Body problems of the 2013 Mercedes Benz C300 - part 1

On several instances of breaking, my 2013 Mercedes Benz C300 pulls hard to the right and becomes very unstable. I assumed it was a brake problem by the way the car drove. I took it to my mechanic, who immediately identified the rear subframe had rusted so much that a control arm had broken loose from the subframe. The rear subframe acts as a foundation for the rear suspension and holds the backend together. Fortunately I was able to get this diagnosed prior to a serious accident. The car gets very unstable, especially at higher speeds, when braking. There are no warning lights that will catch this. This problem absolutely places both passengers and other cars on the road at risk of a collision when braking, especially on the highway at higher speeds. I am going to contact a local Mercedes Benz dealer to evaluate replacement of the damaged parts to ensure the car is safe to drive following repair. Based on the links below, it sounds like a known issue at Mercedes Benz. I was never notified of any issues or from prior service visits, or via mail notice from the manufacturer. My mechanic was shocked, to say the least. Hoping mb will take care of this dangerous problem without hassle. See: [xxx] [xxx] [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The interior door handle of the driver's side door snapped, which does not allow the driver to open the door at all. In the event of a crash, fire, or emergency, the door can only be opened from the exterior. This is a widespread issue with this model of car, which mercedes-benz is very aware of. There are hundreds of videos and online discussions of this common saferty issue that mercedes refuses to make right. This is a risk for the safety of all drivers of these vehicles. The car has been inspected and confirmed by a mb dealer. There were no warning indications before or after this happened. Mercedes benz wants $1200 to fix this obvious defect.

The driver side indoor handle keeps breaking. I have repaired mine 4 times but still keep breaking. The connector attached to the handle is so fragile it cant withstand regular use. Why hasnt this been recalled by mercedes? one repair costs 1400 dollars.

Broke rear subframe while driving. Made it home discovered the left rear suspension is almost completely detached from the vehicle. Researched the problem and discovered it’s a known issue and a warranty extension has been provided for some vehicles including some models of my particular year and model but after contacting mercedes is seems mine is not.

Rear control arm broke off of the rusted rear sub frame assembly which was confirmed and inspected by my mechanic.

The car was all over the road when braking and making banging sound. Had towed to 3 repair shops and all said subframe was rotted out beyond repair. Mercedes benz in golden bridge will replace subframe, but my cost is towing, labor and renting a car until it’s fixed which can take up to 1 month.

When breaking at high speeds, the car feels like I will lose control of it. Has happened a few times and I thought I was going to hit the neighboring car. Took it to a repair shop and found out that the rear driver side subframe is completely rotted out and the rear control arm is hanging. The car only has about 97,500 miles on it, has not been driven in high salt areas, and doesn’t have any other signs of rust. Two auto body shops have told me this shouldn’t happen on a car with that low mileage, and these cars, mercedes C300s, are known to have this defect.

This 2013 mercedes C300 with 88,xxx miles has significant subframe rust. This is unacceptable and is a safety hazard because the rust and corrosion will continue to spread and cause additional safety issues. This will cost over $4,000 to repair, but it is a manufacturer defect. There are a ton of similar complaints online, so this is clearly a systemic issue with this model that needs to be investigated.

Rear subframe rotted. Common issue, needs a recall. Control arm broke off on both sides of the rear subframe. Rear passenger lower control arm close to gas tank, can cause a fire if punctures through tank as well. Lots of swaying in rear as well.

The subframe has rotted from insufficient protection . This car is unsafe to drive , many us consumers having same problem with this model where the subframe is rusted out. This is a major issue effecting thousands of cars of this model or maybe more.

Rear right side subframe rusted and broke off. Vehicle pulled to the right while braking.

