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2023 MERCEDES-BENZ C 300

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2023 MERCEDES-BENZ C 300 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 23.5.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 7 of 22 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Forward Collision Avoidance. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Forward Collision Avoidance complaints

10 reports
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28,000 miles · Aug 13, 2025
Forward Collision Avoidance

The contact owns a 2023 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that on occasion while driving at various speeds, the vehicle unexpectedly stopped without the brake pedal being depressed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed twice by the local dealer, and the contact was advised that the Forward Col…

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The contact owns a 2023 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that on occasion while driving at various speeds, the vehicle unexpectedly stopped without the brake pedal being depressed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed twice by the local dealer, and the contact was advised that the Forward Collision Avoidance sensors needed to be recalibrated; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer where the vehicle was inspected, and the contact was advised that further diagnostic tests were required to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 28,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ODI #11680376

Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2025
Forward Collision AvoidanceService Brakes

On 4 different occasions car brake assist activated causing car to come to an immediate stop and jerk. At stop light as I started to accelerate a left turn car came to an immediate stop almost causing the car behind hit rear end. Brake assist light activated. This happened twice. And twice when in reverse backing out of a parkin…

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On 4 different occasions car brake assist activated causing car to come to an immediate stop and jerk. At stop light as I started to accelerate a left turn car came to an immediate stop almost causing the car behind hit rear end. Brake assist light activated. This happened twice. And twice when in reverse backing out of a parking space and backing into driveway. Dealership notified look at my car and stated they did not see anything wrong. 4th incident happened within 30 minutes after leaving Wilmington Mercedes Benz.

NHTSA ODI #11674663

Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2024
Forward Collision Avoidance

This car has the driver assistance package including Active Speed Limit Assist which is supposed to automatically adjust the speed of the vehicle based on detected speed limits. However, it gets the speed limit wrong an excessive amount of the time sometimes resulting in the car suddenly decelerating which I consider to be a se…

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This car has the driver assistance package including Active Speed Limit Assist which is supposed to automatically adjust the speed of the vehicle based on detected speed limits. However, it gets the speed limit wrong an excessive amount of the time sometimes resulting in the car suddenly decelerating which I consider to be a serious safety issue that could result in collisions. In my situation, I have experienced the car suddenly slowing to 40 mph for no reason in an area where the speed limit was 65 mph. I have also seen this problem documented on a number of blogs related to Mercedes-Benz vehicles. When I reported the problem to the dealership, I was told that it was a known issue and was encouraged to turn this feature off. I think Mercedes-Benz needs to fix this known issue for those of us who have cars with Active Speed Limit Assist.

NHTSA ODI #11612912

Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 2024
Forward Collision Avoidance

Filing complaint on behalf of my sister. She was driving on empty side street around 25mph and the car comes to an abrupt stop. Apparently part of the collision avoidance system, yet nothing in road, on road or in sight. If there was anyone behind her, they would have slammed into the rear end of her car.

NHTSA ODI #11584616

Mileage unknown · Apr 2, 2024
Forward Collision Avoidance

The contact owns a 2023 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while driving with the Adaptive Cruise Control engaged, the vehicle decelerated quickly, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the…

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The contact owns a 2023 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while driving with the Adaptive Cruise Control engaged, the vehicle decelerated quickly, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI #11580656

6,000 miles · Sep 12, 2023
Electrical SystemForward Collision Avoidance

The contact owns a 2023 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH with the Intelligent Cruise Control activated, with no other vehicles or objects nearby, the vehicle inadvertently slowed down. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality but later displayed the following messages:…

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The contact owns a 2023 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH with the Intelligent Cruise Control activated, with no other vehicles or objects nearby, the vehicle inadvertently slowed down. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality but later displayed the following messages: “Active Emergency Stop Assist Currently Unavailable”, and “Active Steering Assist Inoperable”. The Forward Collision Avoidance warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but not yet diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 6,000.

NHTSA ODI #11544088

Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 2023
Forward Collision Avoidance

Major safety issue - PHANTOM BRAKING. On 2 separate occasions the vehicle engaged emergency braking while there was no apparent hazard. This phantom braking was very dangerous. This car has adaptive cruise control. It occurred in the exact same spot on Interstate-84 and NE 21st Avenue in Portland, Oregon while traveling east bou…

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Major safety issue - PHANTOM BRAKING. On 2 separate occasions the vehicle engaged emergency braking while there was no apparent hazard. This phantom braking was very dangerous. This car has adaptive cruise control. It occurred in the exact same spot on Interstate-84 and NE 21st Avenue in Portland, Oregon while traveling east bound. The cruise control was on and engaged in incident 1. Cruise control was on, but not set, in the second incident. First incident was approximately 6/1/23. Second incident was 7/16/23. I have reported to Mercedes Benz Customer service. Case opened #2-42097036640. I will contact the dealership to report as well.

NHTSA ODI #11532743

Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2023
Forward Collision AvoidanceService Brakes

The Mercedes just slams on the brakes for no reason. It's happened 3x and is very scary. According to Internet posts this is a common problem because of collision assist malfunction

NHTSA ODI #11528225

Mileage unknown · May 26, 2023
Electrical SystemForward Collision Avoidance

- December 5, 2022, while driving on I-20 East in Atlanta, Georgia in the evening, at a speed of 15-20 mph my vehicle abruptly came to a stop in the middle of traffic with no warning and no action prompted by me while driving. There were vehicles positioned in front and behind my vehicle. Thankfully, the vehicle behind me was ab…

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- December 5, 2022, while driving on I-20 East in Atlanta, Georgia in the evening, at a speed of 15-20 mph my vehicle abruptly came to a stop in the middle of traffic with no warning and no action prompted by me while driving. There were vehicles positioned in front and behind my vehicle. Thankfully, the vehicle behind me was able to slam on its breaks to prevent colliding into my vehicle. - April 7, 2023, while driving in southwest Atlanta in a residential area at a speed of 15-20 mph, while on the phone with one of my work colleagues, my vehicle abruptly stopped while driving past houses with no warning and no action prompted by me while driving. There was a vehicle positioned behind me that was able to slam on its breaks to prevent colliding into my vehicle. - May 5, 2023, while driving in a residential neighborhood on W Wesley Rd in Atlanta at a speed of 10-15 mph in a construction zone, my vehicle again abruptly stopped with no warning. This time, the stop was much more forceful than previous incidents. - May 5, 2023 my car received the following prompt on my screen "Your vehicle has detected a breakdown. Do you want to receive support from Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance" - Mercedes assessed my car and reported the following: C111A00 Radar sensor 1 is disrupted by interference from an external transmitter." Then, "NOTE PER OWNERS MANUAL, THE SYSTEM ON THE CAR CANNOT ALWAYS TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ROAD, WEATHER OR TRAFFIC CONDITIONS///BE AWARE OF THE LIMITATIONS REGARDING THE SAFE USE OF THE THESE SYSTEMS///" - The vehicle does not send an alert, forewarn, nor does it allow you to override an automatic emergency break - Mercedes Benz was flippant, dismissive and asked me to resume driving in an unsafe vehicle. I am filing this because they appear to have no regard for human life. I fear for my life and do not want to pass this burden on to someone else -In every instance described above, I contacted Mercedes Benz to make them aware. The contact is requesting to rescind the complaint and does not wish to move f

NHTSA ODI #11524034

1,000 miles · May 4, 2023
Forward Collision Avoidance

The contact owns a 2023 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the Forward Collision Avoidance system erroneously activated, causing the vehicle to abruptly stop in the middle of the road. The failure occurred on three separate occasions and each time no other vehicle or object was nearby to…

Read full complaint

The contact owns a 2023 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the Forward Collision Avoidance system erroneously activated, causing the vehicle to abruptly stop in the middle of the road. The failure occurred on three separate occasions and each time no other vehicle or object was nearby to cause the Forward Collision Avoidance system to become activated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who replaced sensors and recalibrated the Forward Collision Avoidance system, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 1,000.

