What 435 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Mercedes-benz C-class Hybrid

THIS CAR LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS ON WORKING FINE DRIVING ALONG THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL DID NOTHING AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. THE ENGINE WAS NOT GETTING GAS. THE ELECTRICAL AND EVERYTHING ELSE WAS ON IN THE CAR EXCEPT THE ENGINE. THE SYSTEM IN THIS CAR HAS A DOUBLE FUEL TANK THAT ONLY WORKS ON ONE SIDE. THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM IS FAULTY. THE MANAGER AT MERCEDES TOLD ME HIMSELF THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THIS CAR. THERE IS NO REASON WHY A CAR WITH 24,000 MILES SHOULD HAVE BROKEN DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK. FAULTY AND HORRIBLE WORKMANSHIP ON A SUPPOSED LUXURY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11362900

I CAN SMELL FUEL NEAR THE PUMP BEFORE WE START CAR IN COLD IN THE MORNING AND THIS SMELL CAN BE SMELLED UNTIL THE ENGINE WORKING INTO THE NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE. FUEL IS A VERY CRITICAL SAFETY PROBLEM AND USUALLY WE CANNOT TAKE NOTICE OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11353226

I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR A MULTI POINT INSPECTION AT THE END OF NOVEMBER 2019 TO MERCEDES OF BELLEVUE. I BEGUN SMELLING GASOLINE FROM THE INSIDE CABIN OF MY CAR A FEW DAYS AFTER THE SERVICE AND HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY FOUND THAT FUEL HOSES GOING TO THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP TO BE LEAKING FUEL. WITH THIS BEING A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD AND A SAFETY ISSUE, I ARGUED WITH THE DEALER THAT IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, WHICH I STILL HAD A CPO WARRANTY FROM PURCHASING THE VEHICLE FROM THIS SPECIFIC DEALERSHIP. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND THAT, THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE MODEL, 2015 MERCEDES BENZ C300. I AM UNSURE WHY THIS ISSUE IS NOT YET RECALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER OR WHY THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT HONOR THIS ISSUE TTO BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.. AS A CONCERNED CUSTOMER OF THE HAZARDOUS POSSIBILITIES A FUEL LEAK COULD CAUSE, I STILL MOVED FORWARD WITH PAYING FOR THE REPAIR OUT OF POCKET VERSUS CONTINUING TO DEBATE WITH THE FINANCE AND SERVICE PERSONNEL THAT IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY THAT I STILL HAD AT THE TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11349160

I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE B AND WAS TOLD THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL LINES WERE LEAKING. IT IS A FIRE HAZARD, SO IT CANNOT BE IGNORED.THE CAR IS 5 YEARS OLD AND HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED. IT COST ME $750 TO REPAIR, AND MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11320323

THERE'S FUEL SMELL COMING INTO THE CABIN. BROUGHT IT INTO MERCEDES DEALER SERVICE CENTER AND THEY SAID IT'S 2 BROKEN FUEL LINE. IT'S A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS GENERATION C CLASS BUT THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI 11319239

CRANKCASE BREATHER HOSE IS LEAKING FUEL. FUEL LINE IS LEAKING FUEL. THIS CREATES GAS SMELL IN THE CAR. THIS IS ALSO UNSAFE DUE TO THE FUEL LEAKAGE. LOOKS LIKE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THESE CARS. IT SHOULD BE A RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11315581

WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD THE WHOLE CABIN SMELLS LIKE GAS OR WHEN PUT HEAT ON. THE SMELL IS VERY HEAVY WHEN VEHICLE IS STATIONARY WHEN DRIVE IT CALLS DOWN, BUT AT A LIGHT IT COMES BACK. MERCEDES HAS MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM

NHTSA ODI 11308369

THE VEHICLE HAS 67K MILES. I NOTICED A GASOLINE ODOR COMING FROM THE AC A MONTH AGO SINCE THEN, THE ODOR INTENSITY HAS DRASTICALLY INCREASED. THE ODOR USUALLY GOES AWAY AFTER A FEW MILES, HOWEVER, TODAY THE ODOR DID NOT GO AWAY AND I NOTICED AN ONSET OF A HEADACHE SINCE COMMENCING THE DRIVE, I THEN BECAME VERY DROWSY AND WAS VERY CLOSE TO REAR-ENDING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME ON THE WAY HOME, BUT THANKFULLY THE COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM EMITTED A LOUD SOUND AND I WAS ABLE TO REACT IN TIME TO PRESS THE BRAKES AND AVOID THE COLLISION. THERE WAS A RECALL ON 3/10/2015 FOR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN APRIL 7, 2014, AND JULY 25, 2014, FOR AN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE AND THE TANK, MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED JANUARY 2015, HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THE SAME ISSUE IS CAUSING THE GASOLINE FUMES I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING IN MY VEHICLE AC SYSTEM.

