YearToAvoid

2013 Mercedes-Benz C300 Structure & Body Problems

NHTSA lists 58 Structure & Body complaints for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300, 22% of that year's 259 total complaints. The dominant pattern is rear subframe corrosion, with median mileage at failure of 80,000 miles. No related recall is listed in this data.

Structure & Body complaints
58
22% of 259
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
80,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical body and structure symptoms owners report

  • Rear subframe rusts through, sometimes breaking apart, letting the control arm detach from the frame.
  • Vehicle fishtails, shakes, or vibrates at highway speed when braking, traced by mechanics to a corroded subframe.
  • Car pulls to one side or the steering wheel feels unbalanced at low speed, later linked to subframe corrosion.
  • Driver-side interior door handle breaks, trapping the occupant inside the car.
  • Owners report clunking or knocking sounds and abnormal vibration before a dealer finds a rusted-through subframe.

When 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300 body and structure complaints were filed

First complaint Sep 16, 2019, latest Aug 17, 2026.

2013 Mercedes-Benz C300 structure & body complaints: complaints filed per month8Sep 2019Oct 2021Mar 2022Jul 2022Nov 2022May 2023Mar 2024Aug 2025
58 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2019 to Aug 2026; peak Jan 2023 (8).

Structure & Body recalls for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Structure & Body complaints by C300 model year

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

  1. 201039 (9%)
  2. 201153 (11%)
  3. 201254 (20%)
  4. 201358 (22%)
  5. 201411 (12%)
  6. 201562 (16%)
  7. 201629 (10%)
  8. 201724 (11%)
  9. 201815 (15%)
  10. 20197 (10%)
  11. 20206 (18%)
  12. 20210 (0%)
  13. 20222 (8%)
  14. 20231 (5%)
  15. 20241 (9%)
  16. 20251 (25%)

Frequently asked questions

How many Structure & Body complaints does NHTSA list for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300?
NHTSA lists 58 Structure & Body complaints for the 2013 C300, which is 22% of the 259 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300 subframe rust issue?
The data shows no related recall listed for this problem area on the 2013 C300, even though several owners mention a similar recall existing in Canada.
At what mileage does the subframe problem typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for Structure & Body complaints on the 2013 C300 is 80,000 miles.
How does the 2013 C300 compare to other years for this problem?
The 2013 C300 has a 22% share of complaints in this area, higher than most other model years listed, though 2015 has more raw complaints at 62 with a 16% share.

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.