2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
285 owner complaints analyzed
13 distinct recall campaigns
40,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 69 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 93 of 285 complaints (32.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 29 | 10.2% |
| Braking behavior | 17 | 6.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 14 | 4.9% |
| Steering behavior | 14 | 4.9% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 3.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 1.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 93 |
| Unknown Or Other | 64 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 57 |
| Electrical System | 31 |
| Structure:Body | 24 |
| Power Train | 18 |
| Steering | 13 |
| Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly | 11 |
Engine: 93; Unknown Or Other: 64; Fuel/Propulsion System: 57; Electrical System: 31; Structure:Body: 24; Power Train: 18; Steering: 13; Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 19 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 21 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 18 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 19; 25,000 to 49,999: 21; 50,000 to 74,999: 18; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 216 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 18 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 17 |
| 2021 | 26 |
| 2022 | 53 |
| 2023 | 56 |
| 2024 | 54 |
| 2025 | 30 |
| 2026 | 11 |
2016: 7; 2017: 18; 2018: 5; 2019: 8; 2020: 17; 2021: 26; 2022: 53; 2023: 56; 2024: 54; 2025: 30; 2026: 11
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 29 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 14 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10883234 · 2016-07-13 (July 13, 2016)
2016 MERCEDES BENZ C-300. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FUEL SYSTEM CAUSES GAS STATIONS NOZZLE TO DISENGAGE PREMATURELY, WHICH MAKES FILLING FUEL TANK DIFFICULT. *SMD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10883234 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11171009 · 2019-01-20 (January 20, 2019)
THERE'S A CONSTANT GAS SMELL IN MY CAR. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED IT WAS A LEAK TWICE, BUT THAT CAN'T BE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT STILL CARRIES THE SMELL.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11171009 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10907333 · 2016-09-17 (September 17, 2016)
AFTER STOPPING AND WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT FOR 15-30 SECONDS, I HAD MY FEET ON THE BRAKES AND LEFT TURN INDICATOR ON. THE "HOLD" OPTION TO LOCK MY BRAKES WAS NOT ENGAGED. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY. WITHOUT WARNING, THE CAR SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND JOLTED FORWARD INTO THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME AT THE LIGHT. (I WAS THE SECOND CAR IN LINE, AND I STOPPED ABOUT A HALF CAR LENGTH BEHIND THE OTHER DRIVER.) THE ACCELERATION WAS NOT A TYPICAL, GRADUAL MOVEMENT ASSOCIATED WITH WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I RELEASE MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE TO DRIVE. IT WAS A SUDDEN AND J…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,999 miles reported. Look up ODI 10907333 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10928892 · 2016-11-30 (November 30, 2016)
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER CAR ON A PAVED, AND DRY, ROAD. SHE WAS FOLLOWING BEHIND A SUV, THAT APPLIED THE BRAKES ABRUPTLY. SHE HAD DIFFICULTY STOPPING HER CAR AND SHE WOUND UP HITTING THE SUV IN FRONT OF HER. WHILE THIS DOES SOUND UNUSUAL, IT IS FOR THIS CAR (2016 MERCEDES BENZ C300). THE SALESMAN TOLD US THAT THIS CAR WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN ANTI-COLLISION. SYSTEM CALLED "COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS". IT IS SUPPOSED TO ACTIVATE A LIGHT ON THE DASH. IF THE CAR GETS EVEN CLOSER YET, IT IS SUPPOSED GIVE AN AUDIBLE ALARM. IF THE DRIVER DOESN'T RES…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10928892 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10979077 · 2017-04-18 (April 18, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V114000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10979077 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10980435 · 2017-04-25 (April 25, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, A FIRE ERUPTED FROM THE BATTERY OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND STATED THAT WATER ENTERED INTO THE ENGINE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HYDROLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,500.
Owner-reported narrative. 18,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10980435 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11320197 · 2020-04-04 (April 4, 2020)
I WAS DRIVING THEN THE STARTED BEEN HARD NOW IT'S SAYING POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 11320197 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11419052 · 2021-05-30 (May 30, 2021)
Steering failed at low speeds. Something broke. Caused me to lose complete steering. Very scary and dangerous
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11419052 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10850806 · 2016-03-21 (March 21, 2016)
I BOUGHT A NEW 2016 C-CLASS MERCEDES BENZ . I HAD THE CAR FOR LESS THAN 24 HOURS WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE IN AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE AMBIENT AIRFLOW. THE ENGINE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, CAUSING A ROUGH RIDE. WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE ENGINE WILL STALL AND THEN SHOOT FORWARD.
Owner-reported narrative. 60 miles reported. Look up ODI 10850806 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10916229 · 2016-10-15 (October 15, 2016)
ON OCT 14TH AT NIGHT CAR WAS DRIVEN IN HEAVY RAIN OFF INTERSTATE I5 OFF RAMP TO EXIT INTERSTATE. THERE WERE CARS BOTH IN FRONT AND BEHIND US EXITING AND UPON DRIVING FURTHER NOTICED THERE WAS STANDING WATER. OTHER CARS WERE MAKING IT THROUGH SLOWLY, THERE WAS NO ROOM TO TURN AROUND. THIS CAR ALMOST MADE IT TO THE END OF THE OFFRAMP AND THEN STALLLED. OTHER CARS WERE FORCED TO GO AROUND. TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR TO NO AVAIL. CALLED FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD AND THEN ALL LIGHTING WENT DARK IN CAR. THEN SAW FLAMES…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10916229 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11022759 · 2017-09-11 (September 11, 2017)
MY CAR HAS A SAFETY RISK OPEN RECALL SINCE FEBRUARY 08, 2017 THAT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. I HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY AN AUTHORIZED MERCEDES BENZ DEALER TO TAKE MY CAR IN AND REMEDY THE SAFETY RECALL. THE RECALL NOTICE STATES SUMMARY: DAIMLER AG (DAG), THE MANUFACTURER OF MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLES, HAS DECIDED THAT ON CERTAIN C-CLASS (205 PLATFORM), E-CLASS (213 PLATFORM) AND GLC (253 PLATFORM) VEHICLES, THE STARTING CURRENT LIMITER COULD BE OVERLOADED UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS DURING THE STARTING PROCEDURE. IN THE EVENT THE STARTER IS BLOCK…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11022759 at NHTSA ↗