NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
Driving my 300 down the highway at around 70MPH and after lightly pressing the break, the car surved into right and left lane. I could have gotten into an accident, but luckily no other car was on the road. Taking my car to the mechanic it was discovered that My 2013 C300 has a rotted subframe, this was not caused by any damage but due to the part not being protected from rust. Rust caused the subframe to rot from the inside out. Many C300 have reported this issue, and the large number of failures on this subframe across my C300 and multiple models is concerning. This is a gross failure of a major safety component that can cause serious injury or death. My research showed this part has been recalled in Canada; MBUSA feels the need to wait to do so until a serious injury or death has occurred. The defective subframe is known and the new part’s design has been amended to take into account this rust issue. MBUSA’s decision exhibits a lack of accountability for a defective part and this issue needs to be promptly addressed for the safety of its customers.
Rear subframe and rear wheel control arm separated and corroded. Car not safe to drive. 2013 model with 31,000 miles, always garaged and maintained.
Recall
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the steering wheel started shaking. The contact then depressed the brake pedal causing the vehicle to drift. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who diagnosed that the rear-subframe was severely rusted causing a control link to fracture. The contact was informed that the control link and subframe needed to be replaced on the passenger’s side of the vehicle. The vehicle had not been repaired due to the parts being on backorder. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
THE REAR SUBFRAME ON THE CAR IS COMPLETELY RUSTED. I GET AN OIL CHANGE AND A INSPECTION OF THE CAR DONE AT THE DEALER EACH YEAR. NOBODY MENTIONED TO ME THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME IS RUSTED AND IS ABOUT TO CRACK AND FALL APART. WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK WHEN I SUDDENLY HAD TO STOP AND THE WHOLE CAR SHIFTED TO THE RIGHT ALMOST CAUSING ME TO CRASH. DROVE HOME AND NOTICED A NOISE EVERY TIME I HIT THE BRAKES. THE NEXT DAY TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE SHOWED ME THAT THE SUBFRAME CRACKED AND FELL APART. I KNOW THIS IS A BIG ISSUE IN EUROPE AND THE DEALERS CHANGE IT FREE OF CHARGE SINCE IT IS ON A RECALL, BUT NOTHING IN THE USA AFTER SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FROM DRIVERS. DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS!
The frame is literally rotting from the inside out. Apparently this is a very common problem with Toyota 4 runners. This should have been recalled and fixed by Toyota like they did with the Tacoma and sequoias.
rear subframe premature rust for a 2013 car I've been reading a lot many people have same problem it is a very expensive fix and I'm sure Mercedes knows about it. Also engine makes very bad rattling noise at startup which is also a very expensive fix and Mercedes issued a tsb bulletin thank you
The left rear subframe is torn and severely rusted. The left rear arm also needs to be replaced because it is essentially not connected to anything which makes the car not safe to drive. I took the car to an independent shop and was told not to drive the car any longer. I had to have the car towed to my home. I was made aware that this is a common issue In Mercedes C300 and Mercedes US has refused to issue a recall although in Canada a recall has been issued on this particular part. I was driving on the highway with my 1 yr old in the backseat when my car started to pull side to side. The car felt out of control. There were no warning indicators about this issue so I wasn’t sure what was going on. Im happy I followed my instincts and had the car looked at. I am now faced with purchasing a new car or having the car repaired for several thousand dollars. I have had the car for six years without issue and I’m told that this is a manufacturer defect.
intermittently the idle will vibrate the car and acceleration will quit and sputter. Very dangerous in many conditions. cannot drive car safely.
The interior driver side door handle broke and I was trapped inside my vehicle. Upon checking with the local Mercedes-Benz repair shop, this is a known problem with this type of vehicle and the design of the door handle is prone to this kind of a problem. As of now, the contact has stated that their current solution for the issue is to roll down the window and open the door with the exterior handle.
while driving in an emergency braking situation the car went left...so much so i lost control and spun 360 degrees. i thought that wasnt rite...upon investigation it turns out the right rear torque arm was no longer connected..the cradle or sub frame. it was rotted thru causing the arm to break off !!....car is not drivable and mercedes wont repair it... someone is going to get killed if it hasnt happened already !!
