YearToAvoid

2015 Mercedes-Benz C300 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

87/100

#3 most-complained of 16 C300 years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300 has 381 NHTSA complaints, 11 recalls, and a complaint index of 87, ranking 3rd worst among 16 model years. Engine problems are the top issue, making it an Avoid year relative to other C300 years.

Complaints
381
Recalls
11
Crashes / fires
9 / 1
Injuries / deaths
7 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
27.5
24.5 city / 32 hwy

Top 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300 problems

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

  1. Engine133 (35%)
  2. Fuel System70 (18%)
  3. Other64 (17%)
  4. Structure & Body62 (16%)
  5. Electrical System51 (13%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires31 (8%)
  7. Steering23 (6%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain20 (5%)
  9. Brakes16 (4%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers16 (4%)

What owners report

  • Steering wheels have suddenly failed to turn, in one case reportedly after a rack-and-pinion recall repair, leading to loss of control at 40-50 mph.
  • Airbags have partially deployed or failed to deploy in rear-end and other collisions, sometimes with an unexplained error message.
  • The collision prevention assistant system has activated unexpectedly, cutting acceleration mid-drive regardless of how hard the gas pedal is pressed.
  • A #1 piston reportedly cracked while driving at 50-60 mph, causing shaking, smoke, and the check engine light to illuminate.
  • Brake assist plus has engaged automatically but still failed to prevent a low-speed collision with the vehicle ahead.
  • Power steering has failed shortly after startup, forcing owners to struggle to steer the car home before towing.
2015 Mercedes-Benz C300 complaints: complaints filed per quarter332014 Q42016 Q22017 Q42019 Q22020 Q42022 Q22023 Q42025 Q2
511 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2014 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2023 Q1 (33).

2015 Mercedes-Benz C300 recalls

11 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 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.

See all 11 recalls for the 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300 →

2015 Mercedes-Benz C300 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
24.5 MPG
Highway
32 MPG
Combined
27.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,900
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 C300 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2013Caution60259622
2014Caution5394522
2015Avoid873811127.5
2016Avoid802861327.5
2017Caution732161526

All Mercedes-Benz C300 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300 a bad year?
Relative to other C300 model years, 2015 ranks 3rd worst out of 16 years tracked, with a complaint index of 87 and 381 NHTSA complaints. It carries an Avoid verdict compared to other C300 years.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 C300?
Engine issues make up 35% of complaints (133 cases), followed by fuel system problems at 18% (70 cases) and structure and body issues at 16% (62 cases). The median mileage at engine-related failure was 50,950 miles.
Does the 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 11 recalls for the 2015 C300, covering steering (including a power steering software update), electrical system, structure and body, and airbags.
How does the 2015 C300 compare to newer C300 years?
Complaint index drops sharply in later years, from 87 in 2015 to 33 in 2019 and 7 in 2021, both rated Good or Best, showing 2015 has substantially more reported problems than the newest model years.
What is the fuel economy of the 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300?
EPA rates the 2015 C300 at 27.5 mpg combined (24.5 city/32 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,900.

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.