2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 Engine Problems
Owners have filed 93 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300, 32% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 23,750 miles. The words owners use most often: “crankcase ventilation” (32% of reports).
- 93engine complaints
- 23,750median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $2,550typical repair cost reported by owners
- 48%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Crankcase ventilation: mentioned in 30 of 93 complaints (32%)
- Code P052E: mentioned in 16 of 93 complaints (17%)
- Regulator valve: mentioned in 10 of 93 complaints (11%)
- Inside cabin: mentioned in 5 of 93 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 at $2,550, and half of them between $2,150 and $3,550.
Based on 10 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2021–2024), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 12 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 93 complaints, 2 a fire.
Mercedes-Benz C300 engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 C300 | 2 | 18% | — |
| 2023 C300 | 2 | 9% | 3,900 |
| 2022 C300 | 2 | 8% | — |
| 2021 C300 | 8 | 57% | 87,039 |
| 2020 C300 | 8 | 24% | 77,500 |
| 2019 C300 | 17 | 25% | 5,350 |
| 2018 C300 | 34 | 34% | 14,000 |
| 2017 C300 | 77 | 36% | 36,000 |
| 2016 C300 | 93 | 32% | 23,750 |
| 2015 C300 | 127 | 33% | 53,000 |
| 2014 C300 | 2 | 2% | — |
| 2013 C300 | 8 | 3% | 75,000 |
| 2012 C300 | 5 | 2% | 53,000 |
| 2011 C300 | 10 | 2% | 78,000 |
| 2010 C300 | 13 | 3% | 70,000 |
| 2009 C300 | 16 | 3% | 70,000 |
| 2008 C300 | 31 | 5% | 80,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system:starter assembly; engine and engine cooling:engine
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
NHTSA Safety Complaint â 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 Vehicle: 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 | Mileage: 74,662 miles What Happened Iâm filing this complaint because my 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 suffered a sudden, complete engine failure at 74,662 miles, and I believe itâs a safety risk that deserves…
My C300 MBZ, 2016 is experiencing the same symptoms as indicated in a recall, but my vehicle is not included in that recall. Camshaft: GENERAL REPAIR A cam is a rotating or sliding piece in a mechanical linkage used especially in transforming rotary motion into linear motion or vice versa. Cams act…
fuel lines/ clamps defective causing a fuel leak. vehicle could catch on fire and fumes are extremely strong inside the cabin. issue confirmed by Mercedes dealer, mentioned there is an extended warranty up to 120,000 miles. rejected mine because i was at 120,300 miles. had to pay out of pocket. no…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300s have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 93 owner complaints about engine for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 (32% of the 288 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 engine?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 23,750 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,550 (half paid between $2,150 and $3,550), from 10 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300?
The most frequent phrase is “crankcase ventilation”, in 30 of 93 complaints, followed by “code p052e” (16).
Other 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 problems
See all 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 problems or engine problems across all C300 years.