So I took my car to get new tires and the tech told me that my rear subfram was rusted and cracked ,unsafe to drive . I called mercedes and they asked to take it to the dealership and get a quote. I did this and there response was to do nothing .this issue has been recalled in Germany and also Canada. But nothing done in United States. This is a serious safety issue .let's say I never got my tires and never found out and was traveling 70mph down the freeway and had to hit the brakes hard for whatever reason and this part fails and breaks. Everyone in my car and whoever else my car collides into life's would most definitely be in danger
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to immediately respond while turning the steering wheel. After stopping the vehicle and attempting to reverse, it was discovered that the front wheels would no longer turn while turning the steering wheel in either direction. The vehicle was later towed to the residence. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V252000 (Steering). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 95,000.
2013 MERCEDES BENZ C250. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TAKTA AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS DIFFICULT GETTING IN CONTACT WITH THE DEALER IN ORDER TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED OR, PICKED UP BY THE DEALER, DUE TO HAVING MEDICAL ISSUES.
The components of the engine being the camshaft adjusters, timing guide, timing chain, valves and pistons that all work to deliver power are faulty and have failed literally mid-drive. I was on a busy interstate during rush hour and nearly lost control of the vehicle as it just powered out while driving at 70 mph then forcing a semi to nearly terminate myself and family. The dependability and safety is abruptly ripped out from underneath you. Without even being able to control the vehicle and it coming to an abrupt, unsafe hault. There were no warning signs. The vehicle has since been looked at and informed me that an extended warranty is in place for half of all the parts and labor above.all should be covered and for safety.my nerves are a wreck and without a way to afford an entirely new engine I am left to contend with car payments for an unsafe undrivable vehicle. Since then the dealership recognized my concerns but has since stated that without a modification to the extended warranty or it being made a recall that there is nothing that can be done.
The driver side suspension mount to the rear subframe has rusted through. While applying the brakes the car pulled radically to the left almost causing me to lose control. This is a known issue from what I can determine but Mercedes has refused to issue a recall. The car cannot be driven until this is fixed.
Vehicle is 9 years old with 69825 miles and the Rear drivers side Subframe rusted out and broke off the vehicle. This is a common problem and is a recall in both Europe and Canada and needs to be recalled in America, this is very dangerous and life threatening as I googled and there are hundred similar stories.
I noticed my Mercedes 2013 C300 (approx 89,000 miles) was acting peculiar when braking, it basically fishtailed like i was on ice, especially at a high speed on the interstate. It was very scary. It was also making clunking noises and did not handle on curves very well. Brought it to a local garage as the nearest dealer is over an hour away. Found out the rear subframe is broken on the rear passenger side and the other side very close to breaking. Not only that, but when I called a garage that specializes in German cars, he immediately guessed it was a C Class Mercedes, and when I googled it, this issue came up repeatedly. How this has not been addressed by Mercedes is beyond me, will it take a horrendous crash? Because I was almost a statistic. No warning lamps or messages. This design flaw needs addressed immediately. And now I have no vehicle as it is UNSAFE to drive and will cost me around $3,000 to fix IF they can get the part. Sent an email to Mercedes Benz, they advised recalls and service campaigns are VIN specific and to contact NHTSA. And the email closed with "Best wishes for safe and pleasant driving."
I had noticed that my car was starting to pull to the side when braking. I took it in to my authorized dealer, where I always have it serviced and maintained, and I was told that the rear sub-frame bracket was broken off at the left rear lower control arm attachment point. The rear sub-frame and left rear lower control arm needs to be replaced. I was told that the car was absolutely not safe to drive. I have always taken great care to maintain the vehicle, and it has always been stored in a garage. There were no warning signs prior to the failure, and I was very surprised to hear that the sub-frame had rusted out since there is no rust anywhere else on the vehicle.
2013 MERCEDES BENZ C300. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO A HAZARDOUS DEFECT IN THE REAR SUBFRAME. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE'S AC COMPRESSOR WAS FAULTY. THE CONSUMER WAS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE SUBFRAME AND AC REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE.
