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Mercedes-Benz C ClassYears to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 191 owner complaints and 6 safety recalls on record for the Mercedes-Benz C Class.

Mercedes-Benz C Class
Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints191Top: Electrical systemSafety recalls61994–2012 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: Bull-Doser, Public domain.

Best & worst years

Mercedes-Benz C Class years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the C Class median. Tap a year for its full report.

'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'08'12
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2012Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls2008Not rated–/10013 complaints · 1 recall2006Not rated–/1009 complaints · 2 recalls2005Not rated–/1005 complaints · 2 recalls2004Not rated–/10015 complaints · 1 recall2003Not rated–/1009 complaints · 0 recalls2002Not rated–/10031 complaints · 0 recalls2001Not rated–/10014 complaints · 0 recalls2000Not rated–/1008 complaints · 0 recalls1999Not rated–/1007 complaints · 1 recall1998Not rated–/1006 complaints · 1 recall1997Not rated–/1003 complaints · 0 recalls1996Not rated–/1006 complaints · 1 recall1995Not rated–/10049 complaints · 0 recalls1994Not rated–/10015 complaints · 0 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Mercedes-Benz C Class problems

All model years combined: 191 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system9413
Engine and engine cooling262
Power train151
Tires120
Air bags116
Suspension110
Exterior lighting111
Seats101
Vehicle speed control92
14 other systems513
6 recalls

Mercedes-Benz C Class recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Electrical system08V-303 · 2005–2006 · Jul 7, 2008 · 404 vehicles–Seat belts: rear/other07V-465 · 2008 · Oct 3, 2007 · 5,823 vehicles–Air bags05V-560 · 2005–2006 · Dec 20, 2005 · 61,000 vehicles–Seat belts03V-534 · 2004 · Dec 19, 2003 · 4,348 vehicles–Electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery01V-366 · 1998–1999 · Dec 4, 2001 · 65,731 vehicles–Engine and engine cooling: engine96V-058 · 1996 · Apr 4, 1996 · 149 vehicles
6 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the C Class

  1. Loss of rear lighting assemblyEA13008 · 2008 · closed May 12, 2014
    Led to recall 14V-177
  2. Loss of rear tail light functionalityPE13026 · 2008 · closed Dec 30, 2013
    No recall
  3. TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONDP05007 · 2000–2001 · closed Mar 27, 2006
    No recall
  4. ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FAILUREPE03058 · 1998–2000 · closed Apr 22, 2004
    No recall
  5. SUDDEN ENGINE SHUT DOWNSQ01010 · 2000–2001 · closed Feb 4, 2002
    No recall
  6. BATTERY EXPLOSIONPE01029 · 1998–1999 · closed Dec 13, 2001
    Led to recall 01V-366