What 284 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Mercedes-benz C-class Phev

The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-Benz C250. The contact stated that the vehicle was difficult to start. Additionally, the steering wheel was difficult to turn to the left or the right. The vehicle was eventually started and driven to a dealer; however, after the vehicle was parked and turned off, the contact attempted to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to restart. The dealer replaced the battery however, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that the dealer then traced the failure to an anti-theft sensor that shut off the vehicle to deter vehicle theft. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

NHTSA ODI 11723624

Experiencing a failed Electronic Steering Lock (ESL). Car won’t crank or start even after verifying battery health and key fob. Symptoms point to a failed ESL, left stranded

NHTSA ODI 11719778

A known issue by many mB owners related to Steering Wheel Lock or ESL system. Car will not start due to a known defect related to a part installed inside the steering wheel preventing owners from starting car safely and to get to destination safely.

NHTSA ODI 11626338

The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that an unidentified recall was previously completed on the vehicle; however, the recall remedy failed to prevent the failure from occurring. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the steering wheel locked. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the electronic steering lock and the TRP needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 158,000.

NHTSA ODI 11623763

While I was driving my car the driver side airbag abruptly deployed. The airbag inadvertently deployed; the car did not crash into anything to cause the airbag to deploy. When the airbag erupted it caused injury to my head, face, hand, arm and wrist. I believe the airbag is defective because I have lacerations on my face possibly due to sharp objects ejecting from the airbag and the impact as well as excessive smoke and fumes emitted after the fact. I believe there might be a manufacturing defect in the airbag because it seemed as if it exploded with excessive force causing harm to myself as well as inadvertent eruption. There have been some recalls issued on the motor vehicle and I did take the vehicle to the Mercedes car dealership to get all of the recalls repaired, however this incident occurred after the repairs were made at the dealership.

NHTSA ODI 11598400

The ignition switch is causing the steering column to lock and it has been reported a lot at different dealerships that I have called.

NHTSA ODI 11560740

Parked the car, did something, came back and car did not start. Key in, no crank, no start, no steering. No lights on the dash, no gear shifting, can’t roll the windows up. All out of nowhere. Think it’s a problem with the Electronic Steering Lock.

NHTSA ODI 11466656

My Mercedes started smoking from within the cabin. I traced it down to the speaker in the car. I contacted the Mercedes dealership and told them that my speaker was burning and smoking. The service advisor knew exactly the problem and said that the factory amplifier went bad and is causing an electrical issue in the car. He had seen this before. However, Mercedes is not considering a safety issue nor doing a recall. However, I was told I should not drive the car and have it towed. So, if my car can catch fire while driving from a faulty amplifier, that would be a safety issue. I was told this would be an out of pocket expense.

NHTSA ODI 11453544

The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-Benz C250W. The contact stated while attempting to start the ignition when entering the key. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the unknown ignition component to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired as of yet. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000.

NHTSA ODI 11419683

WHILE DRIVING ON 95 HIGHWAY TAKING AN EXIT ( MAKING A RIGHT TURN ROUNDABOUT) THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED ON ME PREVENTING ME FROM CONTINUING IN THE DIRECTION OF THE EXIT CAUSING ME TO ALMOST CRASH INTO THE METAL RAILINGS; BECAUSE MY WHEELS NOW WHERE LOCKED IN A POSITION THAT WOULD FORCE ME TO CRASH INTO THE RAILINGS HAD I NOT STOPPED. I STOPPED AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART FOR THE STEERING WHEEL AND SYSTEM TO RESET AND UNLOCK. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED AROUND 2018 OR 2019. I NOTIFIED MERCEDES OF WHAT HAPPENED AND I RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF A RECALL ON THE STEERING. I HAD THE RECALL CHECKED ON MY VEHICLE AND THOUGHT IT WAS FIXED. HOWEVER, TWICE IN NOVEMBER 2020 MY CAR WAS STATIONARY WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR, THE STEERING WAS LOCKED AND THE IGNITION WOULD NOT START. THEN AFTER MAKING SEVERAL ATTEMPTS CAR EVENTUALLY STARTED. I CALLED MERCEDES AND I WAS TOLD OVER THE PHONE BY MERCEDES IT COULD BE MY KEY FAUB. HOWEVER, THIS HAPPENED A 4TH TIME ON DEC 24, 2020, NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO START CAR AND CAR WOULD NOT START, STEERING WAS LOCKED. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD BY MERCEDES THERES A FAULT IN THE STEERING LOCK MODULAR. THE ELECTRICAL WIRING IS FAULTY AND THE ENTIRE STEERING MODULAR HAS TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, AND CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS WHEN IT MALFUNCTIONS WHILE DRIVING. I ASKED ABOUT THE RECALL THAT WAS ON THE STEERING AND WAS TOLD THE RECALL ADDRESSED A DIFFERENT ISSUE WITH THE STEERING.

