2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 316 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 8th highest complaint count among 23 C-Class model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 7 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 8 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints
316 reports, newest first.
Air bags, Forward collision avoidance, Aug 17, 2021, crash
I bought a car that had an light accident and turns out to be missing the collision sensor in addition to bad battery that i had to change and had issues with recoding the airbags which are not working now.
Structure, Jul 9, 2021
The contact owns a 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 mph, an abnormal sound was heard as a section of the glass roof panel detached from the roof of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the missing panel. The cause of the failure was not determined. The contact later received notification of NHTSA campaign number 21V197000 (Structure) however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 31,000. Vin tool confirms parts not available.
Structure, Jul 7, 2021
The contact owns a 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V197000 (Structure) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available to for the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.
Power train, Jul 5, 2021
Transmission shifted into neutral after coming to a stop. Brake was applied. Similar issue to NHTSA Campaign 21V033000 for 2019 GLA 250.
Visibility, Jul 1, 2021
The contact owns a 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving 60 mph, the sunroof suddenly exploded and shattered. The contact stated she was able to pull over to the side of the road, where she inspected the vehicle and did not find the cause of the failure. The contact then drove the vehicle to her destination. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the roof panel needed to be replaced. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and declined to provide any assistance. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V197000 (Structure). The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 32,000.
Steering, Engine, Jun 5, 2021
The steering wheel won’t go up or down The auxiliary ratidator keeps getting damaged from road debris my 3 time replacing it
Steering, May 30, 2021, crash
Steering failed at low speeds. Something broke. Caused me to lose complete steering. Very scary and dangerous
Other or unspecified, May 21, 2021
Panoramic sunroof exploded spontaneously while driving. There was no previous warning. Glass shattered onto driver and passenger. The loud sound and glass shattering onto us could have caused self injury or accident to occur. Auto insurance was notified at time of incident. Vehicle was taken to Mercedes benz dealership for repair.
Electrical system, Structure, Other or unspecified, May 21, 2021
The panoramic sunroof does not properly seal to car, allowing the glass to detach and fall from the vehicle during operation and likely to impair the operator during use. Furthermore, without properly sealing the internal cabin is exposed to the environment (i.e. rain, snow, ect.) causing further damage to the internal safety and electrical features.
Structure, May 10, 2021
PLASTIC PANEL BETWEEN WINDSHIELD AND PANORAMIC SUNROOF DETACHES. ADHESIVE DEGRADES OVER TIME CAUSING PANEL TO NOT BOND WITH THE BODY.
Electrical system, Visibility/wiper, May 8, 2021
SUNROOF WILL NOT OPEN OR CLOSE, THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE! SUNROOF IS CURRENTLY OPEN. ALSO, DEFROST DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY DURING SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS. WHEN IT IS RAINING, MY WINDOWS WILL NOT UNFOG, THIS IS DANGEROUS AND MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT!
Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 22, 2021
A STRONG FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE CAR, WE TRIED TO GET THE DEALER TO REPAIR IT UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY SAID, OVER FUELING WAS CAUSING IT, HOWEVER WITH THE TANK HALF FULL IT DOES STILL SMELL A LOT LIKE GAS, A STRONG ODOR YOU CAN SMELL IT OUTSIDE, THEY DON'T WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY ON IT, AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED THEY CAME UP SAYING SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH MY FUEL SYSTEM THAT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED BUT ITS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY, THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS BUT THEY WANT PEOPLE TO PAY FOR THIS, WE ARE AFRAID THIS COULD START A FIRE WHILE DRIVING, OR EVEN WORSE BURN MY HOUSE DOWN
Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 21, 2021
TALK TO DEALER VEHICLE HAS FUEL LINE LEAK NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY JUST PURCHASED VEHICLE WITHIN 30 DAYS OF NOTICING THIS ISSUE AND I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE RECALLED SAFETY ISSUES FUEL SMELL AND COULD CAUSE FIRE
Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 5, 2021
THERE IS A RAW FUEL SMELL INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE CAR WHEN DRIVING. I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THERE IS A LAWSUIT AGAINST MERCEDES-BENZ FOR FAULTY FUEL LINES THAT THEY ARE REFUSING TO REPAIR. I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE FUEL LINES AS COUNTLESS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE WHERE THE RUBBER HOSES ARE FAILING PREMATURELY. I HAVE A 2016 C300 WITH ONLY 37,100 MILES ON IT THAT IS KEPT UP ON AND THE DEALERSHIP IS SAYING THAT THE FUEL LINES ARE TYPICAL WEAR ITEMS AND THAT THE CPO WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THE REPAIR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE AND LEAKING FUEL INTO THE ENVIRONMENT AND FUEL LINES SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED ALREADY.
