The Lane Check

Cars › Mercedes-Benz › C-Class › 2013

2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
31%
88 of 286 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 31% of relevant complaints.

Better than 69% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 288 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 15%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
Share this car

Looking at a specific C-Class?Check its VIN: the full report, quotes about its own engine, and whether its recalls are still open. First report free.

Check a VIN

Does the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 88 of 286 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (31%). For comparison, the 2012 scores 36% and the 2014 scores 31%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
88
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
574
this model year
Fires reported
7
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
0
23 crashes · 25 injuries

Complaints by component

AIR BAGS286 · 50%
SUSPENSION73 · 13%
STRUCTURE71 · 12%
ENGINE57 · 10%
STEERING47 · 8%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER38 · 7%

The years either side

2010
26%
56 of 476
2011
27%
63 of 516
2012
36%
98 of 587
2013
31%
88 of 574
2014
31%
39 of 284
2015
48%
203 of 449
2016
51%
156 of 316
2017
53%
113 of 253
2018
38%
45 of 130
2019
39%
27 of 79
2020
33%
14 of 46
2021
too few complaints
2022
25%
6 of 26
2023
15%
4 of 26

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

What owners reported

POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM08/12/20222 INJURED
The components of the engine being the camshaft adjusters, timing guide, timing chain, valves and pistons that all work to deliver power are faulty and have failed literally mid-drive. I was on a busy interstate during rush hour and nearly lost control of the vehicle as it just powered out while driving at 70 mph then …
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM09/19/2026
Noticed a strong odor of gas, well actually my kid did was sitting in backseat. I had just filled up and the smell didn't disipate. The next morning i still smelled it. I removed the seat and cover on the drivers side and almost half a gallon of pure gas was sitting there. I cleaned everything up removed all the ga…
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE11/02/2025
The vehicle was represented to me as safe to drive, with no major mechanical issues, and that it would pass emissions after only a simple minor fix. After I took possession, the check engine light came on. The car began running rough and showing hesitation. A scan immediately showed a camshaft position sensor fault, cy…

Three of 88 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Before you buy a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Questions people ask about the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Does the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 88 of 286 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (31%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns on the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

Which Mercedes-Benz C-Class years are better?

Among the Mercedes-Benz C-Class years we track, the 2023 (15%), the 2022 (25%) and the 2010 (26%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2013 (31%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.

Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.

Check a VIN

Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.