Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C 300 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 21 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Picked my 5 year old Granddaughter up from camp we had a down tornado warning and we were driving home suddenly the sunroof opens it starts raining on us I hurried and pushed the button to close it when I did it made a loud crunch noise and almost shut but stayed vented and one side is higher than the other. When you try to close it or open it it does move a like but I’m scared it will break on us
While driving my 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 on Route 12 in Utica, NY around 8:10 PM on May 29, 2025, the panoramic sunroof spontaneously exploded while in the tilted vent position. It sounded like a gunshot and sent glass raining into the cabin, causing multiple cuts to my hand, ear, arm, and lower back while I was driving. The shock nearly caused me to lose control of the vehicle. Conditions were clear and dry, around 60°F, and I was driving about 50–55 mph. I have reported the incident to Mercedes-Benz USA (Case #14443457). This is a serious safety hazard, and I am concerned about residual glass in the vehicle’s ventilation system and potential future injuries. I am also concerned about paint and interior damage from the explosion.
The roof fabric headliner getting separated from its foam backing. That created two sagging fabric pockets on both ends near the rear windshield.
The contact owns a 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while driving during rainy weather conditions, water leaked through the sunroof into the interior of the vehicle. In addition, while attempting to close the sunroof, the sunroof glass remained open and slanted on the front and rear diver's sides. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V087000 (Visibility); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was determined that the sunroof rails had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the sunroof glass detached. There was a roaring sound detected. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V087000 (Visibility). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who added plastic to the vehicle. The dealer determined that the sunroof glass needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.
The complaint is about the sunroof which has an open recall with all warning signs and risks exactly identical to my make, year and model (2016 mercedes benz c300). More than 15,000 vehicles have been affected by this problem and the warning signs suddenly appear with the vehicle. Mercedes Benz after their investigation after several reports were filed, later found that the sunroof glass panels were installed without prior application of the primer (bonding agent) which was supposed to ensure the specified strength of the bonded joint. NHTSA received several complaints concerning this issue where the sunroof suddenly began shaking and rattling which began with the driver noticing excessive wind noises in the area of the sunroof while driving indicating that the panel might be partially separated from the vehicle. I began noticing this on Tuesday May 28th, 2024, when my sunroof tilted open on the left side and failed to open properly. Upon closing it, I began to drive, and the wind noise and excessive rattling was immediately noticeable. It sounded like the wind was forcing open my sunroof and was almost like the wind was about to pull it out. In fear, I slowed down to about 20mph, but it was still very noticeable. I got scared and immediately pulled to the side of the freeway and parked. Then I immediately looked up the issue on google and noticed that there was an open recall for the exact same issue, for my make, model and year. It was noted that the roofs if not fixed will eventually pull out and flyaway posing a safety risk to the driver and other motorists who may crash as they try to avoid the debris or if the panel hits them. Luckily, I pulled over quicky out of fear for it felt like my sunroof was literally about to pull off by the wind. Now I am unable to drive my vehicle because of fear for my safety. Please I would appreciate if this were resolved and for my vehicle to be recalled and fixed immediately as soon as possible. Thanks.
The contact owns a 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that the adhesive bonding on the front panel of the sunroof had failed, and the panel detached from the vehicle and the sunroof could no longer be opened. The cause of the failure was not yet determined, and the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V197000 (Structure). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 52,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that the sunroof failed to open. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that upon purchasing the vehicle, the driver's side sunroof corner was slightly raised. The contact stated while driving at 40 MPH, she heard the panoramic sunroof glass sliding back and forth. The contact stated that she held the sunroof glass while driving. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring. Additionally, the contact stated while attempting to open the sunroof, it slightly opened and the force itself closed. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated the sunroof failed to close and was stuck open. The vehicle was taken to dealer and was diagnosed that the sunroof rail, motor and rods needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated while driving at 15-20 MPH, she noticed that the sunroof was lifting up. The contact decreased her speed to 10-15 MPH and moved to the shoulder of the road. The contact stated that sunroof flew off and landed on the ground. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle would be repaired at her own expense. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist as the vehicle was out of warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000. The VIN was not available.
The contact owns a 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving 60 mph, the sunroof suddenly exploded and shattered. The contact stated she was able to pull over to the side of the road, where she inspected the vehicle and did not find the cause of the failure. The contact then drove the vehicle to her destination. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the roof panel needed to be replaced. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and declined to provide any assistance. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V197000 (Structure). The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 32,000.
SUNROOF WILL NOT OPEN OR CLOSE, THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE! SUNROOF IS CURRENTLY OPEN. ALSO, DEFROST DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY DURING SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS. WHEN IT IS RAINING, MY WINDOWS WILL NOT UNFOG, THIS IS DANGEROUS AND MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT!
