repaired · 2021 Q1
Communication
Risk. An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.
2013 Mercedes-Benz C300Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 262 owner complaints about the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 6 safety recalls, and for recall 18V-043 the manufacturer reports only 74% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 28, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: SsmIntrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300 has problems
262 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
99Air bags6 crash/fire/injury
67Suspension1 crash/fire/injury
58Structure
26Steering1 crash/fire/injury
19Electrical system
15Service brakes
8Engine
7Vehicle speed control
5Wheels
2011 other systems1 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 99 | 6 |
| Suspension | 67 | 1 |
| Structure | 58 | 0 |
| Steering | 26 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 19 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 15 | 3 |
| Engine | 8 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 7 | 4 |
| Wheels | 5 | 0 |
| 11 other systems | 20 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
6 recalls
2013 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 passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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 · 2019 Q4
Air bags: frontal
Risk. If the driver air bag inadvertently deploys, it can increase the risk of injury and a crash.
Show 2 more recalls
repaired · 2018 Q3
Steering
Risk. A loss of steering can increase the risk of a crash.
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.
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.
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.
Suspension
10 owners mentioned a cost$5,000median
Middle half: $4,362 – $5,800
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
2013 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
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300, and the recalls they led to.
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen
In owners' words
What C300 owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
I had just gotten off the highway it was a rainy day and pulled into my driveway when airbag deployed on its own. I am lucky to be alive. I purchased this vehicle about 2 yrs or so ago and ran carfax that showed recall was fixed by manufacturer. I contacted Mercedes corporate office and it’s been…
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that the fuel tank was leaking after refueling. The fuel had leaked out to half tank. The Fire Department was called, but no assistance was provided. The contact stated that there was a puddle of fuel in the driveway. Additionally, the…
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while pulling into a parking space and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle accelerated unintendedly. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that she depressed the brake pedal but the vehicle failed to respond.…
Own a 2013 C300?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.