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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
53,783 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2010 Mercedes-Benz C300 steering problems

steering problem

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2010 Mercedes-Benz C300 Owner Comments (Page 3 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #23

Sep 182016

C300

  • 82,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Car was operating fine when I got home around noon parked on the street outside my house, at 2pm I was trying to leave. While starting the car the warning showed up on my dash stating "remove key from the ignition". called aaa to ensure that the battery was ok. Aaa showed up and inspected the car. Battery was up to standards. Mechanic said to use a spare key to test out the issue. Grabbed a spare key and the same warning showed up on the dash. Mechanic said that I need to take the car to the dealer and get my eis system replaced and a steering column. Took it to the dealer, and they told me the same thing. Here you go, final bill $1,600 out the door. Make this a recall item if everyone is having this issue.

- Huntington Beach, CA, USA

problem #22

Sep 062016

C300

  • 90,047 miles
My car just left me stranded (at home of all places). I had been having issues that day with the whining noise many have dealt with. I got home from work, and went to take the car out later with my husband, and she's dead. Roadside assistance towed her to the dealership. So far, $1450 just to replace the steering wheel lock, then they can start to investigate the whining sound. Service advisor says the 2 aren't connected and its a coincidence both the whining and steering lock failure are happening simultaneously"??? please force a recall, so we can recoup this money. Mb is making a ton off of the problem. What if I had been stranded in traffic, or with my children in the car" this is a terrible safety issue, and needs to be addressed by mbusa.

- Frederick, MD, USA

problem #21

Aug 062016

C300

  • 63,000 miles
Vehicle was stationary on the side of a highway due to a low tire pressure warning. Vehicle was turned off. Minutes later, attempt was made to turn vehicle back on. Vehicle did not turn on (engine did not turn). Vehicle was towed to home where same phenomenon occurred, vehicle did not turn on although key was inserted and ignition switch rotated, engine would not start. Vehicle was towed to dealership, where it was repaired: Faulty electronic steering lock (esl) and electronic ignition switch (eis), sum was about $1,600. All web information points to a common problem and may pose safety hazard, especially when trying to avoid unsafe situations, such as parked alongside a highway where cars speed by at approximately 65 mph. Issue is known and Mercedes Benz fails to acknowledge premature failure of ignition components.

- West Covina, CA, USA

problem #20

Jul 202016

C300

  • 110,025 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Car wont start, replaced battery, common issue with C300 told by the dealership it would cost $1332 for steering lock to start 5.0 includes if needed to cut out lock pin

- Teaneck, NJ, USA

problem #19

Jul 072016

C300

  • 82,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300. While stationary, the steering wheel seized without warning. It was diagnosed that the eps malfunctioned, which caused the steering wheel to seize. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 82,000.

- Lithonia, GA, USA

problem #18

Jun 242016

C300

  • 62,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300. While attempting to restart the vehicle, the electronic power steering seized without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the electronic steering column failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.

- Corpus Christi, TX, USA

problem #17

Jun 242016

C300

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Electric steering.

- Corpus Christi, TX, USA

problem #16

Mar 252016

C300

  • miles
I went to drive my car to test my new wheels I just purchased the day before. I put the key in, it would not start and my steering wheel is locked. I thought it may be my key but after doing some research online, I found out that it's not my key at all and that it's the esl which seems to be a known issues. Thank god my car was in the garage. I'm asking for Mercedes-Benz to do a recall since this is a common issue. I've only had this vehicle for two months. This is a disappointment.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #15

Feb 152016

C300

  • 60,000 miles
I inserted the key and tried to start the engine, but nothing happened. All lights off, no window power. I took the car to the dealership and there seems to be a problem with the ignition switch. A car with only 60,000 miles with a bad ignition switch?!!! these problem seems to be very common in the 2008-2012 Mercedes Benz.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #14

Jan 012016

C300

  • 88,300 miles
There are two problems that have shown up all at the same time just recently. Over the last several weeks it seems that everyday when I go leave in my car I am getting a new warning message about another light I need to check. At first it was prompting me to check the right rear tail light which appears to be working fine. But now the list has grown to include that tail light, a turn signal light, license plate light and a couple more even though to me it appears that all are working fine with the exception of the license plate light which is truly out. However the warning are listed for all these malfunctioning lights. The second issue is with the power steering. It started making a distressing noise one evening on my drive home, in which I was able to reach my home without trouble. However when I tried to leave the next morning the power steering on the car was completely not working and I was having such a hard time turning the wheel backing out of my drive that I thought it smart not to take it out on the road and pulled it back up into my driveway where it has sat for the last several days. Luckily my son is away at boarding school but he doesn't need his car there so I have had it available to get me to work and back until I had the time to look into the issue with my car which I am doing now.

