This page covers 4 recalls, 26 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz C350.
20 mpg combined
11.8 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.
Airbag complaints dominate the 2011 Mercedes-Benz C350 owner report set, accounting for the large majority of the 26 complaints filed. Most of those reports don't describe a specific airbag malfunction but appear tied to owner awareness of an airbag-related safety campaign, rather than a spontaneous failure owners experienced while driving. The fuel system is the clearest area where owners describe an actual symptom: several report a strong gasoline smell, particularly noticeable when the tank is full and fading as the fuel level drops. Owners in that group also describe check engine lights triggered by small-leak diagnostic codes, and at least one report involves a cracked fuel pump flange that caused fuel to leak after filling the tank.
26
Total Complaints
2
Fire-Related
By System
The 2011 Mercedes-Benz C350 has 4 recalls, the most serious being faulty airbag inflators on both the driver and passenger sides that can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin, causing serious injury or death.
All three airbag recalls stem from the same class of defect: the frontal inflator modules can explode rather than deploy cleanly, turning internal components into projectiles that can strike the driver, front passenger, or rear occupants. Prior repair attempts did not fully resolve the issue for all affected vehicles, which is why multiple recall campaigns exist for this same problem. If you are unsure whether a prior repair was completed on your specific vehicle, checking the VIN against current open recalls is the best way to confirm. On the exterior, a poor electrical ground connection can cause the tail lights to dim or go dark entirely, making it harder for drivers behind to see braking or turning signals and raising the risk of a rear-end collision.
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.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag module at no cost.
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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 →
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.
At a glance
What can fail
A weak electrical ground connection may cause tail lights to dim or stop working.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace bulb holders if needed and fix corroded connectors at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