NHTSA ODI 11307552

GAS SMELL COMING FROM CABIN EVERY TIME I PUT HEAT ON ,COME TO FIND OUT DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THERE WAS A LEAK ON GAS HOSE AND NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY I HAVE, ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR A YEAR DIDN'T DRIVE MY CAR IN FEAR WILL EXPLODE PLUS IM A SMOKER SO I COULD OF HAVE BLOWN UP, PLUS BATTERY THEY SAID WAS WEAK NEEDS TO B REPLACE ,AGAIN I BARELY DRIVE AND ONLY HAD MY CAR FOR A YEAR CPO EVERYTHING SHOULD OF BEEN NEW AND RUNNING PERFECT

NHTSA ODI 11301299

GAS SMELL COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHEN STARTING THE CAR. THE GAS SMELL GOES AWAY BUT COMES BACK EVERYTIME I START THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11300236

2015 MERCEDES BENZ C300 WITH 65 K MILES. THE SECONDARY HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (274070050180) LEAKED GAS SERIOUSLY. IT WAS THE UNIT ITSELF NOT THE CONNECTIONS OR LINES TO IT.

NHTSA ODI 11297698

A FEW DAYS AGO, I BEGAN SMELLING A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE WHEN I DROVE MY CAR. THIS WENT ON FOR SEVERAL DAYS, SO I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP. AS SOON AS I DESCRIBED MY PROBLEM TO THE SERVICE STAFF AND BEFORE THEY CHECKED ME IN, THEY ASKED ME IF THE MODEL WAS A MERCEDES C300. WHEN I REPLIED THAT IT WAS, THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM QUITE OFTEN ON THIS MODEL. GIVEN THE LOW MILEAGE OF 23,115 MILES ON MY CAR, A FUEL LINE LEAK WOULD NOT NORMALLY BE EXPECTED TO OCCUR. CONSIDERING THAT FACT ALONG WITH THE REPORTED COMMONALITY OF THIS ISSUE, I AM CONCERNED THAT, FOR OTHER DRIVERS WITH THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM, THE SYMPTOMS MAY INVOLVE MORE THAN JUST THE SCENT OF GASOLINE AND RESULT IN CAR FIRES OR ACCIDENTS. NEITHER THE DEALERSHIP NOR CORPORATE MERCEDES HAVE BEEN RESPONSIVE TO MY CONCERNS.

NHTSA ODI 11291517

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE. THERE IS A FUEL SMELL COMING INSIDE OF THE CAR THROUGH THE FRONT FILTERS. WE HAVE CHANGED FUEL INJECTOR RING HOWEVER THE SMELL IS STILL THERE. MERCEDES DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. I SEE THERE ARE RECALLS ON THE SAME MODELS PRODUCED A YEAR PRIOR. BELIEVE THIS MIGHT BE THE SAME ISSUE THAT WAS NOT RESOLVED . NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 15V138000 ## VIN PASSED ## MERCEDES-BENZ C300 2015 ##

NHTSA ODI 11291179

GASOLINE FUEL HOSE LEAK BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND THE DRIVER SIDE CAUSING A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL INSIDE THE CABIN AND UNDER THE HOOD WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING AND CAUSING A FIRE HAZARD

NHTSA ODI 11290689

STRONG FUEL SMELL IN THE GARAGE AND INSIDE THE VEHICLE DURING COLD START AFTER THE VEHICLE IS PARKED FOR 8-12 HOURS. THE ISSUE IS EVEN MORE NOTICEABLE DURING COLDER WEATHER (BELOW 40). THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FOR C300 AND IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE CLAMP ON A FUEL LINE. THE VEHICLE IS AT 44,000 MILES AND 6 MOUNTS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE FUEL LEAK IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY THE MANUFACTURER ESPECIALLY IF IS A WELL KNOWN DEFECT.

NHTSA ODI 11281837

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ C300W4. WHEN THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED A FUEL ODOR. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, IT STALLED AND BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF PARAMUS (755 NJ-17, PARAMUS, NJ 07652, (201) 977-6365) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL HOSE AND THE FUEL LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED LITTLE ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.

NHTSA ODI 11280206

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ C300W4. WHEN THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF FARMINGTON (555 N BOURNE CIR, FARMINGTON, UT 84025, (801) 447-3300) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED A 20% DISCOUNT TOWARDS THE REPAIR COST. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO CALL NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V138000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 54,971.

NHTSA ODI 11278659

THERE IS A FUEL HOSE (PARTS NUMBER: 274 070 3500) CONNECT TO THE HIGH PRESSURE PUMP IN FRONT ENGINE AREA. THE FUEL HOSE WAS FASTENED BY A CLAMP (NOT SURE THE PARTS NUMBER) . BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN FLAW, THIS CLAMP WILL LOOSE SINCE IT'S A SNAP JOINT ASSEMBLIES NOT TIGHTEN BY SCREWS. UNDER THIS SITUATION, THE FUEL HOSE WILL LOOSE AND AFFECTED BY THERMAL EXPANSION, THIS PROBLEM WILL CAUSE FUEL LEAK/SEEPING. WE CAN SMELL FUEL NEAR THE PUMP BEFORE WE START CAR IN COLD IN THE MORNING AND THIS SMELL CAN BE SMELLED UNTIL THE ENGINE WORKING INTO THE NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE. FUEL IS A VERY CRITICAL SAFETY PROBLEM AND USUALLY WE CANNOT TAKE NOTICE OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11276830

I SMELLED FUEL IN MY GARAGE OCCASIONALLY FOR THE PAST 4 MONTHS. I ASSUMED IN WAS THE GAS HEATER BUT WHEN I PARK MY CAR IN OTHERS GARAGE I SMELLED FUEL. A FRIEND SUGGESTED IT MIGHT BE MY CAR. I TOOK MY CAR INTO SERVICE FOR MY 50K SERVICE AND ASKED IF THEY COULD LOOK INTO. MERCEDES BENZ INFORMED ME IT IS WET AROUND THE FUEL HOSE CONNECTOR. BEFORE I ONLY SMELLED IT TWICE A MONTH IN THE GARAGE. AFTER ONE I GOT IT BACK FROM SERVICE, I SMELLED FUEL INSIDE THE CAR WHILE I'M DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11207051

AT COLD START, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE HEATER IS ON, THE CABIN SMELLS OF RAW GASOLINE. THE ISSUE IS QUITE ANNOYING AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. AFTER PERFORMING A GOOGLE SEARCH ABOUT THE PROBLEM, I'VE NOTICED THAT OTHERS WHO OWN W205 HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OTHERS' COMPLAINTS: HTTP://M.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/MERCEDES-BENZ/METRIS/2016/FUEL_SYSTEM/FUEL_PROPULSION_SYSTEM.SHTML

NHTSA ODI 11191052

LOW PRESSURE FUEL LINE LEAK COULD CAUSE FIRE, FUEL SMELLS VERY STRONG IN THE CABIN I HAVE 2 2015S BOTH HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE ONE IS FROM CALIFORNIA SO IT NOT A SALT ISSUE. HAPPENS ON COLD START

NHTSA ODI 11186580

LOW PRESSURE FUEL LINE LEAK COULD CAUSE FIRE, FUEL SMELLS VERY STRONG IN THE CABIN I HAVE 2 2015S BOTH HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE ONE IS FROM CALIFORNIA SO IT NOT A SALT ISSUE. HAPPENS ON COLD START

NHTSA ODI 11186581

HIGH FUMES OF GASOLINE AT START UP INSIDE CABIN AND OUTSIDE OF CABIN. SMELL IS USUALLY MORE PRESENT WHEN TANK IS FULL OR NEARLY EMPTY HOWEVER CAN BE PRESENT EVEN AT HALF A TANK. NO CODES APPEAR OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS NOT TRIGGERED BY PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11181758

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND JERKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,800.

NHTSA ODI 10971862

WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR LOSES THROTTLE AND THE ENGINE DOES NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. THE FOLLOWING ERROR SHOWS ON THE DASH: "INOPERATIVE SEE OPERATOR'S MANUAL". WHEN THIS HAPPENS, YOUR ONLY CHOICE IS TO COAST TO A SAFE PLACE. AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR, IT WILL FUNCTION FOR A SHORT TIME, ONLY TO REOCCUR. THIS OBVIOUSLY CAN BE DEADLY IF YOU CANNOT GET OFF THE HIGHWAY BEFORE THE CAR COMES TO A STOP. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10948678