2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 Electrical System Problems
NHTSA lists 35 electrical system complaints for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300, 12% of that year's 286 total complaints. Two related recalls (17V177000 and 17V114000) cover software updates and a starter fuse fix, and owners reported 2 crashes and 3 fires tied to electrical issues at a median 10,500 miles.
- Electrical System complaints
- 35
- 12% of 286
- Crashes reported
- 2
- Fires reported
- 3
- Injuries reported
- 2
- Median mileage
- 10,500 mi
- Related recalls
- 2
Typical electrical symptoms owners report
- Vehicles stalled or became stranded after driving through standing water, with some owners reporting smoke or fire afterward.
- Some owners reported the starter-related recall repair itself led to the car shutting off unexpectedly while driving.
- Several owners said the parts needed for the recall (campaign 17V114000) were unavailable for extended periods, leaving the electrical fix incomplete.
- The push start button failed to start the vehicle in at least one case, with the dealer unable to resolve it.
- One owner described the anti-collision sensor light illuminating along with a brief loss of engine power at low speed.
- One owner reported unexpected acceleration while shifting between parking spaces, resulting in a crash into a house.
When 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 electrical complaints were filed
First complaint Sep 14, 2016, latest Apr 27, 2026.
Electrical System recalls for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300
- NHTSA 17V177000Mar 14, 2017Electrical System51 vehicles
Electrical system:software
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 AMG GT-S, GLC300, CLA250 and GLE300d 4Matic vehicles, 2013 C250, E350 BlueTec and G63 AMG vehicles, 2008-2014 C300 vehicles, 2013-2014 C300 4Matic and ML350 4Matic vehicles, 2009 C350 vehicles, 2014 CLS550, E350 4Matic, E350 Coupe 4Matic, E350 Wagon 4Matic, GLK350 and SL550 vehicles, 2012 CLS550 4Matic vehicles, 2012-2016 E350 vehicles, 2016-2017 GL450 4Matic vehicles, 2012-2014 ML350 4Matic BlueTec vehicles, 2015 S550, S550 4Matic and C300 4Matic Sedan vehicles, 2015-2016 C300 Sedan vehicles, and 2017 SL63 AMG vehicles. Various control units on these vehicles may have been updated with incorrect software, potentially affecting the correct deployment of the air bags in the event of a crash.
Risk: If the air bags do not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, there would be an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update software in the affected control units, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
- NHTSA 17V114000Feb 23, 2017Electrical System307,629 vehicles
Electrical system:starter assembly
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2017 C300 4Matic, C300, CLA250, CLA250 4Matic and CLA45 AMG vehicles, 2017 C300 4Matic Cabrio, C300 4Matic Coupe, C300 Cabrio, C300 Coupe, E300, E300 4Matic, E400 4Matic Wagon, E43 AMG 4Matic, GLA250, GLA250 4Matic and GLC300 4Matic Coupe vehicles and 2016 C350e and GLC300 vehicles and 2016-2017 C450 4Matic AMG Sport and GLC300 4Matic vehicles. In the event that the engine or transmission cannot turn over, the starting current limiter may overheat from the repeated attempts of the starter motor attempting to start the vehicle.
Risk: If the starting current limiter overheats, the surrounding components can melt, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional fuse in the electrical line to the starter, free of charge. The recall began August 31, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2017080002.
Electrical System complaints by C300 model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many electrical system complaints does the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 have?
- NHTSA lists 35 electrical system complaints for the 2016 C300, which is 12% of the 286 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2016 C300 electrical system?
- Yes, two recalls apply: campaign 17V177000, a software update for affected control units, and campaign 17V114000, which adds a fuse to the starter's electrical line.
- At what mileage do electrical problems typically show up on the 2016 C300?
- The median mileage at failure for electrical system complaints is 10,500 miles.
- Were there any fires linked to the 2016 C300 electrical system?
- NHTSA records show 3 fires and 2 crashes associated with electrical system complaints for the 2016 C300.