1. The component that failed was the rear subframe for the rear transaxle and wheel suspension system. It was inspected by a licensed mb service department and determined the drivers side of the rear subframe had rusted completely through and was separated from the frame. The passenger side of the rear subframe was also severely rusted and at risk of breaking. The subframe is currently being replaced. 2. The subframe to this vehicle holds the transaxle and rear wheel suspension in place, I noticed with a hard breaking the rear of the car swerved, slightly fishtailing. I immediately drove home and parked it until I could drive it to a service/repair facility. If this subframe had completely broken free the entire rear drivetrain would have been severely damaged or completely destroyed or worse, break free from the vehicle and cause a crash. 3. The problem is well known in the auto industry. My service center who inspected my vehicle described it and said it is a well known problem and they have replaced other subframes due to the same issue. I even spoke to an Audi salesman today and they know of it and send these mb vehicles as a trade-in to auction and do not even attempt to replace the subframe. A recall for this problem of the subframe failure due to rust has already been issued for mb in europe for quite some time but no recall in the USA. 4. This vehicle and component has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police or insurance rep. 5. No warning lamps or any other messages were illuminated to give any warning of a subframe failure due to rust. The first symptom of the problem is the loose rear end with hard breaking causing a slight fishtail of the rear of the car. I experienced this on my drive home from work and afterwards only drove it to my service center.

There is a defect in the subframe of the vehicle which causes it to corrode and rust out. Apparently, this is a known issue with certain years and models, and has already been recalled in europe, but not the us.

Rear sub frame failure due to corrosion. Failed part causes vehicle to lose control when applying breaks. Further broke sub frame has high risk of fire due fuel tank breach. Vehicle was inspected by Mercedes Benz technicians several times up to the point of failure, no advanced warning. Technician stated no lights, no warning signs until total failure occurs.

While returning from a long trip with my entire family, I initially lost control of the vehicle on a normal curve at 70 mph speed on a highway. We managed to stop without getting in an accident. After determining that it is not because of any tire damage and not understanding the problem, we continued with the journey driving at reduced speeds. From then on, vehicle was losing control whenever I try to brake. After narrowly missing few accidents, I realized the stopping distance also increased a lot. I almost hit several vehicles whenever I try to come to stop all of a sudden. Unsure of the weirdly behavior all of a sudden, I decided to stop at a nearby autoshop and get a quick check. Surprisingly the mechanic heard about these issues earlier and pointed us directly at the cause of this behavior. The issue is a rotten rear subframe. A part which is supposed to last for the entirety of its life, rusted from inside out prematurely. Learning this, I sent my family home in a different vehicle and brought mine towed. Mercedes service center gave me an initial estimate of $8860 to repair and might increase once they start removing things for repair. After further research, I found out this is a very common issue. In other countries, mercedes is replacing this free of charge to customers who report it as this is a safety issue. So I tried to reach out to mercedes corporate office and they declined to repair it free of charge as there is no official recall on this issue. I am only glad that my entire family didn't end up in an unfortunate incident due a a cheaply made part. I urge NHTSA to look into this issue as soon as possible and help avoid lots of accidents due to this issue.

Rear subframe of vehicle rusted under regular use conditions and the left trailing arm mount broke off as a result. This caused vehicle braking to become extremely unstable and dangerous, even at low/medium speed. This is a known problem from this manufacturer and the fed government should take action to force recall.

Rear subframe / crossmember failed due to corrosion. The rest of the car is in great condition, with no rot or corrosion. This is a regularly serviced vehicle. The part is recalled in other countries. Aside from the lack of a USA recall - the manufacturer is not providing any replacement parts. I am now without a car, and could have been killed if I didn't get it checked out. I do not see how it is legal to not provide parts to solve a life threatening issue caused by poor manufacturing. Should I drive the car anyway until it causes an accident ?.

