2016 MERCEDES BENZ C300 — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 284 complaints · 13 recalls
Most-reported system: ENGINE (77 complaints · 27.1%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 7
  • Fires 5
  • Injuries 8
  • Deaths 0
Compare with 2015 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

Component Problem Distribution ENGINE appears in 77 of 284 owner complaints (27.1%) in this vehicle snapshot. ENGINE: 77 complaints, 27.1% of reports ENGINE 77 · 27.1% · 2 fire reports FUEL SYSTEM: 53 complaints, 18.7% of reports FUEL SYSTEM 53 · 18.7% STRUCTURE: 20 complaints, 7.0% of reports STRUCTURE 20 · 7.0% VISIBILITY: 20 complaints, 7.0% of reports VISIBILITY 20 · 7.0% ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 15 complaints, 5.3% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15 · 5.3% · 2 fire reports POWER TRAIN: 13 complaints, 4.6% of reports POWER TRAIN 13 · 4.6% STEERING: 11 complaints, 3.9% of reports STEERING 11 · 3.9% · 1 crash reports SERVICE BRAKES: 6 complaints, 2.1% of reports SERVICE BRAKES 6 · 2.1% · 1 crash reports AIR BAGS: 4 complaints, 1.4% of reports AIR BAGS 4 · 1.4% · 1 crash reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 98 complaints, 34.5% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 98 · 34.5% · 3 crash reports 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
ENGINE 77 27.1% 0 crashes · 2 fires
FUEL SYSTEM 53 18.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
STRUCTURE 20 7.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
VISIBILITY 20 7.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15 5.3% 0 crashes · 2 fires
POWER TRAIN 13 4.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
STEERING 11 3.9% 1 crashes · 0 fires
SERVICE BRAKES 6 2.1% 1 crashes · 0 fires
AIR BAGS 4 1.4% 1 crashes · 0 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 98 34.5% 3 crashes · 0 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

Problem & Recall Timeline Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jan 2016; the first recall shown was reported in Feb 2016. 2016-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2016-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2016-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2017-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2017-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2017-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2017-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2018-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2019-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2019-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2019-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2020-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2020-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2021-Q1: 8 owner reports 8 2021-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2021-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2021-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2022-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2022-Q2: 13 owner reports 13 2022-Q3: 14 owner reports 14 2022-Q4: 19 owner reports 19 2023-Q1: 18 owner reports 18 2023-Q2: 13 owner reports 13 2023-Q3: 15 owner reports 15 2023-Q4: 10 owner reports 10 2024-Q1: 21 owner reports 21 2024-Q2: 15 owner reports 15 2024-Q3: 12 owner reports 12 2024-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2025-Q1: 13 owner reports 13 2025-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2025-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2025-Q4: 8 owner reports 8 2026-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2026-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 Owner reports Jan 2016 Apr 2026 Recall campaign 16V087000 ◆ Recall campaign 16V087000 Recall campaign 16V438000 ◆ Recall campaign 16V438000 Recall campaign 16V603000 ◆ Recall campaign 16V603000 Recall campaign 17V114000 ◆ Recall campaign 17V114000 Recall campaign 17V177000 ◆ Recall campaign 17V177000 Recall campaign 17V243000 ◆ Recall campaign 17V243000 Recall campaign 17V627000 ◆ Recall campaign 17V627000 Recall campaign 18V850000 ◆ Recall campaign 18V850000 Recall campaign 19V787000 ◆ Recall campaign 19V787000 Recall campaign 21V058000 ◆ Recall campaign 21V058000 Recall campaign 21V197000 ◆ Recall campaign 21V197000 Recall campaign 21V961000 ◆ Recall campaign 21V961000 Recall campaign 23V854000 ◆ Recall campaign 23V854000 Investigation PE21001 ● Investigation PE21001 Investigation EA21002 ● Investigation EA21002
  • Campaign 17V627000 was reported 58 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 21V058000 was reported 1,668 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 21V197000 was reported 113 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 21V961000 was reported 1,979 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 23V854000 was reported 1,114 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2016-Q1 Owner reports 1
2016-Q3 Owner reports 4
2016-Q4 Owner reports 2
2017-Q1 Owner reports 3
2017-Q2 Owner reports 6
2017-Q3 Owner reports 5
2017-Q4 Owner reports 4
2018-Q1 Owner reports 1
2018-Q3 Owner reports 1
2018-Q4 Owner reports 2
2019-Q1 Owner reports 5
2019-Q3 Owner reports 2
2019-Q4 Owner reports 1
2020-Q1 Owner reports 6
2020-Q2 Owner reports 3
2020-Q3 Owner reports 1
2020-Q4 Owner reports 7
2021-Q1 Owner reports 8
2021-Q2 Owner reports 7
2021-Q3 Owner reports 8
2021-Q4 Owner reports 3
2022-Q1 Owner reports 7
2022-Q2 Owner reports 13
2022-Q3 Owner reports 14
2022-Q4 Owner reports 19
2023-Q1 Owner reports 18
2023-Q2 Owner reports 13
2023-Q3 Owner reports 15
2023-Q4 Owner reports 10
2024-Q1 Owner reports 21
2024-Q2 Owner reports 15
2024-Q3 Owner reports 12
2024-Q4 Owner reports 6
2025-Q1 Owner reports 13
2025-Q2 Owner reports 7
2025-Q3 Owner reports 2
2025-Q4 Owner reports 8
2026-Q1 Owner reports 6
2026-Q2 Owner reports 5
Recall campaign 1 16V087000
Recall campaign 1 16V438000
Recall campaign 1 16V603000
Recall campaign 1 17V114000
Recall campaign 1 17V177000
Recall campaign 1 17V243000
Recall campaign 1 17V627000
Recall campaign 1 18V850000
Recall campaign 1 19V787000
Recall campaign 1 21V058000
Recall campaign 1 21V197000
Recall campaign 1 21V961000
Recall campaign 1 23V854000
Defect investigation 1 PE21001
Defect investigation 1 EA21002
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (13)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

