2010 Mercedes-Benz C300: steering wheel locks up

Filed May 10, 2026 · Airbags, Steering · MA

After having the airbag recall for my Mercedes done, the Electronic Steering Lock failed and my car would not start and the steering wheel is locked. They said my car was ready to pick up and when I arrived the car was completely inoperable. The MB Dealership in Lynnfield, MA wants $2700 to fix it. If you google Mercedes W204 ESLfailure you will see thousand of owners on facebook, message boards and forums that have this part fail, leaving people stranded in sometime dangerous situations. There should be a recall to permanently fix this issue as owners are getting stranded. Its really an issue of "when" the ESL will fail on older models and not "if". The kicker is, the dealership said only they can fix the problem as it is an anti-theft issue. This seems very wrong, owners shouldn't be forced to pay Mercedes to fix their defective, cheap electric motors in the ESL that fail on almost every model that its in. These defective motors are what causes the steering lock failure in almost every instance. MB acts like its normal to be driving properly one day and then next your steering is completely locked and your car will not start because a $15 electronic motor in the ESL failed. Furthermore, these are All wheel drive or rear wheel drive, in addition to the locked steering wheel which makes towing very, very difficult and unsafe. Thank you

Filed Nov 6, 2024 · Electrical, Steering · 60,000 miles · MI

The contact owns a 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the steering wheel locked. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was scanned, and diagnostic trouble codes indicating the TRP and Power Steering failure were retrieved. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power and required to be towed. An unknown local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle remained parked in the storage. The contact related the failure to an unidentified recall; however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

Filed Sep 21, 2024 · Electrical, Steering · CA

For the 2010 Mercedes Benz C300, the failure of the steering lock control unit resulted in the vehicle being unable to start its engine. Vehicle was disabled, and I was left stranded. Car had to be towed to my house and separately had to be towed to the Mercedes Benz car dealership service center. The technician at the Mercedes Benz car dealership service center recommended replacement of the steering lock. Yes, this car is available for inspection upon request. This same problem was reproduced in another Mercedes-Benz C300 car that I own. This other vehicle is a 2011 Mercedes-Benz C300. The car was not inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representative. The car was inspected by the Mercedes Benz dealer service center. No warnings or messages prior to the complete failure. This issue first appeared in August 2024. This steering lock failure is a critical issue as I had the same problem with another Mercedes Benz C300 that I own. Both steering lock failures for both cars resulted in the car being unable to start occurred around the same time period and were separately diagnosed and fixed at different Mercedes Benz dealer service centers.

Filed Dec 26, 2021 · Electrical, Steering · FL

After parking my car , turned ignition off, did some work for 45 minutes I came back attempting to start the car. The car won’t start, I am not hearing any of the normal sound that usually takes place when I place the key in ignition. Message on dashboard telling me to remove the key. Car will not start. After checking battery and calling mechanic they tell me the my steering wheel lock is bad. The ESL went bad out of nowhere. Car won’t start, steering wheel is locked and the only way to fix it is to take it Mercedes’ dealer and pay over $2000. I search on google and found out that this is a common issue with my 2010 C300. This is a manufacturing defect and Mercedes should recall it and pay for repair. In my case I parked my car in my garage, imagine if I was traveling on highway way and the steering wheel locks or failed on the side of busy interstate hwy. the worst part is that Mercedes dealer did nothing t warn me when I bought the car about this issue especially since it is know since 2008, and they will not allow after market parts to be installed by other mechanics. So this is defective and Mercedes should be forced to recall and replace for free. We should not wait for someone to die before this is fixed. This happened without any warning PLEASE FORCE MERCEDES TO RECALL AND FIX THE ESL NOW.

Filed Dec 13, 2020 · Electrical, Engine · 155,500 miles · NH

Security system disables ignition due to a failure of the esl (steering lock). Nothing is wrong with the car it just won't start.

Filed Aug 4, 2020 · Steering · CO

The steering wheel lock is stuck and now my car will not start. This is a known issue with mercedes cars of all makes & models. I put my key in and tried to start it and it failed to start. I thought it was the battery and had it tested and replaced. That is not the issue. The car still will not start and come to find out it is the steering lock motor that has failed. It is a esl failure.

Filed Mar 23, 2020 · Steering · 74,000 miles · CA

Seized steering lock and passenger door won't open from the inside

Filed Dec 3, 2019 · Electrical, Steering · MD

Eis , steering lock

Filed Aug 22, 2019 · Steering · 56,000 miles · VA

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 mercedes-benz c300. The contact was unable to start the vehicle after multiple attempts. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the electronic steering lock module needed to be replaced. The manufacturer and dealer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000.

Filed Jul 9, 2019 · Electrical, Steering · 71,517 miles · FL

The c300 model has a notorious problem with electronic steering locking leaving the car mobileless. Cannot even put in neutral for towing. The car simply won't start. It will leave a motorist stranded at any time, any place and without any warning and represents a dangerous hazard to motorist's safety. Mercedes should be brought to court via class action law suit. *tr *tr *tr *js consumer stated car has been repaired.*jb

Filed Jul 6, 2019 · Steering · NJ

The els problem again like in the other mercedez ..I park my car was running good no noise or anything when I was going home dead not turning on the engine ..had to towed to my mechanic and he soyed is the power steering lock

Filed Feb 28, 2019 · Electrical, Steering · 63,690 miles · CA

Steering wheel locked in garage. "remove key from ignition" is message on instrument cluster. Car will not start. This car has less than 64k miles. Car was stationary in my garage. Now I have to pay a tow company to somehow get it out of garage, as it is front end in oriented (pulled in instead of backed in), and tow to dealership, and prepare for an overly inflated repair cost.