Mercedes-Benz · Compact car
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Every model year 2016–2027: recalls, owner complaints, NHTSA crash ratings and EPA efficiency side by side.
| Year | Powertrains | Safety | Recalls | Complaints | Crash | Best efficiency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Hybrid | A | 0 | 0 | — | 29 mpg | |
| 2026 | Hybrid | A | 1 | 3 | — | 29 mpg | |
| 2025 | Plug-in hybridHybrid | B | 2 | 4 | — | 29 mpg | |
| 2024 | Hybrid | D | 3 | 15 | — | 30 mpg | |
| 2023 | HybridGas | F | 10 | 25 | — | 29 mpg | |
| 2022 | HybridGas | F | 9 | 26 | — | 29 mpg | |
| 2021 | Gas | F | 7 | 17 | ★★★★★ | 27 mpg | |
| 2020 | Gas | F | 12 | 45 | — | 28 mpg | |
| 2019 | Gas | F | 18 | 74 | — | 27 mpg | |
| 2018 | Plug-in hybridGas | F | 19 | 128 | ★★★★★ | 30 mpg | |
| 2017 | Plug-in hybridGas | F | 17 | 250 | ★★★★★ | 30 mpg | |
| 2016 | Plug-in hybridGas | F | 14 | 314 | ★★★★★ | 30 mpg |
What changed year to year
- 2027: 3 → 2 EPA configurations
- 2026: dropped plug-in hybrid; 4 → 3 EPA configurations
- 2025: added plug-in hybrid; best combined mpg 30 → 29; 3 → 4 EPA configurations
- 2024: dropped gas; best combined mpg 29 → 30; 11 → 3 EPA configurations
- 2023: 8 → 11 EPA configurations
- 2022: added hybrid; best combined mpg 27 → 29; 15 → 8 EPA configurations
- 2021: best combined mpg 28 → 27
- 2020: best combined mpg 27 → 28
- 2019: dropped plug-in hybrid; best combined mpg 30 → 27; 16 → 15 EPA configurations
- 2017: 6 → 16 EPA configurations
Best C-Class years to buy used
- 2025 — Safety B, 2 recalls, 4 complaints
- 2024 — Safety D, 3 recalls, 15 complaints
- 2021 — Safety F, 7 recalls, 17 complaints
- 2023 — Safety F, 10 recalls, 25 complaints
- 2022 — Safety F, 9 recalls, 26 complaints
Ranked by Safety Signal, then fewest complaints. Older years have had more time to accumulate both.