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

I was told by the Mercedes Benz service center I take my car to that the timing chain and cam adjusters failed. I have a Mercedes Benz 2013 C250, with only 58,000 miles on it. I have my car serviced on time. I was driving my car on the highway, thank God I stopped at a local drugstore and when I tried to turn my car back on, only the lights will come on. It would not start up, and I had to have my car towed to the MB Hunt Valley service center where I get my car serviced. The Service Rep told me I had to have the timing chain, camadjusters, and lower guide rails replaced costing $6000. There is a extended warranty on the camadjusters which took the price down to 3600 which is still pricey. Which makes me wonder shouldn't the timing chaing also be under extended waranty. This type of event should only happen at least after the car reaches 100,000 miles. I have called Mercedes Benz customer service and awaiting for someone to call me back to see if they can assist. Awaiting a response as of 8/2/2021. I called after getting diagnoses which was 7/30/21. I have read numerous other reports of this same exact issue happening to other people. This is a extreme risk and safety matter that needs to be addressed by Mercedes Benz as a recall. Being newer model cars, the timing chain and camshaft adjusters should not fail, and most definitely not fail at 58,000 miles. Please look into this before someone gets hurt.

NHTSA ODI 11427465

The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that the front driver’s side seat belt would not retract and was unable to lock and secure the driver. Also, the rear driver’s side seat belt ceased and was unable to pull out and lock to secure the driver’s side rear seat passenger. The rear passenger’s side seat belt failed to retract and would not secure the passenger side rear seat passenger. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.

NHTSA ODI 11426481

AFTER OWNING A CPO,FOR ABOUT5 YEARS. RECENTLY THE TILT/ MECHANISM FAILED TO OPERATE. I TOOK IT TO DEALER AND WITHOUT ANY TOOLS IN HIS HANDS HE FIXED IT.ABOUT 6MONTHS IT WORKED FINE,THEN IT STOPPED.I TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER AND THE ADVISOR THAT FIXED IT IS NO LONGER WORKING THERE,NOBODY ELSE HAD EVER HEARD OF THIS METHOD?I'M NOT DREAMING HE GAVE ME HIS CARD AFTERWARDS,SO HE DOES EXIST..

NHTSA ODI 11424101

Mercedes dealership mechanic found rear subframe rusted through on 5/20/21 during oil change. Mechanic advised car is unsafe to drive, subframe can break apart while driving and cause accident. Dealership also advised this is a known issue with my model/year vehicle but currently no recall for it in the US, but there is a recall for this issue in Canada. I called Mercedes Benz USA customer care and spoke to a supervisor Benjamin who said they will not cover any repair expense for this issue.

NHTSA ODI 11418551

The Contact owns a 2013 Mercedes Benz C300. The contact stated that the vehicle exhibited a knocking sound and an abnormal vibration when driving. The Contact took the vehicle to the dealer for an inspection and the Dealer found the Sub Frame was corroded and had a hole. The dealer advised that the sub-frame needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 60,0000.

NHTSA ODI 11417921

WHILE PULLING INTO GARAGE, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN PLACE AND WOULD NOT TURN. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED A FAULTY ESL (ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK), THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED AT A COST TO ME OF $1,140.70. MERCEDES BENZ USA REFUSED TO REIMBURSE.

NHTSA ODI 11414261

DRIVING VEHICLE NORMALLY AND TURN THE WHEEL AND HEAR CLICKING SOUND FROM AROUND STEERING WHEEL. FRONT, DRIVERS AIR BAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED AND HORN NOR ANY CONTROLS ON STEERING WHEEL WORK AT ALL. ERROR MESSAGE DISPLAYED "FRONT LEFT MALFUNCTION, SERVICE REQUIRED" SYMBOL FOR AIRBAG DISPLAYED. TOOK VEHICLE TO MERCEDES OF PALM BEACH DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THEIR WERE NO OPEN RECALLS ON THIS MODEL. I MENTIONED CAMPAIGN 2017120024 (ELEC) CAMPAIGN DESC. 1709P46C62 (ELEC) AND THEY STATE NO OPEN RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO REPUTABLE ESTABLISHED MERCEDES REPAIR SHOP AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS "NO COMMUNICATION WITH STEERING CONTROL MODULE" REPAIRMAN STATES THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE AS THE AIRBAG MALFUNCTION CAN POSSIBLY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO THE DRIVER AND THE HORNS INABILITY TO FUNCTION PREVENTS THE DRIVER FROM ALERTING ANY OTHER DRIVERS IF THEY STRAY FROM LANE, ARE BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE, OR DISTRACTED AT A RED TRAFFIC SIGNAL.

