What 570 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Mercedes-benz C-class Hybrid

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ C250. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE AS THE TRACTION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

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I BARELY STEPPED ON THE GAS AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED REAL QUICKLY. IT WAS PRETTY SCARY IT HAPPENED 2 TIMES ALREADY. I DO HAVE A HEAVY FOOT SO I AM TRYING TO MONITOR IF I'M STEPPING ON THE GAS TOO FAST OR HARD. *TR

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WHILE DRIVING TO GROCERY STORE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP AND VEHICLE BOGGED DOWN (DECELERATED BEFORE ACCELERATING) AND THE VIOLENTLY TOOK OFF.. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE 8 TIMES TO DIFFERENT MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIPS IN THE ATLANTA AREA ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT ITS THE WAY VEHICLE IS AND TO LIVE WITH IT. ON MANY OCCASIONS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN ACROSS TRAFFIC VEHICLE JUST STAYS IN PLACE WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED AND THEN IT JUST BOLTS WANTING TO LET THE REAR END LOOSE. VERY UNSAFE CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS CAR. REGRET THIS PURCHASE TREMENDOUSLY. ALSO MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 2012-2014 C250 AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE. *TR

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I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING A HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING IN MY 2013 MERCEDES BENZ C250. *TRW

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ON 8/26/14 I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT. WHEN I WENT TO TAKE-OFF, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. IT FINALLY DID BUT VERY SLOWLY. THIS OCCURRED TWO MORE TIME AT THE NEXT TWO STOP LIGHTS. I WAS THEN IN A CENTER TURN LANE TO TURN ACROSS THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC & WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR DIED AND THE ELECTRONIC DISPLAY GAVE A YELLOW ERROR MESSAGE THAT THE CAR WAS INOPERABLE DUE TO AN ISSUE WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. I IMMEDIATELY PUT THE CAR IN PARK, TURNED IT OFF & THEN STARTED IT BACK UP. FORTUNATELY IT RE-STARTED, THE ERROR MESSAGE WAS GONE & I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE INTO MY OFFICE PARKING LOT. MY MERCEDES SERVICE DEPT. SAID NO CODES REGISTERED ON THE COMPUTER, PROBABLY BECAUSE I TURNED THE CAR OFF SO QUICKLY IT DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO. TODAY, 8/17/14, I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. MY CAR IS BACK AT THE MERCEDES SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THIS IS, IN MY OPINION, A DANGEROUS & LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE EXITING THE GARAGE, THE VEHICLE OVER ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A CONCRETE BUILDING AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND BRUISING TO THE STOMACH, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

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2014-08-04: ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 80 KM/H AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF - DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. 2014-08-05: BROUGHT VEHICLE TO 550 TERMINAL AVENUE. THEY SAID IT WAS JUST THE FAULT-PUMP AND THAT IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. THEY ADVISED ME THAT THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PART FROM GERMANY. VEHICLE WAS LATER RETURNED THE SAME DAY. (23505 KM) 2014-08-06: THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING OUT THE DRIVE WAY, SO I HAD IT TOWED TO 550 TERMINAL AVENUE. (23514 KM). THEY REPLACED A THROTTLE ACTUATOR. 2014-08-12: VEHICLE WAS READY FOR PICK UP. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. BATTERY REPLACED. 2014-08-14: PICKED UP VEHICLE. THEN EXPERIENCED A LOW ACCELERATING AFTER BRAKING. WENT WITH THE FOREMAN FOR A ROAD TEST AND HE AGREED THAT THERE WAS A DELAY WHEN ACCELERATING AND THAT IT FELT LIKE ITS GOING TO STALL WHILE IN "DRIVE". 2014-08-20: THEY SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY 13 % ETHANOL IN FUEL/ SOFTWARE. THERE'S A PINGING SOUND. BUT I BUY THE SAME GAS EVERY TIME 94 OCTANE FROM CHEVRON. I HAD A VERBAL AGREEMENT SAYING THAT MY CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE AND FOR ME TO COME BACK TO MERCEDES BENZ WITH A NEW TANK OF GASOLINE TO SEE IF I WOULD STILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUES AS IT WAS STATED THAT THE ISSUE MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSE BY USING GAS WITH 13% ETHANOL/SOFTWARE. *TR

