2010 Kia Forte vs 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2010 Kia Forte | 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 221 | 453 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 6 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 85 | 117 |
| Investigations | 3 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 21 | 17 |
| Fire reports | 4 | 5 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 26–30 | 21 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 77,500 mi | 65,650 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Forte | Mercedes-Benz C300 |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 41 | 202 |
| Electrical System | 19 | 84 |
| Engine | 74 | 13 |
| Steering | 11 | 71 |
| Exterior Lighting | 15 | 48 |
| Structure | 5 | 34 |
| Power Train | 23 | 15 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 6 | 26 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Clunking / rattling | 19 | 0 |
| Stalling | 15 | 6 |
| Check engine light | 13 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 13 | 6 |
| Loss of power | 7 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 5 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 5 | 36 |
| Steering problems | 0 | 22 |
2010 Kia Forte
2010 Mercedes-Benz C300
Compare all Kia Forte vs Mercedes-Benz C300 years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.