2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas compact sedan with 8 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the C300, is EPA-rated at 29 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 26 complaints, most often about the fuel/propulsion system. Manufacturer pricing runs from $43,550 to $87,100 across 10 trims.

| Trim | Powertrain | Drive | MSRP | HP | Torque | MPG comb | Wheels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C 300 Cabriolet | Gas | RWD | $55,400 | 255 hp | 273 lb-ft | — | 18 in |
| C 300 4MATIC Cabriolet | Gas | AWD | $57,400 | 255 hp | 273 lb-ft | — | 18 in |
| AMG C 43 Cabriolet | Gas | AWD | $67,000 | 385 hp | 384 lb-ft | — | 18 in |
| AMG C 63 S Cabriolet | Gas | RWD | $87,100 | 503 hp | 516 lb-ft | — | — |
| C 300 Coupe | Gas | RWD | $47,850 | 255 hp | 273 lb-ft | — | 18 in |
| C 300 4MATIC Coupe | Gas | AWD | $49,850 | 255 hp | 273 lb-ft | — | 18 in |
| AMG C 43 Coupe | Gas | AWD | $60,500 | 385 hp | 384 lb-ft | — | 18 in |
| AMG C 63 S Coupe | Gas | RWD | $79,200 | 503 hp | 516 lb-ft | — | — |
| C 300 Sedan | Gas | RWD | $43,550 | 255 hp | 295 lb-ft | 29 mpg | 18 in |
| C 300 4MATIC Sedan | Gas | AWD | $45,550 | 255 hp | 295 lb-ft | 27 mpg | 18 in |
MSRP excludes destination. Open a trim for the complete spec sheet and standard/optional equipment. Have the car in front of you? Decode its VIN to see which of these trims it is and what it was priced at.
Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C300 | Hybrid | RWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo + 48V Li-Ion | 25 | 35 | 29 | $2,850 |
| C300 4matic | Hybrid | AWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo + 48V Li-Ion | 23 | 33 | 27 | $3,050 |
| C300 4matic Coupe | Gas | AWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 22 | 31 | 25 | $3,300 |
| C300 Coupe | Gas | RWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 22 | 31 | 25 | $3,300 |
| C300 4matic Convertible | Gas | AWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 21 | 30 | 24 | $3,400 |
| C300 Convertible | Gas | RWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 21 | 28 | 24 | $3,400 |
| AMG C43 4matic Convertible | Gas | AWD | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 19 | 28 | 22 | $3,750 |
| AMG C43 4matic Coupe | Gas | AWD | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 19 | 28 | 22 | $3,750 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 45315, 45322, 44844, 44887, 44845, 44859, 44861, 44860.
Emissions & certification
Source: EPA emission certificates| Configuration | Smog rating | Emission standard | Where it can be sold new | SmartWay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C300, C300 4matic | 7 / 10 | California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | — |
| C300 4matic Convertible, C300 4matic Coupe, C300 Convertible, C300 Coupe | 6 / 10 | California LEV-III ULEV50 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 50 | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | — |
| AMG C43 4matic Convertible, AMG C43 4matic Coupe | 5 / 10 | California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | — |
Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.
The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.
Factory warranty running out?
The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.
What to check before you buy →Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.
Recalls (9)
Source: NHTSA recall databaseSeat Belts
2025040012Electrical System
2024070005Fuel System, Gasoline
Electrical System
2023070016,17,18,16Electrical System
2023070015Fuel System, Gasoline
2023070012Electrical System
2022090011Steering
2022040010These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.
Whether any of this applies to one specific C-Class
A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2022 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Mercedes-Benz publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.
Hear about a recall before the letter does
The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.
Parts & accessories for the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.
Find parts for this C-Class →Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database1 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 1 injuries · 0 deaths reported
13 per 10,000 built · Mercedes-Benz reported 19,898 C-Class built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)
Filed per year: 2022: 6 · 2023: 11 · 2024: 4 · 2025: 3 · 2026: 2
Most-cited components
In owners' own words
Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.
1. The vehicle experienced a fuel injector failure, which is part of the engine fuel delivery system. The failed injector is still available for inspection upon request. 2. The vehicle began exhibiting symptoms of fuel system malfunction while driving, including rough idling, hesitation, and loss of power.
