Mercedes-Benz C300 complaints by model year
3,963 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Red numbers above the columns are recall campaigns for that model year.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2024 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 2023 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 9 |
| 2022 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| 2021 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 2020 | 33 | 5 | 0 | 9 |
| 2019 | 69 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
| 2018 | 99 | 4 | 0 | 18 |
| 2017 | 216 | 10 | 3 | 15 |
| 2016 | 286 | 7 | 5 | 13 |
| 2015 | 381 | 9 | 1 | 11 |
| 2014 | 94 | 6 | 0 | 5 |
| 2013 | 260 | 9 | 2 | 6 |
| 2012 | 266 | 5 | 4 | 6 |
| 2011 | 480 | 15 | 6 | 6 |
| 2010 | 453 | 17 | 5 | 6 |
| 2009 | 576 | 14 | 18 | 8 |
| 2008 | 672 | 20 | 16 | 7 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Among the last 15 model years at least five years old; newer years are left out because owners are still filing reports. Every year compared →
Problem areas by model year
Complaints that name each component, 2017–2026. Darker cells mean more reports. One complaint can name several components.
| Component | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 77 | 34 | 17 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown or other | 34 | 20 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 31 | 10 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 30 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 24 | 14 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Steering | 13 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 21 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Mercedes-Benz C300 recalls (65)
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for at least one C300 model year, newest first.
| Campaign | Filed | What | Model years | Repaired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26V481000 | Jul 24, 2026 | Rollaway Risk from Door Switch Failure | 2022, 2023 | — |
| 26V281000 | May 1, 2026 | Blank Instrument Panel Display | 2025, 2026 | 85.1% |
| 25V255000 | May 12, 2025 | Incorrect Fuse Box Installed | 2023 | 88% |
| 25V253000 | May 2, 2025 | Loose Seat Belt May Not Restrain Occupant Properly | 2022–2025 | 82.6% |
| 24V446000 | Jun 14, 2024 | Wire Connected to Pre-Fuse Box Could Be Loose | 2022, 2023 | 90.6% |
| 24V115000 | Feb 16, 2024 | 80-Amp Fuse May Fail | 2023, 2024 | 96.4% |
| 23V880000 | Dec 21, 2023 | Fuel Pump Shutdown May Cause Loss of Drive Power | 2022, 2023, 2024 | 88.6% |
| 23V854000 | Dec 15, 2023 | Roof Panel May Detach From Vehicle | 2015–2020 | 40.6% |
| 23V462000 | Jun 30, 2023 | Loss of Drive Power | 2022, 2023 | 96% |
| 23V463000 | Jun 30, 2023 | Improperly Secured Electrical Wiring Harness | 2022, 2023 | 95.1% |
| 23V445000 | Jun 26, 2023 | Loss of Drive Power from Fuel Pump Shutdown | 2021, 2022, 2023 | 92.2% |
| 22V678000 | Sep 12, 2022 | Short Circuit from Moisture Accumulation in Trunk | 2022 | 96.7% |
| 22V365000 | May 20, 2022 | Disabled Emergency Call System | 2017–2021 | 90.6% |
| 22V232000 | Apr 8, 2022 | Inoperable Rearview Camera Display/FMVSS 111 | 2019, 2020, 2021 | 92.4% |
| 22V189000 | Mar 25, 2022 | Steering Wheel Hands-Off Detection Software Error | 2022 | 97.9% |
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. Open a model-year page for each campaign's official text, or check your VIN on NHTSA.
Check on NHTSA ↗Fuel economy by model year
EPA combined mpg range across engine and transmission configurations. Your mileage will vary. Source: EPA, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Where to next
Mercedes-Benz C300 FAQ
How many recalls has the Mercedes-Benz C300 had?
NHTSA lists 65 recall campaigns that cover at least one Mercedes-Benz C300 model year from 2008 to 2026. Each campaign card on the model-year pages has NHTSA's official text and the repair completion rate. Only NHTSA's VIN lookup can tell you whether a specific car was repaired.
Which Mercedes-Benz C300 year has the most complaints?
Among the last 14 model years with settled counts, the 2008 drew the most owner complaints filed with NHTSA (672) and the 2021 the fewest (14). Counts are owner reports, not failure rates, and sales volume affects them.
What are the most common Mercedes-Benz C300 problems?
Across the 2017–2026 model years, owners most often name the engine, unknown or other, electrical system in complaints filed with NHTSA.
What mpg does the Mercedes-Benz C300 get?
EPA rates the 2026 Mercedes-Benz C300 at 29 mpg combined, depending on engine and transmission.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.