2009 Mercedes-Benz C300: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300: 8 recalls, 576 owner complaints and up to 21 mpg combined.
Recalls
8 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #14V177000 · 2014 · 252,867 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, a poor electrical ground connection May result in the dimming or failure of the tail lights.
Why it matters: Dimming or failure of the tail lights reduces the ability to warn other motorists of the driver's intentions of stopping or turning, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Mercedes will notify owners, and dealers will replace the bulb holders if not previously updated and replace any corroded connectors, free of charge. The recall began on August, 18, 2014.
Airbags Vehicle recall #15V711000 · 2015 · 127,504 vehicles
What's wrong: Mercedes-benz USA, LLC. (mbusa) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 c300 sedan, c300 4matic, c63 amg, and c350 vehicles, and 2010 glk350 and glk350 4matic vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the air bag control unit May corrode and cause the control unit to malfunction.
Why it matters: The malfunctioning air bag control unit May cause the air bags to unexpectedly deploy increasing the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash. Alternatively, the air bag control unit malfunction May cause the air bags to not deploy in the event of a crash necessitating air bag…
The fix: Mbusa will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bag control unit and replace it, as necessary, free of charge. Mercedes-benz issued an interim notification to owners on December 23, 2015. The recall began on March 14, 2016.
Airbags Vehicle recall #16V081000 · 2016 · 711,159 vehicles
What's wrong: 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,…
Why it matters: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Mbusa will their notify owners, and FIAT Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler owners. Dealers for the respective brands will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. This recall began November 2016. Mercedes-benz
Airbags Vehicle recall #16V363000 · 2016 · 258,163 vehicles
What's wrong: 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,…
Why it matters: An inflator rupture May result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Mbusa will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag modules, free of charge. Owners were sent an interim notification October 2016. A second notice will be mailed when remedy parts are available.
Airbags Vehicle recall #17V017000 · 2017 · 104,119 vehicles
What's wrong: S. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above mbusa is recalling certain 2009 c300 4matic, c300, c350 and c63 amg 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…
Why it matters: An inflator rupture May result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Mbusa will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag modules, free of charge. Owners were sent an interim notification in March 2017. Second notices started going out in October 2018 and continue to be mailed as parts become available.
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.
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.
Engine & cooling, Stability control Vehicle recall #22V168000 · 2022 · 22 vehicles
What's wrong: Various control units May have been updated with incorrect software configuration during a service repair. This can result in various system failures, such as loss of drive power, reduced exterior lighting, or loss of dynamic control functions, including stability and traction control.
Why it matters: Various system failures, such as loss of drive power, reduced exterior lighting, or loss of dynamic control functions including stability and traction control, can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the software configuration on the affected control units, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 3, 2022.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 18 mention a fire, 13 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Electrical (198): the most common themes are electrical failure (82), door / lock issues (74).
- Airbags (182): the most common themes are warning light on (17), fails to deploy (9).
- Steering (136): the most common themes are steering problems (114).
- Exterior lights (118): the most common themes are electrical failure (51), warning light on (23), fire / smoke (22).
The 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300 has 576 owner complaints, ranking #2 of 9 C300 model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 386). Complaints peaked in 2017 (114 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 7 years old, at a median of 70,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2008 (672 complaints, 7 recalls), 2010 (453 complaints, 6 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic 7-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 18 | 25 | 21 | Premium or E85 |
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 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300.
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FAQ
Does the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 8 vehicle recalls for the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300. 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 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300 problems?
Owners have filed 576 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are electrical (198), airbags (182), steering (136).
What gas mileage does the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300 get?
EPA ratings run up to 21 mpg combined (3.0 L, Automatic 7-spd), across 1 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300 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.