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.
2011 Mercedes-Benz C300Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 480 owner complaints about the 2011 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 24, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: SsmIntrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2011 Mercedes-Benz C300 has problems
480 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
250Air bags13 crash/fire/injury
60Suspension1 crash/fire/injury
49Structure2 crash/fire/injury
43Electrical system3 crash/fire/injury
38Fuel/propulsion system
34Steering1 crash/fire/injury
20Exterior lighting
10Power train
10Engine
3511 other systems4 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 250 | 13 |
| Suspension | 60 | 1 |
| Structure | 49 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 43 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 38 | 0 |
| Steering | 34 | 1 |
| Exterior lighting | 20 | 2 |
| Power train | 10 | 0 |
| Engine | 10 | 1 |
| 11 other systems | 35 | 4 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
6 recalls
2011 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 · 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.
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…
Show 2 more recalls
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…
no report yet
Fuel system, gasoline
Risk. If the fuel filter flange cracks, it will leak fuel which may lead to a fire if an external ignition source is present.
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?
60kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 41 air bags complaints. 76% were reported before 100,000 miles.
Only 29% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.
4under 30k miles31under 100k miles10100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2011 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 2011 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.
1.What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The fuel system failure is a highly critical safety concern, and my life is at risk. It causes malfunctions with the vehicle, for example, the OBD-based emissions test has flagged a lot of (codes…
I was in a collision and the airbags did not deploy. There was a recall on airbags for the Mercedes C300 within the year my vehicle was made, however, the recall did not include my VIN. Also, the sunroof drain is faulty, which was also recalled on other Mercedes C300s within the same production…
The sam box (electrical system fuze panel) located under the hood is in a spot where if the lid isn't on correctly water will drain from the windshield right into the sam box and cause the vehicles electrical system to deploy the steering wheel airbag. That's at least what happened to me. It was…
Own a 2011 C300?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.