FaultScore

Worst years for a Mercedes Benz C 300

Owners have filed 669 complaints about the Mercedes Benz C 300 with NHTSA across model years 2017 to 2026. More of them are about the engine & cooling than anything else.

Avoid

2017 Mercedes Benz C 300

286 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly engine & cooling.

Cleanest on record

2021 Mercedes Benz C 300

16 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Mercedes Benz C 300 year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2026 1 0 0 Acceleration & Cruise Control
2025 7 0 0 Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance
2024 C 20 5 0 Electrical System
2023 C 36 3 0 6,000 Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance
2022 C 39 2 0 6,000 Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance
2021 A 16 0 0 Engine & Cooling
2020 D 48 7 0 28,722 Engine & Cooling
2019 C 88 5 0 19,500 Engine & Cooling
2018 D 128 9 0 50,000 Engine & Cooling
2017 F 286 17 5 29,650 Engine & Cooling

What breaks on a Mercedes Benz C 300

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Engine & Cooling 151 22.6%

Worst in 2017

Worst in 2017

Worst in 2017

Worst in 2017

Worst in 2023

Worst in 2017

Steering 33 4.9%

Worst in 2017

Seat Belts 29 4.3%

Worst in 2017

Airbags 26 3.9%

Worst in 2017

Transmission & Drivetrain 24 3.6%

Worst in 2017

Brakes 22 3.3%

Worst in 2019

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 18 2.7%

Worst in 2017

Acceleration & Cruise Control 11 1.6%

Worst in 2019

Tires 9 1.3%

Worst in 2017

Exactly what failed on a Mercedes Benz C 300

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Body 33 34.7%
Automatic Emergency Braking 17 17.9%
Warnings 12 12.6%
Sun/Moon Roof Assembly 10 10.5%
Camera 6 6.3%
Warnings 5 5.3%
Adaptive Cruise Control 4 4.2%
Blind Spot Detection 3 3.2%
Dynamic Brake Support/Brake Assist 3 3.2%
Sidewall 2 2.1%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Mercedes Benz C 300, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Dec 2016 peak 21 Aug 2026

Mercedes Benz C 300 problems by state

Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.

Compare the Mercedes Benz C 300

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.