I am writing to formally report the premature failure and subsequent replacement of the electronic rack and pinion on my 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 4Matic sedan. This repair was performed at Sears Imported Autos on 4/19/2024, at a cost of $5,840.14. Invoice number at Sears Imported Autos is XXX. My vehicle, VIN [XXX] , had only 74,427 miles at the time of the failure. The failure of a critical steering component at such a low mileage is highly unusual and, I believe, directly attributable to a latent manufacturing defect. I have recently become aware of a prior recall (the federal safety agency Campaign Number 18V850000) concerning the electronic power steering rack on these EXACT vehicles. While I acknowledge that my vehicle VIN was not included in the official scope of the previous the federal safety agency recall, the nature and timing of my component's failure strongly mirror the documented issues of MY power steering failure. Mercedes-Benz USA Customer Care Center just informed me that my VIN does NOT qualify for the recall, but they did NOT say the failure on my car was a different part. The fact that the very same exact part failed so prematurely, a component that is expected to last for the lifetime of the vehicle under normal conditions, points to a systemic quality control issue beyond the scope of the original recall. The recall should be expanded to include my VIN and likely a few others. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 steering problems
13 complaints (4% of all complaints for this car). 1 crash reported.
- owner complaints
- 13
- of this car's complaints
- 4%
- crashes
- 1
- recalls
- 3
Which part fails
Owners did not name a specific part.
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Mercedes-Benz C300 steering problems in other years
Related recalls
Steering: rack and pinion: rack
- What is wrong
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Mercedes Benz C300, 2017-2019 C300 Cabrio, C300 Coupe, C63 Cabrio, 2015 C63S AMG, 2018-2019 C300, C350e, C63 AMG, C63S AMG Cabrio, 2018 C63 AMG Cabrio, C63 AMG Coupe, C63S AMG, C63S AMG Coupe, E300, E400 Cabrio, E400 Coupe, 2019 CLS450, E450 Cabrio, and E450 Coupe rear-wheel drive vehicles. A locknut in the steering rack may break under high load, possibly causing the steering to become stuck in one position.
- Risk
- A car that cannot be properly steered has an increased risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering rack, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1‑800‑367‑6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019080012.
Recall number 18V850000 · Recall details
Steering: electric power assist system
- What is wrong
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016-2017 C300 vehicles. The electrical contacts for the power steering electric motor may not have been properly welded, possibly resulting in a loss of electrical contact.
- Risk
- A loss of electrical contact will cause the electric power steering assist to deactivate, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric power steering rack, free of charge. The recall began June 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1‑800‑367‑6372.
Recall number 17V243000 · Recall details
Steering: electric power assist system
- What is wrong
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2016 C300 4Matic vehicles manufactured November 4, 2015, to March 1, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the electric power steering assist system may shutdown due to a software error.
- Risk
- If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the electric power steering control unit, free of charge. The recall began January 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1‑800‑367‑6372.
Recall number 16V438000 · Recall details
What 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
When I was driving down the road my car got a message on the dash that said power steering malfunction see owners manual. My steering wheel got locked up and tight it was hard to keep control of my car at 60 miles per hour. When I took it to the repair shop, I asked about the repair and if my Vin had a recall and when I looked up the production date of my car it's 2 numbers off the Vin numbers that were recalled for your. same issue with hat happened in 2016 when my car was produced in 2015, it says the same thing. It will cost like 5k to fix the problem due to the fact that its a sensor, and when I looked up the recall it was the same sensor that the recall was on with my Vin only being 2 numbers off I find it odd that my car is not affected by this bc its the same problem of the recall the part of that controls the power steering in the car
The contact owns a 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while reversing at approximately 10 MPH, there was a clunking sound coming from the steering wheel. The contact shifted into drive and while driving approximately 15-20 MPH, the clunking sound persisted, and the steering wheel seized. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the aluminum bolts in the drive shaft had corroded and sheared off. The contact was informed that the steering rack and bolts needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The dealer had been informed of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the Service Campaign Number: 2019080019 (Steering). The manufacturer was informed of the failure and confirmed the Service Campaign Number: 2019080019 (Steering). The manufacturer referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 78,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driving assist and another unknown warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the turn signal and steering wheel modules needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the federal safety agency Hotline. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and turning the steering wheel, the contact became aware that the vehicle had lost power steering functionality. The contact drove around for a while before driving back to the garage. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle; however, the power steering functionality had not returned. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the power steering had failed, and a software update was needed. The vehicle had been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed there were no recalls on the VIN. The manufacturer referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 30,810.
The contact owns a 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while driving at various highway speeds, the message "Check Power Steering" was displayed, and the steering wheel became stiff and very difficult to turn in either direction. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 18V850000 (Steering). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The local dealer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 96,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300W. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the power steering warning light illuminated and the power steering seized. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Electronic power steering failed. The electronic power steering on this vehicle has failed several times, making it almost impossible to steer. When this occurs, steering requires a tremendous amount of force and puts the vehicle and driver at enormous risk of an accident.
Electric power steering lost power and failed while driving on drive way. The steering became very difficult to turn and the car became very hard to control if not impossible. If it had failed while on the road with other cars, especially while turning, the car could be in a crash with serious accident that could have injured me and others. The problem was reproduced by the dealer. The dealer examined the car and steering components and has confirmed that the electric power steering rack failed. There was a recall done (17V243000) some time ago, however, my VIN is not included in the recall. The problem that my car is having is exactly the same as is described in this recall, 17V243000. It seems that more cars are having this same issue.
The small plastic located inside the sliding panoramic sunroof explode and the Panasonic sunroof can be open/close or up/down normally but when I hit close it will stop where the broken pieces was and the roof will automatically move back to the fully open position Dealer said need the rail replaced -2057800175 -2057800275 Motor is broken, need to be replaced , he said after saying the roof can go forward and backward, up and down but can’t close completely. I was gullible to believe what the technician and sale guy said. Technically technician can check the voltage and say it for sure if it is broken. Also, a technician already knew that the sliding rail is damaged. He jumped to the conclusion that motor is broken because of sunburn. I have asked my nephew what he would do in this situation. He innocently said he would replace new sliding rails first and try to run if the “alleged motor “ is really broken. If it is broken, he can just switch to a new motor before testing to confirm it working. He wouldn’t decide to buy a new motor that cost $1,400 extra while the old one might be working properly. Anyway, labor with rails and “motor” cost $3500. Then later I learn I’m not alone. How many affected from this defective parts that Mercedes doesn’t sell it separately. Owner must buy 2 set of rails- a left set and a right set. Cost $1100 total. So since the number of affected are pretty high, a few factory in China and turkey decides to produce these little and sell it online for $15-92, glue and lubricants included. -number of owners struggling to find parts https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w205/734208-pano-roof-failure-2.html Parts that Mercedes cannot sell it separately so owners have to buy 2 sets left set and right set rails. “Try words like repair sunroof kit for Mercedes “ on eBay only a few couple thousand people buying it in 2022 alone. https://www.ebay.com/p/28019877104 Motor broken? https://c.xtime.com/tvyUiiMwuwoA2L8JXX#/completePage
Questions about the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 steering
Does the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 have steering problems?
Owners have filed 13 complaints about the steering of the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300, 4% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 steering problems start?
Not enough complaints include the mileage to tell.
Was there a recall on the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 steering?
Yes, 3 recalls: 18V850000, 17V243000, 16V438000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Mercedes-Benz C300 have bad steering?
The Mercedes-Benz C300 model years with the most steering complaints are 2010 (71 complaints), 2011 (34 complaints) and 2013 (26 complaints).
Other 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 problems
Engine 95Fuel system 67Electrical 32Body 28Visibility 21Transmission 18Brakes 9Airbags 6Driver assistance 4Lights 4Seats 3Suspension 3Acceleration 2Seat belts 1Tires 1Wheels 1
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