NHTSA ODI 11386738

THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM FAILED AFTER 59,000 MILES, LOCKE THE STEERING WHEEL AND WON'T ALLOW THE CAR TO START. MERCEDES CHARGES 1,800 DOLLARS TO REPLACE IT.. NEEDS TO BE RECALLED VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI 11372423

STEERING LOCKS UP/KEY FOB IN IGNITION SAYS "REMOVE KEY" WITH NO START. EIS/ESL FAILURE

NHTSA ODI 11360128

I CAN'T BELIEVE I EXPERIENCED THAT .. MY CAR ALL OF THE SUDDEN JERKED ON THE FREEWAY AND STARTED SHAKING . I SERIOUSLY THOUGHT WE HAD AN EARTHQUAKE .. THEN IT ACCELERATED AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW I'M GOING 25 MILES AND HOUR .. SO GLAD I WAS NEAR AN EXIT I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL ROLLED DOWN THE HILL , MADE A TURN AND SHUT IT OFF .TOOK ME A MINUTE TO GATHER MYSELF .. WHAT IF I WAS IN A MIDDLE LANE ? WHAT IF SOMEONE COULDN'T PRESS THE BREAKS IN TIME🤦🏻‍♀️🤯😡...

NHTSA ODI 11344258

ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK SYSTEM FAILS IN EVERY MERCEDES BENZ ITS A DEFECTIVE PART.

NHTSA ODI 11322976

THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND WHEN TRYING TO START THE STEERING WAS LOCKED AND IGNITION WOULD NOT START. THE CAR HAD THE STEERING LOCKED AND ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH SPONTANEOUSLY CORRUPTED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ODI 11287670

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V10000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. MERCEDES-BENZ OF GOLDEN BRIDGE (321 NY-22, GOLDEN BRIDGE, NY 10526, (914) 232-8122) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD ELECTRICAL FAILURES AND ONE OF THE RIMS FRACTURED. ALSO, THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WERE FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *BF. CONSUMER STATED 2-3 TIRE AND RIM REPLACEMENTS FIRST 4 MONTH OF PURCHASING IT. CONSUMER PURCHASED A SECOND CAR. AGAIN SECOND HAD HAD CREAKED RIM ON THE WHEEL, WHICH CONSUMER REPLACED. CONSUMER HAD CRACKED WHEEL, LANE ASSIST HAD ELECTRICAL FAULT, REPLACED ACCELERATOR PEDAL, REPLACED HORN PLATE, STEERING WHEEL AGAIN VIBRATION MOTOT MALFUNCTION, REMOVE BATTERY, REPLACED 12/18. CONSUMER HAS RECEIVED 4 SAFETY RECALL LETTERS ON THIS CAR AND OUT OF 4 LETTERSM, 2 CAME IN 2/19, 3/19. CAR'S WARRANTY IS UNTIL 4/2019.*JB

NHTSA ODI 11190343

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 MERCEDES-BENZ C250W. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE ON ITS OWN AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF PALM BEACH (4000 OKEECHOBEE BLVD, WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33409, 561-689-6363) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING BACK HOME AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE DRIVER HEARD A HISSING SOUND AND DARK SMOKE GUSHED FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. FLAMES APPROXIMATELY SEVEN FEET HIGH POURED OUT FROM THE HOOD AND ENGULFED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CAUSED BY THE PREVIOUS REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED AN INVESTIGATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,187.

