

The electronic steering wheel lock went out causing the car to not start. Upon checking the Internet to see if anyone else was having this problem I found that it was a problem many Mercedes Benz owners have had and it's an expensive one. It's not just with my particular model and it's not limited to older models of the brand either.

NHTSA ODI 11682861

The ESL or electronic steering lock is a very common issue with this year and model at around the 70k mile mark. You cannot start the car once this goes out and it’s over $2k to fix

NHTSA ODI 11658412

For the 2011 Mercedes Benz C300, the following is a general description of the issue: The component that failed is the "internally faulty" electronic steering column lock control unit which doesn't allow the car to start its ignition. The technician at the Mercedes Benz car dealership noted on the invoice "found the electronic steering lock is internally faulty." Technician provided two specific codes and recommended to replace the steering lock control unit. Yes, this car is available for inspection upon request. Car is not reliable. After running errands, car did not start. I was stranded and could not get back home. Car had to be towed to the Mercedes Benz dealer service center. Yes, problem was reproduced in another Mercedes-Benz C300 car that I own. This other vehicle is a 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300. The failure of the "internally faulty steering lock control unit resulting in a no crank/no start condition" was confirmed on the invoice from the Mercedes Benz dealer service center. The car was not inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representative. The car was inspected by the Mercedes Benz dealer service center. Prior to complete failure, car would occasionally not start. This issue first appeared on or around August 2024. This steering lock failure is a critical issue as I had the same problem with another Mercedes Benz C300 that I own. Both steering lock failures for both cars occurred around the same time period and were separately diagnosed and fixed at different Mercedes Benz dealer service centers.

NHTSA ODI 11615780

I researched that the sunroofs on these models are faulty and have caused water/electrical damage under the carpeting and seats of the vehicles. That is what has happened with my 2011 C300 Sport.

NHTSA ODI 11592155

my ESL (electronic steering lock. ) has went out when I did research this something that always happened please fix

NHTSA ODI 11588052

The right rear tail light housing harness melted due to an electrical issue. Wire tends to heat up too much. This caused my right rear tail light, right break light and right side turn signal not to function.

NHTSA ODI 11580578

The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that when starting the vehicle, the ignition was not reading the key, and the steering wheel was locked. The message to remove the key from the ignition was displayed. Additionally, the fuel gauge was inoperable and not reading the fuel level. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a locked steering wheel and the steering wheel lock needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that the parts were ordered to complete the repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,100.

NHTSA ODI 11577103

The sam box (electrical system fuze panel) located under the hood is in a spot where if the lid isn't on correctly water will drain from the windshield right into the sam box and cause the vehicles electrical system to deploy the steering wheel airbag. That's at least what happened to me. It was raining out that day and I guess I went over a bump that caused the lid of the sam to get out of place. I drove home and the car seat for a few hours. I went out upon unlocking the door as soon as I pulled the handle to open the driver side door the steering wheel airbag blew and the vehicle is now in srs mode. The dealership had told me that it's a design flaw but wants me to pay for the diagnostic. No lights were on and I did not file a police report.

NHTSA ODI 11573072

Melted taillight socket board.

NHTSA ODI 11565848

Car slow down and stop and cannot start in traffic….

NHTSA ODI 11514093

Due to apparently deficient sunroof water drain system design, rainwater and condensation entered the passenger compartment under the carpeting, potentially damaging the vehicle's electrical wiring. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. A dealer has inspected and confirmed the damage. Initial symptoms of the problem were wet carpeting and the sound of water sloshing around under the floor of the passenger compartment.

NHTSA ODI 11500865

I own a 2011 C300. Recently, my car suddenly stopped working while I was attempting to leave somewhere away from my home. It would not crank or turn over/start. So I was completely stranded, and in the extreme Florida heat. There has been no damage or wreck to cause this. There were also no warning lights or symptoms in my car beforehand. My car was towed to a Mercedes Benz dealership in the nearest city. They diagnosed the problem as an electronic steering lock failure. I asked how this happened. I was told that they do not know how it happened. I was also quoted a very expensive repair bill. Upon researching this problem further, I found out that steering lock failure and ignition switch failure is a recurring and common problem that Mercedes Benz already knows about, and many people with my car and similar models have had the same problem over the years. Age of the car at time of failure did not matter, either- it has happened to many cars at different ages and mileage.This is not a normal problem for any car to have, nor is it caused by normal wear and tear. Some people have even had their cars suddenly stop working while they are driving. Many people have also asked why these faulty parts have not been recalled yet. I contacted the company multiple times and did not receive any resolution to the problem. They said that this is my responsibility to repair, and they would not pay to repair this, nor reimburse me. The company's agent did not care at all about the issues, nor take any accountability for them as the manufacturer. Being stranded in the middle of nowhere at any time is dangerous for anyone, especially in certain areas or during intense weather. This entire issue has caused extreme stress for me- interruption in my schedule, lack of transportation, and financial loss. Please hold the Mercedes Benz company accountable for their lack of proper manufacturing and lack of proper repair to their parts that they know are faulty. Thank you.

