2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300 Steering Problems

The problem is that the steering wheel locking mechanism has failed. The vehicle could not be started or driven. It required a flatbed tow to an authorized Mercedes repair facility. It was diagnosed as the steering mechanism, requiring replacement. The cost for this repair is $1400.00. I researched this problem on the MB website and it stated that this issue was common. I feel that this is a safety issue and should be repaired free of charge or at a significant discount. The car is currently being repaired, and I can forward any relevant documentation to you once the repair is complete.

I drove my car to get lunch. Came back out to go back to work and the car would not start. Would not even turn over. My Radio did not turn on and I couldn't even roll my windows back up. Luckily they were only cracked open a small amount. My steering wheel cannot be turned, it's locked in it's current position. I am told the ESL (Electronic Steering Lock) and possibly the EIS is the cause of this problem. The display on the dash says "Take your key from ignition" and that is all I get. Had to have my car towed and now I have a dead car with the windows partially open that I cannot close.

The entire rear subframe of any W205 body model including but not limited to the C class from 2009-2014, CL class, SL, class ETC. suffers admittedly from MB USA, premature rust, deterioration etc. there is an active recall for these same models in Canada and all of Europe but not the USA. My garage kept 2009 C300 has suffered extensive rear end damage from a factory defect that Mercedes refuses to recognize in the Continental U.S. but will admit the same issues occurred in the EU and Canada. Keeler Mercedes, USA, of Colonie New York, stated they completed my subframe repair under the MB rear subframe extended warranty. The vehicle was driven home and inspected only to find out Keeler Mercedes of NY did NOT replace this crucial safety component under MB-USA extended warranty issued for this defect. This is pure negligence. When asked why the subframe wasn’t replaced as the work order stated it did, they stated “a mix up in paper work” I believe Mercedes-Benz USA and Keeler Mercedes of New York conspired together to push this massive safety defect aside and lie about completing the work in fear of the payment from warranty not being worth the labor hours required by the technicians. This oversight COULD have been a multi million dollar lawsuit if any injury was sustained after said repairs were done in belief the vehicle was safe to drive. Keeler Mercedes’ has also had this vehicle in their possession from June 14th 2024, to todays date, July 5th 2024 with no word on when repairs to subframe will be completed. Subframe replacement stated on MB website states it is an 8 hour labor job. We’re on day 18 now. MAJOR safety issue and shady dealing by dealership

Suspension Cross-Member - Mercedes-Benz (204-350-01-41) Driving regularly suddenly fill like the rear passenger side tire moved unevenly, then went to the tire shop, and when they take out the tire see how the rear frame was rusted and broken in a straight line exactly in the middle of the tire hole area. Then start to check used cars to donate that part and All of them have the same trouble in that piece, so I decided to review the frame and discover that the rust begins to damage the opposite side too, so I'm pretty sure is a component failure in metal and materials more than simple rust.

Steering Wheel locked due to ESL Module's motor failure making the car won't turn on, not drivable. Stuck, stranded.

2009 C300 at 120k miles car won’t start. Dashboard indicates “remove key from ignition” key was not in ignition, had car towed to the dealership, they said car needs a new steering lock and ignition switch due to malfunction. Total cost $1923. Thankfully car was not in motion when this happened. Please do a recall on steering lock and ignition switch for the safety of everyone!!!!

Steering lock malfunction and unable to start car. Vehicle has completely shut down.

electrical ignition switch and electronic steering lock the component malfunctioned with no symptoms. i got stranded for 5 hours past midnight car has been inspected by a shop and Mb dealer no warning lights and no symptoms

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? One day my car did not crank or start. Had it towed to dealer and they seemed to be familiar with everything they needed to order to fix it without blinking. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? As much as not being able to drive your car Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, See attached invoice 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

REAR SUBFRAME ASSEMBLY RUSTING, CREATING SAFETY ISSUE. DISCOVERED 04-22=2021

Mileage: 115,000

MY VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY GIVES ME WARNING/ALERT MESSAGES OF HEADLIGHT/SIGNAL/PARKING LAMP ISSUES. UPON INSPECTION AND TAKEN TO CERTIFIED, RELIABLE MERCEDES REPAIR SHOPS, LIGHTS ARE FULLY FUNCTIONING, YET ALERTS CONTINUE ON MY DISPLAY/DASH. MORE IMPORTANTLY THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL) HAS FAILED ON MORE THAN ONCE COSTING VERY CONSIDRABLE AMOUNTS OF REPAIR BILLS, AND IT HAS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING, I PARKED THE CAR WHICH HAS BEEN PERFECTLY MAINTAINED AND WITH LOW MILEAGE, AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS, MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO EVEN HAVE IT TOWED TO BE REPAIRED.

Mileage: 95,000

THE CAR WAS STATIONARY. IGNITION SWITCH LOCKS THE CAR DOES NOT START AND THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD DOES NOT COME ON, IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR SEVERAL YEARS UNTIL IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE, IT WONT START AT ALL HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO MERCEDES

Mileage: 103,000

CAR WAS PARKED BY SIDE WALK NEXT TO MY HOUSE. INSERTED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND TURNED IT. THE CAR DID NOT START, AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. NO LIGHTS FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED ON TRUCK BED SINCE IT'S REAR-WHEEL DRIVE. DEALER TOLD ME IT'S THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCK CYLINDER. COST $1500 TO FIX. THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. NOT FAIR.

Mileage: 55,000

EIS STEERING LOCK BATTERY FAIL. $12 BATTERY DIES AND EIS STAYS IN LOCK POSITION KEY DOESN'T RESPOND TO IGNITION SWITCH OR CAR UNLOCKING DOORS.

MY CAR EVERY SO OFTEN WON?T START BATTERY IS GOOD STARTER IS GOOD JUST DOES NOTHING HAPPENED OVER 10X HAD IT TOWED TO 5 MECHANICS SHOPS AND MERCEDES CAN?T DIAGNOSE PROBLEM BECAUSE AFTER A DAY MAYBE TWO SOMETIMES 4 OR 5 THE CAR WILL JUST START UP ON ITS OWN AND THEN A FEW WEEKS OR MONTHS WE GO THROUGH IT ALL OVER AGAIN RESEARCHED AND OTHER MERCEDES C300 DRIVERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM FOR MONTHS AND ITS THE STEERING LOCK MODULE. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

TURNED IGNITION KEY TO START VEHICLE. NOTHING HAPPENED. NO CRANKING OR CLICKING. COMPLETE SILENCE. STEERING WHEEL AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WERE BOTH LOCKED INTO POSITION AND COULD NOT BE MOVED EVEN THOUGH IGNITION WAS IN THE 'ON' POSITION. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH A DEFECT IN THE 'ELECTRICAL IGNITION SYSTEM/ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (EIS/ESL)' AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THIS CONDITION OCCURRED ON ONE PREVIOUS OCCASION WITHIN THE LAST 45 DAYS. ON BOTH OCCASIONS VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY HOWEVER IF IT WERE OCCUR WHILE MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK AND DRIVER WOULD BE UNABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED AND WIDELY KNOWN SAFETY DEFECT FOR WHICH THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BEAR THE COST OF CORRECTING (AT THE CURRENT TIME VEHICLE OWNERS ARE CHARGED BETWEEN $1200-$1700 TO PERFORM THE DEFECT CORRECTION OUTLINED IN THE MANUFACTURER'S TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN). *TR

Mileage: 82,000

PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE WHOLE CAR SHUT DOWN AFTER BEING INSPECTED. IT SAID TO BE A INTERLOCK SWITCH PROBLEM I'LL HAVE TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED BECAUSE IT WILL NOT TURN ON IT IS SHUT DOWN .

Mileage: 80,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE IGNITION OR THE STEERING COLUMN CONTROL LOCK FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HOY FAMILY AUTO (1122 AIRWAY BLVD, EL PASO, TX 79925, (915) 706-2200) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN CONTROL MECHANISM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,169. *PM CONSUMER STATED OIL CHANGE WAS DONE 1,000 MILES PRIOR TO FAILURE.*JB

Mileage: 120,169

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE IGNITION OR THE STEERING COLUMN CONTROL LOCK FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HOY FAMILY AUTO (1122 AIRWAY BLVD, EL PASO, TX 79925, (915) 706-2200) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN CONTROL MECHANISM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,169. *PM CONSUMER STATED OIL CHANGE WAS DONE 1,000 MILES PRIOR TO FAILURE.*JB

Mileage: 120,169

STEERING WHEEL STUCK IN LOCKED POSITION. CAR WILL NOT START. LOTS OF RESEARCH ON THE ISSUE HAS SHOWN MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THIS ISSUES HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY. MANY TIMES AT NIGHT WHEN I AM GETTING OFF WORK.

Mileage: 140,000

SAFETY ISSUE REGARDING FAILURE OF REAR SUBFRAME. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2009 C300 4MATIC SPORT. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT ITS ENTIRE LIFE AND IS NOT IN A HIGH SALT OR SNOW ENVIRONMENT. MY WIFE WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY TO HAVE AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT IN THIS CAR DUE TO THE REAR SUBFRAME RUSTING THROUGH AND SEPARATING. WE BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND PAID A PREMIUM FOR MERCEDES QUALITY BECAUSE WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE SAFEST VEHICLE MADE. I AM EXTREMELY DISMAYED TO LEARN THAT WHEN MY WIFE CAME HOME AND SAID THE CAR WAS DRIVING WEIRD, THAT IN FACT SHE WAS DRIVING A CAR THAT WAS FALLING APART WITH MY 7 YR OLD DAUGHTER IN THE BACK AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. WHEN SHE ARRIVED AT THE ALIGNMENT SHOP THE MANAGER THERE INFORMED HER THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS TYPE OF FAILURE OF THE FRAME BEFORE. MY WIFE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR BECAUSE IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THIS CERTAINLY SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT OR USE OF POOR MATERIALS AND MERCEDES SHOULD COVER THE REPAIRS

Mileage: 89,000

PULLED INTO PARKING SPACE AND LOCKED CAR. 'THE CAR WAS IN A STATIONARY POSITION IN A PARKING LOT.' DID SHOPPING 1/2 HOUR. WHEN I CAME BACK THE CAR DID UNLOCK, BUT WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START IT, THE KEY WOULDN'T TURN TO START THE CAR. I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT, UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, NO RADIO, THE CAR WAS TOTALLY LOCKED AND SHUT DOWN. I CONTACTED MY MERCEDES CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND HE HAD A TOW COMPANY COME TO RETRIEVE MY CAR. WHEN THE TOW GOT THERE, THE WHEELS WERE TURNED TO THE LEFT AS I HAD PULLED INTO THE PARKING SPACE AND THEY WERE STILL TURNED FROM PULLING INTO THE SPACE TO THE LEFT. IT TOOK THEM OVER AN HOUR TO LOAD THE CAR ON THEIR TRUCK BECAUSE THE WHEELS WERE LOCKED IN A TURN POSITION. THEY TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE REALIZED THE CAR WAS IN A STEERING LOCK. HE "REMOVED AND REPLACED -ALL." THE INVOICE STATES REPLACED "STEERING LOCK" [XXX] I WILL HAVE A COPY OF THE INVOICE FAXED TO YOU BY UPS. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FAX. THERE WAS VIRTUALLY NO REASON FOR THE CAR TO LOCK AS IT DID. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF AN ISSUE WHILE DRIVING THE CAR UNTIL I ATTEMPTED TO START IT AND IT WAS COMPLETELY LOCKED. HAD THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING, I AM CERTAIN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT *JS

Mileage: 72,311

THE CAR STOPPED ON ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING PN THE HIGHWAY, BECAUSE OF FAULTY ESL UNIT. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND IT US VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH ALL MERCERDES W204.

Mileage: 148,000

ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK FAILED TO OPERATE AND UNABLE TO START VEHICLE. COMMON PROBLEM WITH W204 CHASSIS AND PERHAPS A SAFETY ISSUE IF VEHICLE FAILS TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED.STATIONARY WHEN FAILED, HAD TO TOW HOME TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR. THEFT SENSITIVE DEVICE SO PARTS CAN'T BE ORDERED FROM OTHER THAN DEALER.