Engine, Apr 3, 2021
MY 2016 C300 4MATIC, WHICH HAS BEEN SERVICED EXCEPTIONALLY WELL, TURNED 57,000 MILES (7K MILES OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY), HAD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURN ON. I WENT TO MY MECHANIC, WHO HAS A STATE OF THE ART DIAGNOSTIC UNIT, AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS CODE P052E WHICH MEANS THAT THE CRANKCASE VENTILATION REGULATOR VALVE INCLUDING THE FUEL RAIL NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MERCEDES HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS BEING A MAJOR PROBLEM AS THEY MODIFIED ONE OF THE PARTS. MY DEALERSHIP QUOTED ME OVER $ 2100.00 TO FIX IT AND DEEMED IT NOT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I HAVE GONE ONLINE TO SEVERAL MERCEDES BENZ FORUMS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN WITH THIS PART FAILING AROUND 52K MARK. SINCE MERCEDES KNEW ABOUT THIS - ISSUED AN IMPROVED PART TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE ONE - NHTSA SHOULD MANDATE A RECALL. THIS IS NOT SOME SIMPLE DYI MATTER. IT IS A COMPLICATED REPAIR CONSUMING MANY HOURS. IT IS WRONG THAT DRIVING THIS, WITH THIS CODE, COULD LITERALLY KILL YOU. I IMPLORE NHTSA TO MANDATE A RECALL BASED ON THE FACTS SPECIFIED HEREIN. BY THE WAY I HAVE A 1999 ML320 THAT I HAVE METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED AND DRIVES PERFECT AND I HAVE OWNED MANY OTHER MERCEDES BENZ. I AM 58 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE NEVER FILED A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA BEFORE. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER. PLEASE HELP
Structure, Mar 19, 2021
PANORAMIC SUNROOF IS LOOSE NOT PROPERLY BONDED.
Other or unspecified, Mar 12, 2021
REAR VIEW CAMERA IS NOT WORKING. FROZEN. I WAS PULLING INTO THE GARAGE. I HAD TO BACK UP SO PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND THEN SWITCH TO DRIVE FORWARD AND THE CAMERA FROZE.
Structure, Mar 9, 2021
THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF IS NOT PROPERLY BONDED ON MY 2016, C300 MERCEDES, WHILE DRIVING OVER 50 MPH YOU CAN HEAR THE SUNROOF MAKING A RATTLING NOISE.
Service brakes, Mar 3, 2021
RECURRING ISSUE OF SEVERE PULSATION WHEN BRAKING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. PULSATION EXACERBATED BY REPEATED STOPPING (RED LIGHTS) OR SLOWING FROM HIGH SPEEDS (FREEWAY EXIT RAMPS). THE PROBLEM MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN PROPER CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO USE MIRRORS DUE TO SHAKING. I HAVE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE LESS THAN 40,000 MILES AND HAVE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ROTORS TWICE DUE TO THIS ISSUE.
