NHTSA (USA)High Risk
At a glance
What can fail
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.
This page covers 5 recalls and EPA fuel economy for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C350e.
30 mpg combined
7.8 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.
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz C350e has 5 recalls, the most serious involving a roof panel that can detach from the vehicle and land in the path of other traffic, and a driver airbag that can deploy without warning.
The roof panel issue appears in two related recalls: the adhesive bonding between the front roof panel and the body can deteriorate and allow the panel to break free, and prior repair attempts to address this problem may not have correctly rebonded the panel, leaving it still at risk of separating. Both situations result in a large piece of the roof becoming a road hazard. The airbag concern is separate: the driver airbag can deploy on its own without a crash occurring, which raises the risk of injury to the driver and can cause loss of vehicle control. On the electrical side, a component in the starter circuit called a current limiter can overheat and melt the surrounding parts, creating a fire risk. The fifth recall involves the vehicle's emergency call system, where a software fault causes the system to report an incorrect date and time, which can result in inaccurate location data being sent to emergency responders and delay help from reaching the vehicle.
At a glance
What can fail
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.
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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
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
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
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
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.