2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Typical pattern

5.3% of complaints about the 2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2019 vehicle — around the middle of the 191 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 5.3 yr in service. The most-reported system is engine (16 complaints), typically at 6.7 yr or about 6,000 miles.

Covers 1 variant: C300 (91)

Complaints: 94
Median age at failure: 5.3 yr
Median mileage: 19,500 n=27
Crash / fire / tow: 13.8% of reports
Safety recalls: 5

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

20V608000 2020-10-02

Latches / locks

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2019 C300 vehicles. The center console lock-system might not lock properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 201, "Occupant Protection In Interior Impact."

In the event of a rear-end crash, the center console lid may open, increasing the risk of injury to occupants.

20V449000 2020-07-31

Electrical system:software

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2019 C300, C300 Coupe, CLS450, E450 Coupe and S450, 2017-2019 E300, 2018 E400 Coupe, E400 Stationwagon, and 2018-2019 S560 vehicles that have previously had the instrument cluster replaced. The software in the replaced instrument cluster may cause the seat belt warning system to not operate properly, only displaying a solid warning light if either the driver or passenger seat belt is unfastened, instead of a blinking light with an audible tone.

Without the audible tone and blinking warning light to remind the front seat occupants that their seat belts are not buckled, they may forget to buckle their seat belt, increasing their risk of injury in the event of a crash.

18V909000 2018-12-19

Parking brake

Mercedes-Benz USA,LLC (Mercedes) is recalling certain 2019 C43 AMG, C43 AMG Cabrio, C43 AMG 4MATIC Coupe, C300 4MATIC, C300 4MATIC Coupe, C300 Coupe, C300 Cabrio, C300 4MATIC Cabrio, and C300 vehicles. After parking and exiting the vehicle, the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) software may prevent the electronic parking brake from being disengaged when returning to the vehicle, unless the ESP system is deactivated.

Driving the vehicle with the ESP system deactivated could increase the risk of a crash.

18V839000 2018-11-27

Seat belts

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2019 C300 4Matic Cabriolet, C43 AMG Cabriolet, C300 Cabriolet, C300 Coupe, C300 4Matic Coupe, C43 AMG Coupe, E450 Coupe, E53 AMG Cabriolet, S450, S560, E450 Cabriolet, E450 4Matic Cabriolet, E450 4Matic Coupe, E53 AMG Coupe, S450 4Matic, S560 4Matic, S63 AMG and S65 AMG vehicles and Mercedes-Mayback S650 and S560 4 Matic vehicles. A correctly fastened seatbelt may be inaccurately detected as being unfastened, preventing the seat belt pre-tensioners from activating in the event of a crash.

If the seat belt tensioning does not activate in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.

18V761000 2018-10-29

Electrical system:software

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2019 Mercedes-Benz C300, C300 4Matic, C300 4Matic Cabrio, C300 4Matic Coupe, C300 Coupe, C300 Cabrio, C43 AMG, C43 AMG Cabrio, C43 AMG Coupe, CLS450, CLS450 4Matic, CLS53 AMG 4Matic, E53 AMG 4Matic, E450 4Matic, E450 4Matic Coupe, E53 AMG 4Matic Coupe, G550, and G63 AMG vehicles. The Central Powertrain Controller (CPC) control unit could reset while driving, possibly causing an engine stall.

An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.

In owners’ own words

Engine 1,250 mi 1.3 yr in service crash / fire / tow

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO EURO MOTORCARS BETHESDA (7020 ARLINGTON RD, BETHESDA, MD 20814) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,250. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

Engine 6,000 mi 1.4 yr in service crash / fire / tow

TL* THE CONTACT LEASED A 2019 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY TO 30 MPH WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THREE UNKNOWN DEALERS WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ECM WAS ALSO REPLACED HOWEVER, THE REPAIR FAILED TO FIX THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

Engine 4,700 mi 2.3 yr in service

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE SHUTOFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER KEYES EUROPEAN (5400 VAN NUYS BLVD, SHERMAN OAKS, CA 91401 (818) 574-5053) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NO FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,700. ## VIN PASSED ## MERCEDES-BENZ 2019 C300 ##

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.

2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

In owners’ own words

Other C-Class model years

How to read this