Car fails to accelerate past 25 mph when entering roadway. Roadway area is 45mph and vehicle would not accelerate to reach safe levels. This out myself and occupants of my vehicle in danger as traffic is already at the 45+ mph limit. Vehicle has 30,000 miles. Engine light came on after incident
Refer to Mercedes Complaint letter dated August 21, 2025. Refer to EDR report of the crash Mercedes Benz is claiming no responsibility for the failure of Active Brake Assist (ABA) during a frontal impact collision that resulted in the car total loss.
All on a sudden the entire screen goes blank. It has happened at least 4 times and each time the service center does some patching and it works for a few month. When it happens, all the safety features are off including reverse camera. Also, no way to set the temperature or turn of the AC.
The electronic system, specifically the battery, failed and it is available for inspection upon request. The persistent battery drain caused the vehicle to become inoperable multiple times, including an incident where I was stranded 200 miles from home with my wife and dog, posing significant safety risks.
The contact owns a 2022 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving at unknown speeds, the active brake assist was not functioning properly. The brakes were applied without an object around the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was contacted and scheduled an appointment.
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.
Reported by Mercedes-Benz itself: 8 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 9 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 40 per 100,000 built. Every C-Class model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.
Crash ratings
Source: NHTSA NCAPNHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.
Service bulletins & campaigns
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications- 15 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first · Mercedes-Benz bulletin CL - EW M264Dear Mercedes-Benz Owner: In our continuing efforts to ensure the proper performance of Mercedes-Benz products and to enhance the satisfaction of our customers, Mercedes-Benz USA is extending the…
- 15 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first · Mercedes-Benz warranty extension EW - Cylinder Head M264In our continuing efforts to ensure the proper performance of Mercedes-Benz products and to enhance the satisfaction of our customers, Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC is extending the warranty coverage on the…
- 10 years or 120,000 miles, whichever comes first · Mercedes-Benz bulletin CL - 05012025In our continuing efforts to ensure the proper performance of Mercedes-Benz products and to enhance the satisfaction of our customers, Mercedes-Benz USA is extending the warranty coverage for the…
The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every Mercedes-Benz warranty extension (9) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →
Most often about: Electrical System, Power Train, Structure, Engine, Exterior Lighting.
- LI46.10-P-080896 Service bulletin2026-09-26 · Steering
- Complaint Slight creaking noises when steering. Cause Noises may come from one or more sleeves of the horn contact plate. Remedy Remove the horn contact plate and check the sleeves for noise; see attached video. If necessary, apply lubricant to the sleeves.
- LI27.00-P-073124 Service bulletin2026-09-26 · Power Train
- Complaint Customer complaints relating to automatic transmission 725.0 (NAG3 Classic /9G‑TRONIC automatic transmission) and 725.1 (NAG3 facelift/9G‑TRONIC automatic transmission facelift) For faster, more effective and more targeted diagnosis, Intelligent Predictive Repair (IPR) has been developed and integrated into XENTRY Diagnosis. This ensures an automated diagnosis process. Cause As part of t
- 11038222 Over-the-air update2026-09-25 · Electrical System
- A software update will be performed that provides enhancements to the robustness and system stability of the communication module. The update is free of charge and runs in the background, which takes about 8 minutes to install. During this time, the vehicle can be driven without any restrictions, and the new software will be active with the next ignition cycle. Remedy MBUSA will conduct an OTA se
- LI83.90-P-080935 Service bulletin2026-09-25 · Visibility/Wiper
- Complaint CEL illuminates and/or AC does not blow cold. Cause Potentially relevance to hardware and/or software Remedy Scenario 1: 1. If the AC does not blow cold air, replace compressor (if compressor's index and part number Figure 1 match against Table 1). a. If the compressor does not fall within Table 1, please open a TIPS case. b. Flush procedure must be followed as per WIS. Scenario 2: 1. If
- LI42.10-P-078779 Service bulletin2026-09-22 · Service Brakes
- Complaint Repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60MPH. NOTE: Although the symptom is similar to a tire or wheel vibration, it is usually readily noticeable that it is distinctly different if it happens at all times or only while braking. Cause Although the cause of the vibration is most likely due to excessive lateral runout on the rotor or hub/wheel bearing, the system as
- 2026-09-18 · Suspension
- Dear Dealer Partners, The part numbers listed in the chart below should no longer be installed and any existing stock must be returned to your facing PDC. The deadline for all dealer returns is Thursday, October 8th, 2026. After October 8th, we will no longer accept returns of these parts. These parts should be returned via ZSR Special Return, using item category SCM Authorized Part Return. Please
- LI54.30-P-080963 Service bulletin2026-09-17 · Electrical System
- Complaint Issue after OTA Update IC Odometer Reading blank("_ _ _ _") IC Maintanence data unavailable Cause OTA Update E61.0 Remedy In the IC Control Unit Log, please check the following information: Verify whether DTCs B228229, B228287, and B226656 are present in either A or A+S. Verify that Status Schlüssel‑ID = "ID is not valid" and Anlernstatus = "IC is initialized", as shown in the attached i
- LI82.60-P-080383 Service bulletin2026-09-15 · Electrical System
- Complaint Radio station cover art does not refresh when switching stations. The UI continues to show the old station’s artwork instead of updating to the new one. Cause When a new station change request is triggered, a temporary glitch is causing the Head Unit application to fail to overwrite the previous request. This glitch is causing the cover art mismatch in the Radio application. Remedy Pleas
A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.
