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2013 Mercedes-benz C-class
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
570 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 14, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Airbags problems dominate (50% of complaints, typically reported near 3k miles).
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
Complaint reports have faded. Early issues appear resolved or aged out.
The math, shown
Full methodology →Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
5/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4 DR AWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 11%
1 open NHTSA defect investigation on file, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2013 Mercedes-benz C-class, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Steering (47) · Electrical system (34)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Airbags
50%285 complaints · typically near 3k mi · 4 in the last 2 years
“I was driving in a parking lot and suddenly my air bag deployed for no reason I did not hit anyone or get hit for the airbag to deploy. Suffered some bruising on my ri…”
Suspension
13%73 complaints · typically near 77k mi · 3 in the last 2 years
“REAR SUB FRAME RUST NEEDS INSPECTED SUPER CLANKY”
Body & structure
12%70 complaints · typically near 89k mi · 4 in the last 2 years
“The interior door handle of the driver's side door snapped, which does not allow the driver to open the door at all. In the event of a crash, fire, or emergency, the d…”
Engine
10%57 complaints · typically near 58k mi · 11 in the last 2 years
“The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. No warning light …”
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2013 Mercedes-benz C-CLASS beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2013? See how every C-class model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2013 Mercedes-benz C-class against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.