Air Bags. Review the 168 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports

Engine complaints

61 reports

Clear category filter

78,982 miles · Jul 1, 2020

Engine

Read full complaint

IN A MERCEDES BENZ C250 2012-2014 THERE HAS BEEN MANY REPORTS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES WHERE CAMSHAFT ADJUSTERS+TIMING CHAIN COMPONENTS FAIL/BREAK. THIS IS A HIGHLY RISK AND SAFETY MATTER THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY MERCEDES BENZ AS RECALL. BEING NEWER MODEL CARS, THE TIMING CHAIN AND CAMSHAFT ADJUSTERS SHOULD NOT FAIL. NOT EVEN AT 100K MILES. SOME OF THESE MODELS HAS HAD THEIR CAMSHAFT ADJUSTERS+ TIMING CHAIN FAIL AT 46K MILES. WHY IS MERCEDES NOT OWNING UP TO THESE FACTORY FAULTS? WHY ARE NEW MODELS THAT ARE NOT EVEN 10 YEARS OLD HAVE THIS KIND OF ISSUE? THIS DEFECT CAN CAUSE MAJOR ACCIDENTS ON THE ROAD. CAUSE YOU GO AT HIGHWAY/FREEWAY SPEED 60 MPH AND YOUR TIMING CHAIN BREAKS, YOU CAN CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT WITH OTHER CARS, AND INJURE YOUR OWN SELF AND PASSENGERS. CAN YOU IMAGINE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BABIES AND DRIVE THESE VEHICLES. WHY IS A HUGECOMPANY LIKE MERCEDES NOT OWNING UP TO THESE DEFECTS? INSTEAD THEY WANT TO CHARGE $4,000-$8,000 TO GET THIS REPAIR DONE. EVEN IF YOU HAVE WARRANTY THEY STILL HESITATE ON GETTING THIS REPAIR DONE. I JUST WANT TO BE HEARD BECAUSE BEING ONE OF THE MANY REPORTS WITH THIS ISSUE ON THESE VEHICLES, IT'S CONCERNING TO SEE MANY OF THESE VEHICLES STILL OUT ON THE ROAD. WHEN THESE PARTS HAVE ARE FAILING, YOU WILL GET A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT READS "P034062" CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR BANK 1 ELECTRICAL FAILURE" AFTER GETTING DIAGNOSED BY MANY SHOPS, AND EVEN MERCEDES BENZ DEALER ALL THE TEST SAY THE WIRING AND EVERYTHING ELSE IS OK. CAMSHAFT ADJUSTERS ARE FAILING WILL NEED REPLACING + TIMING CHAIN & TENSIONER. BUT WHY ON SUCH A NEWER CAR? IT SHOULD RUN ABOUT 200K MILES UNTIL IT NEEDS A NEW TIMING CHAIN. CARS BEING SERVICED AT CORRECT INTERVAL & BEING WELL MAINTAINED. THIS SHOULD NOT BE A ISSUE. ENGINE WHEN START UP WILL RATTLE. IT WILL SOUND LIKE ENGINE IS FALLING APART. PLUS CAR WILL RUN REALLY ROUGH.

NHTSA ODI #11332005

Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 2020

Engine

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AND I HAD IT CHECKED BY A MECHANIC, THE OBC CODE WAS P0340 CAMSHAFT ADJUSTER. MY VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES THE CAMSHAFT ADJUSTER SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACE UNTIL AROUND 250.000 MILES. OTHER OWNER'S OF 2012 C-250 HAVE EXPERIENCE THE CAME ISSUES. MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD TAKE NO…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #11309045

90,100 miles · Jan 12, 2020

EngineUnknown Or Other

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND UPON QUICK ACCELERATION THE CAR MISFIRES AND BEGINS TO SHAKE. ALSO HAVING WATER COME THROUGH TOP FRAME WHEN IT RAINS

NHTSA ODI #11298657

Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2019

Engine

Read full complaint

HELLO, THIS IS A FLAW IN THE MERCEDES M271 ENGINE. AFTER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MILAGE THE CAMSHAFT AND TIMING CHAIN HAVE BEEN MALFUNCTIONING IN MOST MERCEDES C250 CARS. THE DEALER IS ASKING $4400 FOR THE REPAIR, AND MERCEDES DID A RECALL ON IT YEARS AGO THE CAMSHAFT ADJUSTER SOLENOID IS VERY FAULTY AS IT HAPPENS TO MOST C250 VEHICLE OWNERS. EVER SINCE IT HAPPENED TO MY OWN CAR EVERY TIME I START IT SOUNDS LIKE ITS ABOUT TO BLOW UP. THE CHECK ENGINE STAYS ON EVERY DAY, SOMETIMES IT'LL GO IN LIMP MODE AND I WOULD CAREFULLY TAKE THE CAR OFF THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11232985

Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 2019

Engine

Read full complaint

MY C250 STARTED MAKING A NOISE WHEN YOU FIRST START THE CAR. CHOKING AND HESITATIONS TO START, BUT YET WOULD START AFTER A MOMENT OR 2. THE NOISE WAS UNFAMILIAR. THIS NOISE WOULD CONTINUE THROUGH OUT THE DAY, AS LONG AS THE CAR SET FOR MORE THAN 15-20 MINUTES. I WOULD GO INTO THE STORE, TO SHOP COME BACK OUT TO THE CAR AN THE NOISE WOULD STILL BE THERE AFTER 15-20 MINUTES. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALER IN HOUSTON, TEXAS NORTH. AFTER A $200 DIAGNOSE COST. THE CAM SHAFT ADJUSTER IS OUT. COSTING ANOTHER $4,575.68. MY CAR IS A 2012, WHICH I BROUGHT IN 2014 WITH LESS THAN 7,000 MILES. NOW IT IS 2019 WITH ONLY 87,885 MILES ON MY CAR, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS PART IS FOR OR WHY MY CAR NEEDS THIS. ALL I KNOW IT COST $4,575.68. WAY TO MUCH FOR SOMETHING I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT. CAN'T GET IN TOUCH WITH MANUFACTORY TO COMPLAIN AND MERCEDES HEADQUARTER HASN'T RETURN MY CALL. PLEASE GIVE ME ADVISE, AS TO WHAT TO DO WITH MY COMPLAINT.

NHTSA ODI #11217797

70,000 miles · May 19, 2019

Engine

Read full complaint

BOUGHT CAR FROM MERCEDES LOT, USED WITH 70K MILES. DELIVERED IT WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. SALESMAN CLAIMED IT WAS LOW WASHER FLUID. I SAID I WASNT GOING ANYWHERE IN A CAR WITH A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND HE NEEDED TO GET IT BACK TO SERVICE AND HAVE CODE RAN. AFTER DOING SO HE CLAIMED IT JUST NEEDED TO BE RESET SINCE LAST SERVICE SOME WORK HAD BEEN DONE(ANOTHER LIE). TOLD HIM I WAS RETEST DRIVING BEFORE ACCEPTING VEHICLE. TURNED OVER 3 TIMES, THEN STARTED. WHEN DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE THROTTLE BECAME UNRESPONSIVE AND DIED OUT WITH CARS SPEEDING UP BEHIND ME. FORCED MERCEDES TO PUT IT BACK IN SERVICE. IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN AND CAM ADJUSTER ISSUE. THERES 100S OF PEOPLE NOTIFYING YOU OF THIS. MERCEDES KNOWS AND IS TRYING TO LIE TO CUSTOMERS AND STILL SELL THEM KNOWING THEY'RE DAMAGED AND DANGEROUS. FIX CAN BE UPWARDS OF $4000. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE MADE!!! PLEASE DO SOMETHING!

NHTSA ODI #11208489

69,000 miles · Apr 27, 2019

Engine

DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED PROBLEM WITH CAMSHAFT ADJUSTERS. THIS HAPPENED 2 TIMES ALREADY ON THE SAME VEHICLE, AND IT IS VERY COSTLY TO FIX ($4000). FIRST TIME I HAD A RATTLING NOISE FROM ENGINE, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED AT 46K MILES. SECOND TIME CAR HESITATES TO START, HAD LONG CRANKING, IT HAPPENED AT 69K MI…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #11204066

46,000 miles · Apr 27, 2019

Engine

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #11204065

65,284 miles · Apr 26, 2019

Engine

RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE AT STARTUP. DIAGNOSED AS DEFECTIVE CAM TIMING ADJUSTERS @ 65000 MILES. THIS APPARENTLY AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR PART(S) AND CAUSES MAJOR ENGINE DAMAGE. REPAIR COSTS RANGE FROM $3000 - $5000 AND MORE IF THE ENGINE IS RUINED.

NHTSA ODI #11203853

80,000 miles · Apr 18, 2019

Engine

Read full complaint

WHEN STARTING CAR, THERE IS AN AUDIBLE 3 SECOND ENGINE RATTLE BEFORE THE ENGINE FULLY ENGAGES. ONCE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING, THE VEHICLE APPEARS TO PERFORM NORMALLY. THE MECHANICS HAVE DIAGNOSED IT AS FAILING CAMSHAFT ADJUSTERS. THE REPAIR ALSO ENTAILS REPLACING THE TIMING CHAINS. REPAIRS TO COST JUST OVER $5,000. COMMENTARY FROM THE MECHANIC INDICATES THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON FAILURE WITH THIS ENGINE WHICH TYPICALLY OCCURS JUST BEYOND THE WARRANTY EXPIRATION. ONLINE SEARCHES HAVE CONFIRMED HIS ASSERTION. MY VEHICLE HAS 80,000 MILES AND HAS NEVER MISSED A SERVICE. I HAVE EVERY RECEIPT OF EVERY SERVICE. A CRITICAL ENGINE COMPONENT SUCH AS THIS WITH SUCH A COSTLY REPAIR PROCEDURE SHOULD NOT BE THIS COMMON. IT IS THE RESULT OF A POOR DESIGN AND AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE REPAIR COSTS SHOULD FALL ON THE MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA ODI #11197112

Official recalls

21V638000 · Air Bags:frontal

Aug 13, 2021

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2016 E400 Coupe, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2011-2014 E350 Coupe, and 2012-2014 E350 Cabrio vehicles. An incorrect front passenger air bag may have been installed during a prior repair.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An incorrect air bag may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag on the affected vehicles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 10, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

20V298000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

May 22, 2020

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2012 C250, C250 Coupe, C300, C350, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG, and C63 AMG Coupe vehicles equipped with a front passenger air bag assembly replaced under a prior recall. An incorrect replacement front passenger air bag may have been installed.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An incorrect passenger air bag may not provide adequate protection, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020060011.

19V010000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Jan 9, 2019

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2014 C250, C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 4Matic Coupe, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio, SLS AMG Coupe, 2014-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, GLK 350, GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, 2015-2017 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400 Coupe, 2014-2017 E550 Cabrio, and 2014-2016 E550 Coupe vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally, MBUSA is recalling certain 2012-2014 C250, E350 4Matic Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2011 C300, 2011-2014 C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, SLS AMG Coupe, 2015-2016 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400 Coupe, 2011-2016 E550 Cabrio, E550 Coupe, 2011-2015 GLK350 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, and 2013-2015 GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic vehicles ever registered in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." MBUSA is also recalling certain 2012-2014 C250, E350 4Matic Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2010-2011 C300, 2010-2014 C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 Coupe, 2011-2014 E350 Cabrio, SLS AMG Coupe, 2015-2016 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400 Coupe, 2016-2017 E550 Cabrio, 2010-2016 E550 Coupe, 2010-2015 GLK350 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, and 2013-2015 GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic vehicles ever registered in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MO, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began March 29, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

17V627000 · Air Bags:frontal

Oct 6, 2017

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling these vehicles: 2014-2018 CLA250, CLA250 4Matic, CLA45 AMG 4Matic, 2015-2018 GLA250, GLA250 4Matic, GLA45 AMG 4Matic, C300 4Matic, C63S AMG, 2012-2014 C250, C350, C300 4Matic, E550 4Matic, 2013-2014 C63 AMG, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2013-2015 C350 4Matic Coupe, GLK250 4Matic BlueTec, GLK350, GLK350 4Matic, 2016-2017 C350e, C43 AMG, 2015 C400 4Matic, 2016-2018 C63 AMG, GLC300, GLC300 4Matic, 2017-2018 C300 Coupe, C300 4Matic Coupe, C43 AMG, C63 AMG Coupe, C63S AMG Coupe, C300 Cabriolet, C300 4Matic Cabriolet, C43 AMG Cabriolet, C63 AMG Cabriolet, C63S AMG Cabriolet, GLC300 4Matic Coupe, GLC43 AMG, GLC43 AMG Coupe, 2014 E350 Coupe, E350 4Matic Coupe, E350 Cabriolet, E400 Hybrid, 2015-2017 E400 Coupe, E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabriolet, 2014-2017 E550 Coupe, E550 Cabriolet, B250e, 2014-2016 E250 BlueTec, E63 AMG 4Matic Wagon, 2012-2013 E350 BlueTec, 2012-2016 E350, E350 4Matic, 2015-2016 E400, E400 4Matic, 2012 E63 AMG, 2014-2015 E250 4Matic BlueTec, 2013-2016 E350 Wagon, 2017 GLC300d 4Matic, and 2018 GLC350e 4Matic. The driver's air bag may unexpectedly deploy due to insufficient grounding of the steering components if an electrostatic discharge occurs and the air bag clockspring is broken.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the driver air bag inadvertently deploys, it can increase the risk of injury and a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will add sufficient grounding to the steering components, free of charge. The recall began in December 6, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.

17V017000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Jan 10, 2017

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2012 C300 4Matic, C250, C250 Coupe, C350, C350 Coupe 4Matic, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG, C63 AMG Coupe, E350 Coupe 4Matic, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, E550 Cabrio, E550 Coupe, GLK350 4Matic, GLK350, SLS AMG Cabrio, and SLS AMG Coupe vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above MBUSA is recalling certain 2009 C300 4Matic, C300, C350 and C63 AMG vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above MBUSA is recalling certain 2008 C300 4Matic, C300, and C350 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag modules, free of charge. Owners were sent an interim notification in March 2017. Second notices started going out in October 2018 and continue to be mailed as parts become available. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

EA21002 · Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

Opened Sep 17, 2021 · No close date supplied

Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module; Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module