NHTSA ODI 11469029

Rear taillight ground wire melting. Dealer said that this recall was performed previously, so now I had to pay for the repair parts. NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V177000

NHTSA ODI 11452814

Went to work and came out and the vehicle says to remove key from ignition. Was stuck in the middle of the night in freezing temperatures and had no way to get anywhere. It’s a common problem that Mercedes knows about and is charging thousands of dollars to repair because it can only be done through them.

NHTSA ODI 11449789

The rear tail light housing harness melted due to an electrical issue. This caused my rear tail light & break lights not to function.

NHTSA ODI 11425681

CAR PARKED,STEERING COLUMN SEIZED. UNABLE TO START IGNITION OR PUT VEHICLE IN GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11325258

IT WAS MY IPHONE THAT GOT HACKED FIRST, THERE WERE THESE HEAT LASERS STARTED TO TARGET ME, ONE DAY I WAS SLEEPING IN MY CAR, THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A PARKING GARAGE, THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR JUST STARTED DEFROSTING. YES, MY DEFROSTS CAME ON AND MY WINDOWS BEGIN TO FOG UP. NEXT, I STARTED TO NOTICE THOSE SAME "HEAT LASERS" THAT WERE TARGETING ME FROM MY IPHONE ARE CONSTANT ON MY HEAD AND STOMACH WHILE I'M DRIVING MY CAR. ALSO, A SYMBOL STARTED TO APPEAR ON MY DASHBOARD, LATER DISCOVER IT WAS THE "AUXILIARY BATTERY" ., THEN MY LIGHTS ARE ALWAYS FLICKING, AND WHEN I HAVE THE HEAT OR AIR CONDITION ON, THEY ARE NOT AS COLD OR HOT, THE TEMP WAS BEING TAMPERED WITH, AS IF THE CAR WAS ADJUSTING THE CONTROLS. NOW, A GREEN LIGHT SYMBOL IS CONSTANTLY APPEARING ON MY DASHBOARD, SO THE HACKERS WERE USING MY "AUXILIARY BATTERY" , NOW THEY ARE USING THE "LIGHTS" ON MY CAR TO TARGET ME NOW. YES, THIS HACKER, HACKED AND IS ATTACKING ME WITH SOME TYPE OF LASER WHILE DRIVING MY CAR. THIS HAPPENED FEBUARY 11, 2020 WHEN MY CAR BEGIN TO DEFROST ON ITS OWN. NOW, IM IN THIS NIGHTMARE, AT THE HANDS OF A HACKER TARGETING ME, WITH SOME "HEAT LASERS" I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE FBI (INTERNET CRIME COMPLAINT CENTER) BECAUSE OF THE HEAT LASERS, I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DOCTOR ON SEVERAL OCCASION DUE TO THE 'HEAT LASER TARGETING MY BODY/ORGANS., ON 04/17/2020.

NHTSA ODI 11322396

ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2020 MY VEHICLE WAS NOT STARTING IN ORDER TO TAKE ME HOME AT 9:40 PM. DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE ESL IN THE STEERING COLUMN I AM NOW FORCED TO WAIT HERE UNTIL A TOW TRUCK COMES. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS LOCATION AND WISH MY VEHICLE WOULD START KNOWING THAT IT HAS THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF VOLTAGE AT THE BATTERY.

NHTSA ODI 11311991

MY CAR SOUND LIKE THE POWER STEERING HAS GONE IT'S VERY LOUD. ALSO SECONDARY AIR FLOW JUST REPLACED AND NOW IT'S GOING TO NEED ANOTHER ONE AT 2000 A POP. FINALLY THE ELECTRICS IS VERY WEIRD. LIGHTS WILL GO OUT THEN COME BACK ON. MY DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS STAY ON DAY AND NIGHT NO MATTER WHERE I TURN THE LIGHT SWITCH. THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHT IS ON EVEN WHEN I TURN ON HIGH BEAMS. NO MATTER IF IT'S MOVING OR NOT ALL THESE THINGS ARE HAPPENING.

