What 317 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Mercedes-benz C-class Phev

Panoramic sunroof fails to open/ close evenly due to binding issue and plastic track failure. One side binds while the other moves, causing glass to tilt and jam. Risk of dangerous injury including glass shattering, sudden detachment, distraction while driving, and water intrusion affecting airbags/electronics.

NHTSA ODI 11733700

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.

NHTSA ODI 11663900

The small plastic located inside the sliding panoramic sunroof explode and the Panasonic sunroof can be open/close or up/down normally but when I hit close it will stop where the broken pieces was and the roof will automatically move back to the fully open position Dealer said need the rail replaced -2057800175 -2057800275 Motor is broken, need to be replaced , he said after saying the roof can go forward and backward, up and down but can’t close completely. I was gullible to believe what the technician and sale guy said. Technically technician can check the voltage and say it for sure if it is broken. Also, a technician already knew that the sliding rail is damaged. He jumped to the conclusion that motor is broken because of sunburn. I have asked my nephew what he would do in this situation. He innocently said he would replace new sliding rails first and try to run if the “alleged motor “ is really broken. If it is broken, he can just switch to a new motor before testing to confirm it working. He wouldn’t decide to buy a new motor that cost $1,400 extra while the old one might be working properly. Anyway, labor with rails and “motor” cost $3500. Then later I learn I’m not alone. How many affected from this defective parts that Mercedes doesn’t sell it separately. Owner must buy 2 set of rails- a left set and a right set. Cost $1100 total. So since the number of affected are pretty high, a few factory in China and turkey decides to produce these little and sell it online for $15-92, glue and lubricants included. -number of owners struggling to find parts https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w205/734208-pano-roof-failure-2.html Parts that Mercedes cannot sell it separately so owners have to buy 2 sets left set and right set rails. “Try words like repair sunroof kit for Mercedes “ on eBay only a few couple thousand people buying it in 2022 alone. https://www.ebay.com/p/28019877104 Motor broken? https://c.xtime.com/tvyUiiMwuwoA2L8JXX#/completePage

NHTSA ODI 11531128

This car is currently stolen out of bishopville south Carolina.

NHTSA ODI 11513743

I was moving my car from one parking space to another space in front of my house. As I was pulling into the new space, I stopped to check the position of my car. As I lifted my foot off the brake, the car unexpectedly started to lurch forward. When I released the brake pedal, the car suddenly accelerated and proceeded to jump the curb and run into the front of my house. Luckily, no one was injured. There was some damage to the exterior of my house. I have reported this issue to the car manufacturer, Mercedes Benz. In response, they have opened a case to research it further.

NHTSA ODI 11475320

I bought a car that had an light accident and turns out to be missing the collision sensor in addition to bad battery that i had to change and had issues with recoding the airbags which are not working now.

NHTSA ODI 11429489

Steering failed at low speeds. Something broke. Caused me to lose complete steering. Very scary and dangerous

NHTSA ODI 11419052

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED IN A PARKING LOT AND INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE AT 60 MPH CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE PARKING CURB AND THE VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED IN FRONT WHICH RESULTED IN THAT VEHICLE DEEMED DESTROYED. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE POLICE WAS PRESENT AND A REPORT WAS ISSUED NUMBER: 7WHQ039TM7NW WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE AND TREATED FOR A FRACTURED RIGHT WRIST AND A FRACTURED LEFT CLAVICLE, HEAD INJURIES, AND NECK INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND MENTIONED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE SOMEONE INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. *DT

NHTSA ODI 11244933

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 71 MPH, A KNOCKING SOUND WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO THRUST BACK AND FORTH AS IF IT WERE RUNNING OUT OF FUEL. ALSO, A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT BEFORE THE SPEED SUDDENLY REDUCED TO APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. THE SPEED WOULD NOT INCREASE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER (SMITH MOTORS IN HAVERHILL, MA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS FAULTY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. AFTER THREE MONTHS AT THE DEALER, THE MOTOR WAS REPLACED TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, A SCREECHING NOISE WAS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 354.

