2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class has 78 complaints with NHTSA after 8 years, or 8 per year. That is about even with the other C-Class years here. Their median is 7 complaints per year. NHTSA has no recalls on file for this model year.

2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Photo by Alexander Migl, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

78

Per year

8

Recalls

0

Years on the road

8

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (18 of 78), then Electrical system (14) and Fuel and propulsion system (8). Those filings include 3 that report a crash and 1 that reports an injury.

Next to 2018 and 2020

The 2018 C-Class has 130 complaints, 10 per year, and the 2020 has 46 complaints, 6 per year. The 2019 has fewer complaints per year than the 2018. The 2019 has more complaints per year than the 2020.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (0)

No recalls on file with NHTSA for this model year.

Complaints by component (78 total)

Engine
18
Electrical system
14
Fuel and propulsion system
8
Structure
8
Powertrain
7
Seat belts
7
Service brakes
6
Fuel system, gasoline
5
Steering
5
Wheels
5
Back-over prevention
3
Forward collision avoidance
3
Speed control
3
Air bags
2
Communication
2
Exterior lighting
1
Tires
1
Visibility and wipers
1
Show 10 more Show less
Crash-flagged

3

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

1

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

720195202011202111202252023102024172025122026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "The factory infotainment system (Mercedes NTG 5.5 head unit) displays Android Auto incorrectly. Instead of using the full width of the center display, Android Auto is cropped into a reduced window on the right side of…"
    Electrical system, Unknown or other · filed 2026-09-22
  • "The M264 2.0L engine suffered a catastrophic internal failure. While making a left turn at an intersection, the vehicle suddenly shut off and stalled, leaving the car stranded in active traffic and creating an immediate…"
    Powertrain, Engine · filed 2026-09-21
  • "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…"
    Powertrain, Electrical system, Engine · filed 2026-09-15
  • "Shifting gears when stopped and the car lunged forward while I was stopped at a red light. I almost hit the car in front of me at the red light. Very rough gear changes and changing out of the correct gear to the wrong…"
    Powertrain · filed 2026-08-16
  • "The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz AMG C43. The contact stated that the convertible roof headliner tension cord was frayed, and the vehicle was taken to the local dealer. The contact was advised that the headliner…"
    Structure · filed 2026-08-13

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2 DR 4WD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2 DR RWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4 DR 4WD Not rated 4 stars Not rated 4 stars
2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4 DR RWD Not rated 4 stars Not rated 4 stars
2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet C 4WD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet C RWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Specs and fitment

W205, 2015–2021
Body styles Sedan
Oil 5W-30 full synthetic (MB-approved; common US C300 fill) , 5.5 qt capacity
Tire size 225/50R17 to 255/35R19 (trim-dependent; C300 pages)

Known issues for this generation

For 2016 C300 sedans, NHTSA lists campaign 18V-850: a locknut in the steering rack may break under load, so the car cannot be steered properly; dealers replace the steering rack. Campaign 21V-197 covers certain 2015-2020 C300 vehicles (with GLA, CLA, GLC, and other models): adhesive bonding of a front panel may deteriorate so the panel can detach; dealers reinstall the panel with approved primer and adhesive. Campaign 17V-627 also names C300 4Matic and related C-Class trims for driver-air-bag grounding. Unit counts on multi-model campaigns are shared across nameplates.

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Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class reliable?

The 2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class has 78 complaints with NHTSA after 8 years, or 8 per year. That is about even with the other C-Class years here. Their median is 7 complaints per year. NHTSA has no recalls on file for this model year.

What are common problems with a 2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (18 of 78), then Electrical system (14) and Fuel and propulsion system (8). Those filings include 3 that report a crash and 1 that reports an injury.

Is the 2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2018 C-Class has 130 complaints, 10 per year, and the 2020 has 46 complaints, 6 per year. The 2019 has fewer complaints per year than the 2018. The 2019 has more complaints per year than the 2020.

Has the 2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class been recalled?

NHTSA has no recalls on file for the 2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

Owners have filed 78 complaints about the 2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class with NHTSA.

What engine oil does a Mercedes-Benz C-Class use?

5W-40 full synthetic (MB-approved; common US C250/C350 fills)

What does NHTSA recall 17V-627 cover on the Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

NHTSA campaign 17V-627 covers certain 2012-2014 C250, C350, and C300 4Matic sedans (with many other Mercedes models): insufficient grounding of steering components can allow the driver air bag to deploy inadvertently.

What generation is the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

W204 (2012-2014).