NHTSA (USA)High Risk
At a glance
What can fail
This page covers 13 recalls, 284 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300.
28 mpg combined
8.4 L/100km
Compact Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted.
Engine and fuel/propulsion complaints dominate what 2016 C300 owners report. On the engine side, owners frequently describe oil consumption, camshaft-related failures, and timing chain issues that can lead to rough running or loss of power. The fuel and propulsion category draws reports of stalling, hesitation, and hard starts, sometimes tied to fuel system components. Structure complaints, while lower in volume, center on rear subframe corrosion, owners describe significant rust perforation at suspension mounting points, which several flag as a structural concern on vehicles in higher-moisture regions. A recurring secondary theme involves the panoramic sunroof, where owners report the glass binding or tilting due to plastic track failures, leading to water intrusion and jamming. The electronic parking brake also draws scattered reports of unintended engagement, with owners describing a specific sequence of steps needed to release it after the vehicle sits parked.
284
Total Complaints
7
Crash-Related
5
Fire-Related
8
With Injuries
By System
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 has 13 recalls, the most serious involving an airbag that can deploy without warning, a starter component that can overheat and melt surrounding parts causing a fire, and fuel injectors that can leak near hot engine surfaces and also ignite.
Two recalls involve roof and body structure: the adhesive bonding on the front roof panel can deteriorate and allow the panel to detach at speed, becoming a road hazard. A separate recall notes this same issue can recur on vehicles where an earlier repair was not completed correctly. On the steering side, a fault in the steering rack on rear-wheel drive models can make the vehicle difficult to control, and the electric power steering assist can cut out either due to a wiring contact failure or a software error, both requiring extra effort to steer, especially at low speeds. The airbag control software on some vehicles may also fail to fire the airbags in a crash. A panoramic sunroof panel can detach while driving on certain vehicles built during a narrow production window. The electronic stability control unit may have been damaged before installation, which can cause unexpected changes in the vehicle's path and prevent the electronic parking brake from working. Finally, two related recalls cover the emergency call system, which can send incorrect location data to first responders after a crash.
At a glance
What can fail
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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 →
The front roof panel between the windshield and panoramic sunroof may have been improperly bonded during a prior repair, causing the panel to detach from the vehicle.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front roof panel at no charge to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Manufacturing debris may be trapped between the fuel rail and injectors, potentially causing fuel to leak.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the fuel rail and fuel injectors at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front roof panel between the windshield and panoramic sunroof may not be properly bonded to the vehicle from a previous repair, risking separation.
What the fix does
The dealer will remove and replace the front roof panel using proper bonding materials and procedures at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The communication module software may fail to send your vehicle's correct location to emergency services when the eCall system activates during a crash.
What the fix does
A dealer will update the communication module software, or the update will be sent over-the-air, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software error causes the eCall emergency system's date and time to be incorrect, which may result in an inaccurate vehicle location being sent during an emergency call.
What the fix does
Mercedes-Benz will send a remote software update to your vehicle. Dealers will verify the update worked or install a new communication module software at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A locknut in the steering rack may break under heavy load, potentially causing the steering to lock in one position.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the steering rack at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver's airbag may deploy unexpectedly if the steering components lack proper grounding and the airbag clockspring is broken, allowing electrostatic discharge to trigger deployment.
What the fix does
Dealers will add grounding to the steering components to prevent electrostatic discharge from triggering the airbag.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The electrical contacts connecting to the power steering motor may not be properly welded, potentially causing loss of electrical contact and power steering function.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the electric power steering rack at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Control unit software may be incorrect, potentially preventing airbags from deploying properly during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the control unit software at no cost to restore proper airbag deployment function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
When the engine or transmission won't start, the starter motor keeps trying to turn over. This repeated effort can cause the starting current limiter to overheat.
What the fix does
A dealer will install an additional fuse in the electrical line to the starter motor to protect against overheating.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Electronic Stability Program control unit may have been damaged before installation, affecting vehicle stability control.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the ESP Hydraulic control units at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software error may cause the electric power steering assist system to unexpectedly shut down while driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the software in the electric power steering control unit at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The panoramic sunroof glass may not be properly bonded to the vehicle, which could cause the glass to detach and fall during driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the rear sunroof glass bonding and replace the glass panel if needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.