Summary
The Mercedes-Benz C300 has 7 recalls covering 2010 through 2017, with the most serious being a Takata airbag inflator defect on the passenger side affecting 2010-2017 models where the inflator can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin, causing serious injury or death. This inflator issue spans the full production range covered here and was prioritized based on vehicles originally sold or registered in high-humidity states and territories, though later filings broadened the scope considerably.
On 2016-2017 models, the electric power steering assist can cut out due to a faulty weld in the motor's electrical contacts, leaving the driver with significantly heavier steering effort, particularly at low speeds. A separate software error on certain 2016 C300 4Matic vehicles can also cause the power steering system to shut down, with the same practical result at lower speeds. Also on 2016 models, a narrow production window of vehicles may have a panoramic sunroof glass panel that can detach while driving and become a hazard to occupants or surrounding traffic. Some 2016 sedans and 4Matic models built between February and May of that year may have an electronic stability control unit that was damaged before installation, which can cause the system to activate unexpectedly and alter the vehicle's path, and can also prevent the electronic parking brake from holding the vehicle. Going back to 2015, a small group of C300 and C400 models built in the summer of 2014 have headlamps that do not meet federal lighting standards, meaning the low beam aim cannot be correctly adjusted, reducing road illumination or increasing glare for oncoming drivers.
