2013 Mercedes-Benz C250: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C250: 7 recalls, 278 owner complaints and up to 25 mpg combined.
Recalls
7 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Electrical, Airbags Vehicle recall #17V177000 · 2017 · 51 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: If the air bags do not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, there would be an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: Mbusa will notify owners, and dealers will update software in the affected control units, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2017.
Steering Vehicle recall #17V252000 · 2017 · 168 vehicles
What's wrong: Mercedes-benz USA LLC. (mbusa) is recalling certain 2013-2014 c250, c300 4matic, glk250 4matic bluetec and glk350 vehicles, 2013 c250 coupe, c350, c350 4matic coupe, c350 coupe and c63 amg coupe vehicles, and 2013-2015 glk350 4matic vehicles. The steering coupling connecting bolt May have been insufficiently tightened, possibly resulting in a loss of steering.
Why it matters: A loss of steering can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Mbusa will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the steering coupling connecting bolt, tightening it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 2017.
Airbags Vehicle recall #17V627000 · 2017 · 495,290 vehicles
What's wrong: Mercedes-benz USA, LLC. (mbusa) is recalling these vehicles: 2014-2018 cla250, cla250 4matic, cla45 amg 4matic, 2015-2018 gla250, gla250 4matic, gla45 amg 4matic, c300 4matic, c63s amg, 2012-2014 c250, c350, c300 4matic, e550 4matic, 2013-2014 c63 amg, 2012-2015 c250 coupe, c350 coupe, c63 amg coupe, 2013-2015 c350 4matic coupe, glk250 4matic bluetec, glk350, glk350 4matic, 2016-2017 c350e, c43 amg, 2015 c400…
Why it matters: If the driver air bag inadvertently deploys, it can increase the risk of injury and a crash.
The fix: Mbusa will notify owners, and dealers will add sufficient grounding to the steering components, free of charge. The recall began in December 6, 2017.
Airbags Vehicle recall #18V043000 · 2018 · 132,167 vehicles
What's wrong: S. Virgin islands or "zone a." additionally, mbusa is recalling certain 2010 c300, c300 4matic, c63 amg, e350 coupe, e550 coupe, glk350, and glk350 4matic vehicles ever registered in the states of 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…
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Mbusa will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. Mercedes issued an interim notification to owners on February 23, 2018. A second notice will be mailed when remedy parts are available.
Airbags Vehicle recall #19V010000 · 2019 · 288,779 vehicles
What's wrong: " 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…
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Mbusa will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began March 29, 2019.
Communication Vehicle recall #19V787000 · 2019 · 24,226 vehicles
What's wrong: Mercedes-benz USA, LLC. (mbusa) is recalling certain 2013-2017 vehicles due to a software fault that May cause the date and time for the emergency call system (ecall) to differ from the actual date and time, potentially relaying an inaccurate vehicle location. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.NHTSA.gov/odi/rcl/2019/rmisc-19v787-4620.pdf
Why it matters: An inaccurate vehicle location May delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Mbusa has initiated an over the air (ota) remote update. Mbusa will also notify owners, and dealers will check software for a successful ota or update the communication module software as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2019.
Airbags Vehicle recall #21V638000 · 2021 · 205 vehicles
What's wrong: An incorrect front passenger air bag May have been installed during a prior repair.
Why it matters: An incorrect air bag May not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag on the affected vehicles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 10, 2021.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 5 mention a fire, 18 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Airbags (163): the most common themes are warning light on (16), fails to deploy (13).
- Engine (46): the most common themes are warning light on (15), noise or vibration (9), stalls / loses power (8).
- Fuel & propulsion (24): the most common themes are warning light on (6), stalls / loses power (3).
- Other / unknown (19): the most common themes are fire / smoke (3), stalls / loses power (2).
The 2013 Mercedes-Benz C250 has 278 owner complaints, ranking #1 of 5 C250 model years for complaints (1.9× the average C250 year). Complaints peaked in 2018 (79 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 60,850 miles. Neighboring years: 2012 (272 complaints, 5 recalls), 2014 (163 complaints, 5 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic 7-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 22 | 31 | 25 | Premium |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C250.
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FAQ
Does the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C250 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 7 vehicle recalls for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C250. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2013 Mercedes-Benz C250 problems?
Owners have filed 278 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are airbags (163), engine (46), fuel & propulsion (24).
What gas mileage does the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C250 get?
EPA ratings run up to 25 mpg combined (1.8 L, Automatic 7-spd), across 1 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C250 repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.