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Mercedes-Benz C350Model year report

2009 Mercedes-Benz C350 Problems

Compared with other Mercedes-Benz C350 years

Typical for this model

62/100 1.3× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2011, 2012

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
65filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
59,100miles, 36 complaints with mileage
Recalls
7campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
20 mpgcombined, 3.5L 6-cyl RWD · 17 city / 25 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C350 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2009 C350 most often report two things: how the long-running Takata air bag recalls were handled (many say parts were unavailable for months or years), and failures of the electronic steering lock that leave the car unable to start. A separate, recurring thread concerns the front and rear lamp wiring and bulb housings, described as overheating, corroding or melting. Reports appear from very low mileage up to well past 100,000 miles, so the year is not a low-mileage-only concern.

  1. Air bags

    Air bag recall parts unavailable for long periods

    • 23 complaints (35%)
    • median 60,000 mi at 7.4 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2015–2018

    Owners describe receiving recall notices for the driver and passenger front air bag inflators and then being unable to get the repair done. They say dealers told them the replacement parts were not yet available and that they would be contacted later, with waits described as many months to a couple of years. Some report paying for an SRS control unit repair before a related recall was announced and asking about reimbursement. Reports cluster in 2016-2018 filings and appear at a wide spread of mileage, from under 45,000 miles to over 90,000.

    Recall 16V081000Recall 16V363000Recall 17V017000Recall 18V043000Recall 15V7110002 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask the dealer to run the VIN against open air bag campaigns and to confirm in writing whether the inflator and SRS control unit work has actually been completed, not just scheduled.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Takata recall - we have called alex rodriguez mercedes over 5 times and have taken this vehicle to their service department numerous time. Have asked each time about the recall and replacement of the takata airbags. We get the same answer every time-' as soon as we get the replacement we will call you in to replace. We don't have the supplies right now. ' very frustrating!!”

    NHTSA complaint #11139535, filed 2018-10

    “Takata recall what purpose does this recall serve if the manufacturer still does not have a remedy available? I have 3 benz's, all affected by this recall and for over 1 year the dealer cannot repair due to no remedy yet avail . So in the meantime, we should drive and pray that something tragic does not occur?”

    NHTSA complaint #11044223, filed 2017-11
  2. Steering

    Car won't start, steering lock or ignition switch

    • 19 complaints (29%)
    • median 78,964 mi at 6.9 yrs old (15 state mileage)
    • owner-quoted repair $1,200 (median of 7 quotes)
    • filed 2014–2025

    Owners describe the car refusing to start after being parked, often with dash lights, radio and door locks working but no crank and a message to remove the key. In many accounts the steering wheel and transmission stay locked, and the car has to be towed. Dealers or shops diagnosed a failed steering lock, electronic steering control module or electronic ignition switch, with repair quotes commonly in the four-figure range. Reported from roughly 30,000 to 150,000 miles, frequently after the car sat parked for a short time or overnight.

    What to check: Start the car several times from cold and after a short stop, watch for the remove-key message, and ask whether the steering lock or ignition switch has ever been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Car steering lock is broken: parked on a hill facing uphill and when I got back in my car I couldn't start my engine. Lights, radio, display all work fine, but the engine doesn't turn on. Windows, horn, blinkers are all locked. Had to get it towed, diagnosed with steering lock failure. Apparently is a common problem with mercedes of my make and model.”

    NHTSA complaint #10749486, filed 2015-08, 78,964 miles

    “Parked my vehicle in my garage for week 80,000 miles on vehicle. Tried to start car only remove keys light on dash and all electronics work. Mercedes tow says not battery but steering or ignition component are out! This is looking like a common problem please help because the dealers are wanting thousand or more to replace.”

    NHTSA complaint #10816664, filed 2015-12, 80,000 miles
  3. Exterior lighting

    Lamp wiring and bulb housings overheating

    • 15 complaints (23%)
    • median 48,000 mi at 5.3 yrs old (13 state mileage)
    • filed 2013–2017

    Complaints describe bulbs burning out repeatedly, tail light and turn signal failures, and a burning plastic smell. Owners who opened the lamp housings report scorched or frayed wire insulation, corroded sockets and burn marks at the connectors, and describe being told a full lamp unit was needed. Several link this to headlights staying on and draining the battery. Mostly reported between roughly 30,000 and 90,000 miles, often after several years of repeat bulb replacements.

    Recall 14V1770004 related service bulletins

    What to check: Check that all tail, brake and turn signal lamps work, look for brown or melted connectors inside the lamp housings, and ask whether the tail light ground recall work was performed.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My tail lights started to going in and out. When I went to check the bulbs all bulbs are good and there is burn marks on the casing hold in the bulb and wiring for the passenger side tail lights. There is a short in the tail light wiring.”