NHTSA ODI 11414313

THE REAR SUBFRAME RUSTED THROUGH RISKING THE CONTROL ARMS FROM DETACHING FROM THE FRAME. THIS COULD CAUSE THE CAR TO BE UNCONTROLLABLE WITH THE RIGHT, REAR WHEEL AND CONTROL ARM FROM DETACHING FROM THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11414126

REAR SUB FRAME RUST DIAGNOSED AT THE DEALER

NHTSA ODI 11406223

MERCEDES C300 SEDAN SUB FRAME HAS A HOLE AND IS BREAKING APART. IT WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS FOUND. I SEE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FOR THIS OCCURRING WITH OTHER OWNERS BUT THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL. HTTPS://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/MERCEDESBENZ/C300/SUSPENSION-PROBLEMS.PHP

NHTSA ODI 11404709

II WAS DRIVING AND CAR STEERING WHEEL GET STUCK DID NOT MOVE UP AND DOWN AND ALSO FRONT RIGHT SEAT DID NOT MOVE.

NHTSA ODI 11391140

I HAVE SEVERAL SAFTEY RECALLS AND PERFORMANCE RECALLS. RIGHT NOW MY CAR IS NOT OPERABLE DUE TO THESE RECALLS. THERE IS NO DEALER ON MY ISLAND. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW FROM HAWAII AND SHIPPED TO GUAM. THE DEALER IS REQUESTING US TO SHIP BACK THE VEHICLE TO FIX THESE RECALLS. WHICH WILL COST ME ABOUT 10,000.00 FOR SHIPPING. HOW DO I GO ABOUT THIS.

NHTSA ODI 11391106

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY I10 I WAS DOING 65 MPH I TRY TO PASS A CAR SO I ACCELERATED THE CAR BUT THE CAR WAS NOT GETTING THE POWER AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO I SAFELY PULL OUT OF THE FREEWAY AND INSPECTED THE CAR WITH A SCANNER AND IT SHOWED A CODE SO I SEARCH IN GOOGLE AND IT APPEARS A FAILURE OF THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, I MANAGED TO TAKE THE CAR TO MY HOUSE DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DISAPPEARED BUT THE RPM'S WHERE IRREGULAR AND THE ACCELERATION WAS FAILING MORE OFTEN. IT APPEARS THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WHILE I WAS LOOKING IN GOOGLE AND YOUTUBE MANY PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE.

NHTSA ODI 11385780

ELV LOCK FAILURE ON THE IN THE STEERING COLUMN, VEHICLE DISABLED

NHTSA ODI 11376967

HELLO, I BOUGHT MY CAR FROM LOCAL DEALER, USED WITH 69K MILES. DELIVERED IT WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. DEALER CLAIMED IT WAS LOW WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID. I TEST DRIVE IT AND TOOK CAR TO MY HOUSE. AFTER A MONTH, I WENT TO MERCEDES BENZ SERVICE STATION WHERE I FOUND OUT THE CAMSHAFT ADJUSTER IS OUT. COSTING ANOTHER $4900. I RESEARCH MORE ON THIS ISSUE; THIS IS A FLAW IN THE MERCEDES M271 ENGINE. AFTER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MILEAGE, THE CAMSHAFT AND TIMING CHAIN HAVE BEEN MALFUNCTIONING IN MOST MERCEDES C250 CARS. MERCEDES DID A RECALL ON IT YEARS AGO THE CAMSHAFT ADJUSTER SOLENOID IS VERY FAULTY AS IT HAPPENS TO MOST C250 VEHICLE OWNERS. THE CHECK ENGINE STAYS ON EVERY DAY, THERE ARE 1000S OF PEOPLE REPORTED THIS ISSUE WITH MERCEDES.

NHTSA ODI 11374350

AIRBAG WAS DEPLOYED ONCE THEY CAR WAS TURN ON, AS I SHIFTED TO REVERSE TO BACK AWAY FROM A PARKING SPOT, AIRBAG DEPLOYED. NO IMPACT, NO COLLISION, NO POT HOLES. VEHICLE WAS ABOUT TONREVERSE. AIRBAG STRUCK PRIMARILY IN THE CHEST, NECK, AND THROAT. WHIPLASH EFFECT HAS ALSO CAUSE LOWER BACK PAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11366585

I WAS ON THE 99 FREEWAY DRIVING NORMAL SPEED AND HIT BRAKES TO TAKE THE DENAIR EXIT. THE CAR SPED UP! LIKE TURBO POWER! THE SPEEDOMETER WAS AT 90 MPH AS I FLEW THROUGH A RED LIGHT AT TOP OF THE RAMP! I HAD TO CONTINUE DOWN RAMP BACK ON FREEWAY. PUSHING AND PUSHING ON BRAKES BUT NOTHING HAPPENED! NEXT RAMP WAS A BIT STEEPER , SO TRIED AGAIN TO SLOW CAR DOWN! IT STARTED TO SLOW AND I WAS ABLE TO PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL AS IT CAME TO STOP AND I POWERED THE CAR OFF. I WAS APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES FROM HOME AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO MERCEDES OF STOCKTON. AFTER THEIR REPAIR DEPARTMENT CHECKED MY CAR, THEY FOUND THE BRAKE BOOSTER WAS BAD AND THE TURBO PIPE HOSE WAS TORN( DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR). I HAD PREVIOUSLY (2 MONTHS EARLIER)HAD MY CAR IN FOR COMPLETE CHECK UP BY THE STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA DEALERSHIP AND NOTHING WAS DETECTED. I FEEL THIS A SAFETY ISSUE! I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED! ALSO I BELIEVE THIS TO BE MANUFACTURE DEFAULT, THE COST TO FIX IS $2,400, AND I ALWAYS BRING MY CAR IN FOR REGULAR SERVING. THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI 11365575

MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT MY 2013 MERCEDES C250 HAS A TIMING CHAIN/CAMSHAFT ADJUSTER SPROCKET PROBLEM AND THAT IT HAPPENS A LOT ON THESE CARS. I FOUND HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE ONLINE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT STARTS USUALLY AS SOON AS THE WARRANTY ENDS. THE COST TO FIX IT AT THE DEALERSHIP IS $5600. IT IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AS YOUR ENGINE WILL EVENTUALLY GET DAMAGED WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING AND CAUSE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11365443

2013 MERCEDES BENZ C-350. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME COMPLETING THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11361818

I HAVE ONLY OWNED THE CAR FOR 4 MONTHS & THE AIRBAG LIGHT TURNED ON. THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE AT REFUSES TO LOOK AT IT UNLESS I PAY THEM FIRST.

NHTSA ODI 11361240

THE TIMING MECHANISM COMMONLY FAILS IN 2012-2013-2014 CARS AND THE ENGINE MAY STUTTER OR TOTALLY FAIL. THE LOCAL DEALER WANTS $7820 TO REPAIR THE CONDITION IN A CAR WHICH HAD LESS THAN 58000 MILES. THE WARRANTY IS OVER AT 50000 MILES. THE FAILURE IS COMMON AND THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET AND.MANY OF THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I CAN FAX MORE DETAILS

NHTSA ODI 11354599

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DOING AROUND 70 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR LOST POWER AND START SHAKING ACTING LIKE IT DIDN'T WANT TO GO FORWARD, I WAS AFRAID THAT IT WAS GOING SHUT DOWN ON ME AND A LOT OF CARS WAS COMING BEHIND ME I WAS SO AFRAID I WAS GOING TO BE IN A BAD ACCIDENT, I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT INCIDENT, BUT I WAS AFRAID THE CAR WAS GOING TO SHUT OFF ON ME AND NOT START BACK UP BUT I MANAGE TO MAKE IT HOME BECAUSE I WAS ONLY A FEW MILES AWAY. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK THE CAR TO BE DIAGNOSE BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON I WENT TO THE AUTOMOBILE REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSE AND THE CODE CAME UP FOR CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSORS I HAD THEM REPLACED, THEN MY CAR STARTED HESITATING TO START AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THEN GO OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND I WOULD DRIVE IT FOR ABOUT 30 MINS AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME BACK ON AGAIN STAY ON FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND GO BACK OFF AGAIN, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN AND I WAS INFORM THAT IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN BUT I DIDN'T BELIEVE IT, BECAUSE I HAD JUST REPLACED THE SENSORS AND THE SPARK PLUGS AND I DIDN'T HAVE THAT MANY MILES ON IT AND I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 3 1/2 YEARS, I STILL DIDN'T BELIEVE IT THEN MY CAR STARTED TO HESITATE ON STARTING UP AND LOOSING POWER WHEN I WAS DRIVING IT AGAIN, SO I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER AUTOMOBILE REPAIR SHOP THAT SPECIALIZE IN FIXING MERCEDES BENZ AND IT CAME BACK WITH THE SAME DIAGNOSE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS DUE TO TIMING CHAIN, TIMING CHAIN NEED REPLACING. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACE 2 CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSORS ON THIS CAR. I WAS TOLD IT WILL COST ME AROUND 5000.00 TO FIX IT. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD MY CAR MAINTENANCE SERVICE ON TIME, I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THIS CAR IS HAVING THIS TYPE OF PROBLEMS. I AM SO AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11352408

ENGINE START NOCKING WHILE DRIVING AND THEN STOPPED ,TOOK IT TO MERCEDES DEALER , OVER 10000.00 TO FIX IT , CAM SHAFT ADJUSTER FAILED AND DAMAGED CYLINDER HEAD.

NHTSA ODI 11351558

CAR LOST POWER, DIDN'T OVERHEAT. FOUND OUT THE TENSION AND TIMING AND HEADS NEED REPLACING AFTER 89,000 MILES

NHTSA ODI 11350990

SLICING MY HAND OPEN ON MY STEERING WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED. I WAS AT THE CAR WASH THE CAR WAS SITTING STILL, THE KEYS WERE NOT IN I THE IGNITION AND DRIVER DOOR WAS OPEN. I REACHED MY ARM THROUGH THE TOP OPENING OF THE STEERING WHEEL TO INSERT MY KEY FOB AND START MY CAR. WHEN I STARTED PULLING MY ARM BACK THROUGH, THE METALLIC TRIM ON TOP OF THE STEERING WHEEL FRAYED AND SLICED OPEN MY MIDDLE FINGER ON MY RIGHT HAND. I CAN BARELY DRIVE MY CAR WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT WHERE MY HAND IS GOING TO GO THE WRONG WAY AND BE SLICED BY PART OF MY STEERING WHEEL I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THIS IT'S VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI 11350059