Mileage: 84,500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,700. *TT *JS

Mileage: 66,700

DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND CAN CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY COMMUNICATION AS TO WHEN A FIX WILL OCCUR AND HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THERE SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAGS IF IN COLLISION IN CALIFORNIA UNTIL A FIX. ALSO MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF BEING STRANDED DUE TO IGNITION SWITCH FAIL THAT LOCKS STEERING WHEEL AND IS A $1,300 FIX.

Mileage: 48,000

ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK(ESL) UNIT FAILS TO UNLOCK STEERING WHEEL FROM A PARKED, OFF POSITION, CAR WILL NOT TRY TO START AND STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. CAR MUST BE TOWED FOR REPAIR. HAD TO REPLACE THE ESL AND HAVE IT RECODED TO WORK WITH THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH.

Mileage: 78,000

2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TAKATA AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ELECTRONIC SWITCH THAT IS LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE AIRBAG FREQUENTLY LOCKED THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE CAR WON'T START, WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO UNLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF WESLEY CHAPEL (2383 WILLOW OAK DR, WESLEY CHAPEL, FL) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,425. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT *TR

Mileage: 90,425

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN PLACE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,808.

Mileage: 69,808

THE VEHICLE FAILS TO START. WHEN THE KEY FOB IS PLACED IN THE IGNITION STATES TO REMOVE THE KEY FOB. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE CAR IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK WHICH SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE AS MANY OTHERS IN THE MBUSA FORUM ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITHOUT ANY ASSISTANCE FROM MB. AS I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK ON AUGUST 25,2017 I STOPPED AT WALGREEN'S TO MAKE A PURCHASE. WHEN I GOT BACK TO THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR IT WOULD NOT START. I THEN TRIED JUMPING THE VEHICLE FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH NO LUCK. THE CAR WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO INITIALLY STATED THAT THE CAR WAS NOT RECOGNIZING THE KEY FOB. THEY THEN IN TURN STATED THAT NO THE CAR'S STEERING COLUMN LOCK IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I THEN RESEARCHED THE WEB AND NOTICED THAT THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE IN WHICH THERE HAS BEEN MANY NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS. MY CAR IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT THEY WILL NOT COVER THIS ITEM AS THEY ARE ONLY COVERING THE POWERTRAIN.

Mileage: 105,400

CAR WAS OFF AND PARKED IN THE GIANT (LIMERICK, PA) PARKING LOT. I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, TURNED IT, AND NOTHING HAPPENED. DASH READ "REMOVE KEY." I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. STEERING LOCK MECHANISM WENT BAD. FUSE 22 BLEW EVERY TIME WE PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. HAD TO REPLACE PART.

Mileage: 81,000

TAKATA RECALL, BRAKE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION ABS,ESP,ETS,SRS.ESB,EBR FLASHES ON AND OFF ON MESSAGE CENTER. THEN VEHICLE STARTED TO DRIVE VERY ROUGH AND BUMPY, THEN I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT TOTALLY LOCKED THANK GOD IWAS ABLE TO TRY AND ROLL IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CAR JUST TOTALLY WENT BLACK AND DIED, NO HEADLIGHTS AND I HAVE TO HAVE IT TOWED, WAITING TO GET THE DIAGNOSIS FROM THE DEALER. BUT I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON LINE AND HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS FROM ALL OVER THE USA AND EVEN OVERSEES THAT IT HAS TO DO WITH THE EIS. THIS SADDENS ME TO SEE ALL THE SAME COMPLAINTS AND I THOUGHT THAT WE WERE PROTECTED AS CONSUMERS BY THE GOVERNMENT, AND THE NHTSA AGAINST MAJOR AUTO MANUFACTURER SUCH AS MBUSA TO CALL OUT THESE DEADLY DEFECTS BEFORE IT CONSUMED INNOCENCE PEOPLES LIVES. BUT IT IS OBVIOUS THAT OUR LIVES MEANS NOTHING TO THESE PEOPLE, BECAUSE WITH ALL THESE IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS THIS IS A DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESS AND MBUSA SHOULD HAVE THE DECENCY TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND ADMIT THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND DO A RECALL. THIS IS JUST TOO MUCH COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM AND NO ONE SEEM TO BE TAKING THIS MATTER SERIOUS, AND WE AS THE CONSUMERS ARE BEING STUCK WITH THESE MAJOR REPAIR BILLS RUNNING IN THE THOUSAND. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE IN MAKING THESE REPORTS WHEN NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DO YOU HAVE TO RECEIVE ON THE SAME ISSUE FOR THE NHTSA AND THE FAIR TRADE ACT TO STAND UP FOR US, IN OCTOBER OF 2016 THIS SAME VEHICLE SELF ACCELERATE AND CRASH IN TO TWO OTHER VEHICLES CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND WHEN REPORTED TO MBUSA THEY CLAIM THEY DID THERE INVESTIGATION AND NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE, THEY PLACE THE BLAME ON ME .DAIMLER AG WOULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT THERE PRESTIGIOUS COMPANY AS BECOME

Mileage: 59,000

THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK IN MY 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300 IS NOT UNLOCKING WHEN I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE CAR WILL NOT START. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS. AFTER THE FIRST TWO INCIDENTS, THE WHEEL DID EVENTUALLY UNLOCK. I TOOK IT TO MY REPAIRMAN WHO ADVISED I GET A NEW KEY FROM MB AS THAT MIGHT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. GOT A NEW KEY LAST WEEK FOR $330. TODAY - 10 DAYS LATER - THE STEERING WHEEL AGAIN WILL NOT UNLOCK. LOOKING ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS A VERY COMMON AND WELL-DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH MB VEHICLES OVER MANY YEARS. MB SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS AND FIX THE PROBLEM, AND AT NO CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER! AT PRESENT, THEY ARE GOUGING CUSTOMERS ANYWHERE FROM $1200-2200 TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT EVERY MECHANIC AND COLLISION PERSON IN MY NEIGHBOTHOOD KNOWS TO EXIST. THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO DON'T SEEM TO KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM ARE THE PEOPLE AT THE MB DEALERSHIPS, WHO OBVIOUSLY WANT THE REPAIR BUSINESS. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS WHEEL LOCK PROBLEM HAS OCCURED WHILE PEOPLE ARE DRIVING. MY CAR WAS STATIONARY EVERY TIME THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED, PARKED IN A GARAGE WITH NO INCLINE AT ALL. I URGE YOU TO ORDER MERCEDES BENZ TO RECALL THIS PART AND TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM ASAP.

Mileage: 104,000

CAR WAS DRIVING VERY WELL SUDDENLY FLASHES ON MESSAGE CENTER POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION SRS,ABS,ETS,ESB,EBR ESP IN OPERATIVE AND IT KEEPS FLASHING WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION, THEN DISAPPEAR WHEN IGNITION IS OFF, I HAVE NOTICE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON YOUR WEBSITE WITH THIS SAME ISSUES WITH THIS SAME YEAR, MODEL AND OTHER MERCEDES,A WEEK A GO I ALSO RECEIVE A MESSAGE TO CHECK BRAKE PAD WEAR BEFORE THIS MESSAGE CAME UP. I REPLACE BRAKE PADS AND ROTOS, AND I AM ALSO BEING TOLD IT COULD ALSO BE MY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH OR SPEED SENSORS, ALL WAS REPLACE STILL AS MESSAGE. THERE IS SO MANY COMPLAINTS WITH THESE MESSAGES THAT THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A RECALL AND THE CUSTOMERS ARE BEING STUCK WITH THE REPAIRS. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT IT IS A DEFECT WITH THESE VEHICLES IT IS JUST TOO MANY. AND NO ONW SEEMS TO BE STANDING BEHIND THE CONSUMERS.MBUSA IS A MAJOR COMPANY AND THEY ARE GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER. DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE MAJOR FATALITY BEFORE THEY DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. DOES SAVING MONEY MEANS MORE THAN PEOPLES LIVES IT IS JUST TOO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT COMMON SENSE CANT TELL THEM IT IS A DEFECT AND THE NHTS SHOULD STEP UP FOR US AND DEMAND A RECALL. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE IN ORDER FOR MBUSA MAKE THIS A RECALL.

Mileage: 59,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF LONG BEACH, 2300 EAST SPRING STREET, SIGNAL HILL, CA 90755) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK AND 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 50,000.

Mileage: 50,000

DEAR MERCEDES BENZ USA, FIRST AND FOREMOST I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I AM A PROUD DRIVER OF A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300, I AM EMAILING YOU REGARDING SOME CONCERNS WITH MERCEDES BENZ VEHICLES AND RECALLS. I HAVE A RECALL ON AIRBAGS FOR MY MERCEDES I'VE BEEN PATIENTLY WAITING (IM SURE LIKE MANY OTHERS) TO RECEIVE A LETTER TO GET MY AIRBAGS INSTALLED INTO MY VEHICLE.. A VEHICLE THAT CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE ANY AIRBAGS IN IT I AM CONCERNED WITH MY SAFETY AT THIS POINT AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU CAN OFFER ME AN UPDATED ON THE DURATION. ALSO, THERE IS A COMMON ISSUE OCCURRING WITH ALL CLASS MERCEDES THAT I FEEL SHOULD ALSO HAVE A RECALL I HAVE READ NUMEROUS OF ONLINE POSTS REGARDING THIS SAME EXACT ISSUE AND THAT ISSUE IS THE FAULTY STEERING LOCK/ELS/EIS FAULT THAT DOES NOT ALLOW MERCEDES BENZ HOLDERS TO SOMETIMES NOT BE ABLE TO LOCK AND UNLOCKED THEIR VEHICLES USING MERCEDES SMART KEY FOB AND ALSO NOT BEING ABLE TO START UP VEHICLES IT'S LITERALLY A NO RESPONSE LOSE/LOSE SITUATION CAUSING THE VEHICLE OWNER TO GET THEIR VEHICLES TOWED TO DEALERSHIPS THAT CHARGES $1000-$3000 TO REPAIR WHICH IS A BIT PRICEY FOR A COMMON ISSUE WITH MERCEDES VEHICLES I THINK I SPEAK FOR MAJORITY OF MERCEDES OWNERS ON THIS MATTER. I ASK FOR A RECALL OR PRICE REDUCTION ON THIS COMMON ISSUE. SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 71,400

PARKED CAR, WENT INTO STORE, CAME BACK OUT, STARTED CAR, EBR, ABS AND ESP INOPERATIVE MESSAGE CAME ON ALONG WITH POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION

Mileage: 94,012

THIS VEHICLE HAD A FAILURE UPON START THAT ELIMINATED A NUMBER OF SAFETY FEATURES. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR, I RECEIVED THREE ERRORS THAT THE FOLLOWING WERE DISABLED: ELECTRICAL BRAKE (ABS, EMERGENCY BRAKE, TRACTION CONTROL), CRUISE CONTROL, AND POWER STEERING. LOSS OF THESE MADE THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

Mileage: 55,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENGINE, THE KEY FAILED TO TURN FROM THE OFF TO ON POSITION AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

Mileage: 133,000

COMMON AND KNOWN ISSUE WITH M BENZ C300 EIS/ELS/STEERING COLUMN. CAR ENGINE JUST DIES AND WILL NOT START DUE TO ELECTRICAL COMPONENT MALFUNCTION. AN EXPENSIVE, POSSIBLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT HAS NOT BEEN RECOGNIZED BY MERCEDES-BENZ IT APPEARS FROM THE OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS FORUM AND OTHERS. MY 2009 C300 WAS RUNNING FINE. I MAINTAIN REGULAR SERVICE. STOPPED TO GRAB LUNCH. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT IN MOTION OR IN A DANGEROUS AREA OR IN THE MIDDLE OF NIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. THE CAR WOULD NOT RE-START, YET THE LIGHTS, RADIO, PANEL ALL APPEARED TO BE WORKING, ALTHOUGH "REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION" MESSAGE APPEARED. THOUGHT IT COULD BE A BATTERY OR ALTERNATOR ISSUE. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO 2 DIFFERENT PLACES, THE LAST OF WHICH WAS THE MBENZ DEALERSHIP OVER AN HOUR AWAY. THIS OCCURRED AT 80K MILES ON ODOMETER. A MAJOR SAFETY AND POSSIBLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I THOUGHT THE MB BRAND WAS ABOUT RELIABILITY, QUALITY, SAFETY. SO DISAPPOINTED. MANUFACTURER'S DEFECTIVE PRODUCT.

