FaultScore

Worst years for a Mercedes Benz C Class

Owners have filed 249 complaints about the Mercedes Benz C Class with NHTSA across model years 1991 to 2006. More of them are about the electrical system than anything else.

Avoid

1995 Mercedes Benz C Class

64 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly electrical system.

Cleanest on record

2000 Mercedes Benz C Class

13 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Mercedes Benz C Class 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
2006 C 12 0 0 5,100 Tires
2005 8 0 0 81,000 Transmission & Drivetrain
2004 D 20 2 3 24,776 Engine & Cooling
2003 D 12 2 0 26,036 Electrical System
2002 D 46 1 2 65,000 Electrical System
2001 C 25 0 0 17,700 Electrical System
2000 A 13 0 0 69,400 Engine & Cooling
1999 7 1 0 Electrical System
1998 7 0 0 Suspension
1997 5 0 3 249,800 Engine & Cooling
1996 A 10 0 0 82,000 Electrical System
1995 D 64 2 2 100,000 Electrical System
1994 C 19 0 6 122,000 Electrical System
1991 1 0 0 Engine & Cooling

What breaks on a Mercedes Benz C Class

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

Worst in 1995

Engine & Cooling 26 10.4%

Worst in 2002

Fuel & Propulsion 16 6.4%

Worst in 2002

Transmission & Drivetrain 15 6.0%

Worst in 2002

Brakes 11 4.4%

Worst in 1994

Suspension 11 4.4%

Worst in 2002

Seats 10 4.0%

Worst in 2002

Airbags 9 3.6%

Worst in 2004

Acceleration & Cruise Control 9 3.6%

Worst in 1995

Tires 9 3.6%

Worst in 2002

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 8 3.2%

Worst in 2001

Other & Unspecified 7 2.8%

Worst in 2002

Equipment & Accessories 6 2.4%

Worst in 2001

Body & Structure 5 2.0%

Worst in 1998

Exactly what failed on a Mercedes Benz C Class

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

Front Underhood 25 36.8%
Wiring 15 22.1%
Automatic Transmission 6 8.8%
Frontal 4 5.9%
Instrument Cluster/Panel 3 4.4%
Sidewall 3 4.4%
AIR Conditioner 3 4.4%
Gasoline 3 4.4%
Engine 3 4.4%
12V/24V/48V Battery 3 4.4%

Complaints filed over time

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

Sep 1998 peak 10 Apr 2014

Compare the Mercedes Benz C Class

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