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2013 Mercedes-benz C-class Phev
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 21, 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.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#170 of 402Among the 2013 models with a matured record, the 2013 Mercedes-benz C-class Phev ranks #170, scoring higher than 56% of them. See the 2013 ranking →
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 Phev, 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 …”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
We can place 4 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.
Read all 570 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 33 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Mercedes-benz before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- Owners of this model report airbags problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 3k miles). Has this car shown any airbags symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report suspension problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 77k miles). Has this car shown any suspension symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
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 PHEV beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2013? See how every C-class Phev model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2013 Mercedes-benz C-class Phev 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.