  1. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 16V087000

    Report date
    Component:
    VISIBILITY
    Consequence:
    If the panoramic glass detaches during vehicle operation, it can increase the risk of injury or crash.
    Remedy:
    MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the bonding of the rear sunroof glass panel, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 12, 2016. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 16V438000

    Report date
    Component:
    STEERING
    Consequence:
    If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
    Remedy:
    MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the electric power steering control unit, free of charge. The recall began January 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 16V603000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    A damaged ESP control unit may inadvertently activate the stability control altering the vehicle's path. Additionally, the electronic parking brake may not function. Either condition may increase the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ESP Hydraulic control units, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in October 2016. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 17V114000

    Report date
    Component:
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
    Consequence:
    If the starting current limiter overheats, the surrounding components can melt, increasing the risk of a fire.
    Remedy:
    MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional fuse in the electrical line to the starter, free of charge. The recall began August 31, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2017080002.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 17V177000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    If the air bags do not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, there would be an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
    Remedy:
    MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update software in the affected control units, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 17V243000

    Report date
    Component:
    STEERING
    Consequence:
    A loss of electrical contact will cause the electric power steering assist to deactivate, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric power steering rack, free of charge. The recall began June 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  7. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 17V627000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    If the driver air bag inadvertently deploys, it can increase the risk of injury and a crash.
    Remedy:
    MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will add sufficient grounding to the steering components, free of charge. The recall began in December 6, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  8. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 18V850000

    Report date
    Component:
    STEERING
    Consequence:
    A car that cannot be properly steered has an increased risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering rack, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019080012.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  9. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 19V787000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.
    Remedy:
    MBUSA has initiated an Over the Air (OTA) remote update. MBUSA will also notify owners, and dealers will check software for a successful OTA or update the communication module software as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019120008.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  10. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 21V058000

    Report date
    Component:
    COMMUNICATION
    Consequence:
    Failure of the eCall system may result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.
    Remedy:
    MBUSA will notify owners, and the communication module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. The recall began March 12, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021020025.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  11. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 21V197000

    Report date
    Component:
    STRUCTURE
    Consequence:
    The adhesive bonding of the front panel might deteriorate, possibly causing the front panel to detach from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Mercedes-Benz dealer will remove the bonded panel and will install a new front panel by following the detailed repair instructions and using the approved primer, cleaner and adhesive, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021 and October 26, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  12. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 21V961000

    Report date
    Component:
    FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
    Consequence:
    A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source, such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will replace the fuel rail and fuel injectors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 22, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for the recall is 2022030003.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  13. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 23V854000

    Report date
    Component:
    STRUCTURE
    Consequence:
    A detached roof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will replace the front panel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 2, 2024. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on, March 22,2024, and August 2, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 21V-197.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Complaint Narrative Explorer

Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-08-21
Safety incident filters
Showing 0 of 284 complaints · page 1 of 12

No complaints match the current filters.
EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-21.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources