VehicleVerdict

2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 electrical system problems

The 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 has 32 electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA — 9% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

32

Electrical System complaints

9%

Share of year

2

Crash-involved

3

Related recalls

Electrical System complaints by year

C300 electrical system complaints by model year247 complaints2008: 247 complaints2009: 219 complaints2010: 92 complaints2011: 45 complaints2012: 13 complaints2013: 20 complaints2014: 9 complaints2015: 57 complaints2016: 32 complaints2017: 32 complaints
C300 electrical system complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

17V177000Electrical SystemMarch 14, 2017 · 51 units

Defect

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 AMG GT-S, GLC300, CLA250 and GLE300d 4Matic vehicles, 2013 C250, E350 BlueTec and G63 AMG vehicles, 2008-2014 C300 vehicles, 2013-2014 C300 4Matic and ML350 4Matic vehicles, 2009 C350 vehicles, 2014 CLS550, E350 4Matic, E350 Coupe 4Matic, E350 Wagon 4Matic, GLK350 and SL550 vehicles, 2012 CLS550 4Matic vehicles, 2012-2016 E350 vehicles, 2016-2017 GL450 4Matic vehicles, 2012-2014 ML350 4Matic BlueTec vehicles, 2015 S550, S550 4Matic and C300 4Matic Sedan vehicles, 2015-2016 C300 Sedan vehicles, and 2017 SL63 AMG vehicles. Various control units on these vehicles may have been updated with incorrect software, potentially affecting the correct deployment of the air bags in the event of a crash.

Consequence

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 1-800-367-6372.

17V114000Electrical SystemFebruary 23, 2017 · 307,629 units

Defect

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2017 C300 4Matic, C300, CLA250, CLA250 4Matic and CLA45 AMG vehicles, 2017 C300 4Matic Cabrio, C300 4Matic Coupe, C300 Cabrio, C300 Coupe, E300, E300 4Matic, E400 4Matic Wagon, E43 AMG 4Matic, GLA250, GLA250 4Matic and GLC300 4Matic Coupe vehicles and 2016 C350e and GLC300 vehicles and 2016-2017 C450 4Matic AMG Sport and GLC300 4Matic vehicles. In the event that the engine or transmission cannot turn over, the starting current limiter may overheat from the repeated attempts of the starter motor attempting to start the vehicle.

Consequence

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 MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2017080002.

16V603000Electrical SystemAugust 16, 2016 · 62 units

Defect

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2016 GLC 300 SUV, GLC 300 4Matic SUV, C300 Sedan and C300 4Matic vehicles manufactured February 8, 2016, to May 18, 2016. The affected vehicles may be equipped with an Electronic Stability Program (ESP) control unit that may have been damaged before being installed.

Consequence

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 service at 1-800-367-6372.

What owners report

TAKATA RECALL NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 17V114 : PURCHASE THE VEHICLE ON DECEMBER OF 2016, WE GOT A RECALL LETTER IN MARCH OF 2017 LETTING US KNOW OF THE RECALL BUT WAS NOTIFY THAT THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR TILL AUGUST OF 2017 . ON AUGUST 05 THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · August 5, 2017 · fire

Common questions

How many electrical system complaints does the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 have?

NHTSA has 32 complaints about the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 electrical system — 9% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 electrical system?

Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year are tied to the electrical system: 16V603000, 17V114000, 17V177000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.