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

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Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 2018

Engine

2012 MERCEDES BENZ C250W. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO OIL COOLANT HOUSING REPAIR. *LD THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR WORK THAT WAS NOT DONE PROPERLY, OR AT ALL. *JS

NHTSA ODI #11042388

62,000 miles · Mar 30, 2018

Engine

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MY C250 HAS ONLY 62,000 MILES. LAST MONTH, IGNITION COIL BROKE, SO I SPENT ABOUT $300 TO REPAIR THAT. ONLY 2 DAYS AFTER I FIXED THE PROBLEM, THE ENGINE INTAKE AND EXHAUST CAM SHAFT ADJUSTERS, TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER BROKE. TOTAL REPAIR COST OF ABOUT $4,000. HOW CAN A VEHICLE THAT HAS ONLY 62,000 MILES HAVE ALL THOSE MAJOR MECHANICAL PROBLEMS? I KNOW I PURCHASED A LEMON. I CALLED AND TALKED TO BENZ CUSTOMER SERVICE REP IN NEW YORK AREA. ORIGINALLY HE TOLD ME THAT HE SURE MADE IT SOUND LIKE THEY BENZ WILL PAY FOR A BIG CHUNK OF TOTAL REPAIR BILL. AND PROMISED TO ME THAT HE WILL GET BACK TO ME WITH AN ANSWER WITHIN FEW DAYS. I CALLED HIM MANY TIMES AND MY WIFE CALLED HIM AS WELL. NEVER A REPLY FOR OVER A MONTH. OUT OF FRUSTRATION, I TRIED TO FIND HIS SUPERVISOR. ONLY AFTER I TRY TO TALK TO HIS SUPERVISOR, THE CUSTOMER REP CALLED ME UP AND OFFER 10% OF REPAIR COST. HE BLAME ME FOR NOT TAKING MY BENZ TO FOR ALL MECHANICAL ISSUES DURING POSSESSION OF MY VEHICLE. THAT IS THE REASON WHY BENZ OFFERED TO PAY FOR 10% OF REPAIR COST. SO I TOLD HIM. BENZ SALESMAN NEVER MENTIONED THAT TO ME. IF IN FACT, I HAD TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO BENZ DEALERSHIP FOR ANY REPAIRS TO GET BETTER SERVICE DISCOUNT, I WOULD HAVE TAKEN IT TO BENZ DEALERSHIP. THEY NEVER MENTION NO SUCH THING, AND NOW MAKING EXCUSE TO BLAME ME FOR THEM SELLING ME A LEMON. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED BY QUALITY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE OF MERCEDES BENZ COMPANY.

NHTSA ODI #11082187

46,000 miles · Mar 26, 2018

Engine

ENGINE WAS STALLING UPON INITIAL STARTUP. TOOK TO MERCEDES AND RECEIVED AN ESTIMATE FOR $4500 FOR A NEW TIMING CHAIN AND CAM ADJUSTERS. THE CAR ONLY HAS 46000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. AFTER SEARCHING THE BLOGS, I FIND THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS EXACT ISSUE. WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL OR TSB ON THIS?

NHTSA ODI #11081360

48,304 miles · Dec 27, 2017

Engine

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WHEN STARTING UP THE VEHICLE MAKE A TERRIBLE NOISE THAT LAST FOR 3-4 SECONDS BEFORE IT GOES AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS VERIFIED BY A MERCEDES TECHNICIAN AND THE DIAGNOSTICS CAME BACK STATING AN ISSUE WITH THE "CAMSHAFT ADJUSTERS (INTERNAL FAULT)". I WAS TOLD THIS CONDITION WILL GET WORSE AND FINALLY ENGINE WILL STALL AND MAJOR DAMAGES WILL HAPPEN. WORST SCENARIO COULD PRODUCE BENT VALVES AND WILL REQUIRE A MAJOR ENGINE OVERHAUL WITH JUST 48,304 MILES ON IT. APPARENTLY, C250S ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE AND CUSTOMER ARE PAYING THE CONSEQUENCES FOR A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. BY THE WAY, ENGINE HAS BEEN PERFECTLY MAINTAINED WITH MOBIL 1 (OW-40) AND ORIGINAL FILTER EVERY 5,000 MILES INSTEAD OF THE 10,000 MILES INTERVAL RECOMMENDED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THIS CONDITION COULD LEAD TO A MAJOR FAILURE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THAT COULD END UP INTO AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #11056762

70,000 miles · Oct 17, 2017

Engine

ROUGH START IN THE MORNING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP AT BUCKHEAD GA. WAS TOLD THAT THE CAM ADJUSTERS NOT FUNCTIONING. ESTIMATED REPAIR COST $4000.

NHTSA ODI #11034080

70,000 miles · Sep 27, 2017

Engine

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ C250. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO G2 AUTOMOTIVE MERCEDES-BENZ (5935 PARKWAY NORTH BLVD, CUMMING, GA 30040 PHONE NUMBER: (678) 515-9807) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED A NEW TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #11030128

49,651 miles · Aug 30, 2017

Engine

CAR STATIONARY, HESITANT TO START, WHEN STARTED 2-4 SECONDS, THUMPING NOISE. TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. FOUND "INTAKE CAMSHAFT POSITIONER" FAULTY, REPAIR $4000!

NHTSA ODI #11020653

48,000 miles · Jul 12, 2017

Engine

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PURCHASED MY 2012 C250 WITH 45K MILES ON IT AT TIME OF PURCHASE. I PUT 4K MILES AND I STARTED HEARING A TICKING NOISE ON START UPS THEN PROGRESSED. IT HAS TURNED OFF ON ME WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 MPH AND ANOTHER AT 25 MPH KINDA SCARED TO DRIVE IT. YOU THINK WHEN YOU PAY FOR QUALITY YOU SHOULD GET IT, NOT HAVING TO $5500 FOR A CAMSHAFT LIFTER REPLACEMENT IN UNDER THE FIRST 50K MILES THAT' INSANE! PLEASE SEND FEED BACK IN GOING TO TALK TO LAWYERS AND GET THERE VIEW ON THE SITUATION BECAUSE THERE'S MORE THEN JUST A COUPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND SOME WITH VARY LOW MILES. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME MUCH APPRECIATED .

NHTSA ODI #11004697

68,000 miles · Jun 30, 2017

Engine

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ C250W. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL RATTLING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF ST CLAIR SHORES LOCATED AT 20200 E NINE MILE RD SAINT CLAIR SHORES, MI 48080 586-773-2369) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAMSHAFT ADJUSTERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA ODI #11002566

101,852 miles · Jun 14, 2017

Engine

SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING MY CAR IT WILL STUTTER AS IF IT WANTS TO TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN STARTING UP THE VEHICLE IT STALLS BEFORE ACTUALLY TURNING OVER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AND THE DIAGNOSTICS CAME BACK STATING A ISSUE WITH THE "CAMSHAFT A…

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NHTSA ODI #10995247

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