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SLUGGISH ACCELLARATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE LAST 2 MONTHS. IT HAS HAPPEN ON A TAKE OFF FROM A RED TO A GREEN LIGHT. WHERE I'M COMPLETELY STOPPED AND FROM 0 MPH SPEED I START TO ACCELLARATE & THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT STALLS, ALMOST AS IF IT'S GETTING NO FUEL. I CAN HAVE MY FOOT TOTALLY DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL & THE CAR HESITATES OR DOESN'T MOVE AT ALL. I HAD AN INCIDENT WHERE I WAS BEHIND A SEMI TRUCK, I ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES FAST BEFORE INCOMING TRAFFIC. THE CAR DID NOT MOVE & I ALMOST GOT HIT FROM BEHIND BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT SPEED UP WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELLARATE. I'VE HAD MY BEST FRIEND IN THE CAR WHILE THIS TOOK PLACE & HE WAS VERY SCARED & SO WAS I. I'M NOT SURE IF THE FUEL INJECTORS ARE PUMPING THE GAS FAST ENOUGH TO GET THE CAR MOVING. THEN AGAIN, WHAT DO I KNOW. I'M A GIRL. ALL I KNOW IS, SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS CAR & IT'S NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME BUT IT HAPPENS QUITE TOO OFTEN. I'M TO THE POINT NOW WHERE I DON'T TRUST PASSING OTHER CARS AND I'M EXTRA CAUTIOUS WHEN HAVING TO PASS CARS OR FROM LANE TO LANE. I DON'T TRUST THIS CAR. I'VE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP TODAY & HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO MEET WITH MAX AT THE DEALERSHIP IN ANAHEIM HILLS, CA. I'M HOPING I CAN HAVE AN EARLY TERMINATION OF MY LEASE OR GET INTO ANOTHER CAR (HOPEFULLY A SAFE CAR). *TR

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I HAVE C 300 2013 MERCEDES WHICH BROKE MORE THAN 3 TIMES ( ALL WITHIN A YEAR, THIS IS A NEW CAR) WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS ISSUE IS POTENTIALLY DEADLY TO A DRIVER. ACCELERATION DIMINISHED, BREAKS ARE NOT FULLY FUNCTIONING, WIND SHIELD WIPER DON'T WORK, SIGNAL DOES NOT WORK. I REQUESTED TO GET A NEW VEHICLE, BUT MY REQUEST WAS DENIED. MY UNDERSTANDING THAT MERCEDES DOES NOT CARE ABOUT MY SAFETY (OR ANY OTHER PERSON WHO HAS THIS CAR) AT ALL.I THINK THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FURTHER. MAY BE THEY ARE HIDING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ELECTRIC PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND POSSIBLY RECALL HAS TO BE DONE. *TR

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WAS ACCELERATING UP HILL AFTER MAKING RIGHT TURN; CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, VEHICLE SEEMED TO STALL AND WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE IN TRAFFIC SITUATION; MAXIMUM SPEED VEHICLE WOULD GET TO IS 17 MPH. IMMEDIATELY TOOK TO DEALER WHO RAN DIAGNOSTICS, BUT DID NOT IDENTIFY PROBLEM; PERFORMED COMPUTER "RESET" AND TOLD TO BRING BACK IF MORE PROBLEMS. SEVERAL HOURS LATER, SAME ISSUE RETURNED WITH MAXIMUM SPEED OF 7 MPH; CEL AND MULTIPLE DASH WARNING LIGHTS INCLUDING TRACTION CONTROL APPEARED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF SAFETY ISSUE AND POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENT. AFTER FIVE DAYS, DEALER CALLED AND INDICATED HAD REPLACED THROTTLE MOTOR. DEALER REQUESTED TO KEEP OVERNIGHT AND NEXT MORNING ENGINE WOULD NOT START; FOUND PULL ON BATTERY. APPROXIMATELY 4.5 WEEKS LATER, ORIGINAL ACCELERATION ISSUE RECURRED - WHILE PASSING A TRACTOR TRAILER IN A PASSING ZONE ON TWO-LANE HIGHWAY; WAS UNABLE TO COMPLETE PASSING MANEUVER AND HAD TO FALL BACK IN BEHIND TRACTOR TRAILER JUST IN TIME FOR AN ONCOMING VEHICLE TO PASS IN OTHER DIRECTION, AVOIDING COLLISION, BUT UNDERSCORING IMMINENT SAFETY THREAT OF THIS VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO DEALER YET AGAIN AND AFTER MORE THAN ONE WEEK, DEALER INDICATED THAT FUEL PUMP AND INJECTORS HAD BEEN REPLACED PER INSTRUCTION FROM MB USA. AGAIN REQUESTED TO KEEP VEHICLE FOR ADDITIONAL TESTING; VEHICLE REMAINS WITH DEALER AS OF TODAY. THE ACCELERATION ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE PRESENT AN IMMINENT THREAT TO SAFETY OF BOTH DRIVER AND OTHER VEHICLES. *TR