NHTSA ODI 11044245

LEFT REAR SEAT BELT JAMMED UP, TRAPPING MY DISTRESSED 3 YEAR OLD SON. IT WAS NECESSARY TO PHYSICAL CUT THE SEATBELT IN ORDER TO FREE THE CHILD. MID SECTION OF THE SEATBELT CONTRAPTION WAS PULLING PRESSURE ON THE CHILD BODY.

NHTSA ODI 11032905

TAKATA RECALL NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 17V114 : PURCHASE THE VEHICLE ON DECEMBER OF 2016, WE GOT A RECALL LETTER IN MARCH OF 2017 LETTING US KNOW OF THE RECALL BUT WAS NOTIFY THAT THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR TILL AUGUST OF 2017 . ON AUGUST 05 THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET DUE TO RECALL PART.

NHTSA ODI 11021534

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE VEHICLE BECAME STRANDED IN HIGH STANDING WATER AND STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER SIBLINGS WERE ABLE TO PUSH THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE HIGH STANDING WATER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE BILLOWING FROM BENEATH THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED IN THE FIRE. MERCEDES ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CONTACTED BUT FAILED TO SHOW UP. THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST IMPOUNDED AND THEN TOWED TO MERCEDES BENZ OF CUTLER BAY LOCATED AT: 10701 SW 211 ST, CUTLER BAY, FL 33189, (305) 251-0345. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V114000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NOT YET BEEN CONFIRMED AS A TOTAL LOSS.

NHTSA ODI 11018792

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, A FIRE ERUPTED FROM THE BATTERY OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND STATED THAT WATER ENTERED INTO THE ENGINE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HYDROLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,500.

NHTSA ODI 10980435

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER CAR ON A PAVED, AND DRY, ROAD. SHE WAS FOLLOWING BEHIND A SUV, THAT APPLIED THE BRAKES ABRUPTLY. SHE HAD DIFFICULTY STOPPING HER CAR AND SHE WOUND UP HITTING THE SUV IN FRONT OF HER. WHILE THIS DOES SOUND UNUSUAL, IT IS FOR THIS CAR (2016 MERCEDES BENZ C300). THE SALESMAN TOLD US THAT THIS CAR WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN ANTI-COLLISION. SYSTEM CALLED "COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS". IT IS SUPPOSED TO ACTIVATE A LIGHT ON THE DASH. IF THE CAR GETS EVEN CLOSER YET, IT IS SUPPOSED GIVE AN AUDIBLE ALARM. IF THE DRIVER DOESN'T RESPOND AND THE CAR GETS EVEN CLOSER TO THE CAR IN FRONT, THE SYSTEM SHOULD DEPLOY THE BRAKING SYSTEM UNTIL THE DRIVER ENGAGES. EVEN IF THE DRIVER DOESN'T DEPLOY THE BRAKES, THE CAR IS SUPPOSED TO STOP BEFORE A COLLISION. IN OUR CAR, THIS SYSTEM DID NOT FUNCTION. THERE WAS NO LIGHT, NO AUDIBLE ALARM, AND NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE BRAKES. THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION WITH A MAZDA CRV. SO FAR, MERCEDES BENZ HAS NOT CALLED ME BACK. I FILLED OUT A QUESTIONNAIRE TWO WEEKS AGO TO INFORM THEM OF THE PROBLEM. OUR CAR HAS BEEN SITTING AT THE BODY SHOP AWAITING MERCEDES TO GET BACK TO US. I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING I KNOW TO TRY AND GET MERCEDES TO CONTACT ME. THIS FEATURE WAS GROSSLY MISREPRESENTED BY THE SALESMAN AT ANAHEIM HILLS MERCEDES AND HE HAS BEEN REPRIMANDED FOR IT. WHAT IS WORSE, THE CAR COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS SYSTEM COMPLETELY FAILED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10928892