    NHTSA complaint #10556792, filed 2013-12, 61,000 miles

    “A dashboard warning indicator came on, indicating my right rear tail light was not functioning. I opened up the trunk, and located the harness that holds the rear tail light bulbs. There was a burn mark in the harness that holds the light bulbs. I took the car to my dealership, and they told me the wiring shorted out, and it needs replaced. I have the pdf file that the dealer sent me indicating this is what happened.... There is an outstanding nhtsb complaint filed already... …”

    NHTSA complaint #10546745, filed 2013-10, 34,000 miles

Buying note. On a 2009 C350, the practical checks are paperwork and a lift inspection: confirm which open air bag and tail light campaigns have actually been completed, verify the car starts reliably, and have the rear subframe and brake lines inspected for rust before agreeing on a price.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 57 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 65 consumer complaints for the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C350. 36 of the complaints include a mileage, and 44% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 59,100 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns and 91 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 3 Mercedes-Benz C350 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 62 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (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: Seat belts (1), Body and structure (1), Suspension (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “Takata recalls, the vehicle steering lock module gave out and the dealership has stop selling the parts for this due to this current unresolved recall having customer go to the dealership for service which is unfair due to extra cost so my vehicle is unable to be driven at all.”

NHTSA complaint #10993492, filed 2017-06, 91,000 miles

Steering: “My car is a 2009 with 33,200 miles on it and the eis/esl (steering lock) failed. I had to pay $1800 for the dealer to fix it. How does a car with so little mileage has a major problem like this? There should be a recall. All the complaints on the same issue should warrant an investigation”

NHTSA complaint #10783769, filed 2015-10, 33,200 miles

Electrical system: “Complaint: c-class rear light melting issue. Rear bulb light fail error. Reporting a burning smell of melting plastic and failure of rear turn signals and brake lights. I went out on the internet and saw I wasn't the only one this happened to and that the u.s. Safety regulators have opened a probe of an estimated 218,000 mercedes c-class sedans have been reported. I called the Mercedes-Benz of seattle and everyone that I tried to talk to about this problem didn't acknowledge it at all. …”

NHTSA complaint #10565536, filed 2014-02, 30,545 miles

Exterior lighting: “2 years ago manager told me the wiring of the head lamps was melting but he can only replace the whole unit( both). I told him that a car with 30000 mils this should not be happening. Nothing he can do. The car has started to burn on the inside , smoke comes out of the engine. Car transports children. To and from school. Eery other onth lamps burn out, happening since the car was new. Finally went to shop again today and they put it on paper. Wire coating falling apart, causes burn out of lamps. This is a huge danger and should be recalled not paid by user. …”

NHTSA complaint #11016312, filed 2017-08, 30,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

44% of the 36 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 35,000 and 80,000 miles.

8%0–100%10–2536%25–5022%50–7522%75–1008%100–1503%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (36 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 59,100 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

20132015201720201920232025
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 2009 Mercedes-Benz C350. 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 RWD/AWDnot rated4 / 4——4 · 10.5% risk

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

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

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2009 Mercedes-Benz C350 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
C350 RWD3.5L 6-cyl7-speed automatic172520$4,100

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

See all 7 recalls for the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C350 → · 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. 91 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 91 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz C350

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2015617,2504423—Not enough data
20141360,0004523—Not enough data
20132165,5006523—Falling
20123555,0005—2233 · FewerFalling
20112652,861442029 · FewerFalling
20101899,0604—20—Rising
20096559,1007—2062 · TypicalRising
200814470,0006—20100 · MoreFalling
2007690,8005—21—Not enough data
20062371,0005—21—Falling

All Mercedes-Benz C350 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C350?

Owners of the 2009 C350 most often report two things: how the long-running Takata air bag recalls were handled (many say parts were unavailable for months or years), and failures of the electronic steering lock that leave the car unable to start. The issues reported most often: Air bag recall parts unavailable for long periods; Car won't start, steering lock or ignition switch; Lamp wiring and bulb housings overheating.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C350 have?

NHTSA recorded 65 consumer complaints for the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C350 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C350 is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 25 complaints (38% of the total), followed by steering with 20.

Has the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C350 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C350 get?

The EPA rates the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C350 (C350, 3.5L 6-cyl) at 20 mpg combined, 17 city and 25 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,100 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C350 reported?

Among the 36 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 59,100 miles and the middle half falls between 35,000 and 80,000 miles; 44% 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.