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REAR FOG LIGHT NOT WORKING TOLD THERE IS ONLY A REAR DRIVERS SIDE FOG LIGHT? CONCERNED W THE PAST TRUNK FIRE ISSUES W LIGHTS. *TR

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PASSENGER AIRBAGS ENABLED THEN DISABLED JUST RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING WITH AN ADULT PASSENGER SITTING WITH THE SEAT BELT CLICKED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. A AIRBAG LIGHT COME ON INDICATING THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS OFF THEN AFTER FEW MILES SUDDENLY A MASSAGE IN THE DASHBOARD SAYING "AIRBAG NOW ENABLED PLEASE SEE DRIVER MANUAL" I TOOK THE CAR TO MB SERVICE, THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY CODE FOR PROBLEMS. THEY ASK ME TO VIDEOTAPE THE MESSAGES AND THE LIGHTS WHEN COME ON. I JUST DID TODAY. WILL SEE WHAT THEY WILL DO WITH IT. IT'S SOUND REALLY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITH PASSENGER WITH HIS AIRBAG DISABLED. HAPPEN TO ME 5-6 TIMES , THE CAR HAS 4000 MILE ONLY !! *TR

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THE 'PASSENGER AIRBAG DISABLED' MESSAGE COMES ON EVEN IF WHEN THERE'S AN ADULT PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL WEEKS AGO AND AM USING A LOANER, ANOTHER 2013 C300, THE MESSAGE JUST APPEARED IN THE LOANER AS WELL, LOANER HAS LESS THAN 1,000 MILES THE MESSAGE APPEARS RANDOMLY WHETHER PARKED OR MOVING. THE DEALER CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY OR NOT. THE PART, WHICH IS MANUFACTURED IN GERMANY, IS ON BACK ORDER UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. *TR

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2013 MERCEDES BENZ C-250 TURBBO CHARGED ENGINE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ACCELERATION AND VEHICLE STALLING ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN AT AN INTERSECTION, AND THEN ATTEMPT TO STRAIGHTEN OUT AFTER THE TURN, IT FELT AS THOUGH THE ENGINE WAS ABOUT TO STALL, AND HE WAS UNABLE TO PROCEED FORWARD. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS, THE VEHICLE FELT AS THOUGH IT WAS RE-STARTING AND THEN WAS ABLE TO PROCEED FORWARD. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WAS A NORMAL ACTION WITH THE TURBO CHARGED ENGINE. MERCEDES BENZ REFERRED TO IT AS, TURBO LAG. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE TURBO LAG MAY RESULT IN A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

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I HIT A POTHOLE ON THE 96TH STREET TRANVERSE ROAD THROUGH CENTRAL PARK.WESTBOUND AROUND 4:30PM ON JUNE 3, 2013. AAA TOWED ME TO 54TH ST AUTO CENTER ON THE SAME DAY. BOTH RIGHT SIDE TIRES WERE DAMAGED AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THEY BOTH HAD TO BE REPLACED. MY CAR IS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ COST OF REPAIR $734.36. CAN YOU PLEASE REIMBURSE ME ? *TR

