2016 Mercedes-Benz AMG C63S Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2016 Mercedes-Benz AMG C63S, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine466.7%
- Other / unspecified116.7%
- Steering116.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
2016 Mercedes-Benz C63 S AMG, M177 4.0L twin-turbo V8. This engine is marketed under Mercedes-Benz's "One Man, One Engine" philosophy — hand-assembled by a single master technician. It failed irreparably at 67,323 miles on a properly maintained vehicle owned by a 14-year Mercedes-Benz customer who has purchased six Mercedes-Benz vehicles. All maintenance performed on schedule with genuine OEM Mercedes-Benz parts at Mercedes-certified shops. At approximately 65,000 miles, check engine light illuminated with cylinder 7 misfire. A Mercedes-certified shop found and replaced a burnt spark plug and all 4 ignition coils with OEM parts. Misfire cleared. Three months later at 67,000 miles, shaking and check engine light returned. All 8 spark plugs replaced with OEM parts. Misfires returned within 100 miles — now on cylinders 1, 3, and 7 — accompanied by violent engine shaking and a fuel smell. Vehicle brought to authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer. Full diagnostic performed including borescope inspection. Confirmed: broken spark plug ceramic and unrepairable piston pitting in cylinder 4 and engine damage. Dealer confirmed engine is not repairable and recommends complete engine replacement. All findings documented on dealer repair order. Vehicle remains at the dealer and is available for inspection. Mercedes-Benz has published at least three Technical Service Bulletins on persistent misfires specific to this engine: LI54.21-P-062006 (multiple revisions — ECU ground faults, borescope protocol anticipating internal damage), LI07.61-P-073583 (post-turbo exhaust clamp failures), LI07.61-P-069688 (intake manifold cracks). Mercedes has acknowledged this defect pattern internally and has not issued a recall. Sudden power loss and violent shaking at highway speed is a direct safety hazard. NHTSA investigation warranted.
My coils are faulty and needing to be replaced, but not part of the existing recall for C63s coils. On the message forums for C63s I’ve come across a lot of owners that are having issues not being part of the recall. Campaign No. 2017060008.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
I BOUGHT MY 2016 MERCEDES C63S AMG FROM A DEALER IN EDMOND, OKLAHOMA (JACKIE COOPER BMW) AND THEY SOLD ME THE CAR WITH LESS THAN 10% TREAD LEFT ON THE TIRES. SHORTLY AFTER THE PURCHASE I CALLED THE DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE AND THEY FLAT OUT DENIED ANY WRONG DOING. THEY CLAIMED THEY DID A "RIGOROUS INSPECTION" BUT SOMEHOW THE TIRES THAT WERE DOWN TO THEIR WEAR BARS PASSED IT. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, I PURCHASED A $4100 TIRE/WHEEL PACKAGE FROM THEM AND THEY ALSO HAVE NOT ACTIVATED THE SERVICE (AFTER 23 DAYS OF PURCHASE) SO I CANNOT GET NEW TIRES PUT ON WITHOUT PAYING AN EXTRA $1200 OUT OF POCKET FOR THE HIGH PERFORMANCE TIRES THAT THE CAR REQUIRES. MANAGEMENT HAS NOT RETURNED ANY OF THE CALLS & THE SALES AGENT (BRYAN LEONARD) ALSO HAVE NOT BEEN VERY HELPFUL. NEARLY A MONTH LATER AFTER THE PURCHASE THE CAR IS STILL SITTING IN THE GARAGE WITH TWO BUSTED TIRES & NO WAY TO REPLACE THEM UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THE DEALER IS REFUSING TO EXPEDITE THE WARRANTY ACTIVATION. I FINALLY GOT TIRED OF WAITING SO I TOOK THE HIT FOR THE FRONT TWO TIRES AND PAID A MOBILE SERVICE TO COME OUT AND REPLACE THEM. THE DEALER IS REFUSING TO REIMBURSING ME FOR THOSE 2 & ALSO REFUSING TO ACTIVATE THE WARRANTY SERVICE IN A TIMELY MANNER. I'VE ATTACHED THE PICTURES OF THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE THAT IS ON IT'S LAST THREAD & ALSO THE RECEIPT FOR THE FRONT TWO THAT I REPLACED OUT OF POCKET. IT'S DECEMBER 21ST NOW AND STILL NO ACTIVATION ON THE WARRANTY. I'VE NEVER FELT A BIGGER BAIT & SWITCH FROM A DEALER BEFORE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
The steering wheel won’t go up or down The auxiliary ratidator keeps getting damaged from road debris my 3 time replacing it
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .