2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Reliability & Recall Report
Based on 14 NHTSA recalls and 321 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.
F
11/100
Very High Reported Activity — 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class shows very high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Counts are raw and are higher for popular models, so see how we score this below. Review the issues and recalls carefully, and have the vehicle inspected before buying.
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14
NHTSA Recalls
14 recalls on record
321
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
7
Crash Reports
5 fire reports
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NHTSA Recalls — 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class (14)
All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer at no charge to the owner.
🔧 Communication
An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: MBUSA has initiated an Over the Air (OTA) remote update. MBUSA will also notify owners, and dealers will check software for a successful OTA or update the communication module software…
🔧 Steering: Rack And Pinion: Rack
A car that cannot be properly steered has an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering rack, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number…
🔧 Structure: Body: Roof And Pillars
The adhesive bonding of the front panel might deteriorate, possibly causing the front panel to detach from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Mercedes-Benz dealer will remove the bonded panel and will install a new front panel by following the detailed repair instructions and using the approved primer, cleaner and adhesive, free of…
🔧 Electrical System: Software
Failure of the eCall system may result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and the communication module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. The recall began March 12, 2021….
🔧 Fuel System, Gasoline: Fuel Injection System: Fuel Rail
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source, such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel rail and fuel injectors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 22, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number…
🔧 Air Bags: Frontal
If the driver air bag inadvertently deploys, it can increase the risk of injury and a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will add sufficient grounding to the steering components, free of charge. The recall began in December 6, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service…
🔧 Electrical System: Starter Assembly
If the starting current limiter overheats, the surrounding components can melt, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional fuse in the electrical line to the starter, free of charge. The recall began August 31, 2017. Owners may contact…
🔧 Electrical System: Software
If the air bags do not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, there would be an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update software in the affected control units, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at…
🔧 Electronic Stability Control (esc)
A damaged ESP control unit may inadvertently activate the stability control altering the vehicle's path. Additionally, the electronic parking brake may not function. Either condition may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ESP Hydraulic control units, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in October 2016. Owners may contact MBUSA customer…
🔧 Steering: Electric Power Assist System
A loss of electrical contact will cause the electric power steering assist to deactivate, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric power steering rack, free of charge. The recall began June 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Showing 10 of 14 recalls. View all on NHTSA.gov →
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Most Common Problems — 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Based on 321 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.
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Mercedes-Benz C-Class — Complaints by Year
A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2016 model year is highlighted.
→ Recently checked Mercedes-Benz C-Class VINs — free recall, safety and specs report for any VIN.
→ Decode a Mercedes-Benz VIN — free Mercedes-Benz VIN decoder guide: where to find the VIN and what each part means.
✅ Best model years: 2018, 2019, 2020 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.
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Frequently Asked Questions — 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Is the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class has 14 recall campaigns and 321 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class have?
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class has 14 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class are: Engine, Unknown Or Other, Fuel/propulsion System, Structure. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class safe to buy?
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 14 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Mercedes-Benz C-Class should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class are: 2018, 2019, 2020. These show the lowest complaint rates.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update.
For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit
NHTSA.gov/recalls.