YearToAvoid

2015 Mercedes-Benz C250 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

25/100

#4 most-complained of 5 C250 years

The 2015 Mercedes-Benz C250 has a complaint index of 25, the lowest among the 5 model years with data, and ranks 4th worst out of those years, earning a 'Good' verdict relative to other C250 years. Airbags are the top problem area with 8 complaints, 67% of the total.

Complaints
12
Recalls
4
Crashes / fires
2 / 0
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
25
21 city / 31 hwy

Top 2015 Mercedes-Benz C250 problems

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

  1. Airbags8 (67%)
  2. Steering2 (17%)
  3. Brakes1 (8%)
  4. Electrical System1 (8%)
  5. Engine1 (8%)
  6. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (8%)
  7. Other1 (8%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (8%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the steering wheel and column locking up during hard braking, leading to a rear-end collision.
  • Some owners describe airbag-related crashes at intersections even after having the airbag recall performed.
  • A front tire reportedly lost air repeatedly and flattened over time despite using a compressor to reinflate it.
  • Owners with the 17V627000 steering-grounding recall reported that replacement parts were unavailable for extended periods.
  • One owner described exposed electrical wiring near the steering column that could contact the driver's knees while driving.
  • Another owner reported the engine stalling unexpectedly at various speeds, requiring the vehicle to be restarted.
2015 Mercedes-Benz C250 complaints: complaints filed per month3Dec 2015Dec 2017Apr 2019Jan 2020Sep 2020Aug 2022
16 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2015 to Nov 2022; peak Sep 2020 (3).

2015 Mercedes-Benz C250 recalls

4 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 4 recalls for the 2015 Mercedes-Benz C250 →

2015 Mercedes-Benz C250 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
21 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.

2015 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
2013Avoid100278725
2014Caution50163525
2015Good2512425
2016No verdict010—

All Mercedes-Benz C250 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Mercedes-Benz C250 reliable?
Relative to other C250 model years, 2015 has a complaint index of 25, the lowest of the 5 years with data, and ranks 4th worst, giving it a 'Good' verdict compared to other C250 years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2015 Mercedes-Benz C250?
Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 8 of 12 complaints (67%), with a median mileage at failure of 49,500 miles. Two of these complaints involved crashes.
Does the 2015 Mercedes-Benz C250 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2015 C250, including three airbag-related campaigns (21V638000, 19V010000, 17V627000) and one software update for the emergency call system (19V787000).
How does the 2015 C250 compare to other years like 2012 and 2013?
The 2012 and 2013 C250 are both rated 'Avoid' with complaint indexes of 75 and 100 and complaint counts of 272 and 278, far higher than the 2015 model's index of 25 and 12 complaints.
Were there crashes linked to 2015 C250 complaints?
NHTSA data shows 2 crashes and 3 injuries among the 12 complaints filed for the 2015 C250, with no fires or deaths reported.

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.