2016 Mercedes-Benz C300
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 has 368 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (26% of all complaints), specifically: i bought a new 2016 c-class mercedes benz . i had the car for less than 24 hours when the engine light came on. i immediately took the vehicle in and was told that they do not have a fix for the problem. it is a problem with the ambient airflow. the engine does not work properly, causing a rough . ⚠️ 6 fire reports filed.
368
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
4.6x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
94 complaints- • I BOUGHT A NEW 2016 C-CLASS MERCEDES BENZ . I HAD THE CAR FOR LESS THAN 24 HOURS WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE IN AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE AMBIENT AIRFLOW. THE ENGINE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, CAUSING A ROUGH
- • C300 ANTI COLLISION SENSOR MALFUNCTION LIGHT DISPLAYED AND LOSS ENGINE POWER FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. THE CAR WAS TRAVELING APROX 20 MPH AT THE TIME ON CITY STREET. THEN POWER RESUMED, THE WARNING LIGHT WENT OUT. MERCEDES-BENZ OF TEMECULA, CA COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. WORKORDER 229423, 9/13/16
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V114000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FO
“I BOUGHT A NEW 2016 C-CLASS MERCEDES BENZ . I HAD THE CAR FOR LESS THAN 24 HOURS WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE IN AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE AMBIENT AIRFLOW. THE ENGINE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, CAUSING A ROUGH ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
FUEL SYSTEM
66 complaints- • 2016 MERCEDES BENZ C-300. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FUEL SYSTEM CAUSES GAS STATIONS NOZZLE TO DISENGAGE PREMATURELY, WHICH MAKES FILLING FUEL TANK DIFFICULT. *SMD
- • THERE'S A CONSTANT GAS SMELL IN MY CAR. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED IT WAS A LEAK TWICE, BUT THAT CAN'T BE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT STILL CARRIES THE SMELL.
- • IN FEBRUARY 2019 THE C300 ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS A BAD CATALYTIC CONVERTOR, AND THE DEALER TOOK THREE DAYS TO REPAIR IT. THREE WEEKS LATER IN MARCH 2019, WHILE DRIVING 25 MILES PER HOUR STRAIGHT ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET THE CAR SHUT OFF WITHOUT A SOU
“2016 MERCEDES BENZ C-300. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FUEL SYSTEM CAUSES GAS STATIONS NOZZLE TO DISENGAGE PREMATURELY, WHICH MAKES FILLING FUEL TANK DIFFICULT. *SMD”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
64 complaints- • WHEN TRAVELING AT SPEED OVER 65 , CAR WILL BEGIN SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND HESITATION OCCURS. THIS IS ERRATIC-3 INSTANCES. TERRIFYING! ANOTHER PROBLEM -STARTED CAR BEGAN HESITATING ,UNABLE TO GO OVER 30MPH AND SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. COULD NOT DRIVE CAR.THE CAR HAS BEEN CHECKED BY DEALER TWICE-NOTHING
- • I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH AND THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF ON MY MERCEDES C300 EXPLODED. I SAY "EXPLODED" BECAUSE NOTHING STRUCK THE GLASS AND MOST OF THE GLASS BLEW OUT AND OFF THE CAR, NOT IN. THE SUNROOF WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME, SO THERE WAS NO WIND PRESSURE. AFTER I STOPPE
- • THE TIRES SUPPLIED ON THIS CAR ARE UNSUITABLE FOR INTENDED USE. LOW PROFILE TIRES ARE EASILY DAMAGED BY POTHOLES (WE LIVE IN CHICAGO) AND WITHOUT CONSTANT INSPECTION FOR "BUBBLES" PRESENT A HAZARD. THIS CAR IS TWO YEARS OLD WITH 8800 MILES ON IT AND IS ON IT'S 4TH FRONT TIRE. IN AS THIS IS HOW TH
“WHEN TRAVELING AT SPEED OVER 65 , CAR WILL BEGIN SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND HESITATION OCCURS. THIS IS ERRATIC-3 INSTANCES. TERRIFYING! ANOTHER PROBLEM -STARTED CAR BEGAN HESITATING ,UNABLE TO GO OVER 30MPH AND SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. COULD NOT DRIVE CAR.THE CAR HAS BEEN CHECKED BY DEALER TWICE-NOTHING ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
32 complaints- • C300 ANTI COLLISION SENSOR MALFUNCTION LIGHT DISPLAYED AND LOSS ENGINE POWER FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. THE CAR WAS TRAVELING APROX 20 MPH AT THE TIME ON CITY STREET. THEN POWER RESUMED, THE WARNING LIGHT WENT OUT. MERCEDES-BENZ OF TEMECULA, CA COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. WORKORDER 229423, 9/13/16
