2015 MERCEDES BENZ C 300

What owners reported to NHTSA, ranked by how often and how seriously.

This is complaint data, not a random sample.

It only includes owners who chose to file a federal complaint, so it over-represents dramatic and safety-related problems and under-represents minor issues an owner just had fixed without reporting. Read this as what NHTSA complainants report most, not as this vehicle's true failure rate. Full methodology.

Component ranking

  1. #1

    engine internal

    3 stranded, 58 unsafe, 1 broken, 6 annoyance

    68
    incidents
    Typical range: 48,000–78,000 mi

    Median 58,000 mi, based on 27 reports (70% had no usable mileage)

    • "I HAD TWO ISSUES WITHIN 2 MONTHS OF BUYING THE CAR EARLIER IN THIS. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN EARLY FEB 2015. I HEARD A LOUD SOUND IN THE HEATING UNIT, THEN A SMALL CLICKING SOUND ENSUED FOR OVER A WEEK. BROUGHT IT IN, THE MOTOR HAD BLOWN, SO THEY REPLACED IT W…"~1,500 mi, complaint #1218813
    • "In March of 2020 I was driving home from work. I stopped at a red light. When it turned green, I proceeded to step on the gas. My car started making noises and shaking as I drove. My check engine light came on. I was able to pull over without incident. My vehi…"~48,000 mi, complaint #1755622
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND BEGAN TO HESITATE. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PARK ON TH…"~58,000 mi, complaint #1618215
    • "THERE IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE 2015 M274 MERCEDES ENGINE REGARDING THE WRIST PINS. MERCEDES HAS ISSUED NUMEROUS INTERNAL SERVICE BULLETINS ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE ENGINES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH WRIST PINS WITH TOO MUCH TOLERANCE THAT SLAP AGAINST THE PISTON WHEN…"~70,500 mi, complaint #1722373
    • "The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where the diagnostic test retrieved c…"~125,000 mi, complaint #1919683
  2. #2

    fuel tank and lines

    1 stranded, 36 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    38
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=20, median 42,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that after refueling, the contact smelled a gasoline odor throughout the interior of the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, w…"~10,000 mi, complaint #1933107
    • "AT COLD START, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE HEATER IS ON, THE CABIN SMELLS OF RAW GASOLINE. THE ISSUE IS QUITE ANNOYING AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. AFTER PERFORMING A GOOGLE SEARCH ABOUT THE PROBLEM, I'VE NOTICED THAT OTHERS WHO OWN W205 HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. THI…"~31,782 mi, complaint #1551246
    • "STRONG FUEL SMELL IN THE GARAGE AND INSIDE THE VEHICLE DURING COLD START AFTER THE VEHICLE IS PARKED FOR 8-12 HOURS. THE ISSUE IS EVEN MORE NOTICEABLE DURING COLDER WEATHER (BELOW 40). THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FOR C300 AND IS DUE TO A D…"~44,000 mi, complaint #1623156
    • "WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD THE WHOLE CABIN SMELLS LIKE GAS OR WHEN PUT HEAT ON. THE SMELL IS VERY HEAVY WHEN VEHICLE IS STATIONARY WHEN DRIVE IT CALLS DOWN, BUT AT A LIGHT IT COMES BACK. MERCEDES HAS MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM"~60,000 mi, complaint #1645324
    • "The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that a strong fuel odor could be smelled from both inside and outside the vehicle. The vehicle had to be serviced for the failure; however, upon inspection, the contact believed that the source of…"~102,000 mi, complaint #1784085
  3. #3

    sunroof

    32 unsafe, 3 broken, 2 annoyance

    37
    incidents
    Typical range: 50,000–74,500 mi

    Median 58,000 mi, based on 30 reports (46% had no usable mileage)

    • "MY SUNROOF EXPLODED/SHATTERED WHILE I WAS DRIVING TODAY, TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 45MPH ON CITY ROAD AFTER TURNING A CORNER. OUTSIDE TEMP WAS AROUND 85 AND INSIDE CAR WAS 75. CAR HAS AROUND 6800 MILES, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT HIT THE SUNROOF. SCARY SITUATION…"~6,800 mi, complaint #1368231
    • "The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that when she opened the panoramic roof, she heard a grinding noise and sunroof failed to close as designed. The contact then stated that the panoramic roof failed to open and close as needed. The…"~48,000 mi, complaint #1843675
    • "PANORAMIC SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED WHILE THE CAR WAS SITTING. MERCEDES CLAIMING SOMETHING FELL INTO IT, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING ABOVE IT OR IN THE CAR WHILE IT WAS SITTING IN THE GARAGE. AFTER READING ONLINE, THIS IS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF OTHER CONSUMERS,…"~58,400 mi, complaint #1527521
    • "The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that the sun roof ceased in the open position. The contact stated that the adhesive on the paneling had deteriorated which caused the sun roof to lose functionality. The vehicle was not taken to th…"~61,000 mi, complaint #1748293
    • "ON JULY 19, 2020, I WAS DRIVING MY MB C300, ON HIGHWAY 301 IN BRADENTON FLORIDA. SUDDENLY, I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT. I WAS TERRIFIED. ONCE, I CALMED DOWN AND WAS ABLE TO GET TO A SAFE LOCATION, UPON EXAMINATION, I DISCOVERED THAT MY SUNROOF HAD…"~86,000 mi, complaint #1678080
  4. #4

    engine cooling

    8 unsafe, 10 annoyance

    18
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V114000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A…"~20,000 mi, complaint #1409701
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, AN UNIDENTIFIED WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING AND NEEDED TO BE TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED…"~20,000 mi, complaint #1412827
  5. #5

    corrosion and rust

    16 unsafe

    16
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the dealer for routine service, a corrosion inspection was performed. The contact was informed of a rust hole in the sub frame. The vehicle was not repaired. The manuf…"~76,000 mi, complaint #1961477
  6. #6

    adas collision warning

    14 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    15
    incidents
    Typical range: 8,000–32,000 mi

    Median 13,500 mi, based on 27 reports (7% had no usable mileage)

    • "1. WARNING LIGHT "INOPERATIVE COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS" COMES UP ON THE DISPLAY ON & OFF WHEN DRIVING. CAR WAS SENT TO SERVICE ON 4/22 BUT DIDN'T DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME ON 4/23. 2. ON 4/24, WARNING LIGHT "INOPERATIVE COLLISION…"~1,750 mi, complaint #1177566
    • "WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE PASSING LANE, A WARNING MESSAGE INDICATED THE ACCIDENT AVOIDANCE SYSTEM WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THIS DEACTIVATED THE ACCELERATOR, I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE CAR, SQUEEZED BETWEEN CARS AND COASTED TO A STOP. TURNED OFF CAR AND CALLE…"~8,000 mi, complaint #1232683
    • "WHILE DRIVING "COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS INOPERATIVE" MESSAGE APPEARS ON DASHBOARD. CAR LOSES ITS ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. OCCURRED TWICE (JANUARY 2015) ON CITY STREETS FORCING ME TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTART MY CAR, THE ERROR DISAPP…"~10,500 mi, complaint #1274182
    • "NEW CAR PURCHASES IN 2015, FEWER THAN 25000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING LOCALLY, "COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST" MALFUNCTION AND "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHTS LIT UP THE DASH BOARD. VEHICLE WOULD NOT PICK UP SPEED AND DRIVING WAS WEIRD. WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO DEALERSHIP WHICH IS…"~23,000 mi, complaint #1352689
    • "ON FEBRUARY 9TH, DURING MY MORNING COMMUTE ON THE INTERSTATE THE CAR LOST POWER TO THE DRIVETRAIN. MESSAGE THAT DISPLAYS WAS "COLLISION ASSIST PLUS INOPERATIVE" ALONG WITH CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE. WITH AN AMBER ESP LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THERE WAS NO ENGINE LI…"~91,000 mi, complaint #1728483
  7. #7