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that the vehicle had previously been serviced by an independent mechanic for brake pads and rotor replacement; however, the failure recurred with noises coming from the vehicle while driving. The vehicle was taken back to the mechanic, who diagnosed that the rear subframe was severely corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
My Mercedes C300, 2013, 46,123 miles has 2 holes in rear sun frame, rendering it unsafe to drive. Dealership and MB will not acknowledge this is a common problem with this make/model. Recall for very same problem in Canada & other nations has been issued but not in USA. Dangerous situation!!! $5,200 to repair! On a premium brand auto with less than 50,000 miles. Please help!
Vehicle inspection during oil change has revealed that the vehicle has a broken rear subframe. Apparently this is a common problem in Mercedes C300 vehicles, which are subject to recall for this issue in Germany and Canada. Vehicle report here (with video of broken subframe): https://xoxocar.com/inspection.aspx?inspectionid=9e225031-77b5-4304-8ec1-a10c859b90f0&print=true
I needed new tires and the tire dealer reported that my subframe is rotted bilaterally. He suggested I do not invest in tires until it is replaced and to notify Mercedes as there may be a recall. This defect caused instability of the frame that secures the tires. The safety risk should go without saying. Any rotted structure that supports the car and/or secures the tires is an obvious safety risk. After reading the multiple complaints posted under “structure” for this make and model, it appears that yes, this problem has been reproduced and confirmed by other owners and mechanics. I am presently picking up my car from the tire dealer and driving it directly to the Mercedes dealership…so they will be aware and able to inspect it. There were no warnings or alerts that my subframe rotted. I do not believe this is something that could be measured with a sensor to trigger an alert electronically.
Rear subframe cracked; car has less than 95,000 miles and looks great. My two children of driving age were using the vehicle at the time, driving others as well. Fortunately, I happened to drive it not longer after the issue and took it to the shop immediately. They put it on the lift and saw that the rear subframe was cracked all the way through. As it turns out, it is becoming very common on this make/model--and it is nearly impossible to get a replacement. Mercedes Benz told me maybe sometime in 2023. In addition to having it inspected, I have since been in contact with several dealers and mechanics. Results are invariable: the part is in extremely high demand, Mercedes cannot fill the demand, and the wait is indefinite but long. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem. In addition to the inconvenience, the car was very dangerous to drive. I am thankful that my son did not seriously injure himself or others while driving. The crack renders the car unstable at anything but the slowest speeds. When one brakes at any speed over about 20-25 mph, the car pulls violently to one side. Simply braking alone could cause a major, even fatal, accident. And any emergency maneuver could be disastrous. The car has been garaged since June awaiting a replacement that I am told will cost between $4000 and $6000! I am left with a vehicle that runs very well--but is unsafe to drive on a public roadway--and no way to repair it. Moreover, Mercedes cannot tell me when the part may become available (likely sometime in 2023).
Car with just 130,000 miles needs significant subframe and related parts replaced. There are countless discussion boards of similar failures across Mercedes Benz car lines. The estimated cost of repairs at the dealership exceeds $5000 just for subframe work. When braking the car veers to the left and the right end tries to swing around. Again, this is noted on multiple discussion board. MB has consistently demonstrated negligence in addressing this as service advisers state this is not uncommon and is seen often. A recall/replacement is warranted.
The rear subframe has failed. I have felt some swaying and decreased control when driving the car at higher speeds especially when braking and taking curves. My safety has been put at risk as the wheel could go out and cause an accident. I brought the car to the mechanics at Goodyear as I thought it was the brakes. They informed me that the rear subframe was rusted from the inside out and was loose at the left rear toe arm. I am setting up an appointment to get this taken care of. As I am calling, mechanics are letting me know that the subframes are on backorder in the range of months. They say they are seeing this more often. I contacted the dealer and they said they can get a used one and replace it for $5200. I believe that if this is becoming more common where new ones are on backorder and this is obviously a safety issue then a recall should be issued. The car is only 9 years old and is garage-kept. I think that this idea of that type of rust at this point is absurd.