- • AFTER STOPPING AND WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT FOR 15-30 SECONDS, I HAD MY FEET ON THE BRAKES AND LEFT TURN INDICATOR ON. THE "HOLD" OPTION TO LOCK MY BRAKES WAS NOT ENGAGED. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY. WITHOUT WARNING, THE CAR SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND JOLTED FORWARD INTO THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME AT THE LIG
- • ON OCT 14TH AT NIGHT CAR WAS DRIVEN IN HEAVY RAIN OFF INTERSTATE I5 OFF RAMP TO EXIT INTERSTATE. THERE WERE CARS BOTH IN FRONT AND BEHIND US EXITING AND UPON DRIVING FURTHER NOTICED THERE WAS STANDING WATER. OTHER CARS WERE MAKING IT THROUGH SLOWLY, THERE WAS NO ROOM TO TURN AROUND. THIS CAR ALMOST
“C300 ANTI COLLISION SENSOR MALFUNCTION LIGHT DISPLAYED AND LOSS ENGINE POWER FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. THE CAR WAS TRAVELING APROX 20 MPH AT THE TIME ON CITY STREET. THEN POWER RESUMED, THE WARNING LIGHT WENT OUT. MERCEDES-BENZ OF TEMECULA, CA COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. WORKORDER 229423, 9/13/16”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BODY/STRUCTURE
26 complaints- • AFTER STOPPING AND WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT FOR 15-30 SECONDS, I HAD MY FEET ON THE BRAKES AND LEFT TURN INDICATOR ON. THE "HOLD" OPTION TO LOCK MY BRAKES WAS NOT ENGAGED. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY. WITHOUT WARNING, THE CAR SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND JOLTED FORWARD INTO THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME AT THE LIG
- • ON OCT 14TH AT NIGHT CAR WAS DRIVEN IN HEAVY RAIN OFF INTERSTATE I5 OFF RAMP TO EXIT INTERSTATE. THERE WERE CARS BOTH IN FRONT AND BEHIND US EXITING AND UPON DRIVING FURTHER NOTICED THERE WAS STANDING WATER. OTHER CARS WERE MAKING IT THROUGH SLOWLY, THERE WAS NO ROOM TO TURN AROUND. THIS CAR ALMOST
- • GLASS PIECE IN FRONT OF SUNROOF OF PANORAMA ROOF FLEW DETACHED AND FLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING. I WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY ABOUT 80 MILES PER HOUR ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH. IT WAS NOT HIT BY ANYTHING. JUST THE WIND. COST TO REPAIR $2178 AT MB AUTHORIZED DEALER.
“AFTER STOPPING AND WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT FOR 15-30 SECONDS, I HAD MY FEET ON THE BRAKES AND LEFT TURN INDICATOR ON. THE "HOLD" OPTION TO LOCK MY BRAKES WAS NOT ENGAGED. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY. WITHOUT WARNING, THE CAR SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND JOLTED FORWARD INTO THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME AT THE LIG”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 368 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: I BOUGHT A NEW 2016 C-CLASS MERCEDES BENZ . I HAD THE CAR FOR LESS THAN 24 HOURS WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE IN AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE AMBIENT AIRFLOW. THE ENGINE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, CAUSING A ROUGH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐FUEL SYSTEM: 2016 MERCEDES BENZ C-300. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FUEL SYSTEM CAUSES GAS STATIONS NOZZLE TO DISENGAGE PREMATURELY, WHICH MAKES FILLING FUEL TANK DIFFICULT. *SMD
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: WHEN TRAVELING AT SPEED OVER 65 , CAR WILL BEGIN SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND HESITATION OCCURS. THIS IS ERRATIC-3 INSTANCES. TERRIFYING! ANOTHER PROBLEM -STARTED CAR BEGAN HESITATING ,UNABLE TO GO OVER 30MPH AND SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. COULD NOT DRIVE CAR.THE CAR HAS BEEN CHECKED BY DEALER TWICE-NOTHING
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: C300 ANTI COLLISION SENSOR MALFUNCTION LIGHT DISPLAYED AND LOSS ENGINE POWER FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. THE CAR WAS TRAVELING APROX 20 MPH AT THE TIME ON CITY STREET. THEN POWER RESUMED, THE WARNING LIGHT WENT OUT. MERCEDES-BENZ OF TEMECULA, CA COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. WORKORDER 229423, 9/13/16
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Mercedes-Benz C300 — Year Comparison
How does 2016 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 368
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 6
- Crash reports
- 7
- Injury reports
- 9
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300