Mercedes-Benz C 300 Reliability
361 NHTSA complaints (2018–2025). Complaint rate: 2422.8 per 1,000 vehicles.
Which Years to Buy & Avoid
Years auto-clustered by complaint volume relative to this model's median.
Bottom line: Avoid the 2018–2019 Mercedes-Benz C 300. The 2021 models had significantly fewer reported issues. Most common issue across all years: ENGINE.
Avoid These Years
Average
Better Years
Too New
Need 3+ years on the road for reliable complaint data.
A model's reputation is just the start.
Even within the “good” years, individual cars can have hidden accidents, title issues, or odometer rollbacks. Check the actual VIN before you buy — full history report for $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA complaint count per model year
Common Mercedes-Benz C 300 Problems
Most reported component complaints to NHTSA
| Component | Complaints | Crash % |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 64 | 0.0% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 40 | 2.5% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 38 | 5.3% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 26 | 3.8% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 20 | 25.0% |
| STEERING | 19 | 10.5% |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING | 17 | 29.4% |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 14 | 14.3% |
| POWER TRAIN | 10 | 20.0% |
| AIR BAGS | 10 | 30.0% |
Year-by-Year Breakdown
NHTSA complaint count per model year — click any year for full problems & recalls breakdown.
| Year | Generation | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018AVOID | — | 127 | 9 | — | View 2018View→ |
| 2019AVOID | — | 83 | 5 | — | View 2019View→ |
| 2020 | — | 41 | 7 | — | View 2020View→ |
| 2021GOOD | — | 14 | 0 | — | View 2021View→ |
| 2022 | — | 38 | 2 | — | View 2022View→ |
| 2023 | — | 36 | 3 | — | View 2023View→ |
| 2024TOO NEW | — | 18 | 5 | — | View 2024View→ |
| 2025TOO NEW | — | 4 | 0 | — | View 2025View→ |
See also: Mercedes-Benz C 300accident & safety statistics from our vehicle history database.
Buying a Mercedes-Benz C 300?
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