2014 Mercedes-Benz C300 Problems & Complaints

Better than average75% fewer complaints than a typical year of the C300 at the same age

Owners have filed 94 complaints about the 2014 Mercedes-Benz C300 with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is 75% fewer than a typical C300 model year at the same age, making the 2014 one of the better C300 years. The most reported problem area is the air bags (52 complaints, typically around 27,000 miles). 5 recalls cover this model year.

94complaints
5recalls
6crashes
0fires
5injuries
0deaths

Most common 2014 Mercedes-Benz C300 problems

  • Air bags~27,000 miles
    5255%
  • Steering~48,000 miles
    1314%
  • Suspension~2,000 miles
    1112%
  • Electrical system~65,000 miles
    910%
  • Body & structure~52,000 miles
    910%
  • Other / not specified~11,000 miles
    89%
  • Wheels & tires~1,000 miles
    33%
  • Speed control & acceleration~34,000 miles
    33%
  • Brakes
    22%
  • Seats
    22%
  • Engine & cooling
    22%
  • Transmission & drivetrain~0 miles
    11%
  • Windows, wipers & sunroof~16,000 miles
    11%
  • Locks & latches~52,000 miles
    11%
  • Fuel & propulsion system
    11%

Share of the 94 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Mercedes-Benz C300 complaints by model year

’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25672576453480266261943812892161116933152523144
Owner complaints per model year, Mercedes-Benz C300. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best C300 years: 2014, 2021, 2020. Years to avoid: 2009, 2008. Compare all years →

2014 Mercedes-Benz C300 recalls (5)

Communication

NHTSA recall 19V-787 · Nov 1, 2019 · 24,226 vehicles

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2017 vehicles due to a software fault that may cause the date and time for the emergency call system (eCall) to differ from the actual date and time, potentially relaying an inaccurate vehicle location.

Remedy: MBUSA has initiated an Over the Air (OTA) remote update. MBUSA will also notify owners, and dealers will check software for a successful OTA or update the communication module software as needed, free of charge.

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 19V-010 · Jan 9, 2019 · 288,779 vehicles

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2014 C250, C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 4Matic Coupe, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio, SLS AMG Coupe, 2014-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, GLK 350, GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, 2015-2017 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400…

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began March 29, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

Air bags › Frontal

NHTSA recall 17V-627 · Oct 6, 2017 · 495,290 vehicles

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling these vehicles: 2014-2018 CLA250, CLA250 4Matic, CLA45 AMG 4Matic, 2015-2018 GLA250, GLA250 4Matic, GLA45 AMG 4Matic, C300 4Matic, C63S AMG, 2012-2014 C250, C350, C300 4Matic, E550 4Matic, 2013-2014 C63 AMG, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2013-2015 C350 4Matic…

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will add sufficient grounding to the steering components, free of charge. The recall began in December 6, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.

Steering

NHTSA recall 17V-252 · Apr 12, 2017 · 168 vehicles

Mercedes-Benz USA LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2014 C250, C300 4MATIC, GLK250 4MATIC BLUETEC and GLK350 vehicles, 2013 C250 Coupe, C350, C350 4MATIC Coupe, C350 Coupe and C63 AMG Coupe vehicles, and 2013-2015 GLK350 4MATIC vehicles.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the steering coupling connecting bolt, tightening it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 2017.

Electrical system › Software

NHTSA recall 17V-177 · Mar 14, 2017 · 51 vehicles

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 AMG GT-S, GLC300, CLA250 and GLE300d 4Matic vehicles, 2013 C250, E350 BlueTec and G63 AMG vehicles, 2008-2014 C300 vehicles, 2013-2014 C300 4Matic and ML350 4Matic vehicles, 2009 C350 vehicles, 2014 CLS550, E350 4Matic, E350 Coupe 4Matic, E350 Wagon 4Matic, GLK350 and…

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update software in the affected control units, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2014 Mercedes-Benz C300:

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

NHTSA investigation EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021 · open

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.