NHTSA ODI 11282812

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF NORTHLAKE (LOCATED AT 10725 NORTHLAKE AUTO PLAZA, CHARLOTTE, NC 28269, (704) 321-4833) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING WAS FAULTY. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE STEERING LOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 87,536.*BF*JB

NHTSA ODI 11266960

I WAS LEAVING WORK. I UNLOCKED THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEY FOB, PLACED THE KEY FOB IN THE IGNITION, AND IT FAILED TO START. I WAS LEFT STRANDED WITHOUT A WAY TO LEAVE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD MY PROBLEM LIES WITHIN A "FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH" THAT ONLY MB CAN REPAIR. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG THE C-CLASS MODELS AND I AM HOPING MB CAN ADDRESS THE ISSUE WITH A RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11233932

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AND THE POWER STEERING ABILITY SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MERCEDES BENZ OF HONOLULU (818 OKAPI OMANI AVE, HONOLULU, HI) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MODULE WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MODULE WAS REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

NHTSA ODI 11228957

I AM WRITING TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE DID NOT START AFTER THE KEY WAS PUT INTO THE IGNITION. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE DID NOT START AT ALL. THE TOW SERVICE WAS CALLED. THE TOW REPAIR REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED THE PROBLEM MAY BE THE "IGNITION SWITCH," AS THE BATTERY WAS FINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE ENTIRE IGNITION SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE COST WAS $1214. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. FORTUNATELY, THE VEHICLE WAS IN A SECURE PLACE -- THE HOME GARAGE. HOWEVER, HAD IT BEEN IN ANOTHER LOCATION, A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD COULD HAVE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 91,000 MILES, SO IT IS INCONCEIVABLE AS TO WHY AN IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS NO WARNING. THIS IS AN ITEM THAT IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI 11204373

"TAKATA RECALL" I CONTACTED THE THE AUTHORIZED MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER HAS FAILED TO REMEDY THIS SAFETY RECALL IN A TIMELY MANNER, I HAVE CONTINUOUSLY REACHED OUT FOR YEAR AND HALF AND THE MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER CONTINUOUS TO STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE ON BACK ORDER.

NHTSA ODI 11189865

1. TAKATA RECALL: THIS RECALL OF A DANGEROUS SITUATION HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS NOW IS UNACCEPTABLE AND HAZARDOUS TO EM AND MY FAMILY. 2. LAW SUIT: GREG SUDDRETH AND PAUL DENTON V. MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC. ON 10/30/17, I HAD TO PAY 3445.13 FOR A REPAIR MY BALANCE SHAFTS GEARS, WHICH WE'RE DEEMED DEFECTIVE IN ALL M272 ENGINES WHICH IS IN MY C300. HOWEVER, IN THE ABOVE MENTIONED LAW SUIT, THIS PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN CORRECTED. WHEN I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION TO THE MERCEDES-BENZ OF MODESTO TECHNICIANS, THEY SAID I MISSED THE CUT-OFF DATE BY ONE YEAR. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND CHECKED TO SEE IF I QUALIFIED FOR A FREE REPAIR, BUT LATER CLAIMED, THE ISSUE WITH THE DEFECTIVE BALANCE SHAFTS GEARS HAD BEEN ADDRESSED. HOW CAN THAT BE WHEN I INCURRED THE SAME PROBLEM. THE REPAIR SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. I EVENTUALLY HAD TO HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED AT MERCEDES OF PLEASANTON BECAUSE MODESTO DIDN'T HAVE ANY OPEN APPOINTMENTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION IN THIS MATTER. 3. FAULTY ELECTRONIC STEARING LOCK: ENGINE WON'T TURN ON AND STEEARING WHEEL IS LOCKED. SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. MERCEDES CLAIM NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT WHEN YOUR DAUGHTER GETS STUCK AT MIDNIGHT AT AN AMUSEMENT PARK ON HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR NIGHT...THAT'S A SAFETY ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION IN THIS MATTER.

NHTSA ODI 11170265