Wheels, Feb 11, 2021
THE RIMS CRACKED TWICE WITHIN 1 YEAR. FIRST TIME WAS IN 2018 THE 2ND 2019
Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 10, 2021
THE VEHICLE HAS A STRONG GAS SMELL WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IDLING. DEALER CHANGED THE 2 FUEL LINES AND CLAMPS. IT'S COMMON PROBLEM IN W205 C300 CARS. THE CAR WAS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THE CAR HAS 29K MILES. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THESE FUEL HOSES. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION INVESTIGATION: HTTPS://WWW.SAUDERSCHELKOPF.COM/INVESTIGATIONS/AUTOMOTIVE/MERCEDES-C300-AND-GLA250-FUEL-SMELL-CLASS-ACTION-INVESTIGATION/ YOU CAN SEE MULTIPLE PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME FUEL LINES; - HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/LQZZMGFDQ3O - HTTPS://MBWORLD.ORG/FORUMS/C-CLASS-W205/737303-DEALER-SAYS-FUEL-SMELL-LEAK-W205-2015-C300-BASE.HTML
Electrical system, Seats, Visibility/wiper, Feb 3, 2021
SUNROOF WILL NOT CLOSE AT ALL, SEATS WILL NOT ADJUST (ELECTRICAL), WIPER VISIBILITY IS UNCLEAR, DEFROST DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY.
Engine, Jan 16, 2021
2016 C300 4MATIC AT ABOUT 50K MILES, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR JUST STOPPED ACCELERATING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY AND HAD TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE SIDE AND TOWED IT TO THE DEALER IN WEST COVINA. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ONE ON THE FREEWAY SINCE IT WAS EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. DEALER IS NOW SAYING THE CAR MIGHT NEED ENGINE REPLACEMENT WHICH WILL COST ME $20K BUT THEY WANT $3000 TO DO A TEAR DOWN TO MAKE SURE. OPENED A CASE WITH THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE BUT THEY SAID THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT SINCE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I AM INCREDIBLY UPSET WITH MERCEDES BENZ - I HAVE NOT USED THE CAR THAT MUCH AND MAINTAINED IT MYSELF ACCORDING TO THEIR MAINTENANCE BOOKLETS. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN ENGINE DEFECT PROBLEM THAT MERCEDES NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 5, 2021
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, I HEARD A LOUD NOISE THAT, ON FIRST IMPRESSION, LED ME TO BELIEVE SOMEONE FIRED A GUNSHOT AT AND STRUCK MY VEHICLE. UPON LOOKING UP, I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED IT WAS NOT A GUNSHOT BUT INSTEAD THE GLASS TO THE FRONT PORTION OF MY PANORAMIC SUNROOF HAD SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED AND FLEW COMPLETELY OFF THE VEHICLE. THIS FLYING GLASS FLEW DIRECTLY BACKWARDS AND COULD HAVE POSED A DEADLY RESULT FOR THE NUMEROUS DRIVERS TRAVELING BEHIND ME. THERE WERE NO FLYING OBJECTS OR OTHER DANGEROUS INSTRUMENTS THAT STRUCK THE VEHICLE BUT THE SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY, ON ITS OWN, SHATTERED AND COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON SUBSEQUENT ONLINE INVESTIGATION, I LEARNED THIS VERY ISSUE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED BY OTHER MERCEDES BENZ DRIVERS, WITH THE SUNROOFS SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERING AND FLYING OFF. DESPITE PURCHASING A EXTENSIVE WARRANTY AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, BODY WORK, INCLUSIVE OF GLASS REPLACEMENT, IS NOT COVERED. CONSEQUENTLY, I WAS FORCED TO FILE AN AUTO INSURANCE CLAIM, WHICH REQUIRED AN IMMEDIATE $500 DEDUCTIBLE TO BE PAID TO ENABLE THE REPAIR COMPANY TO ORDER THE REPLACEMENT GLASS. THIS REOCCURRING ISSUE MOST CERTAINLY REQUIRES A RECALL FOR VEHICLES CONTAINING THIS PROBLEMATIC SUNROOF. IT IS NOT ONLY A DANGER TO THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE, BUT ALSO TO ALL OTHERS TRAVELING ON THE ROAD.
Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 30, 2020
GAS SMELL COMING THROUGH THE VENTS STARTED OFF EVERY NOW AND THEN AND BECAME MORE FREQUENT. PULLED IT IN THE GARAGE AND THE GAS FUMES MADE THE TOTAL GARAGE SMELL. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT IS FUEL LINE, THAT SITS NEAR THE ENGINE. IT IS IN THE SHOP NOW. AFTER GOOGLING I SEE SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. THEY CANNOT TELL ME YET WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM, I AM WAITING TO HEAR THAT