    other

    8 unsafe, 5 annoyance

    13
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=10, median 81,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY IN AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT GERBER COLLISION & GLASS ([REDACTED ADDRESS], HENDERSON, NV 89074) HOWEVER, WHILE LEAVING THE COLLISION CENTER, THE CON…"~55,321 mi, complaint #1734567
    • "The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes Benz C300. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V197000 (STRUCTURE) however, the part to do the recall was unavailable. The contact stated on June 18, 2021, while driving 55 mph, the roof plastic panel…"~59,000 mi, complaint #1753304
    • "The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while his girlfriend was driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The vehicle independently pulled to the left and cross…"~103,000 mi, complaint #1979157
  8. #8

    steering electric assist

    13 unsafe

    13
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=17, median 29,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "THE STEERING MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOST POWER. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHERE IT BECOME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO MANEUVER THE CAR. I PUT ON MY EMERGENCY INDICATOR AND GOT THE CAR INTO A PARKING LOT AS SAFETY AS I COULD. HAD…"~975 mi, complaint #1177581
    • " I WAS DRIVING ON A RURAL BACK ROAD AT 30 MILES, THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. A WARNING APPEARED SAYING "MALFUNCTION OF POWER STEERING". I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME, ABOUT ONE MILE, BUT WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY. I CALLED MERCEDES BENZ. THEY SENT A TOW TRU…"~3,351 mi, complaint #1205687
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL EMITTED AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER HAD NOT YET DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE…"~8,000 mi, complaint #1233793
    • "LOSS OF STEERING WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. EXTREMELY UNSAFE. ERROR MESSAGE DISPLAYED FRONTAL LEFT MALFUNCTION SERVICE REQUIRED. VEHICLE INOPERABLE. STEERING WHEEL JUST SPINS NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE"~29,000 mi, complaint #1514447
    • "The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the power steering assist warning light illuminated, and the steering wheel became firm. The contact was able to pull over safely on the side of the road. The vehicle was towe…"~100,000 mi, complaint #1890932
  9. #9

    glass and windshield

    12 unsafe

    12
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=6)

    • "EXPLODING PANORAMIC ROOF. ON JANUARY 18, 2019, TWO HOURS INTO DRIVING FROM NEW YORK TO CANADA FOR A FAMILY VACATION, WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE PANORAMIC ROOF TO OUR 2015 MERCEDES BENZ C300 4MATIC SUDDENLY AND VIOLENTLY EXPLODED. AT…"~30,000 mi, complaint #1532831
    • "AT HIGHWAY DRIVING SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH, THE GLASS TRIM PANEL OF THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF VIBRATES AND FLAPS WILDLY. IT IS NOT SECURELY ATTACHED TO THE ROOF OF THE CAR. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT REPLACED. IT WILL FLY OFF AND HIT THE VEHICLE BEHIND…"~37,000 mi, complaint #1577785
    • "SUN ROOF FIX GLASS FLEW OFF OF VEHICLES IN TRAFFIC WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. ADHESIVE GLUE FAILED TO KEEP THE PART ATTACHED."~65,000 mi, complaint #1649654
    • "The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal flapping sound coming from the opened panoramic moon roof. The contact reached up into the open moon roof and discovered that the adhesive bondin…"~68,000 mi, complaint #1768627
    • "I STARTED EXPERIENCING LOUD WIND NOISE COMING FROM THE TOP OF MY CAR NEAR MY WINDSHIELD WHEN DRIVING OVER 40MPH. I PULLED OVER AND EXAMINED THE AREA AND FOUND THAT THE TOP LEFT GLASS PANEL IN FRONT OF THE SUNROOF ON MY 2015 MERCEDES BENZ C300 WAS SLIGHTLY PROP…"~75,000 mi, complaint #1684615
  10. #10