NHTSA ODI #11520487

Official recalls

9

26V481000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:lock

Jul 24, 2026

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2020-2021 CLA, 2019-2022 A-Class, 2022-2023 C-Class, 2024 CLE, 2020-2026 GLA/GLB, and 2023-2024 GLC vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific model information. The micro-switch in the driver's door lock may corrode and fail to detect an open door, preventing the electronic parking brake or "Auto-Park" feature from engaging automatically. This may result in a vehicle rollaway.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's door lock, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 18, 2026. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning July 31, 2026.

25V255000 · Electrical System:wiring:fuses And Circuit Breakers

May 12, 2025

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2023-2024 C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, SL, GLC, EQE SUV, EQE, EQS SUV, and EQS vehicles that were incorrectly repaired under recall 24V-115. An incorrect fuse box that was not designed for the vehicle may have been installed.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An incorrect fuse box can result in a sudden loss of drive power or a loss of critical safety functions such as the restraint systems or instrument cluster, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. Additionally, there could be an increased risk of a fire.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the main fuse boxes, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 6, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2025050003/4.

25V253000 · Seat Belts:front

May 2, 2025

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2022-2025 C 300, and 2023-2024 AMG C 43 vehicles. The driver-side seat belt cover may not be properly installed on the seat belt tensioner, which can cause the seat belt anchor to come loose.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A loose seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the seat belt covers, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 16, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2025040012.

24V446000 · Electrical System:wiring:fuses And Circuit Breakers

Jun 14, 2024

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2022-2023 C 300 vehicles. The bolt securing the electrical wire to the pre-fuse box could be improperly tightened, causing the wire to overheat. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024070005.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An overheated wire can cause a fire and a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and rework the wiring harness, as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 2, 2024. Owner may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.

24V115000 · Electrical System:wiring:fuses And Circuit Breakers

Feb 16, 2024

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2023-2024 C300, AMG C43, S580e, S580, Maybach S580, Maybach S680, AMG SL43, AMGSL63, GLC300, EQE350, EQE500, EQS450, EQS580, AMG EQS, 2023 S500, AMG SL55, AMG EQE, 2024 E350, E450, AMG C63e S, CLE300 Coupe, CLE450 Coupe, and GLC300 Coupe vehicles. The 80-Amp fuses may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause the fuses to fail.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An 80-Amp fuse that fails can result in a sudden loss of drive power or a loss of critical safety functions such as the restraint systems or instrument cluster, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. Additionally, there could be an increased risk of a fire.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the main fuse boxes, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 5, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024030008.

23V880000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Dec 21, 2023

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021-2024 GLE, GLS, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, SL, GLC, CLS, AMG GT, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle details. The fuel pump may shutdown, causing a loss of drive power.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 28, 2024. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on February 23, 2024, April 19, 2024, June 28, 2024, August 9, 2024, October 1, 2024, and December 2, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 23V-445.

23V462000 · Electrical System:wiring

Jun 30, 2023

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2022-2023 C300 and 2023 AMG C43 vehicles. The transmission wiring harness may be the incorrect length, which can result in harness damage and a loss of drive power.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the transmission wiring harness routing, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 18, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6373. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2023070015.

23V463000 · Electrical System:wiring

Jun 30, 2023

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2022-2023 C300 and 2023 AMG C43 vehicles. The ground connections for the electrical wiring harness may not be secured properly, which can result in the electrical wiring harness overheating.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An overheated wiring harness can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the ground connections for the electrical wiring harness, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6373. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2023070016, 2023070017, 2023070018, and 2024070016.

23V445000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Jun 26, 2023

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021-2023 C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLS, SL, GT, GLC, GLE, GLS, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle details. The fuel pump may shutdown, which can result in a loss of drive power.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 14, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2023070012.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.