Representative model. Photo: OathOn, Wikimedia Commons, CC0

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2013 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 6
Park-it warnings: 0
Complaints: 575
Latest campaign: Aug 13, 2021

Recall summary by component6

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Latest	Campaign IDs
Air bags	4	Aug 13, 2021	21V638000 19V010000 18V043000 17V627000
Communication	1	Nov 1, 2019	19V787000
Steering	1	Apr 12, 2017	17V252000

Safety recalls6

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

0Park-it warnings

1Fixable over the air

Aug 13, 2021Latest campaign


Aug 13, 202121V638000	Air bags: frontal An incorrect air bag may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. DetailsHide details for campaign 21V638000 What's wrong Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2016 E400 Coupe, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2011-2014 E350 Coupe, and 2012-2014 E350 Cabrio vehicles. An incorrect front passenger air bag may have been installed during a prior repair. Risk An incorrect air bag may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Remedy Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag on the affected vehicles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 10, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. Campaign NHTSA 21V638000 · Aug 13, 2021
Nov 1, 201919V787000	Communication An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury. Over-the-air remedy DetailsHide details for campaign 19V787000 What's wrong 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. Campaign NHTSA 19V787000 · Nov 1, 2019
Jan 9, 201919V010000	Air bags: frontal passenger side An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. DetailsHide details for campaign 19V010000 What's wrong 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. Campaign NHTSA 19V010000 · Jan 9, 2019
Jan 10, 201818V043000	Air bags: frontal passenger side An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. DetailsHide details for campaign 18V043000 What's wrong 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. Campaign NHTSA 18V043000 · Jan 10, 2018
Oct 6, 201717V627000	Air bags: frontal If the driver air bag inadvertently deploys, it can increase the risk of injury and a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 17V627000 What's wrong 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 Coupe, GLK250 4Matic BlueTec, GLK350, GLK350 4Matic, 2016-2017 C350e, C43 AMG, 2015 C400 4Matic, 2016-2018 C63 AMG, GLC300, GLC300 4Matic, 2017-2018 C300 Coupe, C300 4Matic Coupe, C43 AMG, C63 AMG Coupe, C63S AMG Coupe, C300 Cabriolet, C300 4Matic Cabriolet, C43 AMG Cabriolet, C63 AMG Cabriolet, C63S AMG Cabriolet, GLC300 4Matic Coupe, GLC43 AMG, GLC43 AMG Coupe, 2014 E350 Coupe, E350 4Matic Coupe, E350 Cabriolet, E400 Hybrid, 2015-2017 E400 Coupe, E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabriolet, 2014-2017 E550 Coupe, E550 Cabriolet, B250e, 2014-2016 E250 BlueTec, E63 AMG 4Matic Wagon, 2012-2013 E350 BlueTec, 2012-2016 E350, E350 4Matic, 2015-2016 E400, E400 4Matic, 2012 E63 AMG, 2014-2015 E250 4Matic BlueTec, 2013-2016 E350 Wagon, 2017 GLC300d 4Matic, and 2018 GLC350e 4Matic. The driver's air bag may unexpectedly deploy due to insufficient grounding of the steering components if an electrostatic discharge occurs and the air bag clockspring is broken. Risk If the driver air bag inadvertently deploys, it can increase the risk of injury and a crash. 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. Campaign NHTSA 17V627000 · Oct 6, 2017
Apr 12, 201717V252000	Steering A loss of steering can increase the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 17V252000 What's wrong 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. The steering coupling connecting bolt may have been insufficiently tightened, possibly resulting in a loss of steering. Risk A loss of steering can increase the risk of a crash. 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. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. Campaign NHTSA 17V252000 · Apr 12, 2017

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Mercedes-Benz recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Owner complaints by component575

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

575Complaints filed

23Involving a crash

7Involving a fire

25Injuries reported

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Fires	Injuries
Air bags	286	50	17	2	20
Suspension	73	13	1	0	0
Structure	71	12	1	2	0
Engine	57	10	2	4	3
Steering	47	8	3	0	5
Unknown or other	38	7	0	2	0
Electrical system	35	6	0	2	0
Fuel/propulsion system	28	5	0	0	2
Service brakes	20	3	6	0	3
Power train	19	3	0	0	2
Vehicle speed control	12	2	4	0	2
Fuel system	6	1	0	0	0
Gasoline	6	1	0	0	0
Wheels	6	1	0	0	0
Electronic stability control (ESC)	6	1	1	0	1

9 more components with fewer complaints not shown. An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number.

Latest reports

Electrical system
“All of the lights in my rear driver side taillight stopped working. I had it looked at and there was oxidation at the ground connection which caused overheating and melted the plastic, leaving burn marks on the gray…”
Filed 10/09/2026 · ODI 11770173
Forward collision avoidance
“E brake mechanisms”
Filed 09/29/2026 · ODI 11767812
Air bags
“Airbags didn’t deploy during accident, vehicle hit on drivers side, greatly impacted, driver seatbelt was on. All recalls were completed. Impact from other vehicle that hit my vehicle had deployed airbags.”
Filed 09/19/2026 · ODI 11765519

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2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class recall questions

How many recalls does the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class have?

NHTSA lists 6 safety recall campaigns for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The most recent, 21V638000 (reported August 13, 2021), concerns air bags. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What are the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class recalls for?

The largest group is air bags, with 4 campaigns. Others: communication (1), steering (1). Each campaign below lists the defect, the risk and the free remedy.

What is the most common complaint about the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

Air bags is the most-reported component, named in 286 complaints out of 575 filed with NHTSA (50%). Across all complaints, owners reported 23 crashs and 7 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Mercedes-Benz recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer.

Check a specific Mercedes-Benz by VIN

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