NHTSA ODI 11092850

I PURCHASED MY USED CAR AT JERRY DAMSON 3/17/18 AND THIS CAR HAS BEEN AT THE MERCEDES DEALER STATING THIS IS UNABLE TO DRIVE, THEY RESET A LIGHT THAT DAMSON DESCRIBED FROM REMOVING THE SEAT, IT APPEAR THAT IT HAS CAME BACK ON. IT WAS HERE THE ENTIRE 30DAYS WARRANTY I HAD. IM UPSET! IT WAS SMOKING AND CRACKING AND MAKING ALL SORTS OF NOISE ALONG WITH THE HORN AND BUTTONS DO NOT WORK. MERCEDES SAYS NO WAY TO FIX THIS AND CAN NOT DRIVE THIS UNSAFE CAR. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS CAR 10 FULL DAYS!! ITS STILL THERE. THEY ARE SAYING I SHOULD PAY FOR THIS AND IT CLEARLY STATES THAT MERCEDES WILL. HELP!!!!! MY CAR WAS IN MOTION. MY CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALER FOR THIS ISSUE HELP!!

NHTSA ODI 11089644

I PURCHASED MY USED CAR AT JERRY DAMSON 3/17/18 AND THIS CAR HAS BEEN AT THE MERCEDES DEALER STATING THIS IS UNABLE TO DRIVE, THEY RESET A LIGHT THAT DAMSON DESCRIBED FROM REMOVING THE SEAT, IT APPEAR THAT IT HAS CAME BACK ON. IT WAS HERE THE ENTIRE 30DAYS WARRANTY I HAD. IM UPSET! IT WAS SMOKING AND CRACKING AND MAKING ALL SORTS OF NOISE ALONG WITH THE HORN AND BUTTONS DO NOT WORK. MERCEDES SAYS NO WAY TO FIX THIS AND CAN NOT DRIVE THIS UNSAFE CAR. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS CAR 10 FULL DAYS!! ITS STILL THERE. THEY ARE SAYING I SHOULD PAY FOR THIS AND IT CLEARLY STATES THAT MERCEDES WILL. HELP!!!!! MY CAR WAS IN MOTION. MY CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALER FOR THIS ISSUE HELP!!

NHTSA ODI 11089646

STEERING WHEEL SPRING GROUNDING PROBLEM CAN ACCIDENTALLY DEPLOY AIRBAG. RECALLED IN OCT 2017 BUT I'M TOLD PARTS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL MAY 2018. THIS IS AN UNREASONABLY LONG TIME. I WENT TO TRADE-IN THIS CAR TO PURCHASE A NEW ONE AND WAS TOLD THAT NO DEALER CAN SELL A CAR WITH A PENDING SAFETY RECALL EXCEPT "AS IS" THROUGH AN AUTO AUCTION, WHICH LOWERS THE VALUE OF MY CAR BY OVER $2,000 VERSUS A NORMAL DEALER TRADE. HOW DO I RECOVER THIS LOSS WITHOUT SUING MERCEDES? ARE THERE ANY GOVERNMENT REMEDIES OTHER THAN PRIVATE LAWSUIT?

NHTSA ODI 11056561

I HAD BEEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, GOT OFF ONTO A SIDE ROAD AND WHEN APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT WHILE BRAKING: MY CAR COMPLETELY DIED (WHILE IN DRIVE). THE MOTOR SHUT OFF, THE ELECTRICAL DASH SYSTEM LIGHTS ALL WENT OFF AND THE HAZARD TRIANGLE SYSTEM CAME ON (WITH THE SYMBOL OF AN EXCLAMATION MARK(!) INSIDE THE TRIANGLE). AFTER ABOUT A MINUTE AND A HALF, I PUT IT IN PARK, AND IT RESTARTED. SCARY! I HAD A FULL TANK OF GAS.