Mileage: 80,000

I HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUES LIKE OTHER MERCEDES BENZ OWNERS. MY CAR SUDDENLY NOT STARTING AND THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT UNLOCK. I CALLED AAA, THEY SENT OUT A BATTERY TRUCK. THE GUY TRIED TO JUMP IT AND IT DID NOTHING. THEN THEY TOWED IT TO THE MB DEALER. THEY CALLED ME THIS MORNING AFTER THEY TESTED IT AND SAID THE ELECTRIC STEERING LOCK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER CHARGED ME $1212. I AM REALLY FRUSTRATED.

Mileage: 87,000

THIS CAR IS PURCHASED USED IN MARCH OF 2016 HAS NOT GIVEN ME ANY PROBLEMS STARTING UNTIL NOVEMBER 26. THE CAR WOULD NOT START OR EVEN "CLICK" AT ALL THIS DAY. HAS TO BE TOWED TO MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO FIX THE ISSUE AND IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP. THEY FOUND THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK NEEDS TO BE FIXED AND POSSIBLY THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM. THESE ARE VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. THESE ARE ALSO KNOWN ISSUES WITH THIS SPECIFIC MODEL. MANY OTHER MERCEDES-BENZ'S OWNERS HAVE HAD TO FIX THE SAME ISSUE AND MERCEDES HAS YET TO DO A RECALL OR ANYTHING TO RESOLVE THE KNOWN PROBLEM. I NOW HAVE A CAR THAT CANNOT BE USED. IT IS UNDRIVEABLE. IT WILL NOT START.

Mileage: 82,000

THE CAR WILL NOT START, FROM STATIONARY. IT WAS PARKED THERE 10 MINUTES AGO. TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT HAS A BAD ESL (ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK). THE REPAIR BILL OVER $1300.00. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN WIDELY REPORTED AND SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD COVER THIS COST.

Mileage: 82,600

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WAS LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELATED TO THE STEERING LOCK ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000.

Mileage: 141,000

ON 21 OCT 16 I WENT OUT OF TOWN AND SHOPPING AT A LOCAL MALL WHILE THERE. I CAME OUT OF THE MALL AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I COULD READ THE TIME, SEE THE MILEAGE, AND TEMPERATURE ON THE GAUGE; HOWEVER, THE CAR REFUSED TO START. AAA CAME AND THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY BUT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. AFTER 3 HOURS OF SITTING IN A PARKING LOT IN ATLANTA A TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO NEUTRAL SO I HAD TO WAIT ANOTHER 2 HOURS FOR ANOTHER TYPE OF TRUCK. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED IT AS STEERING LOCK ISSUE. I ASKED THAT THE CAR BE TOWED TO A LOCAL MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP AND HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC COMPLETED AGAIN. MERCEDES BENZ OF MARIETTA "CLAIMED" TO HAVE DONE A DIAGNOSTIC BUT FOUND NOTHING. I ASKED FOR A COPY OF THE DIAGNOSTIC MERCEDES BENZ OF MARIETTA HAD RUN AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO ASSIST. SEE ATTACHED EMAIL. TO-DATE, MERCEDES BENZ HAS BEEN NONRESPONSIVE TO THE STEERING LOCK ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR/MODEL CAR; DESPITE KNOWLEDGE THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON REPEATEDLY. MARTY, AT MY LOCAL MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP STATES THEY HAVE TO REPLACE A STEERING LOCK AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH WITH REPAIR COST RANGING FROM $1200-$1700 PER CAR. THIS WILL BE MY FIRST AND LAST MERCEDES AND BECAUSE OF THEIR POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND LACK OF RESPONSIVENESS TO THIS ISSUE I COULD NOT EVEN REFER FRIENDS/FAMILY TO THEM.

I PARKED THE CAR, AND TURNED IT OFF COMPLETELY. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE CAR, THEY KEY FOB WOULD ONLY TURN THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS ON, BUT THE CAR WILL NOT START. THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED, AND I CANNOT CHANGE THE GEAR FROM "P". A MESSAGE WOULD APPEAR "REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION" WHENEVER THE DOOR IS OPEN. I HAVE SEARCHED AND IT APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN THESE MODELS, WHERE THE EIS OR ESL FAILS FOR NO REASON. THE QOUTES FOR THIS REPAIR RANGE FROM $1000 TO $3000. I HAD TO TOW THE CAR TO MY APARTMENT, AND NOW I HAVE TO TOW THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO CAN SOLVE THIS ISSUE AND REPROGRAM IT AFTER INSTALLING THE NEW PARTS.

Mileage: 117,000

WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR IN THE PARKING LOT AFTER GROCERY SHOPPING IN THE EVENING, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE RADIO AND LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WORKED AND THE SEAT MOVED, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. I HAD THIS CAR CHECKED NOT TOO LONG AGO AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE, BUT THE CAR JUST DECIDED NOT TO WORK SUDDENLY. THIS IS ESPECIALLY SCARY FOR A FEMALE STRANDED IN A PUBLIC PARKING LOT AT NIGHT. I DID NOT GET ANY WARNING MESSAGES BEFORE THE INCIDENT. I HAD TO CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND TRY JUMP STARTING IT FIRST, WHICH WASN'T THE PROBLEM AS THE BATTERY WAS FULLY CHARGED. I ENDED UP HAVING TO TOW THE CAR EARLY NEXT MORNING BECAUSE THE DEALER WAS CLOSED AND HAD TO TAKE A CAB HOME. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER AND STATED ALL THE "SYMPTOMS", MB KNEW RIGHT OFF THE BAT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, WHICH TO ME IS ALARMING. THEY TOLD ME THEY ARE 99% SURE IT IS EITHER ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH OR ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK PROBLEM AND IT WOULD COST ME $1200 TO REPAIR IT. IT OBVIOUSLY IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE. THEY ARE VERY WELL AWARE OF IT, YET THEY ARE NOT DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT, AS (THEY SAY) IT IS NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM. HOW IS THIS NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM WHEN THE DRIVER DOESN'T GET A SLIGHTEST WARNING OR EVEN A MESSAGE THAT THE CAR WON'T START AND WILL LEAVE YOU STRANDED WHEREVER YOU ARE? AS A YOUNG FEMALE LIVING IN A CITY WITHOUT FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO HELP OUT, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT IN A PUBLIC SPACE, THIS IS QUITE FRIGHTENING. I ALMOST HAD A PANIC ATTACK, BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AND NEVER HAD TO CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE ONLY REASON I HAD GOTTEN A MERCEDES BENZ WAS FOR ITS SAFETY. MB SITE STATES: "TRUE TO THEIR HERITAGE, THEY'RE ENGINEERED TO PROTECT YOU IN WAYS YOU MIGHT NEVER HAVE IMAGINED. AND WITH THE HOPE THAT YOU'LL NEVER HAVE TO." HOW DID MB PROTECT ME? MB HAS ONLY ENGINEERED THE CAR TO RIP OFF CUSTOMERS AND NOT LIVE UP TO ITS BRAND. THIS IS VERY DISAPPOINTING. *TR

Mileage: 55,000

ESI AND KEY WENT OUT AND CAR ONLY HAS A BIT OVER 100,000 MILES; LOCKS STEERING AND SHIFTER.

Mileage: 102,000

MY CAR WILL NO LONGER START. ALTHOUGH THE LIGHTS AND RADIO STILL WORK, THE WINDOWS AND AC DON'T, AND THE CAR WON'T START, NOR CAN I CHANGE THE GEAR. IT SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COLUMN/ EIS. I NOW HAVE TO TAKE IT INTO THE BENZ DEALERSHIP AND PAY A HEFTY AMOUNT TO GET IT FIXED, SINCE NO OTHER MECHANIC CAN SEEM TO DO IT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2009 C300 YET THERE'S NOT A RECALL ON IT. GO FIGURE.

Mileage: 61,000

IN STATIONARY POSITION IN A PARKING LOT STEER WHEEL LOCKS UP WHEN PARKED WITH WHEELS FORWARD / TURNING KEY TO START ENGINE DOES NOT WORK

I EXPERIENCED THE INFAMOUS STEERING LOCK PROBLEM 5 DAYS AGO IN MY (NOW FORMER) 2009 MERCEDES C300. PRIOR TO THIS PROBLEM OCCURRING MY CAR SEEMED TO BE WORKING FINE. I'VE ALWAYS HAD ALL OF THE RECOMMENDED SERVICES PERFORMED ON TIME BY THE DEALER. THEN LAST SATURDAY I WAS RUNNING ERRANDS AND AFTER MY THIRD STOP MY CAR WOULDN'T START. I ASSUMED IT WAS THE BATTERY (EVEN THOUGH IT HAD BEEN REPLACED LESS THAN 2 YEARS AGO) AND I CALLED MERCEDES ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE ROADSIDE TECHNICIAN TESTED THE BATTERY AND SAID IT WAS FINE AND HE IMMEDIATELY SUSPECTED IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK PROBLEM. AFTER A BIT MORE TESTING HE CONFIRMED IT WAS AND HE SAID THE CAR WOULD NEED TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER ON A FLATBED. IT WAS SATURDAY AND THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS CLOSING BUT I GOT THERE JUST IN TIME TO GET A LOANER CAR. ONCE I GOT HOME I STARTED DOING INTERNET RESEARCH ON THE PROBLEM AND I FOUND THIS WEBSITE. I DECIDED TO GO BACK TO THE DEALER ON SUNDAY WHEN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS CLOSED AND ASK IF I COULD TRADE IN THE CAR. I PRINTED OUT ALL OF THE REPORTS ON THIS SITE AND TOOK THEM WITH ME. THE SALESPEOPLE CLAIMED THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BUT THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT IT. I WAITING UNTIL YESTERDAY WHEN I HAD THE REPAIR QUOTE BEFORE I TRADED IT IN. THE COST WOULD HAVE BEEN $1,800 BUT THEY SAID I COULD USE A 15% OFF SERVICE COUPON. I ALSO TRIED TO SHOW THE REPORTS FROM THIS SITE TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR BUT HE WASN'T INTERESTED IN SEEING THEM EITHER. I DECIDED I REALLY NEEDED A CAR THAT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY SO I TRADED IT IN LAST NIGHT. THEY SUBTRACTED $1,500 OFF THE TRADE IN VALUE FOR THIS REPAIR. I TRIED TO GET THEM TO DOCUMENT IT SO I WOULD HAVE SOME EVIDENCE IF THERE IS REPAIR REFUND OFFERED IN THE FUTURE BUT THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO DO SO.

Mileage: 80,300

TAKATA RECALL.. MY AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON AND I FEAR THAT THEY ARE NOT WORKING. ALSO, MY CAR WILL NOT RESTART AFTER STOPPING AT A STORE. IN READING THE COMMENTS IN A RECENT FORUM, I AM NOT THE ONLY MERCEDES BENZ OWNER HAVING THIS PROBLEM. BASED ON THE COMMENTS THE ISSUE IS WITH THE STEERING COLUMN (EIS/ELS) AND IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE DEALER ALSO VERIFIED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES AND THE COST TO REPAIR IT IS $2100.00 UPWARD.

Mileage: 100,000

STATIONARY WHILE AT THE REST AREA DURING A HOT SUMMER DAY ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE STEERING COLUMN OR ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL) FAILED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THIS PARTICULAR PART IS FAULTY ON MOST 2008-2009 MERCEDES C300. SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSANDS ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH THIS PARTICULAR PART AND AT MOMENTS THEY GET IT WORKING AND AT OTHER TIMES NOT SO MUCH. THIS PART NEEDS TO BE RECALLED SINCE IT IS A DEALER ONLY REPLACEMENT PART AND NO ONE CAN TOUCH IS BESIDES THE DEALER DUE TO THEFT AND SECURITY MEASURES. MERCEDES HAS THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE CORNERED AND IS NOT DOING ANYTHING TO WORK WITH THE CUSTOMER. IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WITH CHILDREN THAT'S A SAFETY RISK AND I BELIEVE MERCEDES SHOULD RECALL THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE AND BE LOYAL TO ITS CUSTOMERS.

