YearToAvoid

2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG C43 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 9 AMG C43 years

The 2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG C43 has 23 NHTSA complaints, 10 recalls, and a complaint index of 100, the highest among the 9 model years with data, ranking it worst (#1) for owner-reported problems. Suspension, wheels & tires is the top problem area at 30% of complaints.

Complaints
23
Recalls
10
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
23
20 city / 28 hwy

Top 2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG C43 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Suspension, Wheels & Tires7 (30%)
  2. Seat Belts5 (22%)
  3. Structure & Body4 (17%)
  4. Brakes3 (13%)
  5. Engine3 (13%)
  6. Airbags2 (9%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain2 (9%)
  8. Electrical System1 (4%)
  9. Other1 (4%)
  10. Steering1 (4%)

What owners report

  • Tires and wheels crack or blow out after hitting small potholes, with some owners reporting up to six tire failures in about fifteen months.
  • Wheel rims crack easily on impact and tires lose air repeatedly, sometimes needing air added multiple times a week.
  • The parking brake light comes on at startup and the parking brake fails to release, sometimes leaving the car stranded for over 30 minutes.
  • The vehicle enters limp mode on the highway, losing power while active brake assist and traction control warnings activate.
  • Owners report confusion and delays getting the Takata airbag recall performed, with dealers denying the recall applied despite active notices.
  • A seat structure recall repair was delayed because the replacement part was not available.
2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG C43 complaints: complaints filed per month3Oct 2017Jun 2018Mar 2019Mar 2020Apr 2021Oct 2021May 2023
30 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2017 to Aug 2024; peak Nov 2017 (3).

2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG C43 recalls

10 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V854000Dec 15, 2023Structure & Body2,976 vehicles

    Structure:body:roof and pillars

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2014-2020 C-Class, CLA, GLA, S-Class, GLC, and GLE vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle details. The front roof panel located between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof may not have been bonded correctly to the vehicle during a prior repair, allowing the front panel to detach from the vehicle.

    Risk: A detached roof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the front panel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 2, 2024. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on, March 22,2024, and August 2, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 21V-197.

  2. NHTSA 21V197000Mar 19, 2021Structure & Body15,096 vehicles

    Structure:body:roof and pillars

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2020 C300 Coupe, C43 Coupe AMG, C43 AMG, 2015-2020 C300, GLA250, 2016-2018 C350e, CLA45 Coupe AMG, 2015 C400, S65 AMG, 2015-2019 C63 AMG, 2016 C450, 2015-2016 GLA45 AMG, S600, 2016-2020 GLC300, 2017-2019 GLC43 AMG, GLE43 Coupe AMG, 2014-2019 CLA250 Coupe, 2014-2015 CLA45 AMG, 2018 GLC63 AMG, 2014-2017 S550, 2018-2020 S450, 2016-2019 GLE63 Coupe AMG, 2016 GLE450 Coupe, 2014-2020 S63 AMG, 2018-2019 S560, and 2019 GLC350e vehicles equipped with a panoramic sunroof. The front roof panel located between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof may not have been bonded correctly to the vehicle during a prior repair.

    Risk: The adhesive bonding of the front panel might deteriorate, possibly causing the front panel to detach from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Mercedes-Benz dealer will remove the bonded panel and will install a new front panel by following the detailed repair instructions and using the approved primer, cleaner and adhesive, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021 and October 26, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

  3. NHTSA 21V058000Feb 5, 2021Other1,292,258 vehiclesOver-the-air fix

    Communication: auto crash notification

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 - 2021 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLS-Class, SL-Class, B-Class, GLB-Class, GLC-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to the Part 573 report for specific vehicle model details. The software design of the communication module may fail to communicate the correct vehicle location for the emergency call system (eCall) in the event of a crash.

    Risk: Failure of the eCall system may result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.

    Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and the communication module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. The recall began March 12, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021020025.

See all 10 recalls for the 2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG C43 →

2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG C43 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
20 MPG
Highway
28 MPG
Combined
23 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,450
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2017 compared with other AMG C43 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201620172018201920202021202220232024
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2016No verdict2521—
2017Avoid100231023
2018Avoid75131122
2019Caution5061222

All Mercedes-Benz AMG C43 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG C43 reliable?
Among the 9 model years with data, the 2017 AMG C43 ranks worst, with a complaint index of 100 and 23 NHTSA complaints, giving it an 'Avoid' verdict relative to other years.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 AMG C43?
Suspension, wheels & tires issues make up 30% of complaints (7 of 23), followed by seat belts at 22% and structure & body issues at 17%.
Does the 2017 AMG C43 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 10 recalls for the 2017 AMG C43, covering structure & body panels, seat belts, seatback locks, and a Takata airbag grounding issue, with none marked do-not-drive.
At what mileage do problems typically show up?
Median mileage at failure across complaints is 22,250 miles, though suspension issues were reported at a lower median of 14,750 miles and brake issues at 11,700 miles.
How does the 2017 model compare to the 2018 and 2020 AMG C43?
The 2018 model has a complaint index of 75 and the 2020 model 88, both also rated 'Avoid,' but both remain below the 2017 model's index of 100.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.