I have a 2013 Mercedes Benz C300 sport 4matic with roughly 90k miles. Car is in great condition, a well maintained vehicle that has been regularly serviced (receipts in hand). I recently sent it in for an oil change, air filter change, and to check out a slight rear noise that started a couple weeks ago. I was told the rear subframe is severely rotted, and hitting the gas tank. My car is completely un-driveable until this issue is resolved, and extremely expensive to repair. I also called multiple mbusa dealers, and was told these parts are on back order with no time frame. Therefore, leaving me with no car for weeks if not months. Based on my own research this is a wide-spread manufacturing failure, which was correct in newer models to prevent the corrosion. Not only is it crazy that the us does not offer free repair / a recall on this issue like other countries - Mercedes Benz is leaving people hanging due to the back orders. Curious if canada / other countries also have this back order issue regardless of recall status. If not, mbusa should most definitely be responsible to all its us customers whether its improving inventory or recalling the part. My plans were to sell the vehicle for a newer model before this problem arose. If the noise didn't start until after I sold it, the new owner could have easily been injured or killed. I service this vehicle 2-3 times a year for routine maintenance, and was never made aware of the issue. If I waited to take it in any longer I could have been severely injured as well. I am now without a car, because the frame was not properly protected during manufacturing. The fact this part is on back order for 2 months says it all. Strongly appreciate your assistance in resolving this safety concern.

Driving my 300 down the highway at around 70mph and after lightly pressing the break, the car surved into right and left lane. I could have gotten into an accident, but luckily no other car was on the road. Taking my car to the mechanic it was discovered that my 2013 C300 has a rotted subframe, this was not caused by any damage but due to the part not being protected from rust. Rust caused the subframe to rot from the inside out. Many C300 have reported this issue, and the large number of failures on this subframe across my C300 and multiple models is concerning. This is a gross failure of a major safety component that can cause serious injury or death. My research showed this part has been recalled in canada; mbusa feels the need to wait to do so until a serious injury or death has occurred. The defective subframe is known and the new part’s design has been amended to take into account this rust issue. Mbusa’s decision exhibits a lack of accountability for a defective part and this issue needs to be promptly addressed for the safety of its customers.

Rear subframe premature rust for a 2013 car I've been reading a lot many people have same problem it is a very expensive fix and I'm sure mercedes knows about it. Also engine makes very bad rattling noise at startup which is also a very expensive fix and mercedes issued a TSB bulletin thank you.

While driving in an emergency braking situation the car went left. . . So much so I lost control and spun 360 degrees. I thought that wasnt rite. . . Upon investigation it turns out the right rear torque arm was no longer connected. . The cradle or sub frame. It was rotted thru causing the arm to break off !!. . . . Car is not drivable and mercedes wont repair it. . . Someone is going to get killed if it hasnt happened already !!.

So I took my car to get new tires and the tech told me that my rear subfram was rusted and cracked ,unsafe to drive . I called mercedes and they asked to take it to the dealership and get a quote. I did this and there response was to do nothing . This issue has been recalled in germany and also canada. But nothing done in united states. This is a serious safety issue . Let's say I never got my tires and never found out and was traveling 70mph down the freeway and had to hit the brakes hard for whatever reason and this part fails and breaks. Everyone in my car and whoever else my car collides into life's would most definitely be in danger.

I noticed my mercedes 2013 C300 (approx 89,000 miles) was acting peculiar when braking, it basically fishtailed like I was on ice, especially at a high speed on the interstate. It was very scary. It was also making clunking noises and did not handle on curves very well. Brought it to a local garage as the nearest dealer is over an hour away. Found out the rear subframe is broken on the rear passenger side and the other side very close to breaking. Not only that, but when I called a garage that specializes in german cars, he immediately guessed it was a c class mercedes, and when I googled it, this issue came up repeatedly. How this has not been addressed by mercedes is beyond me, will it take a horrendous crash? because I was almost a statistic. No warning lamps or messages. This design flaw needs addressed immediately. And now I have no vehicle as it is unsafe to drive and will cost me around $3,000 to fix if they can get the part. Sent an email to Mercedes Benz, they advised recalls and service campaigns are VIN specific and to contact NHTSA. And the email closed with "best wishes for safe and pleasant driving. ".