Mileage: 75,500

WENT TO START MY CAR YESTERDAY MORNING AND WOULD NOT START. VERY ODD MESSAGE ON THE DISPLAY I HAD NOT SEEN BEFORE LIKE "REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION". STEERING WHEEL LOCKED BUT SOME LIGHTS WORKED AND NEW BATTERY REPLACE LAST WEEK. TOWED IT TO "GRANNY'S GARAGE" WHO TOLD ME ONLY THE DEALER CAN REPAIR THIS. NOW BEING TOWED TO DEALER IN SANTA BARBARA. SOUNDS EXACTLY WHAT OTHER 2009 C300 OWNERS HAVE STATED ESP/EIS FAILURE. I WILL KNOW TOMORROW. THIS IS SUCH A WELL DOCUMENTED AND CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE 2009 C300 AND MERCEDES REALLY SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS AND RECALL. PERFECT FOR A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, IN MY OPINION., ESPECIALLY SINCE THE "DEALER" IS THE ONLY ONE ALLOWED TO REPAIR.

Mileage: 85,111

MY M.B. 2009 HAS ONLY 52690 MILES, RARELY DRIVING. ON MAY 28TH, 2016, MY WIFE DROVE THE CAR TO SEE HER COUSIN, WHEN GOT OUT AT 10:00PM, CAR WAS NOT STARTING, BATTERY WAS OK, LIGHT ON, RADIO ON, WINDOWS NOT ON. NEEDED TO WAIT UNTIL MONDAY MORNING, TOWED TO DEALER: EIS STEERING LOCK FAILED, COST $1121.88 FOR THE EIS. SERVICE CONSULTANT ADVISED MANY M.B HAS THE SAME FAILURE. GO TO NHTSA, SAW A LOT OF COMPLAINT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE INCIDENT AND ISSUE A RECALL WITH M.B., IT'S VERY UNSAFE FOR DRIVING BECAUSE IT CAN HAPPENED ANY TIME, MOSTLY NIGHT TIME WITH A FEMALE DRIVER. ONLY M.B. CAN REPAIR THE EIS AND IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE.

Mileage: 52,690

CAR WOULDN'T START. POWER AND BATTERY WAS FINE. GOOGLED SYMPTOMS AND WATCHED A YOUTUBE VIDEO ON A FAILED ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK. JIGGLED THE STEERING WHEEL A FEW TIMES, TAPPED THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF THE STEERING WHEEL A FEW TIMES, TURNED THE KEY AND IT STARTED. APPARENTLY, THIS UNLOCKS THE ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THIS CAN LEAVE A PERSON STRANDED IN DANGEROUS PLACES OR IT COULD LEAVE YOU STRANDED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.

WHEN I'VE GOT TO THE CAR, PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, AND TURN THE KEY WITH NO CRANK NOISE IN THE ENGINE. AFTER A LOT OF TRIES I HAD NOTICED THAT MY STEERING WAS NOT UNLOCKING, WINDOWS DON'T WORK NO LIGHTS ON LIKE ABS, CHECK ENGINE OR ALL THE LIGHTS THAT COME ON WITH THE KEY ON THE ON POSITION, AND THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT IN NEUTRAL. AFTER TRYING TO JUMP THE CAR AND REARMING/DISARMING THE ALARM I CHECKED ON LINE AND FOUND OUT THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR MERCEDES. HERE IS WHAT I EXPERIENCED 1.PUT KEY INTO IGNITION, STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T UNLOCK. 2.INSTUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAYS "REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION". 3.TURN KEY TO ACCESSORY, NO LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD, ONLY THE RADIO WORKS, WINDOWS DON'T WORK. 4.TURN KEY ALL THE WAY TO START CAR, NOTHING HAPPENS.

THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE. IT WAS PARKED AND SHUT OFF. WHEN I RETURNED, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. IT WAS NOT THE BATTERY. THE STEERING WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED IN FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER HAD TO MAKE THE REPAIR AS IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH EITHER THE EIS OR A STARTER ISSUE. INSKIP MERCEDES CAN IDENTIFY EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG AS THEY DID THE REPAIR.

Mileage: 104,000

THE CAR WOULD NOT START, THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENT OF THE STEERING WHEAL MALFUNCTIONED, ONLY MBZ HAS THE PART COST $1900 TO REPLACE THE ELECTRICAL PART. DEALER TOLD ME COMMON ISSUE ITS JUST MATTER OF TIME FOR THE PART TO FAIL.

Mileage: 90,000

IGNITION SWITCH. VERY LATE AT NIGHT LEAVING WORK-PUT KEY IN -CAR IS TOTALLY DEAD- NO CLICK HEARD WHEN I PUT IN THE KEY. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. TURNED OUT TO BE IGNITION CONTROL SWITCH. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SO MANY OTHER OWNERS. SHOULD BE A RECALL. REPAIR COST WAS $987.00 AND ONLY MERCEDES CAN WORK ON THE STEERING DUE TO SECURITY ISSUES. VERY UNFAIR. EXPECTED MORE FROM MERCEDES. THEY NEED TO RECALL OR REIMBURSE.

Mileage: 81,000

IGNITION SWITCH - TRIED TO START THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT TURN BATTERY WAS FINE AND ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS APPEARED TO BE FINE. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS FOUND TO BE A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR SAFETY REASONS.

Mileage: 55,000

MY CAR WAS PARKED AND I TRY TO STARTED AND WOULD NOT START NO IGNITION NO POWER THE STEERING TOWER WOULD NOT MOVE. CHECK THE BATTERY AND IT WAS FULLY CHARGED TRY TO PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND I COULD NOT THE STEERING WELL WAS LOCK.

WHEN LEAVING TO CATCH A FLIGHT I ENTERED MY GARAGE AND UNLOCKED MY CAR LIGHTS CAME ON MY DAY WAS GOING NORMAL. WHEN I WENT TO START MY VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT START. IT SAID TO REMOVE MY KEY FROM THE IGNITION. MY CAR WOULDN'T START. MY HUSBAND AND I CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ OF HENDERSON AND THEY HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THEIR SHOP. I HAD PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WITH MY VEHICLE SO I WAS SURE I WOULD BE OK. ON MONDAY I RECEIVED AND CALL FROM MERCEDES BENZ OF HENDERSON STATING THAT THE IGNITION LOCK MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND IT WOULDN'T BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY I PURCHASED. SINCE I AM NOT A MECHANIC I ASKED WHAT THE IGNITION LOCK MODULE WAS AND FOUND OUT IT WAS THE COMPUTER THAT READS MY KEY AND PREVENTS THEFT. BASICALLY THE COMPUTER FAILED AND THINKS THAT MY CAR IS STOLEN. THE COST TO REPAIR THIS IS OVER $1,000. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNFAIR. MERCEDES CARS ARE NOT CHEAP NOT TO MENTION PAYING MORE A MONTH TO HAVE ADDITIONAL WARRANTY COVERAGE. I AM APPALLED THAT MERCEDES HAS NOT DONE A RECALL ON THEIR VEHICLES FOR THIS ISSUE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY RISK FOR THOSE WHO ARE TRAVELING ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE LIKE MYSELF A WOMEN TRAVELING ALONE. THANK GOD THIS HAPPENED AT HOME AND NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT AS I TRAVEL BACK TO CALIFORNIA OFTEN I THINK IT IS OUTRAGEOUS TO ASK CUSTOMERS TO PAY FOR A DEFAULT/GLITCH IN A VEHICLES COMPUTER. I HAVE CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ USA TO GET HELP WITH THIS ISSUE AS THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THEIR CUSTOMERS LIKE MYSELF WHO HAVE HAD AND ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THE 2009 C300.

STEERING LOCK IGNITION ASSEMBLY. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OR INDICATIONS THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS WAS GOING TO OCCUR. THANKFULLY I REACHED MY DESTINATION, BACKED UP IN MY YARD AND PARKED. I APROACHED MY VEHICLE BECAUSE I WANTED TO FILL UP FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK, I UNLOCKED MY DOOR, PLACED MY KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE RADIO WORKED AND ALSO THE INTERIOR LIGHTS. I TOOK THE KEY OUT AND WENT TO USE THE SPARE KEY, INSERTED IT AND WHILE THE DOOR WAS OPENED THE DISPLAY TOLD ME TO REMOVE THE KEY. THIS COULD PRESENT A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR A FEMALE WITH CHILDREN IN AN UNFAMILIAR SETTING. AFTER READING UP ABOUT THE PROBLEM I SEE THAT I AM NOT ALONE IN MY TROUBLES. I THINK THIS MALFUNCTION SHOULD INCLUDED IN A RECALL BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY RISKS INVOLVED BECAUSE IT COULD OCCUR AT ANY TIME. THANKFULLY I WAS AT HOME.

Mileage: 159,094

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO UNLOCK WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 37,000

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE CAR WAS PARKED AND WOULD NOT UNLOCK HAD TO TOW VEHICLE TO DEALER. COST IS $1300 TO FIX NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY DEALER REDUCE PRICE TO $1100. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND ALSO A SAFETY CONCERN.

Mileage: 77,250

STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY. THIS ISSUE CAN BE A SAFETY PROBLEM DUE TO CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES FOR EXAMPLE LEAVING WOMEN AND CHILDREN STRANDED IN PARTS OR AREAS WHERE IS NOT POPULATED OR IN AREAS WHERE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IS HIGH. WITHOUT ANY WARNING THIS PROBLEM HAS PRESENTED AND STILL PRESENTING CAUSING MERCEDES BENZ COSTUMERS TO BE IN A REAL BAD SITUATION SAFE WISE AND ECONOMIC WISE. THEREFORE I FEEL MERCEDES BENZ MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ISSUE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY STEERING LOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,348.

Mileage: 41,348

THE VEHICLE DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY & DIDN'T TURN ON AND WAS NOT SHOWING AS PARKED. CALLED AAA TO CHECK THE BATTERY BUT WAS NOT IT. CALLED TOWING SERVICE TO GET THIS MOVED TO MY MECHANIC & TURNS OUT THIS IS DUE TO BAD ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK MECHANISM & ONLY DEALER CAN GET THIS REPLACED AND PROGRAMED WHICH COSTED ME $1200. CHECKED & TURNS OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2009 C300. WHY IS IT NOT BEING RECALLED??? THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS WHEN ON THE ROAD!!! HAPPENED RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS SO HAD TO WAIT 2 DAYS FOR MY MECHANIC TO CHECK & TOWED AGAIN TO DEALER AND NOW I'M STILL WAITING FOR THE CAR WITHOUT A CAR FOR A WEEK. THIS IS VERY DISAPPOINTING SINCE I THOUGHT MERCEDES WAS KNOWN FOR SAFETY. HOPE THEY WILL RECALL THIS ISSUE & RE-IMBURSE THE COST. *JS

VEHICLE NOT STARTING. NOT TURNING OVER. PARKED THE CAR FOR ABOUT 20 MIN IN MY MOMS DRIVEWAY. WHEN WE CAME OUT TO LEAVE. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. THE RADIO WILL TURN ON. THE LIGHTS WILL TURN ON. WHEN I OPEN THE DOOR THE ODOMETER AREA TELLS ME TO REMOVE MY KEY. TRIED TO GET A JUMP FROM AAA. WHEN THEY ARRIVED THEY SAID IT WASN'T THE BATTERY. NOW I LOOK ON YOUTUBE AND OTHER MB BLOGS. AND THEY SAY THE FIX IS 1000$$$$$ TO 3000$$$$$$ AND THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. I WILL UPDATE THIS WHEN I KNOW MORE.

