AI Damage2013 Mercedes-Benz C250: common problems
Owners of the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C250 filed 278 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and engine. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 278
- involving a crash
- 14
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 59% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 17% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel/propulsion system 9% of all complaints
- 4 Steering 7% of all complaints
- 5 Electrical system 5% of all complaints
- 6 Powertrain 5% of all complaints
- 7 Structure 4% of all complaints
- 8 Fuel system 2% of all complaints
- Air bags: 163 complaints (59% of all), 12 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine: 46 complaints (17% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 24 complaints (9% of all).
- Steering: 19 complaints (7% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 14 complaints (5% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 278 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 163 | 12 | 0 |
| Engine | 46 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 24 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 19 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 3 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Airbags didnât deploy during accident, vehicle hit on drivers side, greatly impacted, driver seatbelt was on. All recalls were completed. Impact from other vehicle that hit my vehicle had deployed airbags.
I have been having constant issues with the steering and airbag lights going on. I was also in a bad rear end wreck in 2016 and the airbags did not deploy. I have been calling santander consumers about the issue and they don't care and are still making me pay my more.
The contact stated that the passenger air bag warning indicator was illuminated. On one occasion, while the contact's vehicle was stopped, another vehicle crashed into its rear driver's side. The contact stated that the headrests detached due to the impact. The air bags did not deploy.
Turning into a parking space today, my car brakes failed. I could not stop my vehicle even when I pressed down completely on the pedal. I ended up jumping the parking space "curb/stopper" and hit a light post. I have never experienced this prior but it was extremely frightening.
Involved in a rear end collision, which tripped all airbag & seat belt sensors. Including the rear seat belts, causing them to not lock in the event of a collision, rendering the rear seat to be unsafe for passengers. The car has been repaired except for the rear seat cushion.
Over the past few weeks Ive had instances where the car has power but wont crank, Ive had the SRS light come on the dash but after it starting it goes away.
Keeps no crank Steering lock Also sunroof water spouts are not working as they should they do no open to release water.
After I took possession, the check engine light came on. The car began running rough and showing hesitation. A scan immediately showed a camshaft position sensor fault, cylinder misfire, lean fuel condition, and oxygen sensor/emissions faults.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 1,458 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 4% most complained about).
On average one model year of the C250 has 145 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 278, above average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C250?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, engine, fuel/propulsion system. Total complaints: 278. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (10%), airbag warning light (5%), windows, sunroof (5%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C250?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C250 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2013 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.