NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
An incorrect fuse box not designed for your vehicle may have been installed during a previous repair, potentially causing electrical system failures.
This page covers 8 recalls and 22 owner complaints for the 2023 Mercedes-Benz C 300.
The dominant complaint pattern for the 2023 Mercedes-Benz C 300 centers on the automatic emergency braking system. Owners frequently describe the system triggering unexpectedly, bringing the vehicle to a sudden, unintended stop at various speeds and in situations where no obstacle was present, including while accelerating from a stop and while reversing out of parking spaces. Several owners report the vehicle stopping abruptly without any brake pedal input and without warning lights. Tires and service brakes each draw a small handful of complaints, but neither approaches the volume of the collision-avoidance reports. A few owners also describe the panoramic sunroof shattering spontaneously while driving at highway speeds, with no reported external impact, an isolated but notable pattern that appears in more than one report.
22
Total Complaints
2
Crash-Related
1
With Injuries
By System
The 2023 Mercedes-Benz C 300 has 8 recalls, with several serious electrical issues that can cut drive power without warning, disable the airbag and restraint systems, or start a fire in the engine compartment.
Most of the recalls center on electrical wiring and fuse problems. A loose bolt at the pre-fuse box connection can cause a wire to overheat and potentially catch fire, while also killing drive power. The transmission wiring harness may be the wrong length and can chafe and fail, and improperly secured ground connections on the wiring harness create another overheating and fire risk. Faulty 80-amp fuses can fail suddenly, cutting drive power or disabling critical systems like airbags and the instrument cluster. A separate concern affects vehicles that were previously serviced under an earlier recall: a wrong fuse box may have been installed during that repair, creating the same risks of power loss and safety system failure. There are also two fuel pump recalls that overlap in scope, both describing a fuel pump that can shut down and leave the driver without engine power while moving. On the safety equipment side, the driver-side seatbelt anchor can come loose from the tensioner cover, meaning the belt may not hold properly in a crash.
At a glance
What can fail
An incorrect fuse box not designed for your vehicle may have been installed during a previous repair, potentially causing electrical system failures.
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the main fuse boxes at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver-side seat belt cover may not be properly installed on the seat belt tensioner, which can allow the seat belt anchor to come loose.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and repair the seat belt covers as needed at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The bolt that secures the electrical wire to the pre-fuse box may not be tight enough, causing the wire to overheat.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the wiring harness and repair it as needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The 80-Amp fuses in the main fuse box may have been manufactured incorrectly, causing them to fail.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the main fuse boxes at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fuel pump may unexpectedly shut down, causing the engine to lose power while driving.
What the fix does
The fuel pump will be replaced at no cost to you at an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The electrical wiring harness ground connections may not be properly secured, potentially causing the harness to overheat.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and repair the ground connections for the electrical wiring harness at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The transmission wiring harness may be incorrect length, causing it to become damaged and result in loss of drive power.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the transmission wiring harness routing and repair it as needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fuel pump may shut down unexpectedly, causing a loss of engine power while driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the fuel pump at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.