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Mercedes-Benz C300Model year report

2019 Mercedes-Benz C300 Problems

Compared with other Mercedes-Benz C300 years

Typical for this model

47/100 0.9× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2022

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
69filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
22,626miles, 24 complaints with mileage
Recalls
17campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
25 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl RWD · 22 city / 31 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2019 Mercedes-Benz C300 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe sudden loss of engine power or stalling, sometimes with a check engine light, in vehicles with relatively low mileage. Fuel-system complaints – fuel smell, leaks and pump failures – also appear regularly, and some owners report front seat belts that no longer retract.

  1. Engine

    Sudden loss of power / engine stalling

    • 17 complaints (25%)
    • median 17,000 mi at 2.3 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2020–2026

    Complaints describe the vehicle losing acceleration or shutting off while driving at various speeds, sometimes with the check engine light coming on. Some owners say the engine restarted after cycling the ignition, while others had the vehicle towed. Diagnoses mentioned in complaints include the high-pressure fuel pump, oil control valve, throttle body and pedal position sensors, and PCM software; several owners report the dealer could not reproduce the fault. Reported from as low as about 1,200 miles up to roughly 60,000 miles, with many in the first few thousand miles.

    Recall 18V7610003 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask whether any PCM/engine software updates or service bulletins were applied, and have a pre-purchase scan done for stored or pending fault codes. Note whether the check engine light comes on during a test drive.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I was pulling out of a parking lot onto a highway with a posted limit of 55 MPH. As I pulled out onto the highway the gas pedal just stopped working. The car was on but it just wouldn't go anywhere. A vehicle coming from my left at a high rate of speed had to put on it's brakes in order not to strike the driver's side of my door. It came within 2 feet of my vehicle. I turned off the car and restarted it. When I restarted the vehicle I turned off the eco button and drove a couple of miles back to my home with no problems. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11395598, filed 2021-02, 28,000 miles

    “The vehicle experienced a severe safety issue involving a sudden loss of motive power in active traffic. 1. Initial Symptoms & Diagnosis: Recently, the Check Engine Light illuminated. Although the light turned off before my scheduled appointment, I still brought the vehicle to an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealership for a safety inspection. 2. Dealer Confirmation: The dealership inspected the vehicle and diagnosed an internal electrical fault with the engine oil control valve and harness. They recommended replacing the parts. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11764481, filed 2026-09
  2. Fuel system

    Fuel smell, fuel leaks and fuel pump failure

    • 8 complaints (12%)
    • median 47,472 mi at 5.8 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2020–2025

    Owners describe a gasoline odor near the engine bay after the car has sat overnight, or smoke from a leaking fuel line. Some complaints report the engine losing power or failing to accelerate above low speed and a diagnosis of a failed fuel pump or fuel level sensor. One owner notes a fuel rail failure. Mostly reported between about 25,000 and 76,000 miles, often noticed at startup or while driving.

    Recall 21V9610001 related service bulletin

    What to check: Check for a fuel smell around the engine bay after the car has been parked overnight, and ask whether the fuel injector recall (21V961000) was completed or whether the tank leakage module warranty extension applies.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Gas smell coming from engine area when car has been sitting overnight. Smell comes from driver's side of engine compartment. Gas smell does not happen when car is running. Smell fills up our 2-car garage causing concern when we start the car in the morning.”

    NHTSA complaint #11611601, filed 2024-08

    “The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while at a stoplight, there was an abnormal odor of fuel inside the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The vehicle was restarted and shut off independently. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V961000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who determined that the failure was a fuel rail failure. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11656739, filed 2025-04, 60,000 miles
  3. Body and structure

    Roof panel or sunroof detachment, noise and leaks

    • 6 complaints (9%)
    • median 32,275 mi at 4.4 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2019–2026

    Owners describe a roof panel flying off at highway speed, sunroof glass shattering, a sunroof that would not close after a popping sound, and wind noise or water intrusion from a compromised sunroof seal. Several owners link the problem to a roof panel recall but say their VIN was not included. Reported at highway speeds and at mileages from about 11,000 up to about 54,000 miles.

    Recall 23V854000Recall 21V1970002 related service bulletins

    What to check: Have the roof panel and sunroof checked for secure bonding and seal condition, and confirm with a dealer whether the applicable roof recalls were performed on this VIN.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The panorama sunroof exploded, no other cars near me, no rock hit it no big bump in the road, it just exploded...was traveling at normal highway speed, and it sounded like the car had exploded, very scary, and if the inside cover had not been closed would have had glass shards rain down on me and possible get in my eyes...mercedes needs to address this problem right away before people get into accidents when this happens.”

    NHTSA complaint #11291475, filed 2019-12, 11,550 miles

    “I was driving on the hwy 94 in Minneapolis and I had the cap to my sunroof fly off on the freeway. There’s a recall out on the sale vehicle but 4matic but not on my vin number. This is a huge safety issue and it’s been happening to quite a few people I know. No one was injured and it didn’t cause damage to any other vehicle but when I brought it into the shop they said the recall that was on this part was not for my exact vehicle.”

    NHTSA complaint #11691716, filed 2025-10
  4. Seat belts

    Front seat belts do not retract

    • 5 complaints (7%)
    • typically at 3.9 yrs old
    • filed 2022–2026

    Complaints describe the front seat belts failing to retract to their stowed position after unbuckling, leaving them hanging in the door opening. Some owners report the belt stopper breaking. Several say the dealer described it as a known characteristic or declined a goodwill repair, and one owner was told the VIN was not covered by the seat belt retractor recall. Reported on vehicles at various mileages, generally noticed early in ownership.

