2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Reliability & Recall Report
Based on 12 NHTSA recalls and 46 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.
D
47/100
High Reported Activity — 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class shows high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Review the issues below and have a thorough pre-purchase inspection done by an independent mechanic.
Own or buying a 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
Check your specific VIN free for recalls and specs. Full vehicle history report: one-time $4.99, no subscription, no auto-renewal.
12
NHTSA Recalls
12 recalls on record
46
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
5
Crash Reports
In NHTSA complaints
⚠️
NHTSA Recalls — 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class (12)
All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer at no charge to the owner.
🔧 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….
🔧 Electrical System: Software
A disabled eCall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting the emergency services call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: The communication module software will be updated through an Over-the-Air (OTA) update or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 8, 2022. Owner notification letters…
🔧 Structure: Body: Roof And Pillars
A detached roof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front panel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 2, 2024. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on, March 22,2024, and…
🔧 Communication
An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the communication module, free of charge. The recall began April 14, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number…
🔧 Engine And Engine Cooling: Engine: Gasoline: Turbo/Supercharger
An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the turbocharger oil lines and tighten them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began August 17, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA…
🔧 Seat Belts: Front: Retractor
If the seat belt does not fully retract, the occupant may find the operation of the seat belt inconvenient and not wear it, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will check the retraction function of the front seat belts and adjust the damping foam within the B-pillars, as necessary, free of charge. The…
🔧 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…
🔧 Exterior Lighting: Headlights
Incorrectly adjusted headlights may reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the LED headlights, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed August 13, 2021. A second notice will be sent once the…
🔧 Back Over Prevention: Display Function
An inoperable rearview camera display reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 15, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this…
🔧 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…
Showing 10 of 12 recalls. View all on NHTSA.gov →
💬
Most Common Problems — 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Based on 46 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.
📊
Mercedes-Benz C-Class — Complaints by Year
A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2020 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.
⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2014, 2015, 2016 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.
✅ Best model years: 2020, 2021, 2022 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.
❓
Frequently Asked Questions — 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Is the 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class has 12 recall campaigns and 46 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 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class have?
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class has 12 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 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class are: Power Train, Unknown Or Other, Structure, Engine. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class safe to buy?
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 12 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: 2020, 2021, 2022. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2014, 2015, 2016.
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.