At the New York inspection station
Source: New York State DMVIn New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class failed the emissions check on 2.5% of first inspections — higher than the 1.7% for every 2022 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 0.85% (every 2022 vehicle: 1.4%).
failed emissions
826 initial inspections of 817 vehicles.
| Measure | The 2022 C-Class | Every 2022 vehicle | Behind it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failed the emissions check | 2.5% | 1.7% | 823 |
| Failed the safety inspection | 0.85% | 1.4% | 826 |
| Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit | 0.12% | 0.18% | 826 |
| Miles driven a year | 7,381 | 10,455 | odometer at inspection |
| Average odometer | 31,759 | 44,815 | odometer at inspection |
New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2022 vehicle” is every 2022 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).
C-Class by model year
all years, side by side →Common questions about the 2022 C-Class
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsHow much does the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class cost?
Manufacturer pricing runs from $43,550 for the C 300 Sedan RWD to $87,100 for the AMG C 63 S Cabriolet RWD, across 10 trims. Those are MSRPs from the manufacturer's own press material; they exclude destination, options, taxes and whatever the dealer adds. Every trim and price is listed above.
Does the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class have any recalls?
NHTSA has posted 9 recall campaigns for the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, 2 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 24V446000, covering Electrical System. 1 campaign is phased, so the repair reached some model years before others. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.
How safe is the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it F (47/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.
What is the fuel economy of the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
Across the 8 EPA-rated configurations of the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the best EPA combined figure is 29 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.
What do owners complain about on the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
Owners have filed 26 complaints with NHTSA about the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, most often about fuel/propulsion system, electrical system, forward collision avoidance. Of those, 1 involved a crash, 1 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.
How clean is the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
The EPA smog rating for the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class runs 5 to 7 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III SULEV30, California LEV-III ULEV50, California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 50, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.
Are there service bulletins for the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
The manufacturer has filed 670 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, most often covering electrical system, power train, structure. The most recent is dated 2026-09-26. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.
How does the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class do at state inspection?
In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class failed the emissions check on 2.5% of first inspections — higher than the 1.7% for every 2022 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 0.85% (every 2022 vehicle: 1.4%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.
Which 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class trim is the best value?
$43,550 separates the cheapest of the 10 trims from the most expensive, so the answer depends on which of the differences you would actually use. Every trim has its own page here with the manufacturer's full specification and equipment list, plus a short summary of exactly what it adds over the base trim — worth reading before a dealer frames the walk-up for you. The trim-by-trim ladder shows what every step up costs and what it makes standard.
What we hold, and what an empty row means
Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.
| Data | Held | Source | What it covers — or what empty means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy & configurations | 8 configurations | EPA certification records | Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures. |
| Emission certificates | 8 configurations | EPA emission certificates | Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new. |
| Recalls | 9 | NHTSA recall campaigns | A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags. |
| Owner complaints | 26 | NHTSA complaint database | Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold. |
| Crash ratings | none | NHTSA NCAP | NHTSA has not tested this model year. Cars are selected for testing, so untested is not unsafe. |
| Service bulletins | 670 | NHTSA manufacturer communications | Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall. |
| Investigations | none | NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation | No defect investigation has been opened. |
| Driver-assist crash reports | none | NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01 | No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like. |
| Specifications filed with NHTSA | none | NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns | We had no VIN pattern to decode for this model year, or the manufacturer filed nothing usable. |
| Trims, pricing & equipment | 10 trims | Manufacturer press kit | Transcribed from the manufacturer's own press material, every value carrying the document it came from. |
Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.
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). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly. Trim-level specifications and pricing are transcribed from the manufacturer's official press kit; every value carries its source in the data file.