RecallMyCar

Mercedes-Benz C Class Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls and 192 owner complaints across 16 model years of the Mercedes-Benz C Class (1991–2012). The most-complained-about year is 1995.

6
safety recalls, all years
192
owner complaints, all years
2005
year with most recalls
1995
year with most complaints

Pick your Mercedes-Benz C Class model year

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2012 Mercedes-Benz C Class01
2008 Mercedes-Benz C Class113
2006 Mercedes-Benz C Class29
2005 Mercedes-Benz C Class25
2004 Mercedes-Benz C Class115
2003 Mercedes-Benz C Class09
2002 Mercedes-Benz C Class031
2001 Mercedes-Benz C Class014
2000 Mercedes-Benz C Class08
1999 Mercedes-Benz C Class17
1998 Mercedes-Benz C Class16
1997 Mercedes-Benz C Class03
1996 Mercedes-Benz C Class16
1995 Mercedes-Benz C Class049
1994 Mercedes-Benz C Class015
1991 Mercedes-Benz C Class01

What Mercedes-Benz C Class owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 192 complaints with NHTSA. The 1995 model year has the most, with 49.

All Mercedes-Benz C Class recalls (6)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Mercedes-Benz C Class, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.

  1. Electrical system

    NHTSA 08V303000 Reported 404 vehicles potentially affected MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.

    Mercedes-benz is recalling my 2006-2008 m-class, r-class, my 2005-2009 slk-class, my 2005-2008 c-class, my 2003-2004 and 2006-2008 clk-class, my 2003-2008 e-class, my 2004 and 2008 cl-class, my 2008 cls-class, my 2004 and 2007-2008 s-class, my 2003 g-class, and my 2003-2004, 2006 and 2009 sl-class vehicles. A software calibration number…

    Remedy: Dealers will recode the scn free of charge. The recall began on august 30, 2008. Owners may contact mercedes-benz at 1-800-367-6372.

    Model years: 2005, 2006

  2. Seat belts: rear/other

    NHTSA 07V465000 Reported 5,823 vehicles potentially affected MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.

    Certain vehicles fail to comply with some of the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, "occupant crash protection." the rear outboard seat belts do not comply with the lap-belt lockability requirement which enables the lap belt portion of the belt to be locked by the user to facilitate the use of older non-latch…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace all potentially affected seat belts. The recall began on november 19, 2007. Owners may contact mercedes-benz at 1-800-367-6372.

    Model years: 2008

  3. Air bags

    NHTSA 05V560000 Reported 61,000 vehicles potentially affected MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.

    Certain passenger vehicles equipped with sport model steering wheels fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, "occupant crash protection." in certain low risk air bag deployment tests conducted by NHTSA, using an out-of-position unbelted 5th percentile female crash test dummy, irregularities…

    Remedy: Dealers will install a new air bag inflator module free of charge. The recall began on march 15, 2006. Owners may contact mercedes-benz at 1-800-367-6372.

    Model years: 2005, 2006

  4. Seat belts

    NHTSA 03V534000 Reported 4,348 vehicles potentially affected MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.

    On certain passenger vehicles, some seat belt buckles may have a burr on a metal component of the locking mechanism. The presence of the burr could prevent the seat belt from locking under certain circumstances.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat belts. Owner notification began on december 22, 2003. Owners should contact mercedes-benz at 1-800-367-6372.

    Model years: 2004

  5. 12v/24v/48v battery (electrical system)

    NHTSA 01V366000 Reported 65,731 vehicles potentially affected MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with hoppecke batteries. The battery maintenance schedule could be less than needed to maintain proper electrolyte levels.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the batteries, including fluid levels. Some batteries may be replaced if necessary, on a case by case basis. In addition to the battery inspection, the addition of labels in the vehicle owner's…

    Model years: 1998, 1999

  6. Engine (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 96V058000 Reported 149 vehicles potentially affected MERCEDES-BENZ USA, INC.

    The drive belt pulley on the engine can develop fatigue cracks in the metal and break. If the drive pulley breaks, the car would not have engine cooling, battery charging, and/or power steering.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine crankshaft damper-pulley on these vehicles.

    Model years: 1996

Other Mercedes-Benz models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.