NHTSA ODI 10969983

I LEASED MY VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER OF 2013. THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN TO AND FROM WORK AND IN THE BEGINNING I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM. A FEW MONTHS AGO I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 70 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHILE WOULD VIOLENTLY SHAKE WHE TRYING TO ACCELERATE. I MANGED TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE FOR ABOUT ANOTHER 30 MINUTES AND MADE IT TO THE DEALER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF BUT ONCE THEY RESTARTED IT THE CAR RAN FINE. SINCE THEN THEN CAR WILL RANDOMLY LOOSE POWER ALL OF A SUDDEN IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 3 OR 4 TIMES AND THEY KEEP IT FOR A WEEK AND THEN GIVE IT BACK AND SAY THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO RECREATE THE ISSUE. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT ONCE SO FAR AND WHEN I LET MY BROTHER USE THE CAR HE WAS ALMOST HIT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN BECAUSE OF THE RANDOM POWER LOSS. I HAVE CONTACTED MBUSA AND SPOKE WITH SOMEONE NAMED JUAN. I CONTINUED TO CALL HIM ANS TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER EVERYTIME IT HAPPENED EXPRESSING MY CONCERNS ABIUT THE CAR AS WELL AS SAFETY. JUAN INTIALLLY ACTED AS IF HE CARED BUT THAT WAS SHOR LIVED AS HE FINALLY CALLED BACK ON 10/2/15 AND EXPLAINED THAT HIS MANAGERS AND MBUSA WERE UNABLE TO CREATE THE ISSUE AT THE DEALER LEVEL SO THERE IS NOTHING THEY WILL DO AT THIS POINT... AT THAT POINT I REALIZED THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT MBUSA WILL DO FOR ME AND THAT I WILL CONTINUE TO FORCED TO DRIVE AND PAY FOR A VERY UNSAFE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 10779447

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MERCEDES BENZ C250. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND WAS TOWED BY THE DEALER, WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ODI 10721554

DRIVING ON A FOUR-LANE STREET (TWO LANES ON EACH SIDE) WITH MY TWO KIDS. THE 2014 C250 HAD A MALFUNCTION WITH THE ELECTRIC STEERING: AUTOMATICALLY JERKING THE CAR TO THE RIGHT. I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND HIT THE CURB. IT FELT LIKE WE WENT AIRBORNE. I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO TRY TO STABILIZE THE CAR, QUICKLY REALIZING THERE WAS TRUCK TO THE LEFT I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID HITTING THE TRUCK. THIS CAUSED ME TO HIT THE CURB AGAIN. IT ALL HAPPENED SO FAST IT WAS HARD TO STABILIZE THE CAR. MERCEDES-BENZ (EXPRESSED AS MBUSA) HAD MY CAR FOR OVER A MONTH. IN THEIR INCIDENT QUESTIONNAIRE THEY ASKED TO GRANT PERMISSION TO IMAGE THE DATA CONTAINED IN THE VEHICLE'S EVENT DATA RECORDER (EDR). I SENT THE QUESTIONNAIRE TO MY INSURANCE, AND WE DIDN'T NOT GRANT MBUSA PERMISSION AS THE LESSEE. MBUSA BROKE THE LAW AND WENT WITHOUT MY PERMISSION AND IMAGED THE DATA. THAN CAME BACK AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE DAMAGE, AS THE EDR STATED THAT I HIT THE CURB. MBUSA EXPRESSED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THEIR MALFUNCTION. I ASKED FOR A COPY OF THE RECORDED CONVERSATION AND I WANT THE REPORT. IT WAS EXPRESSED BY MBUSA THAT I WOULD HAVE TO GET A COURT SUBPOENA FOR THEM TO GIVE ME THE INFORMATION. I CALLED A ATTORNEY AND THIS IS AGAINST THE LAW; AND IS ALL TACTICS/STRATEGIES ON MBUSA PART TO NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THEY WOULD BY LAW HAVE TO REPORT IT TO NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA). ALL I WANTED WAS TO KEEP MY FAMILY SAFE, AND FOR MBUSA TO TAKE THE CAR BACK AS IT WAS AROUND 3 MONTHS OLD WHEN THE ACCIDENT ACCUSED. IF I FIGHT THIS: JUST TO GET SOMEONE TO REVIEW THE EDR WILL COST AROUND $10,000. GREAT BUSINESS STRATEGY MBUSA IN KEEPING YOUR CUSTOMERS SAFE UNTIL SOMEONE DIES BECAUSE OF YOUR LACK OF HUMILITY! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10671406

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRACTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10660706