Rear subframe cracked; car has less than 95,000 miles and looks great. My two children of driving age were using the vehicle at the time, driving others as well. Fortunately, I happened to drive it not longer after the issue and took it to the shop immediately. They put it on the lift and saw that the rear subframe was cracked all the way through. As it turns out, it is becoming very common on this make/model--and it is nearly impossible to get a replacement. Mercedes benz told me maybe sometime in 2023. In addition to having it inspected, I have since been in contact with several dealers and mechanics. Results are invariable: the part is in extremely high demand, mercedes cannot fill the demand, and the wait is indefinite but long. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem. In addition to the inconvenience, the car was very dangerous to drive. I am thankful that my son did not seriously injure himself or others while driving. The crack renders the car unstable at anything but the slowest speeds. When one brakes at any speed over about 20-25 mph, the car pulls violently to one side. Simply braking alone could cause a major, even fatal, accident. And any emergency maneuver could be disastrous. The car has been garaged since June awaiting a replacement that I am told will cost between $4000 and $6000! I am left with a vehicle that runs very well--but is unsafe to drive on a public roadway--and no way to repair it. Moreover, mercedes cannot tell me when the part may become available (likely sometime in 2023).

Started noticing strange chassis behavior when braking. Braking hard would result in car leaning left, then leaning right when foot taken off the brake. Car appeared to "sway" on braking. Hard to control direction of vehicle on braking. Consulted local mechanic who put the car up on a lift. Discovered rotten rear subframe on left side. No substantial rust or rot on any other structural components. Looked into this issue online; no recall discovered. Found multiple instances of this rear subframe rot occurring to other owners of similar-year C300s who were then also quoted thousands of dollars in repairs. Car is not safe to drive until the subframe is replaced. The wrong pothole could cause the rotten rear subframe to snap and potentially cause more damage to the vehicle and injury to the driver and others. No warning lamps or other system messages to warn of this problem. A safety inspection performed at an authorized mercedes-benz service center on February 22, 2021 found no issues with the vehicle.

Subframe cracked while driving vehicle and began to sway in the rear very badly.

Vehicle was taken in for standard maintenance and I was informed that the rear sub-frame had a rusted through hole on one side and was rusting on the other. This vehicle is well maintained, garaged, and has normal annual maintenance with the dealership. There was no prior warning that this was an issue or "normal wear and tear" was causing this problem. The repair is quoted to be over 5k and I was told it is/will be essential because of a safety issue. Through some brief internet research, it appears like this is a larger problem and could have catastrophic problems if it is not caught before it fails.

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? the rear subframe rusted off at where the lower control is connected due to corrosion =. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? when the control arm rusted off the frame I lost control of the car due fish tailing and car extremally pulling the to the left while hitting the brakes has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? yes 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 warning lamps for the frame, it finally appears and almost caused me to crash after the control are finally rusted off the subframe completely.

2013 mb C300 4matic with 63k miles. It was taken to an mb dealership for yearly maintenance (service a). A certified maint. Tech provided me with an inspection video of the underneath of the car outlining an issue with the rear subframe. The right side has a hole rusted through it and the left side is rusted, but not rusted through. . . Yet. Replacement is recommended, as it will not pass state inspection in it's current condition because it's a safety issue. They also advised that they have seen a few instances of this problem and have contacted corporate. This is a 8-9 yr. Old vehicle with low mileage and has had consistent maintenance at an mb dealership. The car was inspected in may 2021. There was no indication given at that time, that the subframe was rusting, could be a safety issue, and result in a replacement totaling over $5k. Once the information was provided during the recent service, I did research and found that this is an issue going back a few years. Some owner's have had this part break while driving causing a dangerous and potential life threatening situation. I then contacted mb customer advocacy to go over the issue and cost involved. I was advised that mb does not assist in repairing the vehicle. However, they would investigate and get back to me. I supplied information to them on 2/9/22 and am waiting for a response. I purchased this vehicle because of the quality of the brand, mb's reputation and longevity. I will not drive the car due to its diagnosis and other owner evidence that the subframe could potentially break while I am driving. It is unacceptable that a major structural component could fail on a vehicle of this age. This requires a recall of the subframe and mb's responsibility for the cost of the repairs.

