2011 Mercedes-Benz C300 Problems

Typical for Model

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz C300.

20102012
Complaints
584
Crashes
20
Fires
6
Injuries
22
Fatalities
Recalls
6

Worst 2011 Mercedes-Benz C300 Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1250 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:68,484 mi
Crash-related:12
#257 complaints

Suspension Failures

Avg mileage:100,106 mi
#343 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:66,264 mi
Fires:3
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz C300.

Airbags
250
complaints
Crashes
12
Fires
Avg Miles
68,484
Suspension Failures
57
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
100,106
Electrical Faults
43
complaints
Crashes
Fires
3
Avg Miles
66,264
Fuel System
37
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
76,956
Steering Defects
34
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
67,864
Body Structure
34
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
103,000
Headlight/Taillight Failures
19
complaints
Crashes
Fires
2
Avg Miles
78,447
Engine Problems
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
64,600
Transmission / Drivetrain
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
57,673
Brakes
9
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
5,000
Structure:Frame And Members
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
113,132
Gasoline Fuel System
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
64,766
Seat-Related Issues
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structural Problems
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Hydraulic Brakes
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension:Subframe/Mounting Bracket
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Unintended Acceleration
3
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wheel Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine & Cooling
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Automatic Transmission
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Abs Warning Light
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structure:Body:Door:Handle:Interior
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension:Rear
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz C300. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2011 Mercedes-Benz C300

6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~1,516,819 vehicles.

19V010000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~288,779 affected

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2014 C250, C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 4Matic Coupe, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio, SLS AMG Coupe, 2014-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, GLK 350, GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, 2015-2017 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400 Coupe, 2014-2017 E550 Cabrio, and 2014-2016 E550 Coupe vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally, MBUSA is recalling certain 2012-2014 C250, E350 4Matic Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2011 C300, 2011-2014 C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, SLS AMG Coupe, 2015-2016 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400 Coupe, 2011-2016 E550 Cabrio, E550 Coupe, 2011-2015 GLK350 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, and 2013-2015 GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic vehicles ever registered in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." MBUSA is also recalling certain 2012-2014 C250, E350 4Matic Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2010-2011 C300, 2010-2014 C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 Coupe, 2011-2014 E350 Cabrio, SLS AMG Coupe, 2015-2016 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400 Coupe, 2016-2017 E550 Cabrio, 2010-2016 E550 Coupe, 2010-2015 GLK350 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, and 2013-2015 GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic vehicles ever registered in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MO, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

17V177000Electrical System:software · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control Module-inactive
~51 affected

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 AMG GT-S, GLC300, CLA250 and GLE300d 4Matic vehicles, 2013 C250, E350 BlueTec and G63 AMG vehicles, 2008-2014 C300 vehicles, 2013-2014 C300 4Matic and ML350 4Matic vehicles, 2009 C350 vehicles, 2014 CLS550, E350 4Matic, E350 Coupe 4Matic, E350 Wagon 4Matic, GLK350 and SL550 vehicles, 2012 CLS550 4Matic vehicles, 2012-2016 E350 vehicles, 2016-2017 GL450 4Matic vehicles, 2012-2014 ML350 4Matic BlueTec vehicles, 2015 S550, S550 4Matic and C300 4Matic Sedan vehicles, 2015-2016 C300 Sedan vehicles, and 2017 SL63 AMG vehicles. Various control units on these vehicles may have been updated with incorrect software, potentially affecting the correct deployment of the air bags in the event of a crash.

16V363000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~258,163 affected

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 C300 Sedan, C300 4matic Sedan, C350 Sedan, C63 AMG Sedan vehicles, 2010-2011 GLK350, GLK350 4-Matic and E350 Coupe vehicles, 2011 SLS AMG, E350 Convertible, E550 Coupe and E550 Convertible vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, MBUSA is recalling certain model year 2008 C300 Sedan, C350 Sedan, C63 AMG Sedan and C300 4-Matic Sedan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Vehicles not originally sold or ever registered in either Zones A or B are not subject to this safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

16V081000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
~711,159 affected

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 ML320 BlueTec 4Matic, GL320 BlueTec 4Matic and R320 CDI 4Matic, 2011 E350 Cabriolet and E550 Cabriolet, 2009-2011 ML350, ML350 4Matic, ML550 4Matic, ML63 AMG, and C63 AMG, 2010-2011 ML450 4Matic Hybrid, E350 Coupe, E350 4Matic, E550 Coupe, E550 4Matic, and E63 AMG, 2011-2012 GL350 BlueTec 4Matic and R350 BlueTec 4Matic, 2009-2012 GL450 4Matic, GL550 4Matic and R350 4Matic, 2007-2008 SLK280, SLK350, and SLK55 AMG, 2011-2014 SLS AMG Coupe, 2012 SLS AMG Cabriolet, 2013-2014 SLS AMG GT and SLS AMG GT Cabriolet, 2005 C230 Kompressor and C320, 2006-2007 C230, 2006-2011 C350, 2008-2011 C300 and C300 4Matic, 2010-2012 GLK350 and GLK350 4Matic and 2007-2008 Chrysler Crossfire vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

14V177000Exterior Lighting:tail Lights
~252,867 affected

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (Mercedes) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 C300, C300 4Matic, C350, and C63 AMG vehicles manufactured January 26, 2007, through July 13, 2011. In the affected vehicles, a poor electrical ground connection may result in the dimming or failure of the tail lights.

12V557000Gasoline Fuel System
~5,800 affected

Mercedes-Benz is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 S400, S550, S550 4Matic, S63 AMG, C300, C300 4Matic, E350, GLK350, GLK350 4Matic, CL550 4Matic, and CL63 AMG vehicles manufactured from April 18, 2011, through July 12, 2011. Due to an irregularity stemming from the molding process of the fuel filter flange, the fuel filter flange may crack when operated in high temperatures.

Other Mercedes-Benz C300 Years

2011 Mercedes-Benz C300 — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2011 Mercedes-Benz C300 reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 2011 Mercedes-Benz C300 has 584 NHTSA complaints, 20 crash-related, and 6 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Airbags with 250 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2011 Mercedes-Benz C300?
Top reported problems: Airbags (250 complaints, avg 68,484 mi); Suspension Failures (57 complaints, avg 100,106 mi); Electrical Faults (43 complaints, avg 66,264 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2011 Mercedes-Benz C300?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 74,353 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2011 Mercedes-Benz C300?
NHTSA complaints for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz C300 include 20 crash-related reports, 6 fire reports, 22 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2011 Mercedes-Benz C300 have any recalls?
Yes — 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,516,819 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2011 Mercedes-Benz C300?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Mercedes-Benz C300 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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