2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class problems and recalls

Owners filed 147 complaints on the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class in the last three full years, out of 315 on record. The most cited component is the Engine.

315
Complaints
0
Recalls
7
Crash reports
5
Fire reports
8
Injuries
44.1
Severity index

Severity index 44.1 Low. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 44.1p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 111 of 141 by severity index among 2016 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 21% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2016 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 99 complaints (31.4%)99 31%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 72 complaints (22.9%)72 23%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 58 complaints (18.4%)58 18%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 37 complaints (11.7%)37 12%StructureStructure: 32 complaints (10.2%)32 10%Power TrainPower Train: 21 complaints (6.7%)21 7%SteeringSteering: 17 complaints (5.4%)17 5%VisibilityVisibility: 13 complaints (4.1%)13 4%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE9931.4%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER7222.9%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM5818.4%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3711.7%
STRUCTURE3210.2%
POWER TRAIN216.7%
STEERING175.4%
VISIBILITY134.1%

Complaints filed per year

028572016: 82017: 202018: 82019: 112020: 202021: 322022: 562023: 572024: 572025: 332026: 13 (partial year)161718192021222357242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20168
201720
20188
201911
202020
202132
202256
202357
202457
202533
2026 (year to date)13
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 1.4x those in 2020 to 2022 (147 against 108).

Other Mercedes-Benz C-Class model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 13 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.