26 complaints reported

2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Electrical System

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
26
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Dec 2021

During maintenance of vehicle, completely bare wires were discovered. While researching replacement options, I became aware that this is a known issue ignored by the manufacturer and that no cost effective solution exists. This is a car my son has recently purchased on his own and I am assisting in the maintenance of this "German Engineering Turd" You would have thought they learned a lesson on arrogance from the past.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Dec 2021
Apr 2021

The contact owns a 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic where it was diagnosed with needing the back-circuit board to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Feb 2021
Oct 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THE IGNITION WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE MERCEDES-BENZ OF SPRINGFIELD DEALER, LOCATED AT 295 BURNETT RD, CHICOPEE, MA 01020 WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE KEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Jul 2020
Jul 2020

I WAS TRAVELING TO NORTH CAROLINA AND PULLED OVER TO CHANGE MY TIRE, MY CAR WOULD NOT START.LEAVING ME STRANDED ON THE INTERSTATE. AGAIN I ARRIVED ON NORTH CAROLINA AND THE WILL NOT START AFTER STAYING AT A FRIEND'S FOR THE NIGHT. I CANNOT GET BACK TO CONNECTICUT. I RESEARCHED AND SEEN THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE THAT IS NOT BEING RECTIFIED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Jun 2020
Jun 2020

WHILE PARKED OVER NIGHT OR DURING THE DAY WHILE AT WORK THE PARKING LIGHT COME ON BY IT SELF WITHOUT MY KNOWING. THIS DRAINS THE BATTERY AND I HAVE TO GET A JUMP START. . THIS IS REALLY INCONVENIENCE. I COULD BE ANYWHERE AND THIS COULD HAPPEN. THIS HAPPENS ONCE SOMETIME TWICE A MONTH. IT IS NOT THE LIGHT SWITCH , IT IS ALWAYS IN THE OFF POSITION ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I WAS ABLE TO RETURN AND TURN OFF THE LIGHT. ONLY ONE LIGHT COMES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AND REAR. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Jun 2020
Sep 2019

MY C300 IS HAVING A EIS (ELECTRICAL IGNITION SYSTEM FAILURE). WHERE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION WON'T START THE VEHICLE. IT WILL LEAVE YOU STRANDED AND WON'T ALLOW YOU TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL BECAUSE OF THE AMIR THEFT LOCK OUT BOX. MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE. SIMPLE RESEARCH CAN SHOW YOU THAT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Nov 2019
Feb 2019

I READ ALL THE INTERNET AND FORUMS ALMOST EVERY C300 HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. IT'S NOT FAIR TO THE CONSUMERS THAT WE PAY FOR A MANUFACTURING MALFUNCTION. CAR WON'T START AND SHOW A MSG OF TAKE CAR OF IGNITION . IT'S A $2000 FIX FOR SOMETHING SMALL BUT ONLY CAN BE FIXED AT THE DEALERSHIP. IT'S A HIGHWAY ROBBERY IN BRIGHT DAY LIGHT . PLEASE SAVE THE CONSUMERS FROM A GREEDY COMPANY . LAST TIME I WILL EVER OWN A BENZ .

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Oct 2018
Jan 2019

REAR TAIL LAMP ELECTRIC HARNESS MELTED. SPECIFICALLY THE BROWN WIRE. THIS ALSO MELTED THE TERMINAL LEADING TO A FIRE HAZARD AND THE LIGHTS NOT WORKING. THIS IS AFTER THE LIGHTS WERE "FIXED" FOR THE RECALL.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Dec 2018
Oct 2018

THE STEERING LOCK FAILED. STOPPED AT THE POST OFFICE AND MY CAR WOULD NOT START WHEN I GOT BACK TO THE CAR. THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD WORK BUT THE IGNITION WOULD NOT READ MY FOB. I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Oct 2018
Oct 2018

REAR TAIL LIGHT FAILURE . VEHICLE REPLACED REAR ELECTRICAL ON THE RECALL. HOWEVER MY TAIL LIGHTS FAILED AGAIN, THE DEALER REQUIRED PAYMENT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: May 2018
Jun 2018

THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AT ALL. BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND STILL DID NOT START. MERCEDES BENZ DEALER STATED THAT IT NEEDS AN ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES BENZ SEDANS. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: May 2018
May 2018

ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK(ESL) FAILED LEAVING VEHICLE UNABLE TO START.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Mar 2018
Apr 2018

WHEN I TURN THE KEY TO TURN ON THE CAR, WHEN IT IS PARKED, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING HAPPENS. I HAVE HEARD THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER PEOPLE WITH MERCEDES IGNITIONS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Mar 2018
Aug 2017

DROVE MY CAR TO WORK EVERYTHING WAS FINE.. WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE I TURNED THE KEY AND NOTHING HAPPENED.. AFTER TALKING WITH A MB SERVICE CONSULTANT HE IS INFORMED ME THAT IT IS PROBABLY THE ELECTRIC IGNITION SWITCH.. DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE I SEE THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Aug 2017
May 2017

