THE VEHICLE DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY & DIDN'T TURN ON AND WAS NOT SHOWING AS PARKED. CALLED AAA TO CHECK THE BATTERY BUT WAS NOT IT. CALLED TOWING SERVICE TO GET THIS MOVED TO MY MECHANIC & TURNS OUT THIS IS DUE TO BAD ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK MECHANISM & ONLY DEALER CAN GET THIS REPLACED AND PROGRAMED WHICH COSTED ME $1200. CHECKED & TURNS OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2009 C300. WHY IS I…
2009 mercedes-benz C-Class steering problems
moderate 158 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700
Complaints
158
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Avg fix
$700
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
YET ANOTHER PERSON WITH A ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK ISSUE. I TRIED TO LEAVE WORK FOR LUNCH BUT WAS MET WITH THAT ISSUE. I HAD TO HAVE AAA TOW ME TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY WANT 1200 TO FIX THE PROBLEM....HOW ARE SO MANY OF US EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE BUT MERCEDES ISN'T DOING ANYTHING TO FIX IT! *JS
I HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUES LIKE OTHER MERCEDES BENZ OWNERS. MY CAR SUDDENLY NOT STARTING AND THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT UNLOCK. I CALLED AAA, THEY SENT OUT A BATTERY TRUCK. THE GUY TRIED TO JUMP IT AND IT DID NOTHING. THEN THEY TOWED IT TO THE MB DEALER. THEY CALLED ME THIS MORNING AFTER THEY TESTED IT AND SAID THE ELECTRIC STEERING LOCK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER CHARGED ME $1212. I A…
PARKED MY VEHICLE IN MY GARAGE FOR WEEK 80,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. TRIED TO START CAR ONLY REMOVE KEYS LIGHT ON DASH AND ALL ELECTRONICS WORK. MERCEDES TOW SAYS NOT BATTERY BUT STEERING OR IGNITION COMPONENT ARE OUT! THIS IS LOOKING LIKE A COMMON PROBLEM PLEASE HELP BECAUSE THE DEALERS ARE WANTING THOUSAND OR MORE TO REPLACE.
VEHICLE NOT STARTING. NOT TURNING OVER. PARKED THE CAR FOR ABOUT 20 MIN IN MY MOMS DRIVEWAY. WHEN WE CAME OUT TO LEAVE. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. THE RADIO WILL TURN ON. THE LIGHTS WILL TURN ON. WHEN I OPEN THE DOOR THE ODOMETER AREA TELLS ME TO REMOVE MY KEY. TRIED TO GET A JUMP FROM AAA. WHEN THEY ARRIVED THEY SAID IT WASN'T THE BATTERY. NOW I LOOK ON YOUTUBE AND OTHER MB BLOGS. AND …
CAR WOULD NOT START. HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. REPAIR COST 1150 DOLLARS. ONE WEEK WITHOUT CAR. *TR
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2009 mercedes-benz C-Class?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 158 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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