    Recall 21V032000Recall 18V839000

    What to check: Unbuckle both front belts and confirm they retract fully on their own, and check whether the seat belt recalls were completed for this VIN.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “On both front seatbelts. After disconnecting, they both do not retract. Often they get stuck hanging below door after closing the door (both sides). I have brought the car to Mercedes Benz service dept in Mobile AL. I am told that as long as I can manually feed them back there is no problem. This explanation is absurd!”

    NHTSA complaint #11452804, filed 2022-02

    “The contact's husband owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that the front driver's side and passenger's side seat belts failed to retract as designed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the seat belt assemblies needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V032000 (Seat Belts). The contact was provided with an estimate for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11681509, filed 2025-08

Buying note. Check the service history for completed recalls and software updates, and pay particular attention to how the car behaves on a cold start and during acceleration. A pre-purchase scan for stored fault codes and a look at the fuel system and seat belts would be worthwhile on this model year.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 69 consumer complaints for the 2019 Mercedes-Benz C300. 24 of the complaints include a mileage, and 79% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 22,626 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 17 recall campaigns and 182 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 13 Mercedes-Benz C300 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 47 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Forward collision avoidance (3), Vehicle speed control (3), Air bags (1), Exterior lighting (1), Tires (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Engine: “While driving on highway, the engine light came on, a diagnostic test was performed by dealer, oil control valve defected) This could cause engine to lock up while driving, a serious safety concern. I contacted Mercedes Benz corporate office seeking help, because of factory defect. They're not assisting me with this extreme safety matter!!”

NHTSA complaint #11712677, filed 2026-01

Electrical system: “Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2019 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that after purchasing the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. The contact stated that at the time of purchase, the odometer reading was approximately 54,000 miles. At the time of registration, the mileage was approximately 54,000 miles, and the same mileage was also reflected on the Carfax report. …”

NHTSA complaint #11716768, filed 2026-02, 54,000 miles

Fuel system: “On the afternoon of February 6, 2024, as I was turning into my driveway to park in front of the garage, my car unexpectedly accelerated despite my foot being on the brake pedal. Despite my attempts to brake, the pedal didn't respond, causing the car to collide with the garage door and subsequently damage storage shelves and containers inside. My mother and two brothers were passengers, returning from my mother's doctor appointment, and she became trapped inside due to the garage door collapsing onto the car. …”

NHTSA complaint #11574602, filed 2024-02

Other or unknown: “I think the recall is on communication software. I contacted Mercedes Benz many times in the past 2 years. Mercedes Benz asked its dealer to do the recall but dealer said they cannot do it. Mecedes Benz also said their software supplier had not found a solution yet.”

NHTSA complaint #11698435, filed 2025-11

Mileage when problems were reported

79% of the 24 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 6,300 and 43,000 miles.

33%0–1017%10–2529%25–5013%50–754%75–1000%100–1504%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (24 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 22,626 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

2019202020212022202320242025142026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2019 Mercedes-Benz C300. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
C-Class · sedan 4WDnot rated5 / 4——4 · 11.0% risk
C-Class · sedan RWDnot rated5 / 4——4 · 11.0% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2019 model year: forward collision warning standard, lane departure warning optional, automatic emergency braking standard.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2019 Mercedes-Benz C300 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
C300 RWD2.0L 4-cyl9-speed automatic233427$3,050
C300 4matic 4WD2.0L 4-cyl9-speed automatic223326$3,150
C300 4matic Convertible 4WD2.0L 4-cyl9-speed automatic212924$3,400
C300 4matic Coupe 4WD2.0L 4-cyl9-speed automatic223125$3,300
C300 Convertible RWD2.0L 4-cyl9-speed automatic212924$3,400
C300 Coupe RWD2.0L 4-cyl9-speed automatic223125$3,300

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

See all 17 recalls for the 2019 Mercedes-Benz C300 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 182 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 182 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz C300

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
202411—3—30—Too new
2023223,9009—25—Too new
2022256,0009—2533 · FewerRising
20211486,0787527—Not enough data
20203328,7229—2542 · TypicalStable
20196922,62617—2547 · TypicalRising
20189950,0001852538 · TypicalRising
201721628,0001552677 · MoreRising
201629040,3001352872 · MoreRising
201538148,5001142886 · MoreStable
20149427,000552213 · FewerStable
201326180,000652239 · TypicalFalling
201226783,5006—2028 · FewerFalling
201148079,000642153 · TypicalFalling
201045365,3006—2166 · MoreFalling
200957670,0008—2183 · MoreFalling
200867278,8907—2169 · MoreStable

All Mercedes-Benz C300 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2019 Mercedes-Benz C300?

Owners of this model year most often describe sudden loss of engine power or stalling, sometimes with a check engine light, in vehicles with relatively low mileage. The issues reported most often: Sudden loss of power / engine stalling; Fuel smell, fuel leaks and fuel pump failure; Roof panel or sunroof detachment, noise and leaks.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2019 Mercedes-Benz C300 have?

NHTSA recorded 69 consumer complaints for the 2019 Mercedes-Benz C300 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2019 Mercedes-Benz C300 is reported most often?

Engine is named most often, in 17 complaints (25% of the total), followed by electrical system with 13.

Has the 2019 Mercedes-Benz C300 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 17 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2019 Mercedes-Benz C300 get?

The EPA rates the 2019 Mercedes-Benz C300 (C300 Coupe, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 25 mpg combined, 22 city and 31 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,300 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2019 Mercedes-Benz C300 reported?

Among the 24 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 22,626 miles and the middle half falls between 6,300 and 43,000 miles; 79% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.