What 251 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Mercedes-benz C-class Hybrid

The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz C300. While driving at approximately 15 mph, the contact observed smoke emanating from under the hood. The vehicle was driven to her work location and parked. Upon exiting the vehicle and opening the hood, she observed orange flames coming from the engine compartment. A parking attendant extinguished the fire, and a police and/or fire report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer and diagnosed with a fuel line leak that caused the engine harness to come apart. The leaking fuel hose from the high-pressure fuel pump caused damage to the high-pressure pump, engine harness, vacuum transducer, and coolant feed line from the thermostat to the firewall. The following components needed replacement: high-pressure fuel pump, rubber fuel hose, engine harness, pressure transducer, and intake manifold. The vehicle was repaired. Five months later, the contact experienced another failure she believes was associated with the engine fire. While parked and attempting to start the vehicle, it did not start. The vehicle was towed to a dealer and diagnosed with a faulty starter that needed replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 65,422.

NHTSA ODI 11738037

The sunroof is very glitchy and this is common in all Benz I have had a few different Benz and they all eventually have this same issue with their panoramic sunroof. Sometimes it opens half way life one side is up and the other side is closed and other times it will open fully but not close and other times it won’t open at all. This is a common problem that many Benz owners have stated this in the Benz forums all over. This is a safety issue due to unexpected weather conditions if it rains and it’s stuck inside gets damage and owners get wet which is also a distraction and may cause accidents. Please investigate this issue thoroughly. Their sunroofs should be recalled and extended warranties placed on them automatically by Mercedes Benz due to this being a very common issue in all model’s panorama sunroofs particularly C300s year 2017 thank you for looking into this matter.

NHTSA ODI 11665836

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 MERCEDES-BENZ C300C. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THEY WERE INFORMED THAT THEIR VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE'S CONSOLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED DUE TO THE ENTIRE INSIDE BEING COMPLETELY BURNED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A REPORT WAS FILED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATING THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF STEVENS CREEK 4500 STEVENS CREEK BLVD, SAN JOSE, CA 95129; (408) 641-4610) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEIR VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V114000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT APPROXIMATELY, TWO MONTHS AGO A FUSE LINE UNDERNEATH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE DEALER MENTIONED ABOVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS OPENED REGARDING THE MATTER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

NHTSA ODI 11373777

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 MERCEDES BENZ C43 AMG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 63 MPH IN THE RAIN, LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS IT SLED TO THE LEFT AND CRASHED INTO THE GUARD RAIL. THE INCIDENT OF MARCH 12TH DID NOT FEEL LIKE I HAD HYDRO-PLANNED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED SUCH AS AIR BAGS FAILURE, SHOCK FAILURE, SUSPENSION FAILURE AND TRACK FAILURE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE'S DRIVER'S SIDE WAS DAMAGED UNDER THE FRONT BUMPER AND THE FRAME WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED AND A FAILURE CAUSE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE FAILURE ON-LINE AND BELIEVES THAT THE ELECTRIC STEERING WAS DEFECTIVE AND MAY BE A CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL FOR ELECTRICAL STEERING. DURING THE INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE BY PENSKE AUTO COLLISION CENTER, THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT TELL IF THE STEERING DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED DURING THE COLLISION OR AS A RESULT OF A DEFECT. THEY ALSO FOUND DAMAGE TO THE REAR DRIVE UNIT ALTHOUGH, AS VERY VISIBLE IN THE PHOTOS, THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE BARRIER WITH THE FRONT LEFT (DRIVER'S SIDE) PORTION OF THE FRONT BUMPER. THE REAR OF THE CAR NEVER SLAMMED INTO THE BARRIER BUT DID SCRAPE ALONG THE DRIVER'S SIDE MOMENTARILY BUT THERE WAS NO IMPACT. THE COLLISION CENTER COULD NOT ACCOUNT FOR THE DAMAGE TO THE REAR DRIVE UNIT. IN RESEARCH, I FOUND A FEW MENTIONS AND COMPLAINTS OF THE REAR AXLE DISENGAGING WHICH COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BY THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000. *DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11319155