2015 Mercedes-Benz C400 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 2015 Mercedes-Benz C400, 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
- Body & structure654.5%
- Driver assistance19.1%
- Electrical19.1%
- Engine19.1%
- Suspension19.1%
- Visibility19.1%
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
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes Benz C400. The contact stated that while vehicle was inside a high-pressure car wash, water leaked from the roof panel at the front of the vehicle, nearby the front windshield. The cause of the failure was not yet determined, and the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V854000 (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 100,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz C400. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being serviced, the contact was informed by the dealer that the rear subframe needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 112,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL SHUT OFF AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND NOTICED 3 ERROR MESSAGES INCLUDING: ESC INOPERABLE, CRUISE CONTROL INOPERABLE, AND COLLISION PREVENTION PLUS INOPERABLE. I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING AND WHEN I WENT TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP LIGHT, THE ACCELERATOR WAS UNRESPONSIVE AND TOOK SEVERAL SECONDS FOR THE VEHICLE TO MOVE ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT FROM A CAR TRAVELING CLOSE BEHIND ME. ALL OF THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ITS FIRST SERVICE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM AND IS INVESTIGATING THE ISSUE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL SHUT OFF AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND NOTICED 3 ERROR MESSAGES INCLUDING: ESC INOPERABLE, CRUISE CONTROL INOPERABLE, AND COLLISION PREVENTION PLUS INOPERABLE. I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING AND WHEN I WENT TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP LIGHT, THE ACCELERATOR WAS UNRESPONSIVE AND TOOK SEVERAL SECONDS FOR THE VEHICLE TO MOVE ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT FROM A CAR TRAVELING CLOSE BEHIND ME. ALL OF THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ITS FIRST SERVICE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM AND IS INVESTIGATING THE ISSUE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
ENGINE RANDOMLY STALLS AFTER SITTING AT RED LIGHT/OR WHILE IN TRAFFIC. ALL WARNING/DASHBOARD LIGHTS COME ON AND YOU CAN ONLY START THE CAR BY PUTTING IT IN PARK, THEN PUSHING START. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 10K MILES. DEALERSHIP CAN'T FIND CODE OR REPLICATE THE ISSUE. INTERNET SEARCHES INDICATE IT IS AN ISSUE AND OTHER MAKES AND MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED, BUT WITHOUT A CODE THE DEALERSHIP DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I WAS NEARLY REAR-ENDED BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN UNTIL YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND PRESS THE GAS TO MOVE FORWARD, AND THAT'S WHEN THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF COMPLETELY. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY AND HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
Rear subframe cracked while driving and rear of car sways from one lane to the next when brakes are applied. Car is not safe
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF IN MY CAR EXPLODED AT APPROXIMATELY 6.45AM ON MONDAY, JUNE 29TH 2015. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM MERCEDES BENZ IN PARAMUS ON SATURDAY, JUNE 27TH, 2015. THE CAR HAD 146 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I WAS IN NJ AND I WAS TRAVELING WEST ON I-78 (EXPRESS LANES) AT APPROXIMATELY 65MPH. THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES IN CLOSE PROXIMITY, THERE WAS A VEHICLE TRAILING A FEW CAR LENGTHS BEHIND ME. THE ROAD WAS RELATIVELY SMOOTH AND THE WEATHER WAS DRY. NO PROJECTILE HIT THE GLASS PRIOR TO IT EXPLODING. WHEN THE SUNROOF EXPLODED, ALL I HEARD WAS A LARGE BANG AND THEN GLASS FALLING INTO THE CAR AND ALSO 'EXITING' THE CAR. THE GLASS DEBRIS LEFT SIGNIFICANT PITTING ON THE TRUNK OF THE CAR. I ESTIMATE 25% OF THE GLASS CAME INTO THE CAR. I SWERVED INTO TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND STOPPED IN THE EMERGENCY LANE.
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 .