Mercedes-Benz C350 years to avoid (and the best years)

113 NHTSA owner complaints and 11 recalls across 5 model years, 2010 to 2014. Built from NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, generated October 26, 2026.

113complaints
11recalls
4reported crashes
2reported fires
4reported injuries

Which Mercedes-Benz C350 years should you avoid?

No Mercedes-Benz C350 model year stands out from the others in NHTSA owner complaints. The typical Mercedes-Benz C350 year has 21 complaints on file.

What are the best Mercedes-Benz C350 years?

The Mercedes-Benz C350 years with the fewest complaints on file are the 2014 (13), 2010 (18) and 2013 (21). Model years after 2023 are left out: they have not been on the road long enough to compare.

NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these are complaint counts, not a rate per car on the road. A year that sold more cars collects more complaints, and older years have had longer to collect them.

Every model year

Year	Complaints	vs typical year	Recalls	Crashes	Injuries	Our read	Most reported
2014	13	0.6×	4	1	1	Few red flags	Airbags
2013	21	1.0×	6	0	0	Few red flags	Airbags
2012	35	1.7×	5	0	0	Few red flags	Airbags
2011	26	1.2×	4	0	0	Few red flags	Airbags
2010	18	0.9×	4	3	3	Few red flags	Airbags

Most reported problem areas

Share of the 47 complaints sorted by system, all years together.

Airbags & seat belts24 (51%)
Engine & powertrain9 (19%)
Other systems7 (15%)
Steering, suspension & tires3 (6%)
Structure & body2 (4%)

Recalls (11)

Airbags · 21V638000 · Aug 2021 · model years 2012, 2013, 2014
An incorrect air bag may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Airbags · 20V298000 · May 2020 · model year 2012
An incorrect passenger air bag may not provide adequate protection, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Safety · 19V787000 · Nov 2019 · model years 2013, 2014
An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.
Airbags · 19V010000 · Jan 2019 · model years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Airbags · 18V043000 · Jan 2018 · model year 2013
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Airbags · 17V627000 · Oct 2017 · model years 2012, 2013, 2014
If the driver air bag inadvertently deploys, it can increase the risk of injury and a crash.
Steering · 17V252000 · Apr 2017 · model year 2013
A loss of steering can increase the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 17V017000 · Jan 2017 · model year 2012
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Airbags · 16V363000 · May 2016 · model years 2010, 2011
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Airbags · 16V081000 · Feb 2016 · model years 2010, 2011
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Exterior lighting · 14V177000 · Apr 2014 · model years 2010, 2011
Dimming or failure of the tail lights reduces the ability to warn other motorists of the driver's intentions of stopping or turning, increasing the risk of a crash.