2023 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Hybrid Gas Compact car
The 2023 Mercedes-Benz C-Class is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas compact car with 11 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the C300, is EPA-rated at 29 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for this model year, 4 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 25 complaints, most often about forward collision avoidance.
Specs & fuel economy (EPA)
| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C300 | Hybrid | RWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo + 48V Li-Ion | 25 | 36 | 29 | $2,650 |
| C300 4matic | Hybrid | AWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo + 48V Li-Ion | 24 | 33 | 27 | $2,850 |
| AMG C43 4matic | Hybrid | AWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo + 48V Li-Ion | 19 | 26 | 22 | $3,500 |
| C300 4matic Convertible | Gas | AWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 21 | 30 | 25 | $3,100 |
| C300 4matic Coupe | Gas | AWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 22 | 31 | 25 | $3,100 |
| C300 Coupe | Gas | RWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 22 | 31 | 25 | $3,100 |
| C300 Convertible | Gas | RWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 21 | 29 | 24 | $3,250 |
| AMG C43 4matic Convertible | Gas | AWD | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 18 | 28 | 22 | $3,500 |
| AMG C43 4matic Coupe | Gas | AWD | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 18 | 27 | 21 | $3,700 |
| AMG C63 S Convertible | Gas | RWD | 4.0L 8-cyl turbo | 16 | 24 | 19 | $4,100 |
| AMG C63 S Coupe | Gas | RWD | 4.0L 8-cyl turbo | 16 | 24 | 19 | $4,100 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year and EPA reference fuel/electricity prices. Source: fueleconomy.gov vehicle records.
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Recalls (10)
Latches/Locks/Linkages
highProblem: 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.
Risk: A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: 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.
Electrical System
criticalProblem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Seat Belts
highProblem: 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.
Risk: A loose seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Electrical System
criticalProblem: 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.
Risk: An overheated wire can cause a fire and a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Electrical System
highProblem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2023 AMG C43 4MATIC vehicles, equipped with AMG Performance seats. The seat wiring harness may be incorrectly routed, which can cause it to become damaged when the seat is fully reclined.
Risk: A damaged wiring harness can prevent the air bags installed in the seats from deploying as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and reroute the wiring harness, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 12, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024060009.
Electrical System
criticalProblem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Fuel System, Gasoline
highProblem: 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.
Risk: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Electrical System
criticalProblem: 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.
Risk: An overheated wiring harness can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
Electrical System
highProblem: 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.
Risk: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Fuel System, Gasoline
highProblem: 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.
Risk: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Owner complaints
25 complaints filed
2 involved a crash, 0 a fire, 1 injuries, 0 deaths reported by owners.
Filed by year — 2023: 10 · 2024: 8 · 2025: 5 · 2026: 2
Most-cited components
- Forward Collision Avoidance — 15
- Service Brakes — 6
- Electrical System — 5
- Unknown Or Other — 5
- Tires — 3
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Crash ratings
NHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.
Compare the 2023 C-Class with
Other C-Class model years
2027 C-Class
0 recalls · 0 complaints
A2026 C-Class
1 recalls · 3 complaints
B2025 C-Class
2 recalls · 4 complaints
D2024 C-Class
3 recalls · 15 complaints
F2022 C-Class
9 recalls · 26 complaints
F2021 C-Class
7 recalls · 17 complaints
F2020 C-Class
12 recalls · 45 complaints
F2019 C-Class
18 recalls · 74 complaints
F2018 C-Class
19 recalls · 128 complaints
F2017 C-Class
17 recalls · 250 complaints
F2016 C-Class
14 recalls · 314 complaints
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records (ids 46048, 46049, 46555, 45922, 45921, 45920, 45923, 46217, 46123, 46431, 46432). Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.