Mileage: 90,355

I HAVE HAD MY 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300 FOR 5 MONTHS NOW IT WAS A BIRTHDAY PRESENT ON 7/11/15.I DROVE TO THE GAS STATION FILLED IT UP PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IT WAS DEAD.THE LIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE RADIO BUT THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT LET DOWN THE HORN WOULD NOT BLOW AND SUNROOF DOESN'T WORK TOWED IT TO MERCEDES BENZ ARLINGTON TEXAS IT WILL COST ME 1,386 FOR REPAIRS PLUS A 290.00 DIAGNOSTIC FEE I JUST PAID THE 575.00 CARNOT I HAVE NOT EVEN HAD A CHANCE TO HAVE FUN IN IT IS HAS 49,000 MILES ON IT AND MY WARRANTY DOESN'T COVER ANY OF THE REPAIRS I NEED MY MONEY BACK WHAT A RIP OFF I ONLY DRIVE IT ON SAT. AND SUN.MERCEDES PLEASE DO THE RECALL THIS IS BAD BUSINESS ETHICS FOR MERCEDES BENZ OWNERS ACROSS THE GLOBE HOW YOU GOING TO MAKE US FALL IN LOVE WITH OUR CARS THEN PUNISH US FOR IT IN THE END THAT'S OBSURD AND JUST DOWN RIGHT WRONG I AM OUTRAGED ABOUT THIS YEAR'S BIRTHDAY GIFT AND NOW MY CHRISTMAS IS GOING TO MERCEDES BENZ 1,386 MERRY CHRISTMAS MERCEDES BENZ I KNOW YOUR FAMILIES WILL HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS BY TAKING MY FAMILY'S CHRISTMAS MONEY AWAY FROM US NO CHRISTMAS SPECIALS ON SERVICE CHARGE FOR REPAIRS FOR NEW CUSTOMERS THIS YEAR OR NOTHING

Mileage: 49,000

I COULD NOT START THE CAR AFTER I CRANK MY KEY.DEALER DIAGNOSED "ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY" NEEDS TO BE REPLACE. COST $850.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

Mileage: 63,000

12/04/2015 PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE CAR DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY IS IN THE IGNITION. TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. AFTER RESEARCHING I SEE THIS IS A COMING PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL.

Mileage: 104,000

THIS IS THE 2ND TIME IN 8 MONTHS THAT THE CAR HAS A FAULTY IGNITION STEERING LOCK. STEERING WHEEL LOCKS, CAR WILL NOT START AND MESSAGE COMES UP TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION. CAR UNUSABLE, HAS TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP.THE REPAIR COST $1500, NOT EXACTLY CHEAP. THERE ARE COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I AM REALLY REALLY SURPRISED THIS HAS NOT LED TO A RECALL TO DATE.

Mileage: 42,000

MY C300 WAS FUNCTIONING PERFECTLY WITH NO ISSUES. WHEN I CAME OUT TO START THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY. I HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT'S THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK FAIL. I LOOKED THIS UP AND IT IS SOMETHING VERY COMMON WITH THE 2009 MODEL. THERE ARE SEVERAL POST ON THE INTERNET ASKING FOR THIS TO BE A RECALL ITEM.

Mileage: 140,000

PUT KEY INTO IGNITION, STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T UNLOCK. INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAYS "REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION". TURN KEY TO ACCESSORY, NO LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD, RADIO REMAINS OFF, WINDOWS DON'T WORK. TURN KEY ALL THE WAY TO START CAR, NOTHING HAPPENS.

Mileage: 69,000

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START ONE DAY. WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK BUT WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE KEY WAS IN IGNITION. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND AM BEING TOLD IT IS EIS. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 80,000 ON IT. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG THIS YEAR AND MODEL. WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED BY MERCEDES?

Mileage: 80,000

CAR WAS WORKING FINE. CAME OUT OF A RESTAURANT, AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START. RECEIVED ERROR MESSAGE ON CONSOLE TO "REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION". CAR WAS TOWED TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A FAULTY IGNITION STEERING LOCK, IT WOULD COST $1300 TO REPAIR AND I WOULD BE OUT OF A CAR FOR AT LEAST 1 WEEK WHILE THEY ORDERED THE PART.

Mileage: 93,000

CAR WON'T START DEALER REPLACED BATTERY; NOW THE CAR IS ON A STEERING LOCK FAILURE..MUST BE TOWED IN THE DEALER...I WAS TOLD A LOT OF THE 2009 MB C300 HAS THIS PROBLEM.

Mileage: 122,200

WHEN I PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION IT WOULD NOT START, MY RADIO WILL PLAY BUT MY CAR WOULD NOT. THERE WAS OTHER RECALL ISSUE FOUND IN MY VEHICLE AND MERCEDES DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK AND I NEED TO GET IT REPLACE IN ORDER FOR MY CAR TO START AGAIN. IT IS UNFAIR THAT AS A CUSTOMER I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS WHEN IT CLEARLY SAYS ITS AN ELECTRONIC PROBLEM?? THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR IS COSTING ME ALMOST $1,400.00 MONEY I CAN'T AFFORD.

ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING 40 MPH WARNING ON THE DISPLAY CAME ON STATING THE" EBR, ABS, ESP ARE INOPERATIVE" AND A WARNING DISPLAY STATING "POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION". POWER STEERING WAS FINE, BUT IT WAS A VERY NERVE WRECKING DRIVE. DEALERSHIP IS STATING IT IS THE ESP MODULE AND PUMP THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, WHICH CAN ONLY BE DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP.

Mileage: 60,000

CAR WOULDN'T START. LUCKILY THAT CAR WAS AT OUR HOUSE. AFTER RESEARCH FOUND THAT THE 2009 C300 HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE EIS (ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH). AFTER A 5-6 HOURS THE CARS IGNITION STARTED WORKING, BUT FROM READING OTHERS EXPERIENCE THE IGNITION COULD DISABLE FOREVER AT ANY TIME. COST TO REPAIR IS $1500 AND ONLY BE DONE AT A DEALERSHIP.

Mileage: 60,000

ON 10/3/2015 THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT A GAS STATION FOR 5 MINUTES. UPON RETURNING TO THE CAR AND ATTEMPED TO SWITCH THE IGNITION ON, THE CAR WONT START. CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ IN ENGLEWOOD AND THEY OFFERED A ROAD ASSISTANCE ( $80 SERVICE CHARGE ). AFTER WAITING FOR OVER AN HOUR AND HALF THE ROADSIDE TECHNICIAN ARRIVED AND ATTEMPED TO JUMSTART THE VEHICLE WITH NO SUCCESS. HE SAID THAT WITH 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING FOR MERCEDES THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WHERE THE VEHICLE WONT RECOGNIZE THE KEY, LOCKING THE STEERING AND CUTTING OFF THE ENGINE POWER TO START UP. HE CONTACTED MERCEDES FOR A TOWING TRUCK TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THIS HAPPENED ON A SATURDAY AND HAVE TO WAIT TIL MONDAY FOR RESULTS. VEHICLE HAS 79,000 MILES ODOMETER READING. THERES MORE THEN 10,000 FEEDBACKS OVER THE INTERNET WITH THE SAME ISSUE. FIX RANGES FROM $500 TO $1500. MERCEDES HAS NOT RECALLED THIS ONGOING COMMON ISSUE.

Mileage: 79,000

MONDAY DROVE CAR TO WORK WITH OUT ANY PROBLEMS. CAME OUT TO GO HOME THAT EVENING AND CAR WOULD NOT START. COULD TURN THE IGNITION COMPLETELY TO THE START POSITION BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT TURN OVER. MY RADIO WORKED, MY POWER SEATS WORKED, TRUNK AND DOORS OPENED WITH THE KEY VIBE. BUT NOTHING HAPPENED FROM THE ENGINE. COME TO FIND OUT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP FOR NO REASON. THEY HAD TO SKATE MY CAR IN ORDER TO GET IT ON THE TRUCK TRUCK. THIS IS A DEFECT AND I'M A WOMAN AND THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED AT NIGHT WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD.

Mileage: 110,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

Mileage: 110,000

TODAY I HAD TO GO TO WORK ANDTRIED TO PUT MY CAR ON, TO MY DISMAY IT WOULD NOT TURN ON. ALL OF THE OTHER ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS WORKED, LIKE MY CAR LOCKING AND UNLOCKING , AND THE RADIO WORKING BUT IT KEPT TELLING ME TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION AND IT WOULDNT START. I HAVE DONE ALOT OF REASEARCH AND THERE SEEM TO BE ALOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. AND I HOPE WE COULD FIX IT AND HAVE IT RECALLED BECAUSE IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX.

Mileage: 97,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. IN ADDITION, AS THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, REMOVE KEY WAS DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

Mileage: 40,000

THE CAR DIDN'T TURN ON. I CALLED THE TOWING COMPANY THINKING THAT IT WAS THE BATTERY, BUT THEY CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS NOT THE BATTERY. I TOWED THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC. MY MECHANIC CONFIRMED TODAY THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE STEERING LOCK WHICH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AND IT COST OVER $1,400. I DID SEARCH THE INTERNET AND THOUSANDS OF THIS MODEL OWNER HAS EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL IMMEDIATELY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 120,000

I NEED TO REPLACE THE STEERING LOCK PART AND I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT DOESN'T COVER THIS ITEM WHICH COST FOR THE PARTS IS $1200 WITHOUT LABOR. WAS TOLD BY MERCEDES THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS PART AND THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO ORDER THE PART WHICH WILL TAKE SEVERAL DAYS.

Mileage: 64,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT FAILED TO START AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 65,000

THE EIS, AT WORK MY CAR WON'T START HAD TO TOW HOME CAR START AT HOME BUT WHEN TURN OFF CAR WENT BACK TO NOT STARTING. KEY IN IGNITION BUT IT'S LIKE IGNITION WILL NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY. BAD IGNITION SWITCH STEERING VOLUME ECT.. REPAIR COST $1100 ... VERY PISSED SEEMS LIKE THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WHY HAVEN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL ALREADY.. I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SOME OF THE COSTING FEE BACK AND KNOW THAT I'M GOOD FOR FUTURE ISSUE WITH THIS ISSUE..

Mileage: 78,008

I HAVE SEVERAL FRIENDS WITH THE SAME MODEL CAR, WHO HAS HAD THE SAME COMPLAINT! I WAS WONDERING IF THEIR IS A RECALL OF THE STEERING COLUMN PARTS?

Mileage: 67,823

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO GET THE STEERING COLUMN UNLOCKED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED, AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

Mileage: 50,000

YESTERDAY MY BELOVED C300 LEFT US STRANDED AT A BEST BUY PARKING LOT LATE AT NIGHT. IT WAS REALLY UPSET WHEN I JUST GET OFF WORK, AND TRY TO START MY CAR AND GO HOME TAKE A REST, BUT IT WOULD NOT START. I HAD TO LEAVE THE CAR THERE OVERNIGHT AND WAS NOT UNTIL NEXT MORNING THAT I GOT IT TO START. SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN GIVING US PROBLEMS SO I CALL THE LOCAL DEALER AND THEY GAVE ME AN APPOINTMENT FOR NEXT MONDAY. I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A VERY COSTLY AND A VERY WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH C300. BY THIS TIME I AM SURE MB KNOWS ABOUT IT, AND I DID RESEARCH ONLINE SEEMS LIKE THAT IS A COMMON ISSUE AND MB SHOULD RECALL FOR IT. UNFORTUNATELY, MB DON'T TAKE CARE OF IT, AND DO NOT COVER IT. IT IS A EIS FAILURE ISSUE.. MY 2009 C300 HAS JUST REACHED 50,000 KLMS. WE HAVE HAD IT FOR ABOUT 10 MONTHS NOW... WE ARE VERY CONCERNED AND DISAPPOINTED. MY CAR HAD TO LEAVE IN PARKING LOT OVERNIGHT WHICH IS REALLY DANGEROUS, AND I CAN'T GO TO WORK SINCE I DON'T HAVE A CAR TO DRIVE. IT'S A PAIN FOR ME, THAT I HAVE TO PAY OVER $1000, AND THIS IS MY FIRST CAR, MY FINANCIAL CAN'T REALLY HANDLE THIS UNEXPECTED ISSUE SINCE I TAKE CARE OF MY SO WELL...

