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Mercedes-Benz C300Model year report

2014 Mercedes-Benz C300 Problems

Compared with other Mercedes-Benz C300 years

Fewer complaints than typical for this model

13/100 0.4× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
94filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
27,000miles, 21 complaints with mileage
Recalls
5campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
5 / 5stars overall, 2 rated versions
EPA fuel economy
22 mpgcombined, 3.5L 6-cyl 4WD · 19 city / 28 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2014 Mercedes-Benz C300 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2014 C300 most often write in about the Takata airbag recalls, typically about parts not being available to complete the repair, with many complaints filed years after the notice. Outside of recalls, the recurring themes are a rusted rear subframe found during routine service, an electronic steering lock or ignition fault that leaves the car unable to start with the steering column locked, and interior door handles that come loose and leave occupants unable to open the door from inside.

  1. Air bags

    Takata airbag recall parts unavailable

    • 50 complaints (53%)
    • median 31,000 mi at 3.9 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
    • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2017–2024

    Many owners say they received a recall notice for the passenger or driver frontal airbag and were told by dealers that the replacement part was not available, in some cases waiting years. A smaller number describe deployment without a crash, or airbags that did not deploy in a collision. Several also note they received little or no notice from the manufacturer and learned of the recall through bankruptcy mailings or online lookup. Reported across a wide mileage range, often on vehicles with relatively low mileage, and frequently many years after the recall was announced.

    Recall 19V010000Recall 17V6270001 related service bulletin

    What to check: Ask for written confirmation that both open airbag recalls were completed and check the VIN with a dealer for any outstanding campaign before purchase.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Takata recall. Consumers have been in a waiting period for a tragedy to happen with the srs . When will a solution be provided by the manufacturer and available to consumers? I do not want anything to happen to me or my family members because of a slow or no response in solving this srs problem. I do not need the money, but I do want to keep my health and life!!”

    NHTSA complaint #11100402, filed 2018-06, 35,000 miles

    “While in motion (driving) another driver turned in front of me, causing me to t-bone her (police report with description attached). I slammed on brakes to to lessen the unavoidable impact. I estimate my speed at 30-35 MPH. My airbags failed to deploy. My car was totaled, as was the other driver I hit. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11062682, filed 2018-01, 40,000 miles
  2. Suspension

    Rusted-through rear subframe

    • 15 complaints (16%)
    • typically at 9.2 yrs old
    • filed 2022–2025

    Owners describe rear subframe corrosion found during an oil change or state inspection, sometimes with a hole rusted through or a mounting point cracked. Several report the car pulling or fishtailing under braking once the subframe gives way, and that a shop then told them the car should not be driven. Complaints often mention that the rust started from the inside and that no warning light or message appeared beforehand. Mostly reported between roughly 60,000 and 80,000 miles, and on cars around eight or more years old.

    4 related service bulletins

    What to check: Have the rear subframe inspected from below for rust, especially around the mounting points, and ask whether the extended subframe warranty was ever used or applied for.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Rear subframe of vehicle is starting to become rotted/rusted out and may fall apart at any time. My Mother has the same body style car as me (2011 c300) & she was recently driving at around 60mph and all of the sudden, went to step on the brakes and the car swerved across the highway uncontrollably. She took it to a mechanic who said the car is not drivable and showed me how badly the subframe was destroyed. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11483657, filed 2022-09

    “My 2014 Mercedes C300 4matic currently has a rusted through rear subframe. I know this has been reported to your Bureau numerous times by various people. This affects all 2008-2014 C Class and E Class Mercedes (as I used to work for a Mercedes dealer). Mercedes is trying to avoid liability at the sheer cost and man hours required to replace these parts. This is a MAJOR safety hazard, and has caused numerous drivers to lose control of their vehicle when they do in fact break off at one of the weld joints. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11470521, filed 2022-06
  3. Steering

    Steering lock / ignition fault, no start

    • 11 complaints (12%)
    • median 56,291 mi at 6.7 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2018–2026

    Owners describe the car not cranking with the steering wheel locked, sometimes after the car was parked normally, and diagnosis of a failed electronic steering lock or ignition switch. Some report the steering wheel locking while driving and freeing up after a restart. Complaints mention long waits for the part and high repair quotes at the dealer. Reported from about 47,000 to 65,000 miles and also on higher-mileage cars; several owners describe it as an intermittent, no-warning event.

    Recall 17V252000

    What to check: Confirm the car starts reliably from cold and that the steering unlocks as expected, and ask whether the steering lock or ignition switch has been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “While driving on 95 highway taking an exit ( making a right turn roundabout) the steering wheel locked on me preventing me from continuing in the direction of the exit causing me to almost crash into the metal railings; because my wheels now where locked in a position that would force me to crash into the railings had I not stopped. I stopped and turn the car off and restart for the steering wheel and system to reset and unlock. This incident occurred around 2018 or 2019. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11386738, filed 2021-01, 65,000 miles

    “The car was stationary and when trying to start the steering was locked and ignition would not start. The car had the steering locked and electronic ignition switch spontaneously corrupted and required replacement.”

    NHTSA complaint #11287670, filed 2019-12, 47,582 miles
  4. Body and structure

    Interior door handle breaks, door won't open from inside

    Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

    Owners report the inner driver door handle or its linkage failing so the door cannot be opened from inside, sometimes leaving them to exit through the window or another door. Some describe the latch itself not releasing and the dealer recommending a full door replacement. Complaints note that repair kits exist but that dealer repair costs are high. Reported from around 51,000 to 61,000 miles, with no warning before the handle fails.

    What to check: Open and close each door from the inside several times and feel for a loose or soft handle before buying.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The driver's side door handle broke impossible to open door from inside if there was an accident. I have been told that this is a common problem with my car, and that it cost 1600.00 to replace repair at the dealer. This is such a common problem that there are after market kits to repair the broken handle for 20.00, but including labor the repair is $500.00.”

    NHTSA complaint #11551878, filed 2023-10

    “The driver's side interior door handle became disengaged as I was trying to open the door so I was momentarily trapped inside. If I had been in a situation where I had been in an accident and needed to get out quickly, or the car had been on fire, or I was stalled on the train tracks, this could have been a serious incident. When I googled this, it sounds like this is a very common occurrence in Mercedes. There was no warning that this was going to occur - everything seemed secure before this happened. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11597583, filed 2024-06

Buying note. Check the VIN with a dealer for completed airbag recalls and have the rear subframe inspected underneath before buying. A pre-purchase inspection that also tests door handles and the ignition and steering lock is worthwhile on this model year.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 94 consumer complaints for the 2014 Mercedes-Benz C300. 21 of the complaints include a mileage, and 81% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 27,000 miles. Of all complaints, 6 involved a crash, 5 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns and 103 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 13 Mercedes-Benz C300 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 13 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Wheels (2), Fuel system (1), Latches, locks and linkages (1), Tires (1), Transmission and drivetrain (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “Takata recall - I received notification in october 2017 tk holdings inc.'s chapter 11 bankruptcy. This was the first notification that I received that my 2014 mercedes C300 had a recall. The manufacturer and dealer never provided one. I looked up on-line regarding the recall and discovered my car is affected. I had scheduled services at the denver mercedes dealership on 12/28/17 and took in the documentation I had received/discovered on-line and asked my service rep about it. He told me that I needed to go on-line and register. That was it. …”

NHTSA complaint #11057644, filed 2017-12, 27,000 miles

Steering: “I was stopped in front of my garage (waiting for the door to go up). When I lightly pressed on the gas pedal to pull in, the engine roared and the car suddenly leaped forward at a very high rate of speed, going thru my detached garage wall. The accelerator pedal stuck and I could not get the car to stop. I have pulled into this garage thousands of times and knew this was the car. Slamming on the brakes could not stop the car because it was accelerating too quickly. Hitting the brick facade of the condominium, beyond the detached garage was the only thing that stopped the car. …”

NHTSA complaint #11091327, filed 2018-05, 45,785 miles

Suspension: “R/f tire bubble in sidewall. At 1959 miles a bubble appeared in the r/f tire. I discovered the bubble while washing the car . This appeared about two month after purchase. August 19 20014 the dealer relunctantly replace the tire. I have not seen any bubbles since that date. I am not satisfied with the continental tires.”

NHTSA complaint #10668400, filed 2014-12, 1,959 miles

Electrical system: “The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that an unidentified recall was previously completed on the vehicle; however, the recall remedy failed to prevent the failure from occurring. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the steering wheel locked. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the electronic steering lock and the TRP needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. …”

NHTSA complaint #11623763, filed 2024-11, 158,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

81% of the 21 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 11,000 and 45,785 miles.

19%0–1024%10–2538%25–5014%50–750%75–1000%100–1505%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (21 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 27,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

’14’16’1825’20’22’24’26
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2014 Mercedes-Benz C300. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
C-Class · sedan AWD★★★★★4 / 4554 · 10.5% risk
C-Class · sedan RWD★★★★★4 / 4554 · 10.5% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2014 model year: forward collision warning optional, lane departure warning not available, automatic emergency braking not available.

Neighbouring years: 2013: same overall rating; 2015: 4 stars overall. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2014 Mercedes-Benz C300 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
C300 4matic 4WD3.5L 6-cyl7-speed automatic192822$3,750
C300 4matic 4WD3.5L 6-cyl7-speed automatic202722$3,750
C300 4matic 4WD3.5L 6-cyl · flex-fuel7-speed automatic192622$3,750

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2014 Mercedes-Benz C300 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 103 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 103 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz C300

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
202411—3—30—Too new
2023223,9009—25—Too new
2022256,0009—2533 · FewerRising
20211486,0787527—Not enough data
20203328,7229—2542 · TypicalStable
20196922,62617—2547 · TypicalRising
20189950,0001852538 · TypicalRising
201721628,0001552677 · MoreRising
201629140,3001352872 · MoreRising
201538148,5001142886 · MoreStable
20149427,000552213 · FewerStable
201326280,000652239 · TypicalFalling
201226783,5006—2028 · FewerFalling
201148079,000642153 · TypicalFalling
201045365,3006—2166 · MoreFalling
200957670,0008—2184 · MoreFalling
200867278,8907—2169 · MoreStable

All Mercedes-Benz C300 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2014 Mercedes-Benz C300?

Owners of the 2014 C300 most often write in about the Takata airbag recalls, typically about parts not being available to complete the repair, with many complaints filed years after the notice. The issues reported most often: Takata airbag recall parts unavailable; Rusted-through rear subframe; Steering lock / ignition fault, no start.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2014 Mercedes-Benz C300 have?

NHTSA recorded 94 consumer complaints for the 2014 Mercedes-Benz C300 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2014 Mercedes-Benz C300 is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 52 complaints (55% of the total), followed by steering with 13.

Has the 2014 Mercedes-Benz C300 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2014 Mercedes-Benz C300 do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2014 Mercedes-Benz C300 5 out of 5 stars overall, across 2 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2014 Mercedes-Benz C300 get?

The EPA rates the 2014 Mercedes-Benz C300 (C300 4matic, 3.5L 6-cyl) at 22 mpg combined, 19 city and 28 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,750 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2014 Mercedes-Benz C300 reported?

Among the 21 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 27,000 miles and the middle half falls between 11,000 and 45,785 miles; 81% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.