    engine oil consumption

    8 unsafe, 3 annoyance

    11
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "MY VEHICLE'S Positive Crankcase ventilation valve NEEDS REPLACING. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE FOR A WEEK IM LEARNING THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE'S MAKE MODEL AND YEAR AND IS LIKELY TO OCCUR MORE THAN ONE TIME IN THE VEHILES LIFETIME.…"complaint #1801796
    • "2015 C 300 Mercedes Benz Crankcase ventilation/ oil separator is bad. Vehicle has only 50,000 miles. Please help, Mercedes should have this on recall, a lot of people has this same issue. Thanks "complaint #1809471
    • "Car is at 60,000 Miles and code for Positive crankcase ventilation appeared. Why does this happen to a trouble free car after warranty runs out?????????? Seems like hundreds of complaints all over the internet and Dealer charging big money to fix their design…"complaint #1857866
    • "The dealership is staying I have an issue with the crankcase valve vent and this seems to be a known issue effecting years 2015-2018."complaint #1861685
    • "Common problem mercedes hasn’t addressed from the factory crankcase breather element at less than 50,000 miles and the smell pf gas that comes in to the cabin is horrible"complaint #1862857
  11. #11

    engine stall or no start

    2 stranded, 7 unsafe

    9
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "DONT KNOW WHICH CATEGORY IT FALLS. I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN AUGUST 2015. IN ONE WEEK IT WOULD NOT START EVEN. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID, THE GROUNDING SCREW WAS LOOSE. I AM SO SURPRISED THAT A CAR COMES OUT FROM FACTORY WITH A LOOSE GROUNDING ISSUE. IN TH…"~46,500 mi, complaint #1456338
    • "WHILE THE VEHICLE IN MOTION, HEARING A LOUD SOUNDS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. AT FIRST IT'S SOUNDED LIKE A ROCK IN A TIN CAN, LATER IT WAS A SLAPPING SOUND. ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER FINALLY GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY AND TURNED IN TO MY NEIGHBOR HOOD. AT THE LAST RIGHT TU…"~70,000 mi, complaint #1630598
  12. #12

    airbag system

    8 unsafe

    8
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=6)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS PARTIALLY DEPLOYED WITH AN UNKNOWN ERROR MESSAGE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WA…"~4,500 mi, complaint #1233644
    • "MY CAR WOULDN'T START. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A RECALL PART SINCE FEBRUARY. LAST NIGHT I HAD AN SRS MALFUNCTION PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG. MERCEDES TOLD ME TODAY I DON'T HAVE A RECALL FOR AIRBAGS BUT I THINK IT IS A TAKATA AIRBAG PROBLEM THAT'S HASN'T BEEN REPO…"~21,000 mi, complaint #1412902
    • "The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the front driver’s side air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the mechanic stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure liste…"~50,000 mi, complaint #1902462
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ C-300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. A POLICE OFFICER HAD PULLED OVER ANOTHER VEHICLE AHEAD ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE IN FRONT MADE A COMPLETE STOP. AS A RESULT, IN TRANSI…"~99,000 mi, complaint #1588645
  13. #13

    evap system

    8 unsafe

    8
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "Got error code P052E when performing state inspection for my car. This looks like "Positive Crankcase Ventilation Regulator Valve" issue and have seen lot of people who owns Mercedes Benz reported this issue. "complaint #1804438
    • "Check engine light came on and gave code P052E PCV Regulator Valve Performance"complaint #1813636
    • "I have an emissions related Check Engine Light (P052E71) relating to the Evaporative/Crankcase ventilation system. I think this should be a Recalled/Warrantee item on the 10 year/100,000 miles federally mandated guarantee. Please advise..."complaint #1863506
    • "Check engine light came on and strong fuel smell. Crankcase ventilation malfunction code was verified by dealer. "complaint #1876238
    • "P052E PCV value problem Google search results show this is a very common problem, and despite being a component of the vehicle emissions system, Mercedes is refusing to repair under the emissions warranty."complaint #1928490
  14. #14

    infotainment head unit

    4 unsafe, 3 annoyance

    7
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=10, median 38,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "2015 MERCEDES BENZ C300 (W205) HACKED SATELLITES ISSUE ON MON MAR 19, 2018 AFFECTING COMMAND/AUDIO 20 SYSTEM INITIAL ISSUE: *BLUETOOTH AUDIO WOULD NOT CONNECT SUBSEQUENT ISSUES: *RADIO SELECTION FREEZES ALL OPERATIONS FOR ABOUT 60-SECONDS, AND DOES NO…"~20,020 mi, complaint #1456620
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DIGITAL SCREEN USED TO UTILIZE THE BACK UP CAMERA, RADIO AND BLIND SPOT FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD RESULT IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO…"~24,000 mi, complaint #1457229
    • "I HAVE A 2015 MERCEDES BENZ C300. I HAVE NOT EVEN OWNED THE CAR FOR ONE YEAR AND I HAVE ALREADY HAD A WHOLE LIST OF PROBLEMS THAT ARE NOT BEING RESOLVED. THE STEREO QUIT WORKING, THE BACK UP CAMERA DOESN'T WORK, THE AC WORKS ON AND OFF, AND MY HANDS FREE DOES…"~30,000 mi, complaint #1458168
    • "ENTERTAINMENT UNIT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. HAPPENED OUT OF NOWHERE ONE DAY TURNED ON THE CAR AND IT WAS FROZEN. BACK UP CAMERA 9/10 TIMES DOES NOT WORK AND WHEN IT DOES IT TURNS ON AFTER YOU HAVE BACKED UP AND ARE ALREADY GOING FORWARD. UNIT FREEZES UNABLE TO CH…"~40,000 mi, complaint #1476209
    • "THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE MENTIONED ABOVE. THE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM AND THE REAR CAMERA DO NOT WORK. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN REGARDING THE REAR CAMERA. THE C-CLASS IS DESIGNED IN SUCH WAY THAT YOU DEPEND ON THE CAMERA WHEN REVERSING…"~60,000 mi, complaint #1462124
  15. #15

    suspension arms and bushings

    5 unsafe

    5
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "The defect is a rusted rear subframe with large holes that will break and cause wheels to become detached and lost control of the vehicle. The issue was identified and repaired by an authorized Mercedes dealership. Additionally, an authorized Mercedes mechanic…"complaint #2021098
    • "Rear subframe broke while driving- made stearing/controlling/breaking car very difficult & dangerous.... After reviewing on internet- MB is aware of this problem"complaint #2084890
    • "Rear-subframe corrosion at the lower-control-arm mounts has progressed to the point where both arms have play and produce loud metallic bangs while braking or turning at low speed. Two independent shops lifted the car, documented flaking rust around the bushin…"complaint #2096072
    • "On January 21,2025, I had an appointment for an inspection at Mercedes Benz of Smithtown, the dealership I use. I was informed that my car required replacement of a rotted rear subframe. A hole had rotted through, causing the car to "Fail inspection and was N…"complaint #2112852
    • "Failed/Malfunctioned Component: Rear subframe (structural/chassis component) exhibited advanced corrosion (perforation/rust-through), compromising structural integrity and alignment/handling. Availability for Inspection: Yes. The vehicle and the subframe are a…"complaint #2167988
  16. #16

    control module

    4 unsafe

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while idling at a stop light, the STOP/START system activated; however, after releasing the brake pedal and attempting to accelerate, the instrument panel illuminated simultaneously with sever…"~158,000 mi, complaint #2009489
  17. #17

    wiring harness

    4 unsafe

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS INOPERATIVE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT RODENTS CHEWED THE WIRING AND THE WIRING…"~1,800 mi, complaint #1334320
  18. #18

    fuel pump

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ C300W4. WHEN THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF FARMINGTON ([REDACTED ADDRESS], FARMINGTON, UT 84…"~54,971 mi, complaint #1618963
    • "2015 MERCEDES BENZ C300 WITH 65 K MILES. THE SECONDARY HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (274070050180) LEAKED GAS SERIOUSLY. IT WAS THE UNIT ITSELF NOT THE CONNECTIONS OR LINES TO IT."~65,000 mi, complaint #1635169
  19. #19

    suspension struts shocks

    1 unsafe, 2 annoyance

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "VIBRATION AT HIGH SPEED AROUND 70 M/H. VIBRATION DURING WARM UP AFTER A COLD START. NOISE COMING OUT FROM UNKNOWN PARTS POSSIBLY SUSPENSION WHEN RUNNING OVER BUMPS AT LOW SPEED AROUND 7 M/H. *TR"~1,000 mi, complaint #1173690
    • "THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SUSPENSION SQUEAKS WHEN WHEEL IS TURNED OR GOING OVER BUMPS. THIS CAR IS LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD AND AROUND 50K MILES. I AM HOPEFUL THIS IS NOT A DANGEROUS FLAW IN THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM."~50,000 mi, complaint #1564022
    • "The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that approximately every 6-8 months, the vehicle sputtered while driving at various speeds or while idling. The contact stated that a month after the first failure had occurred, the front end of th…"~110,000 mi, complaint #2071205
  20. #20

    tire failure

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "While driving, heard loud flapping noise and when stopped discovered the tread on driver side rear tire had separated from the tire and was hitting wheel well, and passenger door. Road was clear and smooth prior to the incident Happened Saturday, March 5, 20…"complaint #1799873
    • "There wasn’t any warning lamps prior to my rear right tire exploding on highway. "complaint #1803547
    • "The tire exploded on highway,left sever damage on my car. The dealership ruined even more by trying to fix it. I think this tires are not safe to drive on the road. since I didn’t use the car less then 4000 miles a year. "complaint #1803559
  21. #21

    brake pads and rotors

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST WHEN DRIVEN EVEN A FEW MILES. FEEL INSECURE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC."~20,000 mi, complaint #1548115
    • "The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes C300. The contact stated that the driver's side rear brakes and rotors were rusted. The contact stated that when the brakes were applied, they were slow to respond. The TPMS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken…"~176,000 mi, complaint #2210804
  22. #22

    door latch and hinge

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "MY VEHICLE, A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ C300 PURCHASED ON 6/6/15 WITH APPROXIMATELY 1200 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. ON MONDAY MORNING 7/20/15, AT APPROXIMATELY 5:30 AM PDT, I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE INTERIOR LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE DRIVERS DOOR POPPED OPEN. TH…"~1,200 mi, complaint #1200933
  23. #23

    driveshaft axle cv

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THERE WAS A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING WITH THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO…"~62,000 mi, complaint #1648349
  24. #24

    engine turbo supercharger

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE TURBO ENGINE SEIZED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO OPEN ROAD MERCEDES-BENZ (1250 US-22, BRIDGEWATER, NJ 08807, [REDACTED PHONE]) WHERE IT WAS DIA…"~45,000 mi, complaint #1491094
  25. #25

    fuel injector

    1 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND JERKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED…"~9,800 mi, complaint #1370151
  26. #26

    seatbelt and pretensioner

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "BACK DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT HARD TO ENGAGE AND WILL COME UNENGAGED WITHOUT PROMPTING. BRAKE PADS WEAR OUT EVERY 30,000 MILES BACK PASSENGER SIDE TIRE AND VALVE HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES IN LESS THAN 70,000 MILES AND STILL LOOSES AIR INTERMITTENTLY. CAR CAN B…"~27,000 mi, complaint #1625654
  27. #27

    software or update

    1 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "RADIO, BLUETOOTH TELEPHONY COMMAND CONTROL STOPPED WORKING (ERROR MESSAGE SAYS 'DEVICE UNAVAILABLE'); ON MAR 19 2018, MERCEDES BENZ DEALER (CHICAGO) REPRESENTATIVE SAID THE CAR NEEDS SOFTWARE UPDATE BUT COULD NOT SAY WHEN THE UPDATE WILL BE AVAILABLE. LACK OF…"~31,550 mi, complaint #1456066
  28. #28

    stability and traction control

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY & LOCAL ROADS, THE CAR SUDDENLY BECAME UNRESPONSIVE AND STARTED SHOWING MESSAGES THAT ALL SYSTEMS ARE INOPERATIVE. PRE SAFE FUNCTIONS LIMITED,AND INOPERATIVE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON ALONG WITH THE BLINDSPOT NOT ACTIVA…"~27,000 mi, complaint #1340436
    • "WHEN ACCELERATING WITH MY MERCEDES C300, THE CAR IS ACTUALLY LOOSING POWER. THE EFFECT IS REINFORCED AS THE CONTROLLING SYSTEM IS BLOCKING THE ACCELERATION. RESULT IS THAT THE CAR IS BRAKING SUDDENLY INSTEAD OF ACCELERATING. IT IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS WHE…"~49,000 mi, complaint #1550233
  29. #29

    wheel or rim

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "I WAS DRIVING 580-E AND MERGING ONTO I-5 S WHEN I HIT A HUMONGOUS POT HOLE WITH MY LEFT FONT TIRE CAUSING IT TO IMMEDIATELY BLOW OUT. THAT IN-TURN CAUSED MY STABILITY TRACKING TO ENGAGE, WHICH CAUSED ME TO SLOW DOWN DRASTICALLY. THAT CAUSED ANOTHER VEHICLE T…"~21,000 mi, complaint #1360358
    • "I HEARD A VERY BIG DEVASTATING NOISE WHILE DRIVING MY 2015 MERCEDES BENZ-C300 ON A LOCAL ROAD IN RALEIGH, NC AT ABOUT 40 MPH. SINCE I DID NOT SEE ANY TPMS (TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM) OR ANY OTHER KIND OF ALERT ON THE SCREEN, I CONTINUED TO DRIVE. AFTER D…"~23,500 mi, complaint #1322830
  30. #30

    abs module

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "My crankcase vent valve needs to be replaced also EBD traction abs module which alone cost over 1500 for part needs to be replaced"complaint #1923228
  31. #31

    acceleration loss or hesitation

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "CAR LOOSES SPEED WHILE DRIVING IN THE STREET OR A HIGHWAY. NO CODE HAVE BEEN DETECTED IN THE COMPUTER. I HAVE BEEN TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THEY HAVEN'T FOUND WHAT'S THE PROBLEM."complaint #1569439
  32. #32

    adas blind spot

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "Blind Spot Assis Inoperative. This message appears on dashboard showing the malfunction of the blind spot sensors. This always happen when the weather temp is hot and also while driving during rain. This concern is putting me, my wife and kids in high risk and…"complaint #1917820
  33. #33

    battery and charging

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "REGARDLESS OF DRIVING THROUGH CITY STREETS, EXPRESSWAY OR IN PLACE THE SCREEN TO MY VEHICLE DISPLAYS 'STOP VEHICLE SHIFT TO PARK LEAVE ENGINE RUNNING' WITH AN IMAGE OF A BATTERY ABOVE. *TR"complaint #1661710
  34. #34

    emissions aftertreatment

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "Check Engine light came on recently, fault code P052E is identified by scanner. Car has 60,000 miles on original it. MB dealer wants to charge $300 for diagnostics, repair job (parts and labor) may cost over $2,000. Since this is critical emission compliance…"complaint #2104230
  35. #35

    engine head gasket

    1 stranded

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "Oil separator failure. This a common design fault as documented by multiple complaints on the internet. This is another Mercedes Benz emission design flaw causing emission failures. This is very cheap part but extremely expensive to replace. Mercedes collec…"complaint #1866513
  36. #36

    heater core and blower

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ C300W4. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE ODOR OF MOLD ENTERED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE HVAC SYSTEM. MERCEDES-BENZ OF MOBILE IN MOBILE, ALABAMA REPLACED THE AIR FILTERS AND CLEANED THE COOLING SYSTEM WITHIN T…"~15,000 mi, complaint #1407583
  37. #37

    hv system fault reduced power

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "WAS DRIVING ON CITY STREET, AND THE COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST DISABLED WARNING SIGN CAME ON AND I LOST POWER TO THE CAR. I'M TOLD THIS IS CALLED "LIMP MODE." I TRIED TO PICK UP SPEED BY PRESSING THROTTLE TO THE FLOOR, BUT GOT NO REACTION AT ALL. THEN SOME P…"~12,295 mi, complaint #1282573
  38. #38

    key fob and immobilizer

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "ON 11/1/14 I FILED A COMPLAINT ABOUT SAFETY ISSUES WITH MY NEW 2015 MERCEDES, C300 (ODI # 10664470) THAT PERTAINED TO DEBRIS ENTERING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FROM THE TOP, NEAR THE WINDSHIELD, AND OTHER ISSUES WITH THE COMMAND "RADIO", "TOUCH PAD" & KEYLESS ENT…"~3,000 mi, complaint #1155826
  39. #39

    noise or vibration unspecified

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "THE C300 4MATIC SPECIFICALLY SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE SOMETHING NEAR THE FRONT END SQUEAKS AND MAKES ALL TYPES OF NOISES"complaint #1736808
  40. #40

    power steering hydraulic

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "Failed component: power steering. Mercedes Benz of Princeton did the replacement, but we're not sure if they kept the part. Safety issue: On June 14, 2022, the vehicle’s power steering failed in the middle of a drive (see attachment for the error message). Th…"complaint #1841129
  41. #41

    power windows and locks

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "WINDOWS RATTLING , THEY SAID THIS PROBLEM IS KNOWN , I TOOK MY CAR 4 TIMES TO GET IT FIX BUT NO LICK. THIS IS VERY BAD WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING."complaint #1419918
  42. #42

    seat mechanism

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "UNABLE TO MOVE DRIVER'S POWER SEAT FORWARD INTO SAFE OPERATING POSITION. HAD TO DRIVE CAR BY SITTING ON FRONT EDGE OF THE SEAT. BROUGHT TO DEALER FOR SERVICE AND SEAT OPERATION WAS RESTORED TO NORMAL AFTER A SOFTWARE RESTORE/RESET. SERVICE CONSULTANT COULD PRO…"complaint #1207085
  43. #43

    steering rack mechanical

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES BENZ C300W. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ISLA VERDE DEALER (LLC, AVE. BALDORIOTY DE CASTRO KM 10.3, CAROLINA, PR 00979, PUERTO RICO) FOR A RECALL FOR THE RACK AND PINION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A WEEK L…"~55,000 mi, complaint #1677179
  44. #44

    throttle and pedal

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would intermittently fail to accelerate upon the depression of the accelerator pedal. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where…"complaint #1828278
  45. #45

    timing belt or chain

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "This vehicle has a known issue of the timing chain needing replacement around 80,000 miles. When I hit approx. 78,000 miles i started hearing strange sounds and issues with my vehicle starting so I took my vehicle to a local mechanic and he said that the timin…"complaint #1800233
  46. #46

    transmission automatic

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "THE 7 SPEED TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARD FROM 1 GEAR TO 2 GEAR TO 3 GEAR. FROM [REDACTED ADDRESS] TO 7 GEAR IS VERY SMOOTH. ALSO THE SAME WAY AROUND WHEN YOU DOWNSHIFT FROM 3 GEAR TO 2 GEAR TO 1 GEAR. THE SLOWING DOWN IS VERY HARSH AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE TRANS…"~28,000 mi, complaint #1731042

NHTSA investigations

Search NHTSA's own recall and complaint database for MERCEDES BENZ C 300 directly.