YearToAvoid

2013 Mercedes-Benz C300 Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 15 engine complaints for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300, about 6% of its 259 total complaints for the year. Owners reported sudden stalling, unintended acceleration, and one engine fire; median mileage at failure was 24,000. No related recalls are listed.

Engine complaints
15
6% of 259
Crashes reported
4
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
24,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Engine stalls or shuts off unexpectedly while stopped or at low speed, sometimes with all dashboard warning lights on.
  • Vehicle accelerates on its own when the accelerator or brake pedal is depressed, in some cases leading to a crash.
  • Accelerator pedal becomes unresponsive or the throttle fails to react to driver input, occasionally paired with traction control warnings.
  • Engine compartment catches fire while the vehicle is parked, with no cause determined by the dealer.
  • Owners report camshaft and camshaft adjuster failures requiring replacement.
  • Reports of oil leaking into the vehicle's computer system, causing a total failure diagnosis.

When 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300 engine complaints were filed

First complaint Jan 29, 2013, latest Aug 15, 2025.

2013 Mercedes-Benz C300 engine complaints: complaints filed per month2Jan 2013Oct 2014Mar 2016Jun 2017Sep 2022Mar 2024Aug 2025
15 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2013 to Aug 2025; peak Dec 2015 (2).

Engine recalls for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by C300 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201016 (4%)
  2. 201114 (3%)
  3. 20126 (2%)
  4. 201315 (6%)
  5. 20145 (5%)
  6. 2015133 (35%)
  7. 201696 (34%)
  8. 201781 (38%)
  9. 201835 (35%)
  10. 201918 (26%)
  11. 20209 (27%)
  12. 20218 (57%)
  13. 20223 (12%)
  14. 20232 (9%)
  15. 20242 (18%)
  16. 20251 (25%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300 have?
NHTSA lists 15 engine complaints for the 2013 C300, which is about 6% of the 259 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300 engine?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the engine problem area on the 2013 C300.
At what mileage do 2013 C300 engine problems usually happen?
The median mileage at failure among reported engine complaints is 24,000 miles.
What kind of engine problems do 2013 C300 owners report?
Owners describe sudden stalling, unintended acceleration, unresponsive accelerator pedals, and one engine fire, along with reports of camshaft failures and oil leaking into the computer system.
Were there any crashes or injuries linked to 2013 C300 engine complaints?
Across the engine problem area, NHTSA data shows 4 crashes, 1 fire, and 2 injuries.

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.