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal tapping sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the subframe was corroded. The independent mechanic replaced the subframe; however, the failure recurred with the vehicle making an abnormal sound while driving. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic, where the vehicle remained but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
I noticed my 2013 MB C350 was making strange noises and vibrations. I could feel the car steering in a different direction when I let go of the wheel. I took it to my service dealer and was told the subframe was severely rusted which included the suspension, struts, and even brake line. I was told the car was dangerous to drive and had to keep it at the shop for 45 days while waiting for the parts to come in. Apparently this is a "common" issue with this generation of C-class. There should be nothing common or normal about a rotting subframe after only 8 years of use. This a manufacturer's defect and the manufacturer needs to be held responsible for using inferior parts for cost cutting measures. I had to pay several thousands of dollars for an issue that shouldn't be an issue for 20+ years.
Started noticing strange chassis behavior when braking. Braking hard would result in car leaning left, then leaning right when foot taken off the brake. Car appeared to "sway" on braking. Hard to control direction of vehicle on braking. Consulted local mechanic who put the car up on a lift. Discovered rotten rear subframe on left side. No substantial rust or rot on any other structural components. Looked into this issue online; no recall discovered. Found multiple instances of this rear subframe rot occurring to other owners of similar-year C300s who were then also quoted thousands of dollars in repairs. Car is not safe to drive until the subframe is replaced. The wrong pothole could cause the rotten rear subframe to snap and potentially cause more damage to the vehicle and injury to the driver and others. No warning lamps or other system messages to warn of this problem. A safety inspection performed at an authorized Mercedes-Benz service center on February 22, 2021 found no issues with the vehicle.
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C250. The contact stated while driving approximately 5 MPH, the driver’s side air bags were inadvertently deployed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure; however, no assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 79,000.
My rear sub frame is rusted and unsafe to drive.. There seems to be a recall in Canada (I think) but not in the US. this is an unsafe issue that needs to be fixed. All local repair shops are aware of these and have several that need repaired as well.
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard a thumping noise from the rear of the vehicle. The contact pulled over and checked underneath the vehicle and saw that the rear of the vehicle was sitting on the fuel tank. The contact was able to drive home safely. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed with a severely rusted rear sub-frame. The contact was informed that the rear sub-frame needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 64,300.
Subframe cracked while driving vehicle and began to sway in the rear very badly.
The item that has failed is the rear subframe of the vehicle. It is available to be viewed. It is still on my car, as it has not yet been replaced due to the cost. When braking, the front of the car will pull left and back feels like it is pulling to the right, as if you are spinning out. The problem is that the subframe is rusted out at under 100,000 miles. I just hit 100,000 and it has already broke completely. I was told by the dealership that this is a safety concern where the back of the vehicle could fall off, there words, not mine. I have been in contact with Mercedes Benz corporate and they said since I am past 50,000 miles, there is nothing they can do. There were no safety warnings, recalls or lights in the car that has given me any indication there was a problem until it broke and I felt it during breaking. This issue seems to have happened to many individuals driving the Mercedes C300, as it is not just a small number. Currently, MB has this backordered due to the number of cases. They should be responsible for a recall for the price paid for their vehicles.
I have a 2013 Mercedes Benz C 300 sport, and I felt my car shaking if I drive above speed of 35-40. Took it to Mercedes Benz dealership is Rockville center NY, they told me it is my subframe, which cost parts $2496 and labor $3704, Total $6196. Sad part is that my car is in excellent condition and Mercedes refuse from even helping to reduce cost.
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while his wife was driving approximately 30 mph, she was depressing the brake pedal and the rear side of the vehicle shifted to the left independently, causing to impact with another vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated no one was injured nor sought medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was drivable and the driver was able to continue driving to her destination. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed the sub frame was corroded. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
2013 Mercedes Benz C300 4dr AWD. Corrosion of Rear Sub-Frame (aka "Rear Axle Carrier" or "Suspension Cross Member") (New Part #: 207-350-97-02. Old Part #: 204-350-01-41 + other numbers). Car experienced erratic behavior under all braking scenarios. Extremely dangerous behavior under heavy breaking (65 mph to 25 mph). Life threatening severity of issue. 2 personal experiences. 1: Stopping at a yellow light in a quick fashion (55-0 mph, no abs required), car pulled hard to left and almost pulled me into curbing on left hand side. It felt like the rear end was on ice and was going to do a 180 partial spin. 2: Pulling off a highway into a turning lane and braked hard to slow down for right hand turn (65-15 mph). Car pulled about 8 feet left and almost put me back into full speed traffic. Same uncontrollable "on ice" feeling. I was on a road trip and had car towed to independent mechanic in the town I was visiting. He found holes throughout rear sub-frame member on drivers side and passenger side. Mounting points for suspension components were not structurally sound. He said I was lucky the control arm didn't break loose and puncture the gas tank. Corrosion was limited to sub-frame. The rest of car was "Nearly Perfect" in the words of the mechanic. Called Mercedes Corporate and they advised towing car to local MB dealer for inspection. MB Lancaster determined car was unsafe to drive. I am currently pursuing a good will repair case that has been initially denied. Parts are back ordered for 10+ weeks. I've called several dealers to source the part and nearly dealers have orders placed to Germany for these sub frames. Repair + alignment is approximately 4k USD. In 2018, Mercedes has issued Official Service Information Supplemental Notes (SI35.00-P0009A) to technicians to look for premature corrosion issues. This is free of charge replacement in UK and Germany already and a recall in Canada. US needs to catch up quick before death occurs.
The door handle on the driver side stopped opening. I believe it became broken on the inside. Upon researching it I found that this is a recurring problem in many cars of my same make and model. Additionally I took the car to a mechanic to be fixed and apparently the dealerships are keeping the part in stock because this is a common issue. The car will not open from the inside without purchasing an entire new panel to repair it. This seems like a recall issue as a present safety concerns. This cost over $1200 to repair.
Vehicle was taken in for standard maintenance and I was informed that the rear sub-frame had a rusted through hole on one side and was rusting on the other. This vehicle is well maintained, garaged, and has normal annual maintenance with the dealership. There was no prior warning that this was an issue or "normal wear and tear" was causing this problem. The repair is quoted to be over 5k and I was told it is/will be essential because of a safety issue. Through some brief internet research, it appears like this is a larger problem and could have catastrophic problems if it is not caught before it fails.
The camshaft adjuster failed on my vehicle and created start up issues and had to be replaced at 123K miles. While not an immediate safety concern, the camshaft adjuster failure could lead to engine failure and is an inherent issue in this vehicle make and model. This is a flaw in the vehicle and Mercedes did not notify me of any recall or warranty terms.The repair code was confirmed and repaired by an authorized Mercedes dealer for $2800.There were no warning lamps however I experienced engine start up issues. I contacted Mercedes as was advised they would open a case to review potentially partial warranty coverage however did not receive any type of resolution.
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. Upon taking the vehicle to the dealer, they discovered corrosion underneath the rear subframe. The corrosion caused 2-inch sized holes to be formed on the passenger’s side of the rear subframe. The dealer also discovered corrosion on the wire of one of the seats which resulted in the air bag warning light being illuminated. The manufacturer had been notified of the failure and agreed to cover 50% of the cost for repair of the vehicle. The vehicle had yet to be repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000.
I noticed that my car was pulling heavy to the left when I stop and strange noise in the rear of the car, after taking the car to the mechanic he told me that the car rear subframe on my 2013 Mercedes Benz c300 was rotted, the control arm bracket completely broke off on the left side and the right side is also cracked. it appears that this is a common issue in areas of heavy road salt usage during winter months, the dealer told me that the car has a rotted rear subframe problem and the subframe could break out in months.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The rear subframe rusted off at where the lower control is connected due to corrosion =. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? When the control arm rusted off the frame I lost control of the car due fish tailing and car extremally pulling the to the left while hitting the brakes Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? no Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? no warning lamps for the frame, it finally appears and almost caused me to crash after the control are finally rusted off the subframe completely.
