As the replacement for the formidable 190 in 1993, the C Class had a lot to live up to, especially in the reliability stakes. Early cars enjoyed the same reverence, but does the current generation have the same bulletproof reliability?

In this article, we’ll take a look at the C Class’ weak points, any manufacturer recalls that have been issued, and ultimately, if they’re worth buying.

Quick links:

• Is the Mercedes C Class Reliable?
• Mercedes C Class Recalls
• Mercedes C Class Common Issues

Is the Mercedes C Class Reliable? 

In 2024, Mercedes as a brand placed 22nd out of 31 manufacturers. This makes them statistically less reliable than most other luxury marques, including Lexus, BMW, Audi and even Skoda. The 2014 - 2021 C Class placed 14th out of 20 cars in WhatCars? reliability rating, and the current one was given a 6.8/10 score by MotorEasy for reliability.

Whilst most of the faults were covered by Mercedes’ warranty, it’s difficult to give too much praise to the C Class’ reliability based on the figures alone.

Mercedes C Class Recalls

Recalls are issued by the manufacturer when a defect with the design or manufacturing of the car is noticed, especially one that affects the vehicle's safety. Recalls are always repaired by the dealer, free of charge. 

It's easy to double-check if your car is affected by any outstanding recalls with the government recall checker.

Worryingly, the current generation of C Class has quite a few recalls in the short time it's been in production; 38 to be exact. Whilst some of these are for software and minor things, such as an incorrect sticker fitted, many do involve serious safety features of the car.

The behaviour of the emergency call system might not meet expectations

No extra detail is given regarding this recall issue, just that the fix involves a software update to the communication module. This is the part of the system responsible for the emergency call system, should a car be involved in an accident. 

By my calculations, taken from data just pertaining to the non-AMG version of the C Class built in 2021, nearly 420,000 cars had this issue. It might not be a case of finding a car that has had the issue rectified, but if Mercedes has time to repair all the affected cars!

Fuel Pump Impeller Recall

Inside the fuel pump is a small blade called an impeller that spins at high RPM to deliver fuel to the engine. On certain models made in 2021, this can deform under load and stop working effectively. 

The issue affected just over 1,000 cars, and the remedy is the replacement of the fuel pump. 

Front Airbag Issue

On around 800 cars, an issue was detected relating to the front passenger airbag, and its effectiveness when needed in an accident. The repair involves the replacement of the airbag at a Mercedes dealership.

Mercedes C Class Common Issues

These are issues that are reported by multiple owners; they don’t necessarily indicate lots of cars will have problems, just that these are the ones you are most likely to encounter.

AdBlue Problems

It's easy to find many owners discussing problems related to the emissions system, specifically the AdBlue injectors and tank. The urea-based fluid can crystallise in the system if certain conditions are met, often resulting in needing a new injector - these can be very expensive.

It’s unclear if these problems are through a design or manufacturing fault of the car, or if the owners are not using the vehicle as intended - i.e. running a diesel only on short journeys, or forgetting to fill the AdBlue tank.

Faulty Door Mirror Folding

A common fault on the previous generation of C Class, is faulty door mirrors. The folding mechanism uses a motor inside the mirror and sensors to detect when it’s folded or unfolded. These become noisy and weak over time, resulting in mirrors not fully opening or closing.

To replace the mirrors with new parts can cost an arm and a leg (some sources state £500+ per side), so make sure to listen carefully when looking at a used C Class. 

Gearbox Issues

The 7G-Tronic automatic gearbox used on certain C-Class models is great, providing fast, smooth changes and high efficiency. It is however, a complex system, and needs routine maintenance to ensure it works correctly. 

A G-Tronic gearbox that has been neglected could leave you with some big repair bills if it goes wrong.

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Author - Joseph Law

Joseph has been writing about cars for over seven years and writing for Bumper for over two, blending his passion for automobiles with a talent for storytelling.

Joseph has written about engineering and cars for Autozilla, Komaspec, and several engineering manufacturers. When he's not writing or tinkering with one of his cars, Joseph dreams of owning an Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale.