2013 Mercedes-Benz C250: doors won't lock, open or latch

Filed Sep 6, 2022 · Body · AZ

The interior driver side door handle broke and I was trapped inside my vehicle. Upon checking with the local Mercedes-Benz repair shop, this is a known problem with this type of vehicle and the design of the door handle is prone to this kind of a problem. As of now, the contact has stated that their current solution for the issue is to roll down the window and open the door with the exterior handle.

Filed Jul 3, 2022 · CA

The door handle on the driver side stopped opening. I believe it became broken on the inside. Upon researching it I found that this is a recurring problem in many cars of my same make and model. Additionally I took the car to a mechanic to be fixed and apparently the dealerships are keeping the part in stock because this is a common issue. The car will not open from the inside without purchasing an entire new panel to repair it. This seems like a recall issue as a present safety concerns. This cost over $1200 to repair.

Filed Jan 13, 2019 · Body · FL

Drove up to destination placed the car in park and turned off ignition when I then reached for the door handle and was unable to open the door. Drivers door latch/ handle broke and unable to open door to get out of car. I took vehicle to dealership and they stated it was not a recall and not a safety concern and I would have to replace the door which they quoted me $1000.00 (labor/door). This is a safety concern when you cannot open the door with window up. Dealer stated the part has 2 year warranty and there was no assurance that it could happen again nor if the other doors latch/handle will break as well.

Filed Oct 20, 2018 · Body · PR

The inside driver's door handle to open the car broke. It doesn't open and thought was easy to fix. Took it to the dealer and told me it cost a $1,000.00 because need a new panel. Unacceptable. Looking in internet, figure out that I'm not the only one with this problem. There's a lot of cars in u.s. This represent a serious life threatening because in case of accident involving fire you can't open the driver's door from the inside and have to open the electric window to use the outside handle (yes, it open from the outside!) if the car is without power in an accident, you can loose your life if fire is involve. You simply are trapped and the only option is breaking the window. I wrote to daimler, mb u.s.a. And garaje isla verde (official dealer in puerto rico), and it just cost $1,000.00. Mb u.s.a. Referred the case to garaje isla verde but they threat me like...nothing ever happened. Ok, I took the car and start searching in internet. Surprisingly, many people have the same problem! Then I thought to write because this is not simply a matter of money, also is a matter of threatening. This is my wife's car. We took the car there for looking for the cost of fixing that, price of fixing a crash at back bumper and for general inspections. We left the car september 11. We called after 2 weeks. I picked the car october 19. The safety matter concerns to you, not with my car, but with all the cars in the nation. Make an investigation about that and decide if it proceed. My best regards and thanks. [xxx] retired customer service manager I don't know if you have a similar complaint. I just did my part. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Sep 21, 2018 · CA

Door panel: my drivers side interior door handle will not open the door. The mechanism behind the door has broken. My mechanic stated the entire door panel requires replacement. I spoke with mercedes and they will not cover the cost and this is a tremendous safety concern. I see through my searches this is known problem with this vehicle and I would like to know why mercedes benz corporation is not standing behind this design flaw. I bet if people were dying or died from this safety flaw it would be handled immediately with settlements outside the courts and away from the public eye. Where is the accountability for there product?

Filed Jun 27, 2018 · Body · LA

The driver door handle is broken, and we had the part on order since 11/7/2017 year, we can not get out of the car, only when we roll down the window. If there is an accident there is no way of escaping.

Filed May 15, 2018 · Body · 74,000 miles · LA

On may 13, 2018, my driver's side door handle would not open. I had been driving and went to exit the vehicle and could not get out. I panicked that I could not exit. I had to start the car to roll down the window and to open drivers door from outside. I took it in for service repair and notified the plastic handle broke away inside the door panel. Told it would be 6-12 months or longer wait time to receive replacement door panel. Mercedes benz does not just sell a handle replacement and have to purchase the whole interior door trim.

Filed May 13, 2018 · 138,500 miles · CA

Problem: I'm unable to open my driver door from the inside. I have to roll down my window to open my driver door. How did this happen? I opened my car door. When I got back on the inside door handle was loose. Contact with dealer: I went to the dealer to rectify problem. They told me I had to replace my interior door panel - which I have no issue with. However, the service advisor told me that location did not have the panel I needed and mercedes was no longer making the part for this 2013 vehicle. He told me their were only 3 interior panels in california. 1 in san diego and 2 in sacramento. I called both locations. All were on hold for other customers. I bought this car in 2013. Brand new. I now have 138,000 miles on it - that I alone put on the vehicle. I do not feel safe driving a vehicle where I can I open the driver door from the inside. In addition, to be informed that mercedes is no longer making a part for a 2013 vehicle is unacceptable. When people get in accidents, how is the panel replaced. I went online and saw similar complaints about this issue. I don't have a problem paying for an interior door panel. I just want to be able to feel safe and have the ability to open my driver door from the insidez

Filed Jan 28, 2018 · Body · 63,000 miles · WA

The interior door latch broke, keeping the driver from opening the door and safely exiting the vehicle. This is a known defect in many mercedes benz vehicles where the inside of the door latch snaps off inside the door. To exit the vehicle, the driver must lower the window and open the door from the outside.

Filed Nov 29, 2017 · Body · 28,000 miles · FL

Inside drivers door handle broke at the attach point to cable. On inspection found that handle is manufactured in such a way that it does not have enough material in the body of the joint to maintain integrity for such a high use item. This presents a danger as the handle will fail and could fail in a dangerous situation, trapping the driver in the car.

Filed Aug 23, 2017 · 66,790 miles · CA

Drivers side door handle became disengaged from cable. I could not open the door from the inside of the car. This incident did not immediately affect my safety, but I am reporting this issue because I foresee a problem with the construction of this flimsy door opening system. My car is barely 4 years old and if I was in an accident and could not open my door immediately, it could spell trouble. Any number of scenarios could affect a driver who cannot open the door without breaking a window or rolling down the window to open the door with the outside handle. I have found many blog posts of people who had this identical problem with their c250 sedan. .

Filed Feb 14, 2017 · Body · 75,000 miles · TX

The door handle breaks from the inside making it where you can't exit the vehicle without the vehicle's engine on and window rolled down to open handle from the outside of the vehicle. Mercedes considers the door handle to be a "trim piece" and not a functional piece of the vehicle. This is a very serious issue and should be a recall or at least covered in the extended warranty that customers purchase. In an emergency situation I would not be able to exit my vehicle if the engine was turned off.