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THE GAS BECOMES NON RESPONSIVE WHILE DRIVING AND OR HAVE TO STOP THE CAR RESTART IT ,THE DEALERSHIP STATES THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES BEFORE AND THE LAST TIME ON THE FREEWAY AND WAS INVOLVED IN A NEAR MISS WITH AN 18 WHEELER WITCH COULD HAVE ENDED MY LIFE AND POSSIBLY OTHERS ON THE FREEWAY I AM PETRIFIED TO DRIVE THIS CAR SINCE THEN WHICH HAPPENED A FEW DAYS AGO I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND AND CLAIMING THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAR .THIS IS A SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM I HAVE HERD FROM OTHERS THAT MERCEDES CAR HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND TRYING TO COVER IT UP FROM THE PUBLIC .PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE IT ENDS UP IN A FATALITY,AND THEN ITS TOO LATE. EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENS A MESSAGE SHOWS UP ON THE DASHBOARD AND I TOOK A PHOTO OF IT THEY STILL IGNORED IT I SPOKE TO MERCEDES THEY ARE INVESTIGATING IT AND AS YET DID NOT CONTACT ME. *TR

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A DEFECTIVE RIM ON MY 2013 C250 CRACKED FROM INSIDE WHILE THE CAR WAS GOING AT BARELY 25MPH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI CAMPUS CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHICH COULD HAVE JEOPARDIZED MY DAUGHTER'S LIFE HAD SHE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY AT A HIGHER SPEED. THE CAR IS NEW AND THE TIRES ARE IN IMMACULATE CONDITION. GEICO SAYS BENZ SHOULD PAY FOR THE DEFECTIVE PRODUCT, BENZ SAYS GEICO SHOULD PAY FOR IT. I THINK THIS RIM SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE IT IS A DANGEROUS PRODUCT THAT CAN GET PEOPLE KILLED IF IT HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS TRAVELING AT HIGHER SPEED. THANK YOU. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ C250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 1 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED A SLIGHT ODOR OF GASOLINE FUEL INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A LARGE AMOUNT OF FUEL LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL SUPPLY HOSE WAS DETACHED FROM THE HIGH PRESSURE PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,942. UPDATED 7/10/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE GAS LEAK WAS ON THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. THERE WAS NO WARNING. UPDATED 07/18/13

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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 STARTED IT. (2ND TRIP OF THE DAY) ALL WARNING LIGHT AT DASH WERE ON. I TOOK OUT MY KEY THEN PLUG IN TO START IT AGAIN. THIS TIME ENGINE STARTED, BUT BOTH ENGINE AND CAR SHAKE LOOKS LIKE IT?S GOING TO STOP. I WAIT FOR 6-7 SECONDS THEN STOP THE CAR. I WAIT FOR ANOTHER 30 SECONDS THEN START MY CAR AGAIN AND THIS TIME IS NORMAL. DON'T WANT TO SEE ENGINE TO STOP WHILE DRIVING. JUST MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR DEALER TO CHECK NEXT WEEK. PLEASE HELP INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE ALSO. *TR

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HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE FRONT END OF A BRAND NEW 2013 MERCEDES C CLASS WAS DESTROYED. VEHICLE WAS LESS THAN A MONTH OLD. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND I WONDER HOW THAT COULD BE WHEN THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS SMASHED IN. MERCEDES PRIDE THEIR VEHICLES ON SAFETY AND I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT THEIR NEW MODELS MAY NOT LIVE UP TO THAT STANDARD. AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED IN THIS ACCIDENT TO MINIMIZE INJURY OR DEATH. THESE NEW MODELS ARE SLOWLY TAKING TO THE STREETS AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED TO SEE IF THERE IS WARRANT FOR AN AIRBAG RECALL. MERCEDES NEEDS TO BE AWARE OF THIS BECAUSE THEY WILL BE DISTRIBUTING THESE VEHICLES ALL OVER THE GLOBE. NOT MUCH IS AVAILABLE ON A 2013 MODEL AND THIS IS A VITAL TIME TO INVESTIGATE BEFORE THE MASSES HAVE THESE VEHICLES WHERE MAJOR INJURIES OR DEATH MAY OCCUR. I FEEL LUCKY TO HAVE WALKED OUT WITH A CONCUSSION AND I HOPE THIS INVESTIGATION CAN PREVENT ANYONE ELSE FROM FUTURE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. *TR

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