2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class problems and recalls

50% of owner complaints on the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class related to the Air Bags (286 of 574).

574
Complaints
0
Recalls
23
Crash reports
7
Fire reports
25
Injuries
58.6
Severity index

Severity index 58.6 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 58.6p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 85 of 145 by severity index among 2013 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 41% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2013 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Air BagsAir Bags: 286 complaints (49.8%)286 50%SuspensionSuspension: 73 complaints (12.7%)73 13%StructureStructure: 71 complaints (12.4%)71 12%EngineEngine: 57 complaints (9.9%)57 10%SteeringSteering: 47 complaints (8.2%)47 8%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 38 complaints (6.6%)38 7%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 34 complaints (5.9%)34 6%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 28 complaints (4.9%)28 5%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
AIR BAGS28649.8%
SUSPENSION7312.7%
STRUCTURE7112.4%
ENGINE579.9%
STEERING478.2%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER386.6%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM345.9%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM284.9%

Complaints filed per year

0651302012: 12013: 82014: 142015: 102016: 92017: 452018: 1262019: 1082020: 622021: 262022: 822023: 382024: 172025: 202026: 8 (partial year)121314151617181261920212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20121
20138
201414
201510
20169
201745
2018126
2019108
202062
202126
202282
202338
202417
202520
2026 (year to date)8
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.4x those in 2020 to 2022 (75 against 170).

Other Mercedes-Benz C-Class model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 13 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-10-01. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.