Home · 2011 Mercedes-benz C-class Phev · Complaints

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

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (516)Crash / fire / injury (25)Airbags (269)Suspension (62)Fuel system (51)Body & structure (50)Electrical system (46)Steering (35)Lights (21)Brakes (13)Engine (11)Transmission & drivetrain (10)

13 of 516 complaints match · Airbags · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Apr 12, 2024AirbagsCrash1 injury

I was in a collision and the airbags did not deploy. There was a recall on airbags for the Mercedes C300 within the year my vehicle was made, however, the recall did not include my VIN. Also, the sunroof drain is faulty, which was also recalled on other Mercedes C300s within the same production year, again not my VIN, but upon inspection by a certified dealership, it appears to be the same issue as other recalled vehicles.

NHTSA ODI 11582626

Dec 21, 2023AirbagsCrash1 injury

The airbags were supposed to have been fixed per recall by carriage house Mercedes in new London ct. my son was in a horrible front in collision and they did not deploy. None of them did. Accident happened 3 days ago insurance will pick up car today. I’d like this noted incase they need evidence

NHTSA ODI 11561237

Jun 24, 2019AirbagsCrash2 injuries

AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, A DEER RAN ACROSS THE OPPOSITE SIDE LANE OF TRAFFIC AND COLLIDED WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE AND WINDSHIELD. THE ENTIRE DEER LANDED IN DRIVERS LAP AND PASSENGERS SIDE SEATS. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. STATEFARM AND STATE TROOPER REPORTS WITH PHOTOS TAKEN. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE TAKEN TO ER BY AMBULANCE AND TREATED.

NHTSA ODI 11222296

Oct 29, 2018AirbagsCrash1 injury

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT INCLUDED THE VEHICLE IN THE RECALL REPAIRS FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V363000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) UNTIL AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PURCHASED AS WELL AS THE CONTACT HAD EXPERIENCED A CRASH. THE CONTACT WAS AT A STOP AND A VEHICLE TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED OVER 50 MPH, CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED TO INSPECT AND DIAGNOSE WHY THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK, HEAD, BACK AND FURTHER MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AWAY FROM THE CRASH. THE INSURANCE COMPANY COVERED THE COLLISION DAMAGES HOWEVER, THEY HAD NOT INSPECTED WHY THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE CRASH YEARS LATER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 11143896

May 18, 2018AirbagsCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE ABOVE THE FRONT TIRE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK PAINS, AND HEADACHES, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,900.

NHTSA ODI 11096724

May 1, 2018AirbagsCrash

REPEATED LETTERS FROM MERCEDES DEALER, HOWEVER, THEY CONTINUE TO SAY THEY CAN'T FIX IT. TAKEDA AIRBAGS

NHTSA ODI 11091189

Apr 17, 2018AirbagsCrash

"TAKATA RECALL"

NHTSA ODI 11088590

Feb 7, 2018AirbagsCrash

I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT AN AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED I BUMPED MY HEAD AN WIFE INJURED HER ARM. CAR RAN THE STREET TO THE OTHER SIDE AN MANAGE TO HIM THE IN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE AN HAD A FRONT END COLLISION. STREET COLLISION I WAS ON A MAIN STREET AN HAD THE RIGHT OF WAY.

NHTSA ODI 11067362

Oct 19, 2017AirbagsCrash

"TAKATA RECALL" I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MERCEDES DATED AUGUST 2016 REGARDING THIS RECALL. SINCE THEN I HAVE CONTACTED THE FORT MYERS DEALERSHIP REQUESTING FREE REPLACEMENT. EACH TIME INCLUDING TODAY I WAS TOLD THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS OR THE INSTRUCTIONS FROM CORPORATE TO REPLACE THE AIR BAGS. TODAY I RECEIVED A POST CARD REGARDING TK HOLDINGS FILING CHAPTER 11. LAST YEAR MY DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT CAUSING 19K OF DAMAGE AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT GO OFF. I DO NOT KNOW IF THAT IS A GOOD THING OR A BAD THING. SHE WAS TRAVELING EAST WHEN I STATIONARY TRUCK PULLED INTO HER LANE CAUSING PASSENGER FRONT END DAMAGE.

NHTSA ODI 11034505

Sep 19, 2016AirbagsCrash1 injury

I WAS IN ACCIDENT ON 8/15/16 SIDE IMPACT I WANT TO KNOW WHY THE SIDE AIRBAGS DIDN"T DEPLOY, THE CAR WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. I WAS DRIVING ON A THE CITY STREET THE YOUNG MAN THOUGHT HE HAD THE RIGHT OF WAY TO TURN LEFT WITH INCOMING TRAFFIC AND HE STRUCK MY CAR FROM THE SIDE.

NHTSA ODI 10907709

Sep 8, 2015AirbagsSpeed controlBrakesCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE AT A STOP, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY ACCELERATED TO 30 MPH. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE STEERING COLUMN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED KNEE AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ODI 10762315

Aug 27, 2014Airbags1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. ON ONE OCCASION, THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXIT A HIGHWAY AND THE HEAD RESTRAINT AIR BAG DEPLOYED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO BECOME UNCONSCIOUS. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A HEAD CONCUSSION AND NECK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,442.

NHTSA ODI 10628927

Jan 21, 2013AirbagsCrash1 injury

THE AIR BAGS ON MY C300 MERCEDES 2011 DID NOT DEPLOY DURING FRONT CRASH. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED AT A T INTERSECTION STREET. I WAS AT THE FRONT LANE AT A T INTERSECTION STOPPING DURING RED LIGHT. A VOLVO CAR FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE INTERSECTION THAT WAS TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN-INTO THE STREET THAT I WAS STOPPING ON- CRASHED INTO MY VEHICLE FRONT TO FRONT AS A RESULT OF AVOIDING GETTING CRASHED BY ANOTHER CAR THAT WAS PASSING RED LIGHT INTO IT'S OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE VOLVO THAT CRASHED INTO MY CAR FRONT TO FRONT PUSHED MY VEHICLE ABOUT 10 FEET BACK WORDS AND CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO AN SUV WITH THE REAR RIGHT SIDE OF MY VEHICLE INTO THE REAR LEFT SIDE OF THE SUV THAT CAUSED MY CAR TO STOP. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. I THEN HAVE REQUESTED FROM THE COLLISION CENTER AT THE MERCEDES DEALER WHO HANDLED MY CAR, TO LOOK INTO THE AIR BAGS TO CHECK WHETHER THERE WERE A MANUFACTURE DEFECT WITH THE AIRBAG FOR NOT DEPLOYING. FEW DAYS LATER, MY CAR WAS REPORTED A TOTAL LOSS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10493639

Working with the data? Download all 516 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 21, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2011 Mercedes-benz C-class Phev verdict →