repaired · 2026 Q3
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
2010 Mercedes-Benz C300Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 453 owner complaints about the 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 6 safety recalls, and for recall 16V-081 the manufacturer reports only 65% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through May 10, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: SsmIntrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300 has problems
453 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
202Air bags10 crash/fire/injury
84Electrical system4 crash/fire/injury
71Steering3 crash/fire/injury
48Exterior lighting5 crash/fire/injury
34Structure2 crash/fire/injury
26Suspension
26Fuel/propulsion system
15Power train
13Engine
4714 other systems6 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 202 | 10 |
| Electrical system | 84 | 4 |
| Steering | 71 | 3 |
| Exterior lighting | 48 | 5 |
| Structure | 34 | 2 |
| Suspension | 26 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 26 | 1 |
| Power train | 15 | 2 |
| Engine | 13 | 1 |
| 14 other systems | 47 | 6 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
6 recalls
2010 Mercedes-Benz C300 recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
repaired · 2018 Q3
Frontal: sensor/control module-inactive
Risk. If the air bags do not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, there would be an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Show 2 more recalls
repaired · 2026 Q3
Driver side: inflator module
Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other…
repaired · 2015 Q4
Exterior lighting: tail lights
Risk. Dimming or failure of the tail lights reduces the ability to warn other motorists of the driver's intentions of stopping or turning, increasing the risk of a…
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Mercedes-Benz.
Mileage at failure
When do air bags problems start?
72kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 41 air bags complaints. 76% were reported before 100,000 miles.
Only 46% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.
5under 30k miles31under 100k miles10100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Electrical system
10 owners mentioned a cost$1,530median
Middle half: $1,364 – $1,950
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2010 vs. every other C300 year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the C300 median. How we score
'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
2 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300, and the recalls they led to.
- Loss of rear lighting assemblyLed to recall 14V-177
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen
In owners' words
What C300 owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
After having the airbag recall for my Mercedes done, the Electronic Steering Lock failed and my car would not start and the steering wheel is locked. They said my car was ready to pick up and when I arrived the car was completely inoperable. The MB Dealership in Lynnfield, MA wants $2700 to fix it.…
The contact owns a 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that the battery and alternator were being drained. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the front air bag sensor message and a fog light message were displayed. The vehicle was towed to an unknown local dealer;…
Due to the corrosion in the rear subframe both side of lower control arms snapped the tires to the car are wearing out due to the corrosion in rear subframe and it’s was also hitting my gas tank if I was to go over any holes which can cause a bigger issue
Own a 2010 C300?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.