Mileage: 50,980

IN THE MORNING, I TRIED TO START MY 2009 C300 AND THE CAR DID NOT START AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED OUT OF THE BLUE. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AT DELRAY BEACH, FL. THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE STEERING/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM RELATED TO IGNITION SWITCH. THE FOLLOWING REPAIR STATED ON MY REPAIR REPORT: - STEERING LOCK COMPLETE REPLACEMENT - ADDITIONAL TIME TO DRILL OUT THE OLD LOCK MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP SERVICE CHARGED ME $1,464.00 FOR THE DEFECTED STEERING LOCK/IGNITION ELECTRICAL ASSEMBLY. I SEARCHED ON INTERNET AND A LOT OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM (PLEASE SEE THE LINK PROVIDED BELOW). I CALLED THE MERCEDES-BENZ USA HEADQUARTER AT NJ AND TALK TO A DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER AND EXPLAIN TO HIM THAT MY CAR HAS ONLY 44K MILEAGE AND THE STEERING LOCK/IGNITION ELECTRONIC MALFUNCTION IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECTED AND IT IS NOT CONSIDERED NORMAL WEAR & TEAR AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. HENCE THIS SHOULD BE REPAIRED WITHOUT CHARGE AND JUSTIFY FOR RECALLS. UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS LIKE TALKING TO THE WALL AND BASICALLY MERCEDES-BENZ DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY AND TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND HIT THE CUSTOMER WITH AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR COST. I AM CONCERN IF THE STEERING LOCKS/IGNITION ELECTRICAL PART MALFUNCTIONS, WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN DURING DRIVING AND OTHER CASES. THANK YOU. P.S.: PLEASE REFER TO THE FOLLOWING JUST TWO WEB SITES. THERE ARE MORE TO SEE IF YOU SEARCH: HTTP://WWW.CAR-RECALL.COM/MERCEDES-BENZ/C300/2009 HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2009/MERCEDES/C300/STEERING/PROBLEM.ASPX HTTP://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/MERCEDESBENZ/C300/2009/

Mileage: 44,000

IN THE MORNING, TRY TO START MY 2009 C300 AND THE CAR DID NOT START AND THE STEERING GOT LOCKED OFF OF THE BLUE. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AT DELRAY BEACH, FL. THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED TO BE RELATED TO: MANUFACTURING DEFECTED STEERING/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM RELATED TO IGNITION SWITCH. THE FOLLOWING REPAIR STATED ON MY REPAIR REPORT: -STEERING LOCK COMPLETE REPLACEMENT -ADDITIONAL TIME TO DRILL OUT THE OLD LOCK MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP SERVICE CHARGED ME $1464.00 FOR THE DEFECTED STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY. I SEARCHED ON INTERNET AND A LOT OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM (PLEASE SEE THE LINK PROVIDED). I CALLED THE MERCEDES-BENZ USA HEADQUARTER AT NJ AND TALK TO A DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER AND EXPLAIN TO HIM THAT MY CAR HAS ONLY 42K MILEAGE AND THE STEERING LOCK IS MANUFACTURING DEFECTED AND IT IS NOT CONSIDERED NORMAL WEAR & TEAR AND THEREFORE THIS SHOULD BE REPAIRED WITHOUT CHARGE. UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS LIKE TO TALKING TO THE WALL AND BASICALLY MERCEDES-BENZ DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY AND TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND HIT THE CUSTOMER WITH AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR COST. WE AS OWNER OF THE MERCEDES-BENZ SHOULD UNIT AND COMPLAIN TO MERCEDES HEADQUARTER AND NHTSA AND REQUEST THIS DEFECT SHALL BE CONSIDER AS A RECALL. I AM CONCERN IF THE STEERING LOCKS BECAUSE OF THE DEFECTED PART WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN DURING DRIVING AND OTHER CASES. THANK YOU. HTTP://WWW.CAR-RECALL.COM/MERCEDES-BENZ/C300/2009 HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2009/MERCEDES/C300/STEERING/PROBLEM.ASPX. *TR

Mileage: 42,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

Mileage: 97,000

I PARKED MY 2009 C300 WITH ONLY 42K MILES ON IT IN THE GARAGE AT NIGHT. NEXT MORNING I TRIED TO START, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND WAS NOT ABLE TO START OR MOVE THE GEARS HAD TO CALL MERCEDES ROAD SERVICE TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO A MERCEDES DEALER AT DELRAY BEACH, FL. THIS HAPPENED OUT OF THE BLUE WITHOUT ANY INDICATION THAT SOMETHING WAS GOING WRONG. DIAGNOSE WAS MADE AND DETERMINE TO BE ?STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY COMPLETELY NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH ADDITIONAL TIME TO MANUALLY DRILL OUT THE OLD LOCK.? THIS WAS DUE TO A DEFECTED STEERING IGNITION SWITCH SECURITY ASSEMBLY. THE DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME $1600.00 FOR THE DEFECTED PART. I TALK TO THE DELRAY BEACH MERCEDES-BENZ SERVICE DEALERSHIP DIRECTOR AND SUPERVISOR ANS AS WELL AS MBUSA REGIONAL CASE MANAGER. IT WAS JUST WASTE OF TIME AND NONE OF THEM WANTED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. MERCEDES-BENZ ABSOLUTELY DID NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT OTHER THAN CHARGING PEOPLE FOR REPAIR OF A DEFECTED COMPLETE STEERING SECURITY ASSEMBLY. THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED RECALL AS TO DO WITH STEERING LOCK. *TR

Mileage: 42,000

ELECTRONIC STEERING FAILURE. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. GEAR SHIFT LOCKED IN PARK. CAN TURN KEY, BUT THE ONLY THE CENTRAL DASH WORKS WITH MESSAGE "TAKE KEY FROM IGNITION". NO START UP LIGHTS ON. VEHICLE LOCKS, UNLOCKS, RADIO WORKS, BUT WON'T START. LUCKILY IT HAPPENED IN THE GARAGE WHILE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND NOT IN MOTION. $800 OUT OF POCKET FOR NEW EIS AND BLUE KEY + LABOR. SEEMS TO BE VERY FREQUENT ISSUE WITH 2008/2009 C300 MODELS. RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED AND OWNERS REIMBURSED FOR EXPENSES INCURRED GIVEN THE NUMBER OF REPORTS AND SAFETY RISKS AS SOME HAVE REPORTED IT HAPPENED TO THEM WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. DON'T NEED TO WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE GETS REALLY HURT. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND WAS NOT ABLE TO START OR MOVE THE GEARS HAD TO CALL MERCEDES ROAD SERVICE .TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO A MERCEDES DEALER. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

STEERING WHEEL GOT LOCKED WHEN THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. LUCKILY, I WAS DRIVING OFF THE HIGHWAY APPROX. 10 MPH. TARIFFING EXPERIENCE!!! *TR

Mileage: 74,200

PARKED MY CAR OVERNIGHT AND WENT TO START IT IN THE MORNING AND WOULD NOT START. THE KEY WOULD TURN BUT GOT NO LIGHTS ON THE DASH AND RADIO WOULD NOT WORK. THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT UNLOCK. TRIED TO JUMP IT BUT SAME RESULTS. BATTERY TESTED FINE, CHECKED ALL THE FUSES AND THEY WERE ALL GOOD. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET THE STEERING LOCK FAILED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A MORE THAN FREQUENT ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. THIS HAPPENED OUT OF THE BLUE WITHOUT ANY INDICATION THAT SOMETHING WAS GOING WRONG. I'M GLAD I WAS HOME AND NOT HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY. WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL? *TR

Mileage: 120,000

DROVE MY C300 TO WORK IN THE MORNING. WENT TO LEAVE A FEW HOURS LATER AND THE CAR WILL NOT START. RADIO, ALARM, DASH AND LOCK/UNLOCK ALL WORK BUT YOU CAN NOT HEAR THE STEERING LOCK DISENGAGE WHEN YOU PUT THE KEY IN. FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND MERCEDES HAS DONE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO FIX IT. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 6 MONTHS. IS THIS WHAT WE HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO AFTER BUYING A MERCEDES BENZ? *TR

Mileage: 48,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO TURN ON AND THE STEERING LOCK ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE STEERING LOCK AND THE CONTROL UNIT. THERE WAS NO FURTHER INFORMATION AVAILABLE. AFTER RETRIEVING THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING, THE BRAKE EBR, ABS, ESP AND POWER STEERING FAILURE MESSAGES APPEARED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,033.

Mileage: 63,033

I TURNED THE KEY AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE CAR WOULD NOT START. LIGHTS WORKED. I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO HAVE IT JUMP STARTED, DID NOT WORK. I THEN HAD IT TOWED AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT A CERTIFIED MERCEDES DEALER THAT IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT CALLED ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK EIS/ESL ALSO REFERRED TO AS TECHNICAL SERVICES BULLETIN LI80-57-P051521. TOTAL COST: $1250 THIS IS MY CAR'S 3RD KNOWN DEFECT: 1) REAR TAIL LIGHTS WOULD CATCH FIRE AND FAIL (FINALLY RECALLED BY MB AND REPAIRED) 2) COMMAND KNOB FOR SATELLITE RADIO AND GPS FAILED AND NOW 3) EIS/ESL DEFECT. *TR

Mileage: 92,500

WENT TO START MY CAR. TRIED JUMPING IT OFF THINKING IT WAS THE BATTERY CHECKED ALL THE FUSES. SPENT $70 TO HAVE TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. COME TO FIND OUT IT IS THE EIS SWITCH AND MERCEDES WILL NOT SELL HIM THE PARTS TO FIX ONLY MERCEDES CAN FIX. MY GUY SAID HE COULD FIX FOR $700, MERCEDES DEALERSHIP SAID OVER $1000. COME TO FIND OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. AS MY CAR WAS AT MY MECHANIC SHOP ANOTHER MERCEDES CAME IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ( UNBELIEVABLE ). MERCEDES TAKES PRIDE IN THE VEHICLES YET WITH A COMMON PROBLEM THEY WILL NOT FIX FOR FREE ( SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM ) THIS WILL BE MY LAST MERCEDES I OWN. AUDI WILL BE MY NEXT CAR. VERY DISAPPOINTED IN MERCEDES. *TR

Mileage: 77,000

A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MERCEDES BENZ C300 CARD MODEL YEAR 2008 AND UP. THE STEERING IGNITION SWITCH FAILS. THIS IS A DEALER FIX ONLY AND COSTS APPROXIMATELY $1500-$2000 DOLLARS. WHEN YOU GO TO START YOUR CAR NOTHING COMES ON, NO LIGHTS NO NOTHING. THE CAR IS BASICALLY DISABLED AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *TR

Mileage: 42,000

WENT TO STORE AND WHEN I RETURNED TO THE CAR, THE TRUNK RELEASED NORMALLY AND DOORS UNLOCKED NORMALLY WITH THE KEY FOB. INSERTED THE KEY INTO IGNITION SWITCH. ABLE TO TURN KEY, BUT CAR WOULD NOT START. TRIED LOCKING AND UNLOCKING DOOR WHICH WORKED AGAIN. WAITED ANOTHER MINUTE AND CAR STILL WOULD NOT START. TRIED MOVING STEERING WHEEL, BUT IT WAS LOCKED AND COULD NOT TAKE CAR OUT OF PARK, BUT MADE SURE IT WAS ALL THE WAY INTO PARK. TRIED TO START CAR AGAIN, THIS TIME I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A RELAY CLICKING FROM UNDER THE DASH, BUT STILL NO START. AFTER ANOTHER MINUTE, I TRIED AGAIN AND THIS TIME IT STARTED. I CAUTIOUSLY DROVE HOME AND PARKED AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR ANY LONGER AS THE IGNITION SWITCH ALSO CONTROLS THE STEERING LOCK AND THERE EXIST THE POSSIBILITY OF THE STEERING BECOMING LOCKED WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION, AS SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE POSTED AS HAPPENING TO THEM. A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE EXIST SINCE THE STEERING COULD LOCK WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION AND MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RECALL THIS VEHICLE TO REPAIR THIS BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. *TR