SUNROOF WILL NOT CLOSE AT ALL, SEATS WILL NOT ADJUST (ELECTRICAL), WIPER VISIBILITY IS UNCLEAR, DEFROST DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, I HEARD A LOUD NOISE THAT, ON FIRST IMPRESSION, LED ME TO BELIEVE SOMEONE FIRED A GUNSHOT AT AND STRUCK MY VEHICLE. UPON LOOKING UP, I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED IT WAS NOT A GUNSHOT BUT INSTEAD THE GLASS TO THE FRONT PORTION OF MY PANORAMIC SUNROOF HAD SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED AND FLEW COMPLETELY OFF THE VEHICLE. THIS FLYING GLASS FLEW DIRECTLY BACKWARDS AND COULD HAVE POSED A DEADLY RESULT FOR THE NUMEROUS DRIVERS TRAVELING BEHIND ME. THERE WERE NO FLYING OBJECTS OR OTHER DANGEROUS INSTRUMENTS THAT STRUCK THE VEHICLE BUT THE SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY, ON ITS OWN, SHATTERED AND COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON SUBSEQUENT ONLINE INVESTIGATION, I LEARNED THIS VERY ISSUE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED BY OTHER MERCEDES BENZ DRIVERS, WITH THE SUNROOFS SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERING AND FLYING OFF. DESPITE PURCHASING A EXTENSIVE WARRANTY AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, BODY WORK, INCLUSIVE OF GLASS REPLACEMENT, IS NOT COVERED. CONSEQUENTLY, I WAS FORCED TO FILE AN AUTO INSURANCE CLAIM, WHICH REQUIRED AN IMMEDIATE $500 DEDUCTIBLE TO BE PAID TO ENABLE THE REPAIR COMPANY TO ORDER THE REPLACEMENT GLASS. THIS REOCCURRING ISSUE MOST CERTAINLY REQUIRES A RECALL FOR VEHICLES CONTAINING THIS PROBLEMATIC SUNROOF. IT IS NOT ONLY A DANGER TO THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE, BUT ALSO TO ALL OTHERS TRAVELING ON THE ROAD.
THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF SLIDING CLIPS ARE PLASTIC AND BREAK. WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD THE ROOF LIFTED WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE IT. THE PLASTIC CLIPS BROKE THAT SECURE THE SLIDE RAIL AND GLASS TOGETHER.
ON OCTOBER 15, 2019 AND ON JULY 1, 2020 THE GLASS PANEL WHICH IS LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF BLEW OFF THE CAR WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS PIECE OF GLASS DOES NOT MOVE AND BECAME A DANGEROUS PROJECTILE ENDANGERING OTHER VEHICLES. I WOULD GUESS THE GLUE IS NOT BONDING PROPERLY
HEARD SOMETHING CRACK AND THE FOUND LATER PLASTIC PIECES OF THE SHOE ON THE RIGHT SIDE ON THE SUNROOF IN THE RAIL OF THE SUNROOF. IT WAS THE RAIL GUIDE SHOE. THE MECHANIC ADVISED ME THE ENTIRE ROOF WOULD NEED TO COME UP, INCLUDING HEADLINER. HE ALSO SAID YOU'D NEED TO REPLACE RAILS, WHICH SOUNDS A BIT MUCH FOR A PLASTIC SHOE. I AGREED, IT'S RIDICULOUS THAT THESE ARE MADE OF PLASTIC. 4 THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FIX IT. I BEEN SEEING A LOT PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM.
IN ADDITION TO A STRONG, NOXIOUS, MOLDY ODOR, VEHICLE'S FRONT WINDSHIELD FOGS OVER SO TOTALLY THAT IT BECOMES DANGEROUS IN HIGHWAY DRIVING. THE HVAC/CLIMATE-CONTROL SYSTEM'S DEFROSTER IS UNABLE TO CLEAR MORE THAN THE BOTTOM FEW INCHES OF THE WINDSHIELD: THE ONLY WAY I CAN SEE THROUGH IT IS TO WIPE AWAY THE FOG WITH MY HAND. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION BUT PERSISTS WHEN IT IS STATIONARY. THIS HAPPENS IN ALMOST ANY WEATHER, BUT ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS MOISTURE IN THE AIR(FOG, RAIN).
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, A LOUD NOISE SUDDENLY OCCURRED. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER AND DISCOVERED THAT THE SUN ROOF HAD ERRONEOUSLY SHATTERED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MERCEDES-BENZ OF LITTLETON (8070 SOUTH BROADWAY, LITTLETON, CO) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUN ROOF WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE PANORAMIC SUN ROOF EXPLODED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF LAGUNA NIGUEL (1 STAR DR, LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA 92877) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A ROCK SHATTERED THE SUN ROOF. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO FILE A CLAIM WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND WAS PERFORMING A PRODUCT INVESTIGATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN EXTENSIVE GLARE THAT IMPACTED THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY PERTAINING TO THE MIRRORS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE A DEALER INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE CENTER MANAGER AT THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A HIGH GLARE CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO REPAIR SOLUTION. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE IF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 09/08/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN, HE LOSES THE VISION OF THE ROAD. *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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