Headlight is out and there is no replacement; dealer says they are having significant issues with headlamps. Also, tire safety monitoring system is always on, even though there is a proper air pressure amount.
NHTSA ODI 11478151
Home · 2018 Mercedes-benz C-class Hybrid · Complaints
These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.
Newest first · 125 complaints · page 4 of 5
Headlight is out and there is no replacement; dealer says they are having significant issues with headlamps. Also, tire safety monitoring system is always on, even though there is a proper air pressure amount.
NHTSA ODI 11478151
Damaged cords on the soft top interior trim with the following characteristics: - Cord snapped - Cord worn - Cord torn out - Cord sheathing damaged Cause: Possible high tensile stresses on the cords during the soft top sequence
NHTSA ODI 11476629
Engine light ON with DTC code P052E
NHTSA ODI 11476706
The contact owns a 2018 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that the SOS warning light was illuminated. Upon testing the SOS system, the contact stated that the system failed to operate as needed. The contact then received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V365000 (Electrical System, Communication). The vehicle was taken to the dealer for service, however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer on multiple occasion for multiple repairs related to the failure. Recently, the contact was informed that the Hermes control unit was defective. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the repair cost was not covered. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA ODI 11475159
My car engine shutoff at stop lights. it happened 3 times, the other 2 incidents happened at parking lots.
NHTSA ODI 11473032
Mercedes-Benz C-Class convertibles from the 2017 to 2021 model years are being recalled because the seat belts might not comply with federal Occupant Crash Protection standards. The problem is that the front seat belts might not fully retract to their stowed position because of the geometry of the front seat belt retractor. The dealers are refusing to fix this issue.
NHTSA ODI 11469200
Under hot ambient condition center console touchpad glass crack. There is a service bulletin TSB LI54.21-P-068464 for the issue but MB would not replace the part.
NHTSA ODI 11459798
Engine light is on recently on my 2018 C300. Car has 36000 miles on it. It is diagnosed as the valve for the crankcase ventilation. The actuator was blocked.
NHTSA ODI 11459942
The contact owns a 2018 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, there was white smoke coming from exhaust. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that after turning off the vehicle the smoke cleared. The vehicle was towed to dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 54,000.
NHTSA ODI 11459021
My Mercedes C300 2018 only have 33k miles on it, but I was leaking oil and gas from the positive crankcase ventilation valve which is not environment friendly. As I know many other who own Mercedes also have the same problem.
NHTSA ODI 11454009
The sunroof on the vehicle jams and either stays partially open or won’t close in the rear completely. I finally got it to close but it will not open again. I know multiple mercedes owners who have this issue with the sunroof and if the sunroof will continue to not lock properly this could be a hazard on the highway if the brackets were to break and the glass slides off.
NHTSA ODI 11446466
CYLINDER 1 SPARK PLUGS IS DAMAGED DUE TO PISTON DAMAGE, HOLE IN PISTON. IF EXTRA DAMAGE IS FOUND ON TEAR DOWN, COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. This is direct from the repair facilities reports. While driving my 2018 C-300 there was smoking out of tail pipe, a rough vibration, hard to control the vehicle and it was starting to lose power. Not a good situation, had to pull over and have vehicle towed to the dealership. Worst part is this is a vehicle used to transport my 5 children to and from school and activities. My 16 year old also drives this vehicle, had he been driving this with this happening to him, the outcome could have been catastrophic. Vehicle has been inspected by 2 facilities; first was a certified Mercedes Benz repair facility and the second was the service dept. of the Mercedes Benz dealership I have serviced at for over 10 years. Mercedes refuses to cover repair costs or even acknowledge the major vehicle malfunction and safety issue this presents. , which is in my view ridiculous as cracked piston is not something that normally happens as the result of normal wear and tear, especially in a 3 year old luxury car. I have read several blogs on this same issue, Mercedesworld.org with over 400K members, reddit.com, benzworld.org, metrisforum.org, and numerous others. Please review these there are numerous people dealing with this and Mercedes is refusing to acknowledge. In addition, our Mercedes Benz service rep said these pistons were changed out in the 2019 model and newer due to these issues, he said he continues to see this issue with these models and advised Mercedes is well aware.
NHTSA ODI 11446178
To Whom It May Concern, I bought this certified preowned Mercedes Benz, and the recall is open. I have taken the car to the dealership, they deny me from service because its an over the air recall. The Mercedes Benz website clearly states on their letter for consumer that the remedy for this recall can be taken care at the dealership free of charge or an over the air update. Its July and I got the car back in February.
NHTSA ODI 11423935
While driving in a curved onramp connecting from one street to another the vehicle experienced a complete loss of steering ability which resulted in the vehicle continuing to move straight, off the pavement, and into a wall. The vehicle bounced off of the wall and loss of steering ability continued and the vehicle could not be controlled, crossed the road, went over a guardrail, and down an embankment until it came to a stop (approx 100ft). The vehicle engine never turned off until it came to a stop at which point the vehicle was manually turned off. No airbags deployed. There were no warning lights or signals of failing components prior to the loss of steering. An initial review by the body shop states that the vehicle is a total loss. The vehicle has been meticulously dealer maintained since the time of delivery as a new vehicle. The vehicle is pending inspection by Mercedes-Benz and by the insurance representative. The issue appears to be the same as those recalls described by NHTSA campaign number 18V872000 and/or 18V850000. The vehicle was never included in either of those recall campaigns. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request, but Mercedes-Benz is picking up the vehicle to perform its inspection.
NHTSA ODI 11423998
The contact owns a 2018 Mercedes-Benz C300 4matic. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V058000 (Communication, Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and stated that the equipment needed to perform the repair was not available. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the repair was an over-the-air software update. The vehicle was not yet repaired, nor was there any way to confirm that the software update was completed. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the START/STOP feature failed to perform as designed. The rear windows failed to raise and lower as needed. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer to be repaired. The exact repairs were unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 49,000.
NHTSA ODI 11418776
The contact owns a 2018 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V058000 (Communication, Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
NHTSA ODI 11418320
MERCEDES-BENZ HASN'T UPDATED THE RECALL ON MY VEHICLE
NHTSA ODI 11414150
DATE: APRIL 13, 2021. MODEL: C300 YEAR : 2018 MILAGE: 16,000. TIME: 2.30 P.M. WHETHER: SUNNY. ROAD CONDITION: SMOOTH PROBLEM: WHILE DRIVING ON 405 SOUTH AT SPEED OF APPROX 65 TO 70 MPH FOR NO APPARENT REASON , THE CAR UDDENLY , UNEXPECTEDLY, AND FORCEFULLY SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES ( 65 TO 0 MPH) IN MATTER OF SECONDS, AND LOCKED ITS WHEELS. LEFT ME STOCK ON THE FWY. THE MOST SCARIEST EXPERIENCE AS YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON OR WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO . LUCKILY THERE WERE NO VEHICLES IN MY CLOSE PROXIMITY OR WE COULD HAVE DIED ! THE WARNING SIGNS WERE ON " INOPERATIVE BREAK ASSIST SYSTEM" . THE CARS FORCE WAS SO STRONG THAT NOT ONLY JOLTED MY HEAD BACK AND FORTH, IT CAUSED MY COMPUTER TO FLY FROM THE BACK SEAT AND HIT MY HEAD IN THE FRONT SEAT. I HAD TO REPLACE THE VEHICLES SENSORY RADAR ABOUT FOUR MONTHS AGO BACK IN NOV 2020. I SEE THAT MBZ HAS RECALLED ITS 2019 MODELS AND MANY OTHER MODELS ( SOFTWARE GLITCH THAT CAN SLAM THE BREAK UNEXPECTEDLY). WHY RECALL C300 2019 AND NEWER MODELS AND NOT ALL MODELS WITH THIS DEFECTIVE SENSOR SYSTEM.. IT WILL TAKE THEM 30 MINUTES TO REPROGRAM EACH CARS SOFTWARE, YET, ARE NOT DOING IT AND ENDANGERING THE PUBLIC. WHAT HAPPENED TO ME WAS A VERY SCARY INCIDENT AND HOPE THAT YOU CAN GET THEM TO RECALL MY VEHICLE . I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT AGAIN AS IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN!
NHTSA ODI 11413726
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V058000 (COMMUNICATION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT MERCEDES-BENZ OF SAN FRANCISCO (LOCATED AT 500 8TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103, (415) 673-2000) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. ## VIN PASSED ## MERCEDES-BENZ 2018 C300A ##*DT
NHTSA ODI 11413611
THE VEHICLE HAD A FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CRACKED RIM AND DAMAGED RUN FLAT TIRE.
NHTSA ODI 11413199
I WAS TOLD THAT THE PRESENT RECALL HAD BEEN REPAIRED. YOU STILL HAVE IT AS AN OPEN RECALL, WITHOUT A PRESENT FIX. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO REMOVE A RECALL?
NHTSA ODI 11400097
THE SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED OUT OF NO WHERE. SOUNDED LIKE A SHOTGUN BLAST.
NHTSA ODI 11341232
I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 1, AT ABOUT 45 MPH, ON MY WAY TO WORK IN A LIGHT RAIN. I MAY HAVE JUST TRANSITIONED INTO THE #1 LANE OF TRAFFIC AS I WAS ABOUT 500 FEET FROM THE RED LEFT TURN SIGNAL LIGHT WHERE I MAKE MY NORMAL TURN. I JUST REMEMBER MY CAR SUDDENLY HYDROPLANED ACROSS THE DOUBLE YELLOW LINE INTO THE ONCOMING LANES OF TRAFFIC AND HITTING THE OPPOSITE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. MY CAR ENDED UP IN A DITCH. LUCKILY IT HAPPENED AT ABOUT 0630 IN THE MORNING AND NO ONE WAS INJURED AS THIS IS A BUSY ROADWAY. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE CENTER TREAD AREA OF MY TIRES WAS BALD, BUT THE OUTER TREAD STILL HAD TREAD ON IT. I BOUGHT MY CAR BRAND NEW 14 MONTHS AGO FROM MERCEDES. ONLY MY WIFE AND I HAVE DRIVEN IT. THE CAR ONLY HAS 16,000 MILES AND THE TIRES SHOULD NOT BE IN THIS CONDITION. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO MERCEDES AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THEY SEE THIS A LOT WITH THESE TIRES, WHICH SHOULD ONLY LAST 12,000 MILES! THIS IS ABSOLUTE NONSENSE. AND IT DOES NOT MATCH THE TIRE MANUFACTURERS CLAIM ON THEIR WEBSITE. IN THE MERCEDES SERVICE AREA IS A 3D DISPLAY SHOWING HOW LOW TREAD CAUSES HYDROPLANING! I CONTINUE TO DRIVE THIS SAME STRETCH OF ROAD TO WORK. I NOW NOTICED IT IS ACTUALLY ON A SLIGHT INCLINE, AND THERE IS NO AREA WHERE WATER WOULD POOL, CAUSING ME TO HYDROPLANE. I BELIEVE THERE IS A SERIOUS DEFECT IN THESE TIRES. HAD CIRCUMSTANCES BEEN SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT (CLOSER TO BIG TREES, HAD I BEEN GOING FASTER, HAD THERE BEEN PEDESTRIANS, HAD THERE BEEN OTHER CARS ON THE ROADWAY) THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL OR VERY SERIOUS INJURY COLLISION. CHP & FIRE ARRIVED ON SCENE, BUT I DID NOT REQUEST A POLICE REPORT. THERE IS A RECORD IN THEIR DISPATCH CALL.
NHTSA ODI 11291914
WHEN AT A STOP THE ENGINE WILL NOT RESTART SOMETIMES. I HAVE TO START THE ENGINE MANUALLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME FOUR TIMES IN 5 MONTHS .
NHTSA ODI 11287701
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 MERCEDES-BENZ C63S EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN PILOT SPORT TIRES, SIZE: 285/30/ZR19 (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE IT WAS TOWED TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF CHANTILLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIRE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 16,077 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. THE DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI 11268993
Working with the data? Download all 125 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 25, 2026