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 16 owner complaints for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C450.
Complaints about the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C450 are spread across a small number of reports, with wheels and structural issues drawing the most attention. On the wheels side, owners describe problems consistent with wheel or related component failures, though the details across reports vary. The structural complaints center on the panoramic sunroof, where multiple owners describe the roof panel or rails detaching or coming loose while driving, in a few cases the panel shifted or opened on its own at speed, and one owner reports the glass separating from the vehicle entirely on the highway. A single owner describes a propeller shaft universal joint fracturing at freeway speed, resulting in what they say was severe damage to the transmission and exhaust, though this appears to be an isolated report. One owner also mentions the gear selector behaving erratically when shifting between drive and reverse.
16
Total Complaints
By System
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz C450 has 5 recalls, the most serious being an electrical fire risk where an overheating starting current limiter can melt surrounding components under the hood.
Two recalls involve the roof panel that sits between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof. The adhesive bonding that holds this front roof panel in place can deteriorate and allow the panel to detach while driving, turning it into a road hazard for other vehicles. A separate recall addresses cases where a prior repair attempt on this same panel may not have bonded it correctly, leaving the same detachment risk even on vehicles that were previously serviced. On the panoramic sunroof itself, the glass panel on certain vehicles built within a narrow window in late December 2015 can come loose and detach during operation, posing a direct hazard to other drivers and pedestrians nearby. There is also a software issue with the emergency call system, where a fault causes the system to report an incorrect date and time, which can result in an inaccurate vehicle location being sent to emergency responders and delay help from reaching the scene of a crash.
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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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 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
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 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.