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

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

My car caught on fire due to AC malfunction

NHTSA ODI 11674814

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

The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes Benz C300. The contact stated that while making a left turn at 40 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the front passenger side of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy upon impact and the seat belt also failed to restrain the contact during the crash. Due to both failures, the contact's head and chest hit the steering wheel. The contact was taken to the hospital by ambulance and given an X-ray exam. The contact was treated for lacerations to the forehead and suffered pain to the head, neck, back, and chest. The whereabouts of the other driver were unknown. A police report was filed. The vehicle was initially towed to an independent mechanic and later back to the contact's home where it remained in the contact's possession. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11588668

While driving on the freeway car pool lane with my wife, a sudden vibration in the front tires was observed, the car felt like it was pushed to the right then to the left even though it was in the center of the lane. Told my wife, "something is wrong with the car!" Thinking that I may have had a flat tire, I slowed down, the car went into a violent flat spin until the right rear end of the car hit the center lane divider. Airbags deployed. 911 was called, we were assisted by Highway patrol to the other side of the freeway. As the car was put on a flatbed tow truck, the tow truck driver commented that one of the front wheel was not turning. We found out that the right rack and pinion broke. The car was declared a Total Loss.

NHTSA ODI 11570166

The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes Benz C300. The contact stated while driving at a slow speed in traffic, another vehicle rear-ended and caused her to crash into the vehicle in front. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the back of her head, her left shoulder, right wrist, and right arm along with chest pains and facial contusion. The contact sought medical attention at an emergency room. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to her residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 57,000.

NHTSA ODI 11469189

I was driving on a straight away doing the speed limit which is reported seconds before the car crash. The steering wheel turned to the left really hard out of no where and wouldn’t let me gain control over the car again. I was sober it was 9am and I was aware of my driving. I ended up spinning out and landed in the ditch feet away from the light pole. I made it know to everyone what happened, but they looked at me crazy. I stopped driving that car and sent it back to Mercedes to get a detailed inspection. Which lasted about 30 days for them to get back to me about what happened. When I received the call to get my car they didn’t provide any information about the incident. Instead they just sent it to corporate and left me in the dark. I was in pain during this whole time. I was couldn’t find a lawyer that was willing to help. It’s been three years since the incident and I will have to live with pain for the rest of my life. It’s not fair that we need thousands of dollars to be heard. I have all communication and documentation that was given during the time of incident.

NHTSA ODI 11438296

I was in a car accident on June 30,2021. A Car collided into my drivers side at the front left wheel. My airbags did not deploy and i was injured. my injuries consisted of neck, shoulder, and lower back. I was also thrown to the passenger side of the vehicle because my seat belt did not seem to lock. Thank you, [XXX] email- [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11423870

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND WAS GOING AROUND A CURVE IN THE ROAD, AN ABNORMAL SOUND WAS HEARD. THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN ROOF GLASS FELL INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE AND ON HER SON WHO WAS SEATED IN HIS CAR SEAT IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT AND HER SON SUSTAINED MINOR SCRAPES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT CALLED MERCEDES-BENZ OF FAYETTEVILLE (420 GLENSFORD DR, FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28314, (910) 487-0000) AND INFORMED THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 23,000. ## VIN PASSED ## MERCEDES-BENZ C300 C4 2017 ##

NHTSA ODI 11384431

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

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DOING ABOUT 55 MPH AND IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING FELL OUT OF THE SKY AND LANDED ON THE CAR, I INSTANTLY THOUGHT THAT I HIT SOMETHING BUT I DIDN'T IT WAS FOLLOWED BY A LOUD SOUND THAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT FOLLOWED BY THE ENTIRE GLASS ROOF PANEL EXPLODING AND CRASHING DOWN INTO IN ME CAUSE MULTIPLE CUTS AND CAUSED ME TO SWERVE ON THE HIGHWAY. ## VIN PASSED ## MERCEDES-BENZ 2017 ##

NHTSA ODI 11354963

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

ON MARCH 8, 2018 MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. WHILE DRIVING TO A MEETING THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE LOCKED UP SENDING THE VEHICLE INTO A 360-DEGREE SPIN. ALL SAFETY FEATURES IN THE VEHICLE FAILED. NO BRAKES, NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ON IMPACT. ON OR AROUND OCTOBER 21ST OF 2018. MY VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A SECOND ACCIDENT. THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE VEHICLE ARE IDENTICAL. WHILE ON MY WAY TO A MEETING THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL GOT LOCKED WHICH SENT THE CAR INTO A 360-DEGREE SPIN. BRAKES, STABILITY CONTROL FAIL, THE CAR ACCELERATED WHILE APPLYING BRAKES, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLPOY ON IMPACT. AFTER THE ACCIDENT I REQUESTED MBUSA TO DISPATCH A SOFTWARE ENGINEER TO HAVE THE ONBOARD ELECTRONICS EXAMINED FOR A POSSIBLE DEFECT. MBUSA ALONG WITH THE MANUFACTURER ARE REFUSING TO HAVE AN ENGINEER SENT. THE DEALERSHIP IS ENGAGED IN DECEITFUL TACTICS IN THEIR COMMUNICATIONS WITH MBUSA LLC. THE DEALERSHIP HAS LIED MULTIPLE TIMES TO MBUSA STATING I AM NOT SHOWING UP TO PRESCRIBED MEETINGS. I HAVE SHOWED ON TIME ON THE DATE THE MEETINGS WITH THE ENGINEER WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE PLACE AND HAVE A WITNESS. ON THE NIGHT OF THE SECOND ACCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS BROKEN INTO TWICE. THE DEALERSHIP STAFF HAVE CHANGED THE RIGHT REAR TIRE ON THE VEHICLE TO MAKE IT APPEAR AS THOUGH IT WAS THE TIRE'S FAULT. THE PURCHASE RECEIPT FOR THE TIRE AND THE DOT NUMBERS DO NOT MATCH THE DOT NUMBER CURRENTLY ON A TIRE REPLACED BY THE STAFF. MBUSA ALLEGES IT IS THE TIRES FAULT WITHOUT PROVIDING ANY SCIENTIFIC FACT BASED EVIDEMCE. A YEAR AN A HALF LATER THE ISSUE IS NOT RESOLVED AND EVERYONE IS POINTING FINGERS AT EACH OTHER.

NHTSA ODI 11315335

SUDDEN ACCELERATION AFTER PULLING VERY SLOWLY INTO PARKING SPACE. ALMOST STOPPED. CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, JUMPED A CURB FROM, WENT UP AN EMBANKMENT AND HIT A TREE. WAS ABLE TO REVERSE AND BACK DOWN. IT WILL TAKE A MONTH FOR BODY WORK. NOTIFIED MERCEDES DEALER. THEY WILL RUN DIAGNOSTICS ON JAN. 7.

NHTSA ODI 11286307

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, WAS BROADSIDED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BUT THE AIR BAG UNDER THE DASHBOARD OF THE DRIVER SIDE DEPLOYED WITH SUCH FORCE THAT CAUSED LACERATIONS AND SECOND DEGREE BURNS ON THE DRIVERS LEGS. THE POLICE WAS PRESENT AND A REPORT NUMBER: 38-18-85 WAS FILED. THE DRIVER WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE, TREATED AND RELEASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT, THE INSURANCE COMPANY LABELED THE VEHICLE DESTROY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11243472

I HAD AN INJURY IN THE MILITARY AND IT LEFT ME WITH SOME FORM OF TBI. THE CHEMICALS IN THE CAR FROM THE TIME OF PURCHASE TO THE TIME OF SELL LEFT ME WITH A LARGE AMOUNT OF AMNESIA AND AT TIMES PAIN THROUGHOUT THE BODY, ITS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S EASILY REMEDIED. THE TIMES FROM THE CHEMICALS IN THE VEHICLE ALWAYS CAUSED A PROBLEM. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO.

NHTSA ODI 11231677

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN HEAD ON COLLISION. THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT NOT TO FULL CAPACITY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.

NHTSA ODI 11172855

I HIT A BEAR IN MONTANA IN MY 2017 MERCEDES C300 AT 86MPH AND DESTROYED THE FRONT OF MY CAR. THE SEATBELTS DEPLOYED AND WRENCHED US INTO OUR SEATS AND SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE FRONT AIR VENTS BUT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF. ON THE DASH THE VEHICLES STATED THAT THE AIRBAGS IN ALL 4 ZONES IN THE CAR MALFUNCTIONED AND SERVICE IS REQUIRED. MERCEDES IS STATING THAT THE LIGHT IS FROM A SEATBELT ERROR CODE BUT THE DASH DID NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT SRS OR SEATBELTS. I DO NOT WANT TO PUT MY FAMILY BACK IN THE CAR AND DO NOT FEEL IT SHOULD BE REPAIRED. PLEASE SEE ATTACHED PHOTOS OF THE ERROR MESSAGES ON THE DASH. I DO NOT KNOW HOW I CAN HIT SOMETHING THAT HARD AND NOT HAVE THEM DEPLOY. MERCEDES IS DOING AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION BUT THEY HAVE NOT GIVEN ME THE RESULTS OF THAT AND IT HAS BEEN OVER 3 WEEKS. VEHICLE WAS IN FOR A AIRBAG RECALL NOT TAKATA RELATED ON JANUARY OF 2018 AND THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN REPAIRED.

NHTSA ODI 11112163

WHEN THE CAR IS NOT MOVING AND YOU ARE READY TO LEAVE THE CAR YOU PRESS THE POWER BUTTON TO TURN IT OFF, THE CAR "SOMETIMES" GOES INTO NEUTRAL NOT PARK AND STARTS MOVING WHEN YOU ARE GETTING READY TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, EVEN KNOWING THAT IT DOES HAVE A BUTTON FOR PARK BUTTON ON THE GEAR SHIFTER. IT SHOULD BY DEFAULT GO INTO PARK NOT NEUTRAL ALL MY OTHER CARS THAT ARE KEY LESS WHEN YOU PRESS THE BUTTON TO TURN THE CAR IT OFF GOES BY DEFAULT TO PARK REGARDLESS OF PRESSING THE PARK BUTTON ON THE VEHICLE. I HAVE EXPRESS THIS TO MB AND THEY DON'T SEAM TO BE CONCERN ABOUT THIS, SPECIALTY WHEN WE HAVE DIFFERENT VEHICLES IN THIS HOUSEHOLD THAT ALL OF THEM GO INTO PARK.

NHTSA ODI 11091532