What 2014 Mercedes-Benz C300 owners say

Air bags all 52 →

While I was driving my car the driver side airbag abruptly deployed. The airbag inadvertently deployed; the car did not crash into anything to cause the airbag to deploy. When the airbag erupted it caused injury to my head, face, hand, arm and wrist. I believe the airbag is defective because I have lacerations on my face possibly due to sharp objects ejecting from the airbag and the impact as well as excessive smoke and fumes emitted after the fact. I believe there might be a manufacturing defect in the airbag because it seemed as if it exploded with excessive force causing harm to myself as well as inadvertent eruption. There have been some recalls issued on the motor vehicle and I did take the vehicle to the Mercedes car dealership to get all of the recalls repaired, however this incident occurred after the repairs were made at the dealership.

Jun 2024

I received a notice several years ago for the airbag to be replaced due to a recall. Mercedes-Benz has not been able to remedy this issue for years. I have called for several years, but the Mercedes dealer near me continues to state that the airbag part is not available. I called Mercedes hotline [phone]) a month ago to report the issue. No one answered so I left a voicemail. I received no contact from them. I called last week 3 times in a row and finally someone answered. I opened a claim with them for the escalation team. They said I would receive a response in 48 hours. I received no response.

Dec 2022

Steering

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. The failure mileage was approximately 158,000.

158,000 miles · Oct 2024

While I was driving my car the driver side airbag abruptly deployed. The airbag inadvertently deployed; the car did not crash into anything to cause the airbag to deploy. When the airbag erupted it caused injury to my head, face, hand, arm and wrist. I believe the airbag is defective because I have lacerations on my face possibly due to sharp objects ejecting from the airbag and the impact as well as excessive smoke and fumes emitted after the fact. I believe there might be a manufacturing defect in the airbag because it seemed as if it exploded with excessive force causing harm to myself as well as inadvertent eruption. There have been some recalls issued on the motor vehicle and I did take the vehicle to the Mercedes car dealership to get all of the recalls repaired, however this incident occurred after the repairs were made at the dealership.

Jun 2024

Suspension

Failed component: The subframe on my Mercedes C300 broke on one side and was almost broken on the other. It would be available for inspection as it is sitting in the Mercedes dealer bone yard waiting on the part to be shipped from Germany around September 17th. It also ruined my back tires & now I have to replace them too. I understand that in the UK the Mercedes dealers are fixing this problem free of charge but there seems to be no recalls! Safety: I was entering the freeway on a rainy afternoon. My car was fishtailing very badly. At first I thought is was the highway itself as we had not had rain for quite some time. I tried to accelerate 4 or 5 times with the same fishtailing. I pulled off the busy freeway onto the shoulder & sat for a few minutes to collect my thoughts as I didn't know what was wrong. Then I drove very slowing to the next exit & a few more miles home. …

Aug 2022

Car has approximately 60,000. miles. Upon it's state inspection Mercedes Benz service center indicated rear subframe is rusted. Service advisory says it is okay now, but will need to be replaced. Searching Mercedes forums, I've noted this is a n oft reported issue. Many do not realize there is an issue until it breaks and car pulls to one side at rear upon braking. Others have experienced rusted brake lines at the same area as the subframe issue. Others have noted damage to the gas tank from suspension parts banging the fuel tank after it breaks. I realize this is a 8 year old vehicle. But the vehicle shows zero signs of rust on the undercarriage except for the subframe. Sure seems like a manufacturer's defect that should be recalled by Mercedes. Because of safety concerns, I now have to decide to repair or trade the car because of safety concerns. …

Jan 2023

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2014 Mercedes-Benz C300 a good car?

Based on 94 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2014 C300 rates better than average: 75% fewer complaints than a typical year of the C300 at the same age. It is one of the best C300 years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.

What is the most common problem with the 2014 Mercedes-Benz C300?

The air bags — 52 complaints, 55% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal › driver clockspring/spiral cassette. Next are the steering (13) and suspension (11).

How many recalls does the 2014 Mercedes-Benz C300 have?

There are 5 recalls for the 2014 Mercedes-Benz C300, the most recent from November 1, 2019 (communication). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.

What are the best and worst years of the Mercedes-Benz C300?

The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2014, 2021 and 2020. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2009 and 2008. See the full Mercedes-Benz C300 years comparison.

At what mileage do 2014 Mercedes-Benz C300 problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 27,000 miles; 81% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.