YearToAvoid

2014 Mercedes-Benz C250 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

50/100

#3 most-complained of 5 C250 years

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz C250 has a Complaint Index of 50 and ranks 3rd worst out of 5 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Airbags are the top problem area, with 93 complaints (57% share) tied to failed deployments, and the car carries 5 recalls.

Complaints
163
Recalls
5
Crashes / fires
13 / 4
Injuries / deaths
11 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
25
21.5 city / 31 hwy

Top 2014 Mercedes-Benz C250 problems

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

  1. Airbags93 (57%)
  2. Engine26 (16%)
  3. Steering18 (11%)
  4. Electrical System16 (10%)
  5. Other13 (8%)
  6. Brakes12 (7%)
  7. Fuel System11 (7%)
  8. Structure & Body11 (7%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain7 (4%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (3%)

What owners report

  • Airbags failed to deploy in rear-end and frontal crashes at speeds around 35 to 65 mph, resulting in injuries such as facial lacerations, rib injuries, and a broken toe.
  • Owners report sudden unintended acceleration or brake failure, including one case where the car sped forward and jumped a curb into a storefront.
  • Electrical system faults triggered check-engine warnings and unexpected deceleration, in one case traced to a failing fuel pump at 50,187 miles.
  • Some vehicles experienced smoke or fire from the electrical system, including a burning speaker linked to a failed factory amplifier.
  • Brake pedal hesitation before requiring excessive force to slow the vehicle was reported at 60,000 miles, leading to a loss of control.
  • A structure and body complaint described smoke, loss of power steering, and a vehicle fire at 18,000 miles.
2014 Mercedes-Benz C250 complaints: complaints filed per quarter292014 Q12015 Q42017 Q42019 Q22020 Q42022 Q42024 Q4
216 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2014 Q1 to 2026 Q2; peak 2018 Q2 (29).

2014 Mercedes-Benz C250 recalls

5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 21V638000Aug 13, 2021Airbags205 vehicles

    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.

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

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag on the affected vehicles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 10, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

  2. NHTSA 19V787000Nov 1, 2019Other24,226 vehiclesOver-the-air fix

    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

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

    Remedy: MBUSA has initiated an Over the Air (OTA) remote update. MBUSA will also notify owners, and dealers will check software for a successful OTA or update the communication module software as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019120008.

  3. NHTSA 19V010000Jan 9, 2019Airbags288,779 vehicles

    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 Cabrio, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2011 C300, 2011-2014 C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, SLS AMG Coupe, 2015-2016 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400 Coupe, 2011-2016 E550 Cabrio, E550 Coupe, 2011-2015 GLK350 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, and 2013-2015 GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic vehicles ever registered in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." MBUSA is also recalling certain 2012-2014 C250, E350 4Matic Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2010-2011 C300, 2010-2014 C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 Coupe, 2011-2014 E350 Cabrio, SLS AMG Coupe, 2015-2016 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400 Coupe, 2016-2017 E550 Cabrio, 2010-2016 E550 Coupe, 2010-2015 GLK350 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, and 2013-2015 GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic vehicles ever registered in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MO, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

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

    Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began March 29, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

See all 5 recalls for the 2014 Mercedes-Benz C250 →

2014 Mercedes-Benz C250 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
21.5 MPG
Highway
31 MPG
Combined
25 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,200
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.

2014 compared with other C250 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020122013201420152016
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2012Avoid75272525
2013Avoid100278725
2014Caution50163525
2015Good2512425
2016No verdict010—

All Mercedes-Benz C250 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2014 Mercedes-Benz C250 reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2014 C250 a Complaint Index of 50 and a Caution verdict, ranking 3rd worst among the 5 model years with data. It has fewer complaints (163) than the 2012 and 2013 model years but more than the 2015 and 2016 years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2014 C250?
Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 93 of 163 complaints (57%) and 11 crashes, mostly involving failure to deploy at a median mileage of 47,000 miles.
Does the 2014 Mercedes-Benz C250 have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2014 C250, covering airbags (three separate campaigns), steering, and an eCall software time-sync issue. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2014 C250 compare to other years?
The 2014 model (Complaint Index 50) ranks better than 2012 (75, Avoid) and 2013 (100, Avoid), but worse than 2015 (25, Good) and 2016 (0, no verdict listed).
What is the fuel economy of the 2014 Mercedes-Benz C250?
EPA rates the 2014 C250 at 25 mpg combined (21.5 city, 31 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,200.

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.