- Mcminnville, TN, USA

problem #13

Dec 292015

C300

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I drove my 2010 C300 to an appointment 2 miles away and went to start the car after an appointment and it would not start...tried having it jumped but it didn't work...had it towed to the dealership who told me it was an electrinic steering malfunction and needed to be replaced for $1460...there was no indication that there was an issue until it jist stopped working...unacceptable and from what I habe learned this is a rampant problem with Mercedes and should be considered a recall.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #12

Dec 292015

C300

  • miles
2010 Mercedes C300 has 57000 miles. Drove it 2 miles in the morning to get gonto an appt and the the car would not start...thought maybe the battery but when the jump didnt work I had to take it to the dealership who said it was the electronic steering colum that failed and needed to be replaced for $1460...no other indication that something was wrong...just stopped working. Apparently this is a common problem that should be considered a recall...never getring another Mercedes.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #11

Sep 282015

C300

  • 84,000 miles
The steering column module is defective and there needs to be a recall. It causes the car not to start as if the battery is dead but its actually something much more serious and expensive.

- Euless, TX, USA

problem #10

Sep 232015

C300

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Mercedes Benz C300. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The contact dispensed power steering fluid into the reservoir, however, moments later, the fluid leaked onto the ground. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

- Straw Plains, TN, USA

problem #9

Sep 172015

C300

  • 66,000 miles
I drove my car to a store, turned it off and left it for 10 minutes. When I returned the car would not start. I had a friend try to jump my 1 year old battery amd still no start. My display says to remove key when my key is in. Lights, radio, and locks work but no windows. Dealer says I need a new steering wheel column. This problem is posted everyone online. Seems like a common thing. Dealership says it'll cost me $1575 and take 5 days to fix.

- Great Mills , MD, USA

problem #8

Aug 182015

C300

  • 68,000 miles
I have 2010 Mercedes Benz C300, my car would not start with my key even though the battery checked okay. This is a very common failure among C300 models (2008 to 2013). So meaning cars are vulnerable to this failure around 5 year mark. Manufacturer should issue a recall on these parts, as they have a very bad reliability.

- Lawrenceville, GA, USA

problem #7

Jul 182015

C300

  • 46,455 miles
I have 2010 Mercedes Benz C300, my steering lock failed recently. This is a very common failure among C300 models (2008 to 2013). Quite a few cars are vulnerable to this failure around 5 year mark. Manufacturer should issue a recall on these parts, as they have a very bad reliability.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #6

Mar 122015

C300 6-cyl

  • 39,125 miles
I drove 500 miles from Chicago to mississauga, ont. Canada. Trip was uneventful. The day after I drove the car to a Honda car dealership, ironically, to look for a car for a relative and parked. Returning one hour later I was able to open the doors with the remote but when I tried to start the car everything except for the radio went dead. The car was towed to the Mercedes dealership 7 kilometers away. The programmed part had to be ordered so it took two business days to get my car back at a cost of $1071us. It was troubling to reflect on the possibility that this could have happened on one of the rest areas I stopped at in the middle of nowhere along the route. I can't decide whether I would rather not have this system and have my car stolen or left stranded with the nearest town miles away. The dealership said the system just malfunctioned just like a light would blow out. Not good enough system for an expensive car. Thanks for your involvement.

- Chicago , IL, USA

problem #5

Feb 102015

C300

  • 25,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Mercedes Benz C300. The contact heard a noise emitting from the steering wheel. After the vehicle was backed out of the driveway, a leak was present. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer. The technician diagnosed that the power steering pump fractured, which caused a leak and damaged the belt. The dealer replaced the power steering pump and the belt. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V598000 (steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 25,000.

- Barbersville, WV, USA

problem #4

Jan 232015

C300 6-cyl

  • 60,500 miles
I recently had an issue with my eis on my 2010 C300, the car had roughly 60000 miles when the issue occurred. I parked my car in a parking garage, and when I went to leave work, the car wouldn't start. The steering column was locked, and I was unable to put the car in neutral. The issue seems to be one that occurs in a large number of Mercedes cars with similar make/model/mileage, which is generally right outside of the mileage for the standard warranty. Mercedes doesn't allow the issue to be fixed by licensed dealers, and can only be fixed by a dealership. I believe this to be a conflict of interest and somewhat of an ethical dilemma. I am not sure if the eis would ever go out while driving, but if so, that could result in safety issues for the driver.

- Houston, TX, USA

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