ON OCT 14TH AT NIGHT CAR WAS DRIVEN IN HEAVY RAIN OFF INTERSTATE I5 OFF RAMP TO EXIT INTERSTATE. THERE WERE CARS BOTH IN FRONT AND BEHIND US EXITING AND UPON DRIVING FURTHER NOTICED THERE WAS STANDING WATER. OTHER CARS WERE MAKING IT THROUGH SLOWLY, THERE WAS NO ROOM TO TURN AROUND. THIS CAR ALMOST MADE IT TO THE END OF THE OFFRAMP AND THEN STALLLED. OTHER CARS WERE FORCED TO GO AROUND. TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR TO NO AVAIL. CALLED FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD AND THEN ALL LIGHTING WENT DARK IN CAR. THEN SAW FLAMES FROM THE HOOD. QUICKLY RAN THROUGH WATER TO ESCAPE AND FLAMES GOT SEVERAL FEET HIGH. PASSER BY'S HAD CALLED 911 AS ENTIRE FRONT OF CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO CUT OPEN CAR HOOD TO PUT OUT FIRE. CAR DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR AND THEY TOO WERE INCREDULOUS THAT A NEW CAR WOULD BE ENGULFED IN FLAMES AFTER STALLING IN THE RAIN.

NHTSA ODI 10916229

AFTER STOPPING AND WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT FOR 15-30 SECONDS, I HAD MY FEET ON THE BRAKES AND LEFT TURN INDICATOR ON. THE "HOLD" OPTION TO LOCK MY BRAKES WAS NOT ENGAGED. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY. WITHOUT WARNING, THE CAR SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND JOLTED FORWARD INTO THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME AT THE LIGHT. (I WAS THE SECOND CAR IN LINE, AND I STOPPED ABOUT A HALF CAR LENGTH BEHIND THE OTHER DRIVER.) THE ACCELERATION WAS NOT A TYPICAL, GRADUAL MOVEMENT ASSOCIATED WITH WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I RELEASE MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE TO DRIVE. IT WAS A SUDDEN AND JARRING JUMP REGARDLESS OF THE FACT THAT MY FOOT NEVER LEFT THE BRAKE. I TRIED TO PRESS THE BRAKES MULTIPLE TIMES TO STOP THE FORWARD MOVEMENT, BUT MY CAR HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME TWICE. THE STEEL BUMPER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS NOT DAMAGED. THE FRONT AREA OF MY HOOD (EMBLEM AND GRILL) WERE CRUSHED. I REPORTED EARLIER ELECTRONIC ISSUES TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AS NOTABLE ODDITIES, BUT NONE MADE ME THIS CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY OF OTHERS, MY PASSENGERS, AND MYSELF. AS RECENTLY AS A WEEK EARLIER, MY REAR-VIEW CAMERA FROZE AND LOCKED AS I WAS REVERSING INTO MY GARAGE, SO HAD I TRUSTED THE SCREEN IN MY CAR, I WOULD HAVE REVERSED ANOTHER 5-10 FEET INTO MY GARAGE. I COULD NOT UNFREEZE IT WITHOUT PUTTING THE CAR BACK INTO DRIVE AND RESTARTING MY CAR. MONTHS EARLIER, THE SENSOR ON MY SIDE MIRRORS STARTED TO GO OFF WITHOUT ANY OTHER SOURCE OF DANGER OR COLLISION ON VACANT STREETS. THE AIR PRESSURE ALERT WARNED THAT MY TIRES WERE BECOMING DANGEROUSLY FLAT; HOWEVER, EN ROUTE TO THE GAS STATION, THE PRESSURE MONITOR NOTED THAT ALL TIRES WERE NOW RETURNING TO NORMAL PRESSURE LEVELS AND NO INFLATION WAS NEEDED. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PECULIAR EVENTS WITH THIS NEW C300 IN RECENT MONTHS, BUT MY PRIMARY CONCERN AS A CAREGIVER IS THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION FROM A STOPPED POSITION--OR FROM ANY POSITION--WITHOUT MY DIRECTION OR INTENT.

NHTSA ODI 10907333