2014 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Typical pattern

3% of complaints about the 2014 Mercedes-Benz C-Class came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2014 vehicle — around the middle of the 195 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 5.4 yr in service. The most-reported system is air bags (156 complaints), typically at 5.3 yr or about 40,000 miles.

Covers 5 variants: C250 (222), C300 (120), C350 (15), C204.9 (12), C204 (7)

Complaints: 369
Median age at failure: 5.4 yr
Median mileage: 45,785 n=137
Crash / fire / tow: 12.2% of reports
Safety recalls: 4

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System

0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y

Air bags

156 reports · 40,000 mi

5.3 yr

Steering

34 reports · 45,785 mi

6.9 yr

14.7%

Electrical system

26 reports · 50,187 mi

6.9 yr

19.2%

Engine

25 reports · 54,315 mi

7.0 yr

Structure

24 reports · 54,000 mi

9.0 yr

8.3%

Other

21 reports · 50,200 mi

6.9 yr

9.5%

Fuel / propulsion

15 reports · 72,000 mi

6.5 yr

6.7%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

21V638000 2021-08-13

Air bags:frontal

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2016 E400 Coupe, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2011-2014 E350 Coupe, and 2012-2014 E350 Cabrio vehicles. An incorrect front passenger air bag may have been installed during a prior repair.

An incorrect air bag may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

19V787000 2019-11-01

Communication

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2017 vehicles due to a software fault that may cause the date and time for the emergency call system (eCall) to differ from the actual date and time, potentially relaying an inaccurate vehicle location. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V787-4620.pdf

An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.

19V010000 2019-01-09

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2014 C250, C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 4Matic Coupe, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio, SLS AMG Coupe, 2014-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, GLK 350, GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, 2015-2017 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400 Coupe, 2014-2017 E550 Cabrio, and 2014-2016 E550 Coupe vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally, MBUSA is recalling certain 2012-2014 C250, E350 4Matic Coupe, SLS AMG Cabri

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

17V627000 2017-10-06

Air bags:frontal

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling these vehicles: 2014-2018 CLA250, CLA250 4Matic, CLA45 AMG 4Matic, 2015-2018 GLA250, GLA250 4Matic, GLA45 AMG 4Matic, C300 4Matic, C63S AMG, 2012-2014 C250, C350, C300 4Matic, E550 4Matic, 2013-2014 C63 AMG, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2013-2015 C350 4Matic Coupe, GLK250 4Matic BlueTec, GLK350, GLK350 4Matic, 2016-2017 C350e, C43 AMG, 2015 C400 4Matic, 2016-2018 C63 AMG, GLC300, GLC300 4Matic, 2017-2018 C300 Coupe, C300 4Matic Coupe, C43 AMG, C63 AMG Coupe, C63S AMG Coupe, C300 Cabriolet, C300 4Matic Cabriolet, C43 AMG Cabriolet

If the driver air bag inadvertently deploys, it can increase the risk of injury and a crash.

In owners’ own words

Air bags mileage not reported 4.5 yr in service

TAKATA RECALL IT IS TAKING TOO LONG FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR THIS RECALL. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR A YEAR NOW, AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT.

Air bags mileage not reported 6.4 yr in service

THE CAR HAS AN OPEN RECALL FOR OVER A YEAR NOW, WITHOUT ANY RESOLUTION. I CANNOT HAVE A PASSENGER IN MY CAR...

Air bags 55,000 mi 6.9 yr in service

THE COMPANY HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE AIRBAGS OF MY CAR BECAUSE OF THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE IN THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAIN TO THE NHTSA. MY FIRST WAS IN 2018. IT IS SAD THAT A SAFETY ISSUE BY THE COMPANY IS NOT BEEN TAKEN CARE BY THE COMPANY EVEN AFTER 2 YEARS.

Fuel / propulsion mileage not reported 6.2 yr in service

THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP (VALENCIA) IS NOT WANTING TO CHANGE MY AIR BAGS BECAUSE I HAVE TO WAIT FOR MY YEAR. DRIVING MAKES ME FEEL UNSAFE WITH MY CHILDREN I HAVE BEEN HAVING OTHER ISSUES WITH MY CAR DUE TO THIS.

Other C-Class model years

How to read this

This is what owners reported, not a reliability rating. People file with NHTSA about alarming failures, not routine ones, and complaint volume tracks how many cars were sold.
Failure ages come from the incident date on each complaint, populated on about 83% of records. Mileage is shown where reported — NHTSA’s 2021 system change cut mileage capture to roughly 15%, so it thins out sharply after MY2020.
Every rank compares this vehicle only against others of the same model year. A 2025 car has not had time to accumulate five-year failures, so comparing early-failure share across years is meaningless.
Fourteen make-months distorted by media storms and mass recalls — Toyota in February 2010 ran 11× normal volume across 33 models — are excluded.
Recalls are manufacturer actions and authoritative; complaints are not. A recall listed here may already have been performed on any individual car. Check a specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.