Mileage: 72,310

INSERTED KEY INTO IGNITION SWITCH. ABLE TO TURN KEY. BUT NO IGNITION LIGHTS COME ON IN ANY POSITION OF THE KEY. DOES NOT START. PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE INTERMITTENT, AS AFTER SEVERAL TRIES IT MAY FUNCTION CORRECTLY WITH INCREMENTAL IGNITION ON SETTINGS AND THEN STARTING. AS THIS IGNITION SWITCH ALSO CONTROLS THE STEERING LOCK, THERE EXISTS THE POSSIBILITY OF THE STEERING BECOMING LOOKED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. HENCE, A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE EXISTS! SHOULD STEERING BECOME LOCKED WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION (AT ANY SPEED) THE CONSEQUENCES ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

COMMON ISSUE ON THIS MODEL AND YEAR. ELECTRICAL IGNITION SYSTEM / ELECTRICAL STEERING LOCK UNIT AND IT'S NOT SOMEHOW A RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 84,747

YET ANOTHER PERSON WITH A ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK ISSUE. I TRIED TO LEAVE WORK FOR LUNCH BUT WAS MET WITH THAT ISSUE. I HAD TO HAVE AAA TOW ME TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY WANT 1200 TO FIX THE PROBLEM....HOW ARE SO MANY OF US EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE BUT MERCEDES ISN'T DOING ANYTHING TO FIX IT! *JS

CAR WOULD NOT START. HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. REPAIR COST 1150 DOLLARS. ONE WEEK WITHOUT CAR. *TR

Mileage: 61,000

I WENT TO START UP MY CAR IN THE MORNING AND THE KEY WOULD TURN BUT WOULD NOT START THE ENGINE. I KEPT ON GETTING A READING TO REMOVE MY KEY. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE STEERING COLUMN MECHANISM HAS FROZEN UP. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE $1,500 TO GET THE ISSUE REPAIRED. FROM WHAT I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MODEL AND YEAR OF MERCEDES. I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT MY KEY NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. *TR

Mileage: 72,000

I HAD AN ISSUE WITH MY CAR 5 MONTHS AGO DUE TO THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON. MERCEDES TOLD ME IT WAS THE KEY AND I NEEDED TO PURCHASE A SECOND KEY. IN THE MEAN TIME, I WAS WAITING FOR THE NEW KEY MY OLD KEY WAS ABLE TO GET MY CAR START. AS TIME WENT BY, THE SAME ISSUE HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES CAUSING ME TO LOSE WORK AND LEAVING ME IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WARE. FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7 2014 WAS THE LAST INCIDENT AND I DID NOT GET HOME UNTIL 5 AM WAITING TO A SERVICE TRUCK TO PICK UP MY CAR. THIS TIME THE IGNITION SWITCH IT'S NOT WORKING WITH NONE OF THE KEYS. I HAD TO CALL A MY INSURANCE TO PICK UP THE CAR FOR THE SECOND TIME AND TAKE IT TO A CERTIFIED DEALER TO REPLACE THE IGNITION KEY AND STARING WHEEL DUE TO ITS LOCK. *TR

Mileage: 59,800

I HAVE OWN A MERCEDES BENZ C300 FOR ALMOST FIVE YEARS AND HAD SOME PROBLEMS BUT NOT MAJOR UNTIL RECENTLY. I WHEN TO LUNCH WITH MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER AFTER COMING BACK INTO THE CAR WE ENDED UP BEING STRANDED FOR SEVERAL HOURS WAITING FOR AN EMERGENCY ROADSIDE SERVICE TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. WE INITIALLY THOUGHT THAT WE RUN OUT OF GAS SINCE MY TANK WAS LOW, SO I ORDER GAS FROM AAA ROAD ASSISTANCE AND ALSO JUMP STAR THE CAR THINKING OF A BATTERY PROBLEM BUT NEITHER SOLVE THE PROBLEM. WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO TOW THE CAR TO DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES, CA MERCEDES DEALERSHIP. THE NEXT DAY THE SERVICE CONSULTANT CALL ME AND SEND ME AN EMAIL THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK AND THIS IS THE COST TO REPAIR IT $1385.84 . I WAS SHOCKED BECAUSE I TAKE CARE OF MY CAR VERY WELL, I NEVER EXPECTED TO HAVE SUCH A COSTLY REPAIR. I RESEARCH THE PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD LOOK INTO AND TREAT IT AS A RECALL AND NOT AS A WEAR AND TEAR PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 46,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO TURN FROM THE OFF TO ON POSITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE CHIP IN THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE KEYS NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. UPDATED 10/22/2014*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACED AND OFFERED ASSISTANCE WITH THE COST OF REPAIR ONLY IF THE REPAIR HAD NOT BEEN PAID PREVIOUSLY FOR. UPDATED 4/1/15 *JS

Mileage: 58,000

THIS MORNING, CAR WOULD NOT START, MESSAGE ON DASHBOARD TO GO TO THE DEALER, TOOK THE KEY IN & OUT AND, AFTER MULTIPLE TRIES, THE CAR STARTED BUT TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT WORK (STAYED ON PARK), TOOK THE KEY IN & OUT AND FINALLY WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE DEALER, STEERING LOCK PROBLEM, THE PART ONLY IS 1 400 $ !!! PROBLEM KNOWN BY MERCEDES BUT THEY NEVER DID ANYTHING ABOUT IT ! DEALER NOT HELPFUL AT ALL. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

I WAS TURNING ON MY MERCEDES BENZ C300 2009, WHEN IT SUDDENLY STATED TAKE YOUR IGNITION, THEREFORE I MADE A PHONE CALL TO MERCEDES BENZ ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. ONCE THE TECHNICIAN ARRIVED HE CLEARLY STATED IT WAS THE STEERING HOWEVER HE STATES THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY WARNING SIGNS. I AM VERY CONFUSED BECAUSE 09 C300 DID NOT HAVE ANY PRIOR WARNINGS, IT ALWAYS TELLS ME EVERYTHING ON THE SCREEN. THIS REPAIR IS AROUND 1000 AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN A RECALL BUT THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT FROM IS FROM CHEVROLET AND THEY DO NOT ACCEPT FROING VEHICLES. I TRULY BELIEVE CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING IT DOES NOT WARN YOU FOR, SPECIALLY SINCE YOU ARE PURCHASING A GERMAN CAR NOT AMERICAN. *TR

Mileage: 72,000

2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300 NEEDS REPLACEMENT OF THE ELECTRIC STEERING LOCK (CODE 6180.57-P-051521), NO WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON. *TR

Mileage: 74,596

THE STEERING LOCK ON MERCEDES BENZ 2009 C300 MALFUNCTIONS, MAKING CAR INOPERABLE. DANGER IF OCCURS WHILE DRIVING. KNOWN PROBLEM AND KNOWN ISSUE REPORTED MULTIPLE TIMES. MANUFACTURE DEFECT KNOWN TO MANUFACTURER AND NOT ADDRESSED ACCORDING TO NHTSA - DOT STANDARDS. STANDARDS NOT KNOWN TO BE ENFORCED AT THIS TIME. COSTS TO REPLACE/REPAIR IS APPROXIMATELY $1,180. BE ADVISED: IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT OWNERS OF A MERCEDES BENZ 2009 C300 HAVE THIS WORK COMPLETED PRIOR TO THE STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTIONING. IF NOT DONE SO, IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO THE DRIVER AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. *TR

Mileage: 68,621

I WENT OUT TO MY CAR THIS MORNING TO DRIVE TO WORK AND MY CAR WOULD NOT START. THE LIGHTS CAME ON I COULD LOCK AND UNLOCK MY CAR HOWEVER WHEN I PUT THE KEY IN, IT TURN ALL THE WAY BUT IT WOULD NOT CRANK. I CALL MERCEDES BENZ 24 HOUR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT MY BATTERY WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. THE TECHNICIAN EVEN TOLD ME HE NOTICED THAT THIS HAPPENED TO OTHER OWNERS AND THEY DID NOT KNOW WHY IT WAS HAPPENING WITHOUT WARNING. THIS IS SO UNACCEPTABLE. *TR

Mileage: 51,928

MY 2009 C300 WAS JUST TOWED TO THE BENZ DEALER FOR THE "TECHNICAL SVS BULLETIN" KNOWN AS LI80-57-P051521. (THE KNOWN AND DOCUMENTED INTERNAL ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK CAUSING CRANK FAILURE THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED BY THE NHTSA.) I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY BENZ IS NOT ASSISTING WITH THIS MATTER. LAST YEAR I JUST REPLACED THE BACK LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE THAT WAS SMOKING AND BURNING; CAUSING MY BRAKE LIGHTS TO GO OUT AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO ITEMS IN MY TRUNK. NOW FINALLY, THAT PART IS NOW BEING RECALLED! WHY IS BENZ AWAITING FOR SOMETHING BAD TO HAPPEN BEFORE THEY TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR PARTS. WITH ALL OF THE DOCUMENTED COMPLAINTS OF THE C300 CAR NOT CRANKING DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK, WHY IS BENZ BEING ALLOWED TO GO FORWARD WITHOUT A RECALL OF THIS FAULTY PART THEIR INSTALLING IN THESE CARS? IT SEEMS VERY EVIDENT THAT THOUGH BENZ HAS DOCUMENTATION OF "CONSISTENT FAILURE" OF THE EIS/ESL ON THE C300S, THEY'RE REFUSING TO RECALL THE CARS FOR THESE ISSUES IN AN ATTEMPT TO GENERATE CONSTANT BUSINESS FOR THE BENZ DEALERSHIPS. (FOR INSTANCE, WHEN I WALKED INTO THE DEALERSHIP, MY SERVICER WAS ABLE TO QUOTE ME A PRICE ON THE REPAIR OF MY CAR WITHIN SECONDS AS HE STATED THAT HE JUST COMPLETED THE SAME REPAIR ON A CAR SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR AS MINE THE DAY BEFORE....UUMM...WHAT A COINCIDENCE!) THIS RACKET THAT BENZ IS RUNNING HAS COST ME $1,000.00. THIS HAS TO BE AGAINST THE LAW. I'LL HAVE TO LOOK UP THE TEXAS DECEPTIVE TRADE ACT AND/OR REPORT THIS TO THE TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL. *TR

Mileage: 108,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE EXACT PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

Mileage: 38,000

WITHOUT ANY WARNING, MY CAR WILL NOT START. THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY, BUT NO LUCK. THE KEY OPEN THE DOOR, THE LIGHTS INSIDE OF THE CARE COME ON, AND THE SCREEN STILL POPS UP ON THE DASHBOARD. THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND YOU CAN NOT CHANGE THE GEAR. I HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. CAR HAS ALMOST 70 K MILES ON IT. VERY DISSAPOINTED TO READ THE OTHER COMPLAINTS AND THE PROJECTED COST TO FIX. ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO I ALSO PAID OUT OF POCKET FOR THE REAR LIGHT PANEL DUE TO IT NOT WORKING. I RECENTLY LEARNED THAT THE REAR LIGHTING ISSUE IS AN OFFICIAL RECALL. NOW THE HURDLE BEGIN FOR ME TO GET REFUNDED FOR NEARLY $500. :( *JS

Mileage: 70,000

MY CAR LEFT ME STRANDED AT WORK. WHEN I WAS LEAVING WORK MY CAR WOULD NOT START THE STEERING WAS COMPLETELY LOCKED . THE CAR WOULD NOT EVEN START THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD TURN ON WAS THE RADIO AND A MESSAGE OF NOT TO FORGET TO REMOVE YOUR KEY. I COULD NOT EVEN GET THE CAR OUT OF GEAR. I WOULD CRANK IT AND NOTHING, IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. I NEVER RECEIVED A MESSAGE TO WARN ME THAT SOMETHING WAS FAULTY.. BEFORE TAKING CAR INTO DEALERSHIP I DID MY RESEARCH ONLINE AND SPOKE WITH A SERVICE TECH AT MERCEDES AND SAID THAT IT WAS POSSIBLY EIS FAILURE AND STEERING LOCK. AFTER SO MANY COMPLAINS LIKE MINE ONLINE I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THIS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. WHAT IF THIS WOULD OF HAPPENED WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND MY STEERING LOCKED? WHO KNOWS?...IS MERCEDES WAITING FOR SERIOUS ACCIDENTS TO HAPPEN? THESE FAILURES ARE REALLY A CALL FOR A RECALL..IF THERE ARE ANYMORE MERCEDES OWNERS OUT THERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM FILE YOUR COMPLAINTS MAYBE IF MORE OF US COMPLAIN THEY WILL DO A RECALL. THIS IS NOT CHEAP TO FIX IT COST FROM $1200 TO $1700. I BOUGHT A MERCEDES BELIEVING I WAS BUYING A DEPENDABLE VEHICLE NOW I AM HAVING SECOND THOUGHTS AFTER ALL I HAVE READ... *TR

