NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breaking down after prolonged exposure to high humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
This page covers 5 recalls, 453 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300.
21 mpg combined
11.2 L/100km
Compact Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 3 tested variants for this model year.
Airbag warnings dominate the complaint picture for the 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300, accounting for the largest share of owner reports by a wide margin. Owners frequently describe the airbag warning light illuminating and staying on, often without a clear triggering event, and several reports tie this to broader electrical issues including battery drain, alternator problems, and the check engine light appearing alongside the airbag alert. Steering complaints make up the second-largest named category, though the narratives are less detailed. A recurring structural theme involves rear subframe corrosion, with multiple owners describing the deterioration as severe enough to snap lower control arms and cause uneven tire wear. A handful of reports also mention exterior lighting irregularities, including fog lights being activated instead of turn signals.
453
Total Complaints
17
Crash-Related
5
Fire-Related
12
With Injuries
By System
The 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300 has 5 recalls, the most serious being a Takata airbag inflator defect affecting both the driver and passenger sides, where the inflators can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin, risking serious injury or death.
The driver and passenger frontal airbag inflator recalls describe the same underlying hazard: propellant inside the inflator can degrade and cause a violent explosion during airbag deployment, breaking the inflator housing into sharp metal shards that can strike anyone in the front of the vehicle. Some filings under this recall are geographically scoped to high-humidity states, where elevated heat and moisture accelerate the inflator degradation, though the physical danger is the same regardless of region.
The fifth recall involves a software issue in the airbag control system. A fault in the software can prevent the airbags from deploying as intended during a crash, which removes a key layer of protection at the moment it is most needed and raises the risk of injury to front seat occupants. This recall covers a broad range of model years across many Mercedes-Benz vehicles, and the 2010 C300 falls within the affected population.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breaking down after prolonged exposure to high humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag module at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode during a crash. This can happen because the inflator's propellant degrades after prolonged exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace the passenger front air bag module at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Control unit software may be incorrect, potentially preventing airbags from deploying properly during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the control unit software at no cost to restore proper airbag deployment function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflators may rupture during a crash because the propellant inside degrades over time when exposed to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag modules at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver's front air bag inflator may build up excessive pressure and rupture when the air bag deploys.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver's front air bag module at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.