Home · 2016 Mercedes-benz C-class Hybrid · Complaints

What 315 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Mercedes-benz C-class Hybrid

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (315)Crash / fire / injury (16)Engine (99)Fuel system (67)Electrical system (37)Body & structure (32)Visibility & wipers (23)Transmission & drivetrain (21)Steering (17)Brakes (9)Airbags (7)Wheels (7)

99 of 315 complaints match · Engine · clear filters · page 2 of 4

Feb 20, 2024Engine

Positive crankcase ventilation regulator valve performance

NHTSA ODI 11572922

Feb 16, 2024Electrical systemEngine

Crankcase Ventilation Valve Emission Modification -Error P052E71 -Error P06DA00

NHTSA ODI 11572383

Feb 13, 2024Engine

Error code PO52e crankcase ventilation

NHTSA ODI 11571785

Jan 3, 2024Engine

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.

NHTSA ODI 11563384

Dec 2, 2023Engine

Pcv valve broke and it emits all sorts of poisonous gases to the cabin!

NHTSA ODI 11558041

Nov 1, 2023Engine

Mercedes C300 4Matic Engine light off. The diagnostic tool showed P052E error, which seems like a common problem with MB C300 models built from 2015. Is there a manufacturer recall for this issue? This warning came a few weeks ago and disappeared by itself shortly. It came again.

NHTSA ODI 11553099

Oct 5, 2023Engine

Engine code P052E has come on at 60k miles. After researching the problems this is a very common problem with the 2016 c300 that mercedes refuses to address. To add insult to injury the part needed to be replaced is a sensor worth 100 dollars but mercedes charges over $2500 because you need specialty tools to get to it. This is a very common problem with owners around 40-80k miles and has no cause other than faulty parts on Mercedes end.

NHTSA ODI 11548470

Oct 1, 2023Engine

My mercedes c300 Check engine light came on for P052e positive crankcase ventilation and after doing research, this sounds like a common problem for this car / model

NHTSA ODI 11547621

Sep 22, 2023Electrical systemEngine

Had an oil change at a Mercedes dealership after driving for a couple hours. Check engine was on for a code P052E, being crankcase ventilation system. Had the car diagnosed, cost to repair 1,600 dollars. Went through with repair, the code pop up again (P052E). Having to bring vehicle constantly to Mercedes dealerships.

NHTSA ODI 11546064

Sep 21, 2023Engine

P052E - PCV Regulator Valve Performance: Actuator Stuck P06DA - Engine Oil Pressure Control Circuit/Open no sub type information My understanding is these are common issues and Mercedes and anyone who works on them know it is a common issue for all lines. I also have a broken sunroof that seems to be common on all lines. There are some recalls out for the sunroof but not for the C-Class C300, although all of the videos I have found match the same issues that were recalled on other models. The dealer confirmed these are known issues.

NHTSA ODI 11545888

Sep 19, 2023EngineFuel system

Engine light on smells gas constantly tried to change oil that did not work light came back on

NHTSA ODI 11545313

Sep 7, 2023Engine

CRANKCASE VENTILATION- code: P052E came up and I had just bought from the dealership with 87k miles

NHTSA ODI 11543316

Jul 18, 2023Engine

PVC valve replacement Engine light off and on Started about 3 months ago

NHTSA ODI 11533049

Jun 12, 2023Engine

I have a problem that happened with a trouble code: P052E. It appears for now reason so the problem is in a faulty positive crankcase ventilation regulator valve. It costs a lot and not all the mechanics can do this type of work.

NHTSA ODI 11526691

Jun 9, 2023Electrical systemEngineFuel system

Engine misfire, rough idle, shake when come to red light stop, burnt smell inside cabin, loss of power

NHTSA ODI 11526152

Jun 1, 2023EngineFuel system

Check engine light P052E, PVC valve. Dealer wants $2,500 for this repair and people are complaining that around 30k-50k it does it. Thats ridiculous. My dealer said its a common issue but Mercedes is not issuing a recall.

NHTSA ODI 11524763

May 6, 2023Engine

The PCV Valve/crankcase has broken 3 times on this car with different repairs and parts. This is happening very commonly to these cars and may cause significant safety issues. The code is P052E

NHTSA ODI 11520723

May 3, 2023Engine

my engine light came on. When I took the car to get diagnosticated message P052E showed.

NHTSA ODI 11520209

May 3, 2023EngineFuel system

My car failed smog test due to code P052e positive crankcase ventilation regularly valve. Upon some research, I found that this is very common issue with this car. The repair costs +$2000 before tax at the dealership. Please consider this complain as this issue is very common with this make model and unfortunately many drivers don’t realize that it’s due to faulty system.

NHTSA ODI 11520243

Apr 1, 2023Engine

PCV Valve causing contamination and shortening the life of the engine oil.

NHTSA ODI 11514974

Mar 31, 2023Engine

Check engine light keeps coming on and off.

NHTSA ODI 11514709

Feb 21, 2023Transmission & drivetrainEngine

I bought the car with 51k miles . Engine failed at 71k miles , due to piston #1 cracking . Almost caused me to get rear ended on a busy street . I went to the dealership and they charged me $10250 to replace the engine with a remanned long block and they offered a 2 year warranty. 9 months, only 19k miles on “new motor” the “new” engine fails again … same reason piston # 1 cracked failed suddenly on the highway and I had to push the car to safety to the emergency lane while cars where coming.. I went back to dealer demanding a replacement and told them this is a common occurrence and they refused to help me . I called corporate. They refused to help me saying I would have to purchase an engine for the second time out of pocket when it only lasted 9 months. This is a big fault in the m274 engine … it’s also a safety hazard that can cause serious injury, fire , or even a deadly accident. I read that it’s a common issue with these engines.

NHTSA ODI 11508260

Feb 16, 2023Electrical systemEngineFuel system

Check engine light appeared this morning, had the code scanned and found it to be P052E. This code is in reference to the Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve, which is responsible for routing excessive crankcase gases. After extensive research online, it would seem this is a known issue for Mercedes once they reach 50,000 miles, right outside of warranty. This is a very costly fix due to it being labor intensive. This should be a recall as it is a known mechanical issue, and even the dealers echo the same.

NHTSA ODI 11507685

Feb 14, 2023Engine

I made 2 engine stalling complaints at the dealership in 2021/2022.. the dealership kept my vehicle for 2 days and said nothing was wrong. My vehicle recently in stalled in drive gear, I had to cut the car off & turn it back on

NHTSA ODI 11507291

Feb 13, 2023Engine

PO52E code showed was the code pulled on my 2016 Mercedes c 300 4 matic . My car had 73000 miles on when I bought it and that code was pulled when I bought it . At 73000 miles my car shouldn’t have this problem .

NHTSA ODI 11506885

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Working with the data? Download all 315 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 25, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2016 Mercedes-benz C-class Hybrid verdict →