2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
Hola a todos. hace 3 meses compre un mercedes benz c250 año 2012 en argentina. A eso de tener un mes el auto salí a la ruta. (Acá en argentina es muy normal que las rutas sean de un solo carril y doble mano, por lo que hacer un adelantamiento tiene que ser una maniobra muy precisa). Al querer acelerar mi auto a fondo se me cortó la aceleración bruscamente. Perdió la potencia y me encendió la luz amarilla del check engine. Por suerte pude llegar a pasar. Legué a mi casa sorprendido e investigué en las redes. Me encuentro con que la bomba de alta presion de mi vehículo tiene una falla (aparentemente le pasó a mucha gente) Espero que estas quejas lleguen a las autoridades de mercedes benz y se hagan responsables antes de que esta falla provoque un accidente mortal. ENGLISH TRANSLATION: Hello everyone. Three months ago, I bought a 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250 in Argentina. About a month after I had the car, I hit the road. (Here in Argentina, it's very common for roads to be single-lane, two-way, so overtaking requires very precise maneuvering.) When I tried to accelerate my car fully, the acceleration abruptly cut out. I lost power and the yellow check engine light came on. Luckily, I was able to get through. I arrived home, surprised, and I did some research online. I discovered that my vehicle's high-pressure pump was faulty (apparently, it's happened to a lot of people). I hope these complaints reach the Mercedes-Benz authorities and they take responsibility before this fault causes a fatal accident.
Fuel tank is leaking at connection between fill tube and tank. Multiple recalls have been issued apparently for similar problems with cars of other years. With less than 1/2 tank, the fuel leak is not as pronounced. With the tank full, the tank drips fuel. Fire department in Riverside was called and confirmed issue. Upon bringing vehicle to Clearwater Mercedes and other mechanics, the problem was confirmed. Dealership says that Mercedes Benz denies that the problem is theirs to resolve. Dealership fixed other issue that was not producing symptoms but stated that the cost to resolve was $5000.00 (about the value of the car at this point).
HIGH pressure fuel pump malfunctions Yes it is available for inspection The car was put in limb mode when at high speed this could have caused an accident with many drivers do to the loss of power Yes it’s been re produced 3 times and others by me No it has not been inspected by a dealer or police or insurance No lamps or symptoms that may be super noticeable, but reduce power and as soon as the high pressure pump fails a check engine light goes off and car has trouble changing gears and accelerating,
intermittently the idle will vibrate the car and acceleration will quit and sputter. Very dangerous in many conditions. cannot drive car safely.
High pressure fuel pump failure causes unsafe driving conditions
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY I10 I WAS DOING 65 MPH I TRY TO PASS A CAR SO I ACCELERATED THE CAR BUT THE CAR WAS NOT GETTING THE POWER AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO I SAFELY PULL OUT OF THE FREEWAY AND INSPECTED THE CAR WITH A SCANNER AND IT SHOWED A CODE SO I SEARCH IN GOOGLE AND IT APPEARS A FAILURE OF THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, I MANAGED TO TAKE THE CAR TO MY HOUSE DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DISAPPEARED BUT THE RPM'S WHERE IRREGULAR AND THE ACCELERATION WAS FAILING MORE OFTEN. IT APPEARS THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WHILE I WAS LOOKING IN GOOGLE AND YOUTUBE MANY PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE.
WHEN DRIVING UPHILL AT 30MPH THE CAR SLOWS DOWN AND TAKES A SECOND TO ACCELERATE. WHEN I PRESS ON THE GAS I HAVE TO FLOOR IT TO GET THE CAR GOING FASTER. *TR
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CODE P0002. ACCELERATING IN ANY FORM FROM THE STREET OR ESPECIALLY THE HIGHWAY MERGING ON, THERE IS A SUPERIOR LOSS OF POWER/ACCELERATION. VERY DANGEROUS AS YOU ARE A HAZARD COMING INTO THE HIGHWAY AND DO NOT HAVE ADEQUATE ACCELERATION WHEN ON RAMPS ARE A VERY SHORT DISTANCE. I BELIEVE IT'S THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AS COUNTLESS OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR VEHICLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ C250. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND UP, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS AUTOMATICALLY IN ORDER TO ACCELERATE CORRECTLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF ARROWHEAD (LOCATED AT 9260 W BELL RD, PEORIA, AZ 85382, 623-806-8764) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ C250. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND BACK ON MULTIPLE TIMES, THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE NORMALLY. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER (CROWN EURO CARS, 8302 US HIGHWAY 19 N., PINELLAS PARK, FL) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. *DT
WHEN ACCELERATING, THE CAR WILL JUST LOSE ALL POWER AND STOP ACCELERATING. THIS THROWS YOU FORWARD AND KILLS POWER TO THE ENGINE PREVENTING YOU FROM SPEEDING UP. IT THEN GOES INTO LIMP MODE AND HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE EXITING LIMP MODE. WHEN TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALER THEY SAY IT JUST DETECTS A FUEL ERROR AND STOPS THE ENGINE TO PREVENT DAMAGE. THIS HAPPENED ONCE ON A HIGHWAY AND ONCE ON A CITY STREET AS I WAS TURNING.
40,000 MILE VEHICLE. PROLONGED TO START WITH GRINDING NOISE FROM VALVE COVER. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CAR WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES BENZ OF BIRMINGHAM WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH FAULTY CAM ADJUSTERS, TIMING CHAIN, AND TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER $4,200 REPAIR ESTIMATE. COMMON PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES M271 ENGINE. CUSTOMER REFUSED REPAIR. PROBLEM OCCURRED WHILE AT A STOP AND IN MOTION.
GAS STATION NOZZLES REPEATEDLY GET STUCK IN CAR GAS TANK WHEN REFUELING. THE GAS STATION NOZZLE DO NOT CONTAIN THE SPRING AROUND THE NOZZLE, THEY ARE SMOOTH WITH NOTHING ON THE NOZZLE THAT COULD CATCH ON THE CAR. IT HAPPENS AT ALL GAS STATIONS FROM 76 TO COSTCO GAS. IT TAKES 5-10 MINUTES TO REMOVE IT WITH VARYING FORCE AND VARYING ANGLES. NOZZLE WILL SPIN AROUND FREELY BUT WILL NOT RELEASE . LATEST INCIDENT REQUIRED EXTREME FORCE 200LB MAN PULLING WITH ALL BODY WEIGHT. THIS ACTION CAUSED THE INTERNAL ROLLED METAL THAT HOLDS GAS CAB IN TO BEND UP AND OUT WHICH THEN PREVENTED THE GAS CAP FROM BEING SCREWED BACK ON. IT IS UNEXPLAINED HOW THE ROLLED METAL WAS ABLE TO LATCH TO THE GAS STATION NOZZLE AND THEN BEND UP AND OUT (SEE PICTURE) WHEN AGAIN THE GAS STATION NOZZLE IS SMOOTH. WHEN PLACING GAS STATION NOZZLE INTO THE CAR IT SLIDES IN VERY SMOOTHLY WITH NO HINT IT WILL NOT COME OUT. THERE IS A PLASTIC PIECE IN THE CAR WHERE THE NOZZLE SLIPS IN BETWEEN (SEE PICTURE). THIS APPEARS TO BE PREVENTING THE GAS STATION NOZZLE FROM BEING REMOVED BUT IT DOES NOT EXPLAIN THE DAMAGE CAUSED WHEN REMOVING GAS STATION NOZZLE. A HAMMER WAS USED (NOT SAFE WITH CHANCE OF SPARK BUT ONLY WAY TO BEND IT, PLIERS WILL NOT WORK) TO BEND BACK THE METAL (SEE PICTURE) SO THAT GAS CAP WOULD SEAT PROPERLY. IT IS UNCLEAR AT THIS MOMENT IF THE CAR CAN BE REFUELED OR IF DAMAGE NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED. GAS STATION ATTENDANT SAID "I SEE MANY MERCEDES HAVE THIS PROBLEM". THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO ONLY HAPPEN IN CALIFORNIA. TRAVELING ACROSS COUNTRY FROM WASHINGTON DC TO CALIFORNIA, NOT ONE TIME DID THE NOZZLE GET STUCK IN THE CAR. IT HAS BEEN SOMETHING I HAVE PREVIOUSLY JUST DEALT WITH KNOWING EACH TIME I CAN GET IT OUT BUT TAKES 2-3 MINUTES. NOTE, I DRIVE 3-5K MILES A YEAR.
MY FUEL PUMP ORIGINALLY WAS DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY IN OCTOBER 2017 ORDERED FROM MERCEDES BENZ OF SA WHICH WAS STATED BY THE ETA PROVIDED. UPON CALLING BACK THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET A ETA ON MY FUEL PUMP WHICH HAS MY CAR RUNNING HORRIBLE AND SMELLING LIKE GAS BUT IS MY ONLY CAR. IT HAS BEEN OVER 4 MONTHS SINCE SITUATION UPON CALLING TODAY NO ETA HAS BEEN GIVEN OR UPDATED THEY VOICED ITS ON INTERNATIONAL BACK-ORDER EVERYWHERE YOU CALL IF AN ITEM LIKE THIS ISN'T AVAILABLE THERE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES AND RECALL NEEDED IMMEDIATELY TO HOLD MERCEDES RESPONSIBLE. THIS IS AN UNFORTUNATE EVENT THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED.
THE GAS BECOMES NON RESPONSIVE WHILE DRIVING AND OR HAVE TO STOP THE CAR RESTART IT ,THE DEALERSHIP STATES THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES BEFORE AND THE LAST TIME ON THE FREEWAY AND WAS INVOLVED IN A NEAR MISS WITH AN 18 WHEELER WITCH COULD HAVE ENDED MY LIFE AND POSSIBLY OTHERS ON THE FREEWAY I AM PETRIFIED TO DRIVE THIS CAR SINCE THEN WHICH HAPPENED A FEW DAYS AGO I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND AND CLAIMING THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAR .THIS IS A SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM I HAVE HERD FROM OTHERS THAT MERCEDES CAR HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND TRYING TO COVER IT UP FROM THE PUBLIC .PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE IT ENDS UP IN A FATALITY,AND THEN ITS TOO LATE. EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENS A MESSAGE SHOWS UP ON THE DASHBOARD AND I TOOK A PHOTO OF IT THEY STILL IGNORED IT I SPOKE TO MERCEDES THEY ARE INVESTIGATING IT AND AS YET DID NOT CONTACT ME. *TR
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class has 15 FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.