Suspension complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that approximately every 6-8 months, the vehicle sputtered while driving at various speeds or while idling. The contact stated that a month after the first failure had occurred, the front end of the vehicle lowered as if the shocks or hydraulic system had failed. The failure had occurred 3 times within a year and a half. The contact stated that after the second failure, the entire vehicle lowered several inches, and at the third failure, only the front end of the vehicle was lowered. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the hydraulic pump and the connections from the shocks to the hydraulic pump had failed. The failure reoccurred approximately 8 months later. The vehicle was returned to the dealer who diagnosed the same failure and completed the same repairs. …
The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to an independent mechanic for a routine maintenance check, the contact was informed that there was severe corrosion on the subframe of the vehicle. The contact was informed that the vehicle was unsafe to drive and that several failures might occur due to the failure. The contact stated that recently, while depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle swerved, and the contact lost control of the vehicle. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that there was a warranty on the vehicle related to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was informed that the vehicle was no longer covered under the warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
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. …
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. …
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while his wife was driving approximately 30 mph, she was depressing the brake pedal and the rear side of the vehicle shifted to the left independently, causing to impact with another vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated no one was injured nor sought medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was drivable and the driver was able to continue driving to her destination. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed the sub frame was corroded. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph when they attempted to apply the brake pedal but the vehicle failed to stop and emitted a rumbling noise. The contact stated the vehicle's rear end had swerved causing them to use excessive force in order to avoid a crash. The contact was able to maneuver the vehicle to the side of the road where they waited before continuing driving. There were no warning lights. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who diagnosed that the rear subframe on the driver's side had severe rust and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.
I ran off the road and my rear suspension sub frame literally broke in half. Upon further research I've learned that these parts are faulty and several people have had theirs rust completely in two. Mine had lots of rust damage and that is likely what caused the damage to mine when I ran off the road (MINOR impact that should have never caused that much damage). Mercedes has recalled this part in several countries including Germany and Canada. When I drove home after running off the road my car was nearly impossible to drive. It was jerking all over the road and when I tapped the brakes the rear end of the car would come up off of the road (into the air)! This was in June. It's now September and I still have not been able to obtain a part from Mercedes. So many people are having this issue with their vehicles that the part is on back order until Q1 of 2023. …
The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, there was an abnormally loud sound from the rear of the vehicle. The contact lost control of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to continue normal driving once he regained control of the vehicle. The contact scheduled an appointment with an independent mechanic for the vehicle to be inspected. The contact was informed that the rear subframe had detached from the passenger's side of the vehicle due to severe corrosion. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed him that there were no recalls related to the failure on his vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000.
Frequently asked questions
Which Mercedes-Benz C300 years have suspension problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2012 (69), 2013 (67), 2011 (60), 2009 (36) and 2010 (26) model years. Suspension complaints make up 26% of all complaints for the 2012.
Is there a recall for Mercedes-Benz C300 suspension problems?
No. NHTSA lists no suspension recall for any Mercedes-Benz C300 model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Mercedes-Benz C300 suspension problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 97,000 miles; 10% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the subframe/mounting bracket (16 mentions), followed by the rear (2).
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.