2020 Mercedes-Benz C 300: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2020 Mercedes-Benz C 300: 9 recalls, 33 owner complaints and up to 28 mpg combined.
Recalls
9 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Communication Vehicle recall #20V068000 · 2020 · 239 vehicles
What's wrong: Mercedes-benz USA, LLC. (mbusa) is recalling certain 2020 c300 cabrio, c300 cabrio 4matic, c300 coupe, c43 amg cabrio 4matic, c43 amg coupe 4matic, c63s amg cabrio, cls53 amg 4matic, e350, e350 4matic, e450 cabrio, e450 cabrio 4matic, e450 coupe, e450 coupe 4matic, e450 4matic, e53 amg cabrio 4matic, glc300 coupe 4matic, glc300, glc300 4matic, glc63 amg coupe 4matic, amg gt63 4-door 4matic, and amg gt63s 4-door…
Why it matters: An inaccurate vehicle location May delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Mbusa will notify owners, and dealers will replace the communication module, free of charge. The recall began April 14, 2020.
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #20V364000 · 2020 · 90 vehicles
What's wrong: Mercedes-benz USA, LLC. (mbusa) is recalling certain 2020 c300, e350, and glc300 vehicles equipped with turbocharged 4-cylinder gasoline engines. The screws that retain the turbocharger oil feed and return lines May not have been properly tightened, possibly resulting in an oil leak.
Why it matters: An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Mbusa will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the turbocharger oil lines and tighten them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began August 17, 2020.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #21V032000 · 2021 · 24,550 vehicles
What's wrong: The front seat belts might not fully retract to their stowed position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 208, "occupant crash protection."
Why it matters: If the seat belt does not fully retract, the occupant May find the operation of the seat belt inconvenient and not wear it, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: Mbusa will notify owners, and dealers will check the retraction function of the front seat belts and adjust the damping foam within the b-pillars, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 26, 2021.
Communication, Electrical Vehicle recall #21V058000 · 2021 · 1,292,258 vehicles
What's wrong: Please refer to the part 573 report for specific vehicle model details. The software design of the communication module May fail to communicate the correct vehicle location for the emergency call system (ecall) in the event of a crash.
Why it matters: Failure of the ecall system May result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.
The fix: Mbusa will notify owners, and the communication module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (ota) update, free of charge. The recall began March 12, 2021.
Body & structure Vehicle recall #21V197000 · 2021 · 15,096 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #21V509000 · 2021 · 1,467 vehicles
What's wrong: The LED headlights May have been incorrectly adjusted during a vehicle repair. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Why it matters: Incorrectly adjusted headlights May reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the LED headlights, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed August 13, 2021. A second notice will be sent once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed January 2022.
Backup camera Vehicle recall #22V232000 · 2022 · 126,443 vehicles
What's wrong: Please refer to mbusa's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The rearview camera May not display the rearview image due to a software error. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "rear visibility."
Why it matters: An inoperable rearview camera display reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 15, 2022.
Communication, Electrical Vehicle recall #22V365000 · 2022 · 242,722 vehicles
What's wrong: Please refer to mbusa's recall report for specific vehicle model details. An error in the communication module's sim card software can cause a mobile network connection failure, disabling the emergency call (ecall) system.
Why it matters: A disabled ecall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting the emergency services call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: The communication module software will be updated through an over-the-air (ota) update or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 8, 2022. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on July 8, 2022, May 17, 2024, July 29, 2024, and September 27, 2024.
Body & structure Vehicle recall #23V854000 · 2023 · 2,976 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: A detached roof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 0 mention a fire, 5 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Engine (8): the most common themes are warning light on (6), stalls / loses power (4), electrical failure (2).
- Other / unknown (5): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Body & structure (4): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Fuel & propulsion (3): the most common themes are leaks (2), warning light on (2).
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz C 300 has 33 owner complaints, ranking #4 of 10 C 300 model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 50). Complaints peaked in 2025 (7 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 28,722 miles. Neighboring years: 2019 (69 complaints, 17 recalls), 2021 (14 complaints, 7 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic 9-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 24 | 35 | 28 | Premium |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz C 300.
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FAQ
Does the 2020 Mercedes-Benz C 300 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 9 vehicle recalls for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz C 300. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2020 Mercedes-Benz C 300 problems?
Owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are engine (8), other / unknown (5), body & structure (4).
What gas mileage does the 2020 Mercedes-Benz C 300 get?
EPA ratings run up to 28 mpg combined (2.0 L, Automatic 9-spd), across 1 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2020 Mercedes-Benz C 300 repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.