Mileage: 81,000

I DROVE MY CAR TO WORK AND PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT. I EXITED THE CAR AND LOCKED THE DOORS WHEN I REMEMBERED THAT ON THIS DAY, THE TREE CUTTING CREW WILL BE SERVICING THE PARKING LOT. I RETURNED TO THE CAR TO MOVE IT BUT WHEN I TURNED THE KEY MY IGNITION WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY EVEN THOUGH ALL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE REMOTE DOOR LOCKS AND RADIO WERE WORKING FINE. I JUMP STARTED THE VEHICLE WITH ANOTHER CAR NONETHELESS TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T A DEAD BATTERY. THE CAR WOULDN'T START. I'VE OWNED THE CAR FOR MANY YEARS BUT NOTHING LIKE THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED. TO COME OUT TO A CAR WITH A WORKING BATTERY AND NOT STARTING. I HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO CHECKED ALL FUSES AND WIRING ONLY TO DETERMINE THAT IT WAS THE EIS OR ESL UNIT. THIS IS THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK MECHANISM THAT MALFUNCTIONED. I ENDED UP SPENDING OVER $1000 TO GET THIS FIXED. *TR

Mileage: 52,525

DEFECTIVE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL): HI, MY STEERING LOCK JUST WENT ON ME AS WELL AND WAS LEFT STRANDED WITH NO CAR THIS PAST WEEKEND! MY 2009 C300 4MATIC SPORT HAS APPROX. 56,000 MILES ON IT AND I AM OUT OF WARRANTY. I CALLED MB USA AND BEGGED FOR WARRANTY ASSISTANCE BUT WAS BASICALLY TOLD NO BECAUSE AS A SECOND OWNER I DID NOT HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED ENOUGH TIMES AT THE LOCAL MB DEALERSHIP! I GUESS I HAVEN'T SPENT ENOUGH MONEY TO DATE ON UNWARRANTED REPAIRS AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP?? AFTER EXTENSIVE ONLINE RESEARCH I TOO FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2008 AND 2009 MB C300, AND MOST LIKELY LATER MODELS AS WELL!. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL) FAILURE TYPICALLY HAPPENS RIGHT AFTER EXPIRATION OF THE BASIC WARRANTY. JUST LIKE THE THOUSANDS OF MB C300 OWNERS STUCK IN THIS SITUATION, I NEED MY VEHICLE AND HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO SHELL OUT THE MONEY FOR THIS REPAIR! (OVER $1,000). I AM SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE THIS CAR ANYWHERE FAR IN FEAR THAT ANOTHER TECHNICAL/MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN WILL OCCUR. IN ADDITION TO ESL FAILURE, ANOTHER CONCERN OF MINE IS FINDING OUT THAT ELECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM (EIS) FAILURE IS ANOTHER COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 08-09 MB C300'S. SHAME ON MERCEDES FOR NOT ISSUING A RECALL ON THE ESL & EIS ISSUES AND STICKING IT TO THE CONSUMERS. I TOO PLAN ON CONTACTING MY ATTORNEY REGARDING THIS ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 56,000

MY VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FAILURE OF ITS STARTING AND STEERING LOCK FUNCTIONS. THE UNDERLINE PROBLEM AND AREAS OF CONCERN IS THE FREQUENCY OF THIS FAILURE AND THE DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH HAVING THE VEHICLE IMMOBILIZED WHEN THE ASSOCIATED PARTS FAIL. MERCEDES BENZ HAS NOT TAKEN ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE YET IT CAN'T BE FIXED WITHOUT DEALERSHIP INTERVENTION. THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE BESIDES HAVING YOUR CAR TOWED IS IN THE EXCESS OF $1,000.00. IN MY CASE I HAVE BEEN QUOTED &1700.00! ALTHOUGH MY PARTICULAR INSTANCE HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED, THERE IS NO EXCEPTION THAT IT CAN OCCUR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOTION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF AND THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK IN ANY POSITION. UPDATED 11/24/2014 *JS

Mileage: 51,000

FOR THE THIRD TIME IN 6 MONTHS MY CAR WOULDN'T START. GOT OF WORK GETTING READY TO GO HOME AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START. TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CHECKED IT AND COULDN'T FIND A THING. THEY ASKED ME TO BRING THE SPARE KEY AND THE CAR STARTED. FAST FORWARD THREE WEEKS LATER...SAME ISSUE. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR 5 DAYS AND COULDN'T FIND NOTING SO THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY IN NOVEMBER. FAST FORWARD TO YESTERDAY FEB. 25TH. 2014 SAME THING HAPPENED. TOWED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DETERMINED IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK: EZL STEERING LOCK AND PROGRAMMING KEY. I HOPE AND PRAY MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERS THIS. I HAVE A 2009 C300. *TR

Mileage: 74,000

MY NAME IS [XXX] AND I HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED MERCEDES C300 4MATIC SPORT. MY WIFE AND I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO OWN A MERCEDES FOR ITS RELIABILITY, OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AND SERVICE. ONE EVENING MY WIFE AND I WENT GROCERY SHOPPING AND AFTER COMING BACK IN TO THE CAR WE ENDED UP BEING STRANDED FOR SEVERAL HOURS WAITING FOR AN EMERGENCY ROADSIDE SERVICE TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. WE INITIALLY THOUGHT IT WOULD SIMPLY REQUIRE A JUMP START AND NEVER EXPECTED THE CAR TO HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM BECAUSE WE ALWAYS MAINTAIN OUR CARS. WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO TOW THE CAR TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP IN HUNTINGTON, NEW YORK. LET ME REMIND YOU THAT THE CAR IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD, AND HAS UNDER 45,000 MILES SO IT?S STILL YOUNG, AND NEVER HAS BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS. THE NEXT DAY A MECHANIC FROM THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME AND INFORMED ME THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE STEERING LOCK MODULE WHICH NEEDS TO BE CHANGED AND THE TOTAL COST IS $1,200. I WAS ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED BECAUSE I NEVER EXPECTED A CAR THIS PRESTIGIOUS TO HAVE PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. I THINK IS UNFAIR, EXTORTIONATE AND UNETHICAL FOR MERCEDES TO CHARGE THEIR CUSTOMERS FOR A TECHNICAL FAULT THAT CLEARLY REQUIRES A RECALL. AFTER SOME EXTENSIVE RESEARCH I CAME TO FIND THAT THIS IS A COMMON TECHNICAL ERROR THAT TO MY SURPRISE STILL HAS NOT BEEN PUT AS A RECALL. A LOT OF MERCEDES OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH IS SIMPLY UNETHICAL AND UNJUSTIFIED. A PRESTIGIOUS CAR LIKE MERCEDES SHOULDN'T LET A TECHNICAL FAULT LIKE THIS OCCUR BECAUSE OF THE PRECISE DETAILED ATTENTION THEY PUT ON EACH AND EVERY CAR THEY MANUFACTURE. EVEN IF THE PROBLEM DOES EXIST MERCEDES SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THE ISSUE AND NOT LET ITS CUSTOMERS PAY FOR MERCEDES? FAULT. WHICH IS WHY I AM SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING TAKING THIS CASE FURTHER AND FILING LEGAL SUIT. I HAVE ARRANGED AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY LAWYER ON FRIDAY TO SPEAK FURTHER ABOUT THIS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 44,500

I WAS GETTING MY CAR DETAILED. WHILE WAITING ON ANOTHER CUSTOMER HAD CAR VACUUMED OUT. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINS, TRIED STARTING THE CAR AND THE KEY WOULD TURN WITH OUT STARTING THE CAR. HAD IT TOWED TO MERCEDES SHOP. THERE I WAS TOLD IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COLUMN. STEERING LOCK HAS ELECTRIC FAULT IS WHAT WAS STATED TO ME FOR A PRICE OF $1700.+ TO BE REPAIRED. THIS IS THE THIRD ELECTRICAL PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR. I'VE HAD THE LEFT AND RIGHT WIRING REPAIRED, THE LEFT ONE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, THE RIGHT ONE WASN'T. THE WIRING WAS ACTUALLY BURNT. I FEEL AS THOUGH THIS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING MERCEDES BENZ NEED TO HAVE A RECALL ON. *TR

Mileage: 75,401

BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR A REPAIR OF THE STEERING COLUMN ON 3/9/2013 TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR, WHICH THEY TOOK CARE OF. BUT, THEN ABOUT A MONTH LATER STARTED TO GET WARNINGS FROM THE DASHBOARD TO CHECK MY RIGHT REAR TAILLIGHT AND DIRECTIONAL. THEN IT WAS THE RIGHT REAR SIDE LAMPS, TAILLIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, REVERSE LIGHTS AND DIRECTIONAL, EVERY TIME I START THE CAR AND/ OR WHENEVER ONE OF THOSE LIGHTS IS ENGAGED WHILE DRIVING. WAITING FOR A RECALL AND SAW THAT MBUSA REQUIRES EXACT INFORMATION FOR THE COMPLAINTS. *JB

Mileage: 48,000

THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCEPT THE COMPUTER CHIP KEY POD AND THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DISABLED, STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY HAD AN ELECTRICAL FAULT. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY LOCKED UP, UNABLE TO TURN IGNITION ON. NO ADVANCE NOTICE THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A MERCEDES DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR, ALMOST 50 MILES AT A COST OF $240. THE REPAIR WAS $707.00 AND INVOLVED REPLACEMENT OF STEERING COLUMN LOCK ASSEMBLY. THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BY MERCEDES AND THEY HAVE NOT ANNOUNCED A RECALL EVEN THOUGH THIS PROBLEM SEEMS PREVALENT ON THE INTERNET. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS HAVING A VEHICLE THAT CANNOT BE OPERATED, NOR REPAIRED BY ANYONE OTHER THAN AN AUTHORIZED MERCEDES DEALERSHIP. THIS PROBLEM STRANDS THE DRIVER AT A PLACE WHEREVER THE PROBLEM MAY OCCUR. I HAD THE DEALERSHIP RETURN THE FAULTY PART IF NHTSA WOULD LIKE TO INSPECT IT. THE MERCEDES BENZ STEERING COLUMN LOCK PROBLEM IS NOT FROM WEAR AND TEAR, MORE LIKELY A SOFTWARE PROBLEM BETWEEN THE IGNITION AND THE KEY. AS A CONSUMER, I FEEL RIPPED OFF TO THE TUNE OF $1,000 TO PAY FOR A PROBLEM THAT MERCEDES KNOWS ABOUT, YET HAS NOT INITIATED A RECALL TO REPAIR THE FAULT. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

I PARKED VEHICLE IN A PUBLIC PARKING LATE AT NIGHT. I WAS WITH MY SON, I TRIED TO TURN ON VEHICLE AND IT DID NOT START. I WAS STRANDED LATE AT NIGHT WITH MY SON WITH NO RIDE. I HAD TWO MECHANICS LOOK AT IT, ONE OF WHICH WAS A MECHANIC FOR THE MERCEDES DEALER. BOTH STATING IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK MODULE, THEY BOTH TOLD ME THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MERCEDES C300. THIS PROBLEM COSTS $1300 TO FIX WITH THE DEALER, THE PART ALONE IS OVER $550. READING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ONLINE, IT IS VERY COMMON IN THE 2008-2009 MODELS, NORMALLY OCCURRING AROUND 3-4 YEARS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE, AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. MERCEDES SHOULD HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM! THESES ARE FAIRLY NEW VEHICLES AND IT IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT! *TR

Mileage: 40,011