Used Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate 2007 - 2011 reliability
Category: Estate car
The stylish Mercedes C-Class Estate has plenty of appeal, and is good to drive in either comfort-or sport-orientated models.
What should I look for in a used Mercedes C-Class estate?
The C-Class has performed well to date, and owners are impressed with the quality and durability of the car. However, some issues have arisen.
Early cars suffered an automatic gearbox issue, with long hesitations during gearchanges. This should have been fixed with a software update, which any franchised dealer could carry out. Check that it has been done.
The electronic key can stop working, stranding owners. Sometimes it can stop working altogether, or operate intermittently. Cars should come with more than one key, and both rarely fail. Replacement keys are expensive, so check there's a spare key before you buy.
The estate version has a garage mode, so it doesn't open the tailgate fully when there's restricted headroom. However this can stick, giving you restricted access to the boot
The engine's crankshaft can cause a problem that results in a loss of engine power, or the engine refusing to start. This is widely known and covered by a recall. Other recalls include another software problem, which can paralyse the car. Again, a dealer can resolve the issues, or tell you if it's been already fixed.