Sudden steering pull when braking . Mechanic found rotten left rear suspension cross member .part number 2043500141 Mechanic reports very Common issue with this model . Mercedes Benz is aware but will not repair or supply replacement parts . Note the replacement part is not available in US currently . Stuck with unsafe auto lacking support from Mercedes Benz . Some one is going to be injured / killed as the manufacturing defect shows rust failure from inside out and not detectable during routine maintenance . Hard braking pull is first indication that the defective part failed . Should this occur at highway speed the auto can flip resulting in major injury or death .
While driving normal highway speed and braking suddenly the car violently pulls to left. Same occurs when driving normal city traffic . Good afternoon I am following up on a major safety issue #11453988 concerning a 2013 C300 Mercedes. I reported this a few weeks ago as this safety defect can cause personnel injury when the defective part fails . As noted earlier during normal braking the car pulls hard to left or right . With normal highway speed driving and emergency braking the car will violently pull left or right possibility into oncoming traffic and or fixed objects . Please reply with update into this major safety defect concern . PS the part number in question has been changed from number 2043500141 with new number 2073509702. This part is not available in the US currently and has a lead time of 30 days from Germany. With the long lead time and the need to travel to work it is a major safety issue that can be avoided. Thanks George
The Rear subframe rusted and broke off, car was not stopping safely.
I bought my c300 Mercedes-Benz in 2013 from the Euro Motorcars dealership in Germantown, MD. On about February 15, I heard some clanking/banging in the rear of my car. I thought it was the rear driver side break. I took the car to my local mechanic and he indicated the rear sub-frame had rusted though and it was banging on the gas tank (see attachments). Very dangerous, I should not drive.
News Channel Update | Warranty Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC A Mercedes-Benz AG Company One Mercedes-Benz Drive Sandy Springs, GA 30328 770.705.0600 IMPORTANT EXTENDED WARRANTY INFORMATION Mercedes-Benz AG (“MBAG”), the manufacturer of Mercedes-Benz vehicles, has determined that on certain Model Year (“MY”) 2012-2015 Mercedes-Benz Model 204 and 172 vehicles (C250 and SLK250), the warranty on the camshaft adjuster will be extended from the original 4 years/50,000 miles to 10 years/120,000 miles (whichever occurs first) from the original warranty start date. This camshaft adjuster extended limited warranty applies to all conditions that necessitate the replacement of the camshaft adjuster under the standard warranty terms and conditions. The extended warranty is applicable to the following vehicles: Model Years Sales Designation Engine Type C-Class 2012-2014 C250 M271 C-Class 2012-2015 C250 Coupe M271 SLK-Class 2012-2015 SLK271 Please be advised that all camshaft adjusters being claimed under warranty must have a short test with fault code attached and will be inspected. All camshaft adjusters found to be functioning properly or without proper documentation will be returned and the claim debited in full. The following damage codes and parts kit can only be claimed for the replacement of the camshaft adjuster: Damage Code: 05050 – Camshaft adjustment, intake camshaft Damage Code: 05052 – Camshaft adjustment, exhaust camshaft Parts: A 271 050 21 00 80 – Camshaft adjuster, kit IMPORTANT: 1. Always check VMI to determine if a vehicle is covered under the 10 year/120,000 mile warranty period 2. Short Test Documentation with fault code information (P001477, P001600, P001762, P001662, P001177, P001700, P001192, P001492, P034062, P036662) must be attached to all returned camshaft adjusters Please check the VIN in Netstar/VMI before scheduling the appointment for the repair. Applicable vehicles will be visible in Netstar/VMI on October 30, 2020
This is a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300 4matic Luxury model, with about 110K miles. It started making beating noise and pulling to the right when brakes were applied. Driving became quite dangerous especially at a higher speed, and the driver had to steer the car very carefully to compensate the fish-tailing. It also affected braking as well. There was no warnings from the car, but the noise, the fish-tailing and uneven braking were really bad. A M-B certified mechanic inspected the car, and identified the problem as the rear sub-frame that has rusted out, and lost 1 of the 4 anchors. The whole sub-frame will have to be replaced. Estimated costs will be USD4k-5k, and may take a month due to shortage of parts. For a major structural part on a premium-brand car to rust, within 10 years, to the extent that driving is rendered dangerous, it is not acceptable. A safety recall should be issued on this, and M-B should bear the costs.