DRIVERS SIDE LOCK DOES NOT FUNCTION. WHEN COMING UP TO SPEED DOOR DOES NOT LOCK POSING A SAFETY ISSUE OF THE DOOR OPENING IN AN ACCIDENT. IT IS ALSO VERY INCONVIENT TO MANUALLY LOOK THE DOOR AS IT ONLY WILL LOCK AFTER BEING CLOSED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Feb 2017
Nov 2016

OVER THE OWNERSHIP OF THIS VEHICLE I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE SEVERAL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. THESE INCLUDE MORE THAN I HAVE TIME OR SPACE TO LIST THEM, BUT THE LATEST IS NOW THE COMAND BUTTONS ON THE DASH BOARD WHICH NO LONGER FUNCTION. I WAS TOLD ICAN HAVE THIS FIXED FOR THE LOW PRICE OF $2,000 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE SYSTEM.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Jan 2016
Jul 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTING FAILED. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE INTERIOR LIGHTING REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND DRAINED THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUSE BOX FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: May 2016
May 2016

MY PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT (UPPER EYELID) COMES ON AFTER I HAVE TURNED OFF THE IGNITION SWITCH. ALSO REAR BRAKE LIGHT.I GO IN SIDE TO WORK AND SOME TELLS ME MY LIGHTS ARE ON .FINALLY ONE SATURDAY I WAKE UP TO A DEAD BATTERY. I DON'T WANT TO GET STRANDED ANYPLACE,

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: May 2016
May 2016

FRONT RIGHT PARKING LAMP MELTED INTO HEADLIGHT FIXTURE. WAS TOLD MY MB DEALER YESTERDAY IT WAS DUE TO THE HEADLIGHT OVERHEATING AND I NEED TO PAY TO REPLACE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT $900.00 THEY HAD SIMILAR ISSUES WITH TAIL LIGHTS AND HAD A RECALL ON CARS TO REPLACE. MAYBE SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH FRONT LIGHT ALSO.,.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Apr 2016
Dec 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING MECHANISM WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Oct 2015
Oct 2015

THE AUTO LOCK WOULD RANDOMLY UNLOCK AND LOCK AT THE WRONG TIME CAUSING THE DOOR HANDLE TO NOT BE RESPONSIVE ANYMORE.. MERCEDES CHARGED 1000 DOLLARS TO FIX HIS WHEN IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND A VERY BIG SAFETY ISSUE. UNFORTUNATELY I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX MY DOOR WHICH MAKES ME THINK IF I GET INTO A CAR ACCIDENT WHAT WOULD I DO?

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Dec 2013
Sep 2015

PASSENGER WAS ATTEMPTING TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR HANDLE AND THE DOOR HANDLE BROKE. LEAVING DOOR HANDLE TENSION LESS. FORCING ME TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW TO LET PASSENGER OUT OF THE CAR.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Jan 2015
Dec 2014

WENT INTO WORK AND CAME BACK OUT TO MY CAR NOT STARTING. BATTERY JUST RECENTLY REPLACED WITHIN THE PAST 6 MONTHS. HAD THE BATTERY CHARGED AND TRIED TO DO A JUMP AND STILL NOTHING. HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED TO THE AUTO SHOP ONLY TO FIND OUT I HAVE A FAILED EIS, MEANING MY ELECTRONICALLY IGNITION SYSTEM HAS FAILED AND ITS GOING TO COST ME 1000 TO FIX. MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT I FIND THIS A MAJOR INCONVENIENCE. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A RELIABLE CAR THE REASON I CHOSE TO GET THIS CAR AND SOMETHING LIKE THE IGNITION HAS FAILED. I WISH THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT MBUSA COULD DO TO PAY FOR A MAJORITY OF THE ISSUE OR EVEN DO A REIMBURSEMENT. THIS CAN BE A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL, I ALWAYS THINK WHAT IF I WAS OUT OF TOWN OR WHAT IF I HAD A EMERGENCY AND BECAUSE OF THIS GLITCH I SIMPLY HAVE NO CAR AND NOW I'M DEPENDENT ON A RIDE UNTIL I CAN GET THIS FIXED! *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Oct 2014
Oct 2014

WENT TO START CAR AND NOTHING. STEERING LOCKED AND DIFFICULT, DUE TO ALL WHEEL DRIVE TO TOW. THERE ARE MANY CASES DOCUMENTED ABOUT EIS/ESL FAILURES ON MERCEDES ENTHUSIAST FORUMS. THE PROBLEM IS PREVALENT ON THE INTERNET. THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS ON A CROWDED HIGHWAY, IN A CRIME RIDDEN AREA OR JUST IN AN EMERGENCY. THE CAR WILL START ONE MINUTE AND WON'T ON THE NEXT START. MERCEDES CLAIMED NO FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE IN MY CASE. THE CAR WAS 2 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Feb 2014
Aug 2014

WENT TO START CAR WHEN THE KEY TURNED OVER LIGHTS, RADIO, ETC CAME ON BUT CAR WOULD NOT START. CAR DID NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO TURN OVER BUT WAS ELECTRONICALLY LOCKED OUT. TRIED SECOND KEY WITH NO AVAIL. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Aug 2014

Trend Over Time

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Quick Summary

The 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class has 26 Electrical System complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.