2016 Mercedes-Benz C450 problems, complaints & recalls

2016 Mercedes-Benz C450 recalls (5)

• Recall 23V854000Dec 15, 20232,976 vehicles
  STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

  Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2014-2020 C-Class, CLA, GLA, S-Class, GLC, and GLE vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle details. The front roof panel located between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof may not have been bonded correctly to the vehicle during a prior repair, allowing the front panel to detach from the vehicle.

  Risk: A detached roof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Remedy: Dealers will replace the front panel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 2, 2024. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on, March 22,2024, and August 2, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 21V-197.

• Recall 21V197000Mar 19, 202115,096 vehicles
  STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

  Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2020 C300 Coupe, C43 Coupe AMG, C43 AMG, 2015-2020 C300, GLA250, 2016-2018 C350e, CLA45 Coupe AMG, 2015 C400, S65 AMG, 2015-2019 C63 AMG, 2016 C450, 2015-2016 GLA45 AMG, S600, 2016-2020 GLC300, 2017-2019 GLC43 AMG, GLE43 Coupe AMG, 2014-2019 CLA250 Coupe, 2014-2015 CLA45 AMG, 2018 GLC63 AMG, 2014-2017 S550, 2018-2020 S450, 2016-2019 GLE63 Coupe AMG, 2016 GLE450 Coupe, 2014-2020 S63 AMG, 2018-2019 S560, and 2019 GLC350e vehicles equipped with a panoramic sunroof. The front roof panel located between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof may not have been bonded correctly to the vehicle during a prior repair.

  Risk: The adhesive bonding of the front panel might deteriorate, possibly causing the front panel to detach from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Remedy: Mercedes-Benz dealer will remove the bonded panel and will install a new front panel by following the detailed repair instructions and using the approved primer, cleaner and adhesive, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021 and October 26, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

• Recall 19V787000Nov 1, 201924,226 vehicles
  COMMUNICATION

  Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2017 vehicles due to a software fault that may cause the date and time for the emergency call system (eCall) to differ from the actual date and time, potentially relaying an inaccurate vehicle location. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V787-4620.pdf

  Risk: An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.

  Remedy: MBUSA has initiated an Over the Air (OTA) remote update. MBUSA will also notify owners, and dealers will check software for a successful OTA or update the communication module software as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019120008.

• Recall 17V114000Feb 23, 2017307,629 vehicles
  ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

  Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2017 C300 4Matic, C300, CLA250, CLA250 4Matic and CLA45 AMG vehicles, 2017 C300 4Matic Cabrio, C300 4Matic Coupe, C300 Cabrio, C300 Coupe, E300, E300 4Matic, E400 4Matic Wagon, E43 AMG 4Matic, GLA250, GLA250 4Matic and GLC300 4Matic Coupe vehicles and 2016 C350e and GLC300 vehicles and 2016-2017 C450 4Matic AMG Sport and GLC300 4Matic vehicles. In the event that the engine or transmission cannot turn over, the starting current limiter may overheat from the repeated attempts of the starter motor attempting to start the vehicle.

  Risk: If the starting current limiter overheats, the surrounding components can melt, increasing the risk of a fire.

  Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional fuse in the electrical line to the starter, free of charge. The recall began August 31, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2017080002.

• Recall 16V087000Feb 16, 201653 vehicles
  VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

  Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2016 C300 vehicles manufactured December 11, 2015, to December 23, 2015, C300 4Matic vehicles manufactured December 12, 2015, to December 29, 2015, and C450 AMG 4Matic vehicles manufactured December 12, 2015, to December 22, 2015. The affected vehicles may be equipped with a panoramic sunroof that may not be properly bonded, allowing the glass to detach and fall from the vehicle during operation.

  Risk: If the panoramic glass detaches during vehicle operation, it can increase the risk of injury or crash.

  Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the bonding of the rear sunroof glass panel, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 12, 2016. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

NHTSA defect investigations

• EA21002Opened Sep 17, 2021Open

  Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

  From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.C…

• PE21001Opened Jan 8, 2021Closed Oct 14, 2021led to recall 21V197000

  Front Roof Panel Detachment

  On January 8, 2021, after ongoing review with Mercedes Benz, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE21-001 to assess allegations of front roof panel detachments while driving at highway speeds in certain 2015 Mercedes-Benz (Mercedes) C-Class vehicles.The subject front roof panel is a stationary panel composed of polycarbonate and is attached to the vehicle via adhesive at the time of manufacture. The panel is found on subject vehicles equipped with panoramic sunroofs. Over time, the subject panels may exhibit cosmetic degradati…

Recent 2016 Mercedes-Benz C450 complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

1. Filed May 6, 2026AZTransmission & Drivetrain

   Sudden fracture of the propeller shaft universal joint at freeway speeds causing catastrophic damage to the transmission and exhaust system. This matches the failure described in NHTSA Recall 26V216. While driving on Arizona Freeway 202. Extreme clanking noise heard and lost all power in middle of rush hour. Barely able to navigate vehicle safely off the freeway. No warning whatsoever. Had to be towed to Mercedes Benz Gilbert where documentation provided as to failure.

   NHTSA complaint #11736177 · source
2. Filed Apr 10, 2025IDVisibility & Wipers

   Just purchased this vehicle in Utah, was driving from Utah to Idaho on the interstate at 80mph when all of a sudden my sunroof opened up with high winds and blew right off. Luckily nobody was behind me but I’ve been driving 2 hours without a sunroof due to weak glue/manufacturing defect

   NHTSA complaint #11653994 · source
3. Filed Feb 19, 2024SDElectrical System

   The sunroof locked open during a road trip. I am mechanically inclined, so adding lubricant and driving through a low pressure air front caused the sunroof to shut. Had I been in an emergency, not mechanically inclined, or if this happen during inclement weather or to a little old lady this would have been a severe issue causing the vehicle to become inoperable due to rain or snow entering the cabin and reducing visibility, and damaging the electronic components in the…

   NHTSA complaint #11572718 · source
4. Filed Feb 21, 2023LABody & Structure

   Panoramic sunroof pillars/rails detaching while operating vehicle. The front roof panel located between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof may not have been bonded correctly to the vehicle during a prior repair. When operating the vehicle at a moderate speed, the sunroof continued to adjust itself on its own. Belive that there is a risk of the sunroof detaching from the stock plastic rails and that it may not be properly bonded. I do not feel comfortable usuing the…

   NHTSA complaint #11508425 · source
5. Filed May 23, 2022ILElectrical SystemOther / UnknownSteering

   When I go to put my car in reverse, or drive the gear control is malfunctioning and I’m afraid this can be deadly or cause serious injury.

   NHTSA complaint #11465794 · source
6. Filed May 21, 2021CAOther / Unknown

   Panoramic sunroof exploded spontaneously while driving. There was no previous warning. Glass shattered onto driver and passenger. The loud sound and glass shattering onto us could have caused self injury or accident to occur. Auto insurance was notified at time of incident. Vehicle was taken to Mercedes benz dealership for repair.

   NHTSA complaint #11418060 · source
7. Filed May 21, 2021FLBody & StructureElectrical SystemOther / Unknown

   The panoramic sunroof does not properly seal to car, allowing the glass to detach and fall from the vehicle during operation and likely to impair the operator during use. Furthermore, without properly sealing the internal cabin is exposed to the environment (i.e. rain, snow, ect.) causing further damage to the internal safety and electrical features.

   NHTSA complaint #11418014 · source
8. Filed Apr 7, 202058,000 miOKBody & Structure

   The vehicle has a panoramic sunroof and i had opened the roof while i was parked and when i started driving something popped and the front of the sunroof lifted a little causing it to it the back glass portion of the panoramic roof. I pulled over to check it out and saw the the front guides were broken/detatched. I had to find a way to force the sunroof to close. I was only going around 25 mph when the guides gave up. If i would've been going faster, the force would have…

   NHTSA complaint #11320417 · source

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 11, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology