YearToAvoid

2013 Mercedes-Benz C300 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

60/100

#7 most-complained of 16 C300 years

The 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300 has a Complaint Index of 60 and ranks 7th worst of 16 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Airbags account for 38% of complaints, with 99 reports, 5 crashes and a median failure mileage of 68,031.

Complaints
259
Recalls
6
Crashes / fires
9 / 2
Injuries / deaths
7 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
22
19 city / 27 hwy

Top 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags99 (38%)
  2. Suspension, Wheels & Tires73 (28%)
  3. Structure & Body58 (22%)
  4. Steering26 (10%)
  5. Electrical System19 (7%)
  6. Other19 (7%)
  7. Brakes17 (7%)
  8. Engine15 (6%)
  9. Fuel System3 (1%)
  10. Transmission & Powertrain3 (1%)

What owners report

  • Frontal airbags fail to deploy in low and moderate speed crashes, including head-on and rear-end collisions.
  • Brakes reportedly fail to slow or stop the vehicle at low speed, leading to impacts with buildings or fences.
  • The engine compartment has caught fire while the vehicle was parked, with no cause determined by the dealer.
  • Owners report the rear suspension shifting sideways on its own while braking, causing a collision.
  • An electrical ground wire described as too thin has burned out a lamp carrier and related connectors, raising fire concerns.
  • One owner reported the vehicle accelerating unexpectedly on its own while exiting a garage, resulting in a crash.
2013 Mercedes-Benz C300 complaints: complaints filed per quarter312013 Q12014 Q42016 Q42018 Q32020 Q12021 Q42023 Q22025 Q1
335 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2013 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2022 Q3 (31).

2013 Mercedes-Benz C300 recalls

6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 19V787000Nov 1, 2019Other24,226 vehiclesOver-the-air fix

    Communication

    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. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V787-4620.pdf

    Risk: An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.

    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. The recall began December 23, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019120008.

  2. NHTSA 19V010000Jan 9, 2019Airbags288,779 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    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 Coupe, 2014-2017 E550 Cabrio, and 2014-2016 E550 Coupe vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally, MBUSA is recalling certain 2012-2014 C250, E350 4Matic Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2011 C300, 2011-2014 C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, SLS AMG Coupe, 2015-2016 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400 Coupe, 2011-2016 E550 Cabrio, E550 Coupe, 2011-2015 GLK350 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, and 2013-2015 GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic vehicles ever registered in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." MBUSA is also recalling certain 2012-2014 C250, E350 4Matic Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2010-2011 C300, 2010-2014 C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 Coupe, 2011-2014 E350 Cabrio, SLS AMG Coupe, 2015-2016 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400 Coupe, 2016-2017 E550 Cabrio, 2010-2016 E550 Coupe, 2010-2015 GLK350 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, and 2013-2015 GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic vehicles ever registered in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MO, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    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.

  3. NHTSA 18V043000Jan 10, 2018Airbags132,167 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013 C250, C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe 4Matic, C300 4Matic, C350, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG, C63 Coupe, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, E550 Cabrio, E350 Coupe 4Matic, E550 Coupe, GLK350 4Matic, GLK250 Bluetec 4Matic, GLK350, SLS Coupe, SLS AMG GT Coupe, and SLS Roadster vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, MBUSA is recalling certain 2010 C300, C300 4Matic, C63 AMG, E350 Coupe, E550 Coupe, GLK350, and GLK350 4Matic vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." MBUSA is also recalling certain 2009 C300, C300 4Matic, C63 AMG, and C350 vehicles ever registered in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MO, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI and WY or "Zone C." In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. Mercedes issued an interim notification to owners on February 23, 2018. A second notice will be mailed when remedy parts are available. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.

See all 6 recalls for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300 →

2013 Mercedes-Benz C300 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19 MPG
Highway
27 MPG
Combined
22 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,650
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2013 compared with other C300 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2011Avoid100480620
2012Caution67266620
2013Caution60259622
2014Caution5394522
2015Avoid873811127.5

All Mercedes-Benz C300 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2013 C300 carries a Complaint Index of 60 and a Caution verdict, ranking 7th worst among 16 model years of the C300.
What is the biggest problem with the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300?
Airbags are the top problem area, making up 38% of complaints (99 reports), including 5 crashes where airbags failed to deploy, at a median mileage of 68,031.
Does the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300 have recalls?
NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2013 C300, covering airbags, steering, electrical software, and an eCall date/time software fault. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2013 C300 compare to other years?
The 2013 model's Complaint Index of 60 is better than the 2010 and 2011 models (93 and 100, both rated Avoid) but worse than the 2018-2024 models, which score 47 or lower and are rated Good or Best.
What fuel economy does the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300 get?
The EPA rates the 2013 C300 at 22 mpg combined (19 city / 27 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,650.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.