Rear cross member sub frame rusted through and broke in half causing lack of control of the car when braking. It is very difficult to control the car at low speed (25mph or less) and would be virtually impossible at highway speed. Had this component failed under a highway speed situation, the loss of control could have resulted in loss of life and property. Component has been removed from vehicle and is available for inspection. Video of the removal available for review as well. Mercedes dealership was contacted. They were unwilling to discuss the failure and referred us to the corporate office who have not responded to calls. There were no indications that the part was in danger of failing. Car had passed inspection in November. After the failure we conducted research online and found that this is a common and known problem on this model car. It is time for it to be addresses. Under no circumstance should a car that is 8 years old have a structural component of that nature fail.

Component failure - broken rear cross member driver side. Total and complete failure and separation of rear mount from cross member due to corrosion of components. Passenger side rear cross member at same location found to be "near-failure" state at same location during replacement. (rear cross member is physically available for inspection and photos are also available). Overall condition of the cross member is excellent other than at the two locations where the mounts connect to the cross member which have extensive corrosion, rust thru and failure at driver's side. Safety - safety was put at risk as the car would pull to left when brakes were applied and it continued to get worse, fortunately we limped the car to a repair location before a fatal accident occurred. The worse part of this whole situation is that mercedes has encountered this issue before (per research on web sites) and has chosen to not address in the united states. Per research, they have recalled this issue in both the uk and canada as well as specific dealers in germany have reimbursed owners for repairs of this issue. This vehicle had recently been to the dealer for services and firestone for tires and alignment and nobody had noticed the severity of rust. Warning - no warning lamps, the only advance notice was the vehicle starting to pull toward the left which is what prompted us to seek out repair service. Once, the repair service (firestone) immediately saw the total failure of the mount disconnected from the subframe they immediately diagnosed the problem with the car pulling to the left.

While driving at low speed, there was a sudden imbalance in the steering wheel and the car started to pull to the right. The problem was more exaggerated while breaking with significant fishtailing. I immediately took the vehicle to mercedes-benz dealership who diagnosed the problem as severely rusted subframe with corrosion and structural instability especially near the rear passenger side wheel. The car is mercedes C300 4matic 2013. The incident happened on November 24, 2021. Mileage is 77,000 miles. Should I have waited longer, there was a very high probability of complete breakdown of the subframe which would result in rollover posing high risk of injury and death to the driver and other people on the road.

Vehicle subframe has rusted through and parts of left rear suspension components are free, and one is about to poke a hole in the fuel tank. The right side is about to do the same. Everyone’s safety is at high risk with this problem. The car abruptly pulls to the left when applying the brakes as well as causing the car to shimmy on the interstate. I took it to my mechanic who to. D me what has happened, and I had it towed to the mercedes dealership who confirmed the problem. When you search the internet you find a highly alarming number of people who have this same problem on 2009-2014 C300 models please do something before someone gets killed.

The subframe rotted out causing the lower control arm bracket to detach from the frame. This has caused loss of control of the back left wheel and causes the car to shake and swerve when braking. This exact issue has led to recall in canada. First noticed due to a squeaking and clunking sound. Later on the same day, I pressed the brakes on the highway and felt the described shaking/swerving. My mechanic has let me know that the car is now un-drivable due to the safety issue this causes. One of the rear subframe’s main purposes is to absorb and disperse impact. Not only have I entirely lost control of the rear left, but any crash that this could have led to could have been significantly more dangerous due to the failed subframe. As stated prior, this exact issue has led to recall in canada and I believe that it should lead to recall in the USA as well.

The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes Benz C300. The contact stated that while driving at highway speeds and depressing the brake pedal, the rear of the vehicle started fishtailing with extreme vibration making the vehicle very unstable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who discovered the rear passenger’s side subframe was severely rusted causing a section near the rear passenger’s side wheel detach. The cause of the corrosion was not determined. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 107,500.