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2025 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Plug-in hybrid Hybrid
Compact Cars
4 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
B
Safety Signal
85 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns 2
Complaintsnone reporting a crash, fire or injury 4
Crash ratingnot rated by NHTSA —
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 29 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz C-Class is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid and hybrid compact sedan with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the C300, is EPA-rated at 29 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 4 complaints, most often about the back over prevention.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Mercedes-Benz C-Class · Photo: Alexander-93 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombRangekWh/100miCharge (240V)Annual fuel*
AMG C63 S E PerformancePlug-in hybridAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo + 150 kW AC PMSM192220 (22 MPGe blended)1 mi electric571.2 h$4,100
C300HybridRWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo + 48V Li-Ion253529———$2,850
C300 4maticHybridAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo + 48V Li-Ion243327———$3,050
AMG C43 4maticHybridAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo + 48V Li-Ion192722———$3,750

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 49018, 47992, 47993, 48171.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
AMG C43 4matic, AMG C63 S E Performance4 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 / California LEV-III ULEV70All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
C3007 / 10California LEV-III SULEV20 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 20All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
C300 4matic7 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 20 / California LEV-III SULEV20All 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.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body styleSedan/Saloon
Doors4
GVWR classClass 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders4
Displacement2 L
Engine configurationIn-Line

Engine Output

Horsepower255 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Seating

Seat rows2
Seating capacity5 seats

Transmission

DrivetrainAWD/All-Wheel Drive
TransmissionAutomatic
Transmission speeds9

Driver assistance

Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Parking assist

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: C300, C300 4MATIC). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length187.0–188.6 in
Width (body, without mirrors)71.7 in
Height56.7 in
Wheelbase113.0 in
Track, front63.0 in
Track, rear63.4 in
Curb weight3,693–4,057 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear53/47 to 54/46

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 2 configurations: AMG C43 4Matic 4-door Sedan, C300 4Matic 4-door Sedan. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

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Recalls (2)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Electrical System

2026050004
144,049 vehicles 91% reported repaired built Sep 19, 2022 – Feb 6, 2026
Problem Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2024-2026 AMG GT, C-Class, E-Class, SL, CLE, and GLC vehicles. The infotainment control unit may reset while the vehicle is in motion and cause the instrument panel display to go blank. Risk An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer and warning lights, increases the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will update the infotainment control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 29, 2026. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2026050004. 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 May 8, 2026.
NHTSA campaign 26V281000 reported May 1, 2026 Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Seat Belts

2025040012
46 vehicles 85% reported repaired
Problem 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.
NHTSA campaign 25V253000 reported May 2, 2025 Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These 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 2025 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 2025 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2025 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 database
4complaints filed

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported

1.4 per 10,000 built · Mercedes-Benz reported 27,667 C-Class built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2026: 4

Most-cited components

Back Over Prevention 2
Service Brakes 1
Electrical System 1
Vehicle Speed Control 1
Unspecified 1
Structure 1

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.

The 2025 c300 rwd sedan was parked outside for about an hour. After getting back into the car and reversing, the rear camera would not display. The camera/parking interface was activated however there was an error symbol where the camera image is displayed, with a camera crossed through.
Back Over Prevention Jun 3, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11741727
After driving the 2025 c300 sedan and leaving it parked for an hour or two, I come back to the car and turn it on. Neither the central screen or drivers screen were operable. The engine, interior lighting, sounds, and other systems were working however all the screens were completely dead.
Electrical System Mar 18, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11725129
Vehicle is new to me as of jan 6, 2026. The brakes are spongy, but when the car shifts from d3 to d2, it releases and unless I press the brake again it would glide into an intersection or into the vehicle in front of me. This has been looked at by my selling dealer three times and another dealer one more time.
Service Brakes Mar 2, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11721425

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: 2 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 3 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 7.2 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 NCAP

NHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Extended coverage on file 1 filing by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

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 →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 497
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-26
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 443 service bulletins, 23 others, 16 service campaigns

Most often about: Electrical System, Power Train, Structure, Steering, Suspension.

  • LI46.10-P-080896 Service bulletin
    2026-09-26 · 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 bulletin
    2026-09-26 · 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 update
    2026-09-25 · 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 bulletin
    2026-09-25 · 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 bulletin
    2026-09-22 · 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 bulletin
    2026-09-17 · 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 bulletin
    2026-09-15 · 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 DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2025 Mercedes-Benz C-Class failed the safety inspection on 0.38% of first inspections — close to the 0.36% for every 2025 model-year vehicle inspected.

New York inspections 0.38%

failed the safety inspection

1,302 initial inspections of 1,290 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2025 C-ClassEvery 2025 vehicleBehind it
Failed the safety inspection0.38%0.36%1,302
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.46%0.16%1,302
Miles driven a year6,1538,354odometer at inspection
Average odometer8,94112,194odometer at inspection

New York does not emissions-test model years this new, so the safety inspection is the record here. 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 2025 vehicle” is every 2025 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).

Common questions about the 2025 C-Class

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2025 Mercedes-Benz C-Class have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 2 recall campaigns for the 2025 Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The most serious on file is 26V281000, covering Electrical System. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2025 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2025 Mercedes-Benz C-Class yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it B (85/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2025 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

Across the 4 EPA-rated configurations of the 2025 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the best EPA combined figure is 29 mpg (MPGe on the electrified versions). Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2025 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

Transport Canada measured it at 187.0–188.6 in long, 71.7 in wide (body, without mirrors), 56.7 in tall, on a 113.0 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,693–4,057 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2025 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA about the 2025 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, most often about back over prevention, service brakes, electrical system. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2025 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

The EPA smog rating for the 2025 Mercedes-Benz C-Class runs 4 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 SULEV20, California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 20, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2025 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

The manufacturer has filed 497 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2025 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 2025 Mercedes-Benz C-Class do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2025 Mercedes-Benz C-Class failed the safety inspection on 0.38% of first inspections — close to the 0.36% for every 2025 model-year vehicle inspected. 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.

Is the 2025 Mercedes-Benz C-Class better than the 2025 BMW 3 Series?

Too close to call: Mercedes-Benz C-Class 94.1 vs BMW 3 Series 92.9 with these weights. The BMW 3 Series is ahead on fuel & range. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 5 and it flips. We publish a full side-by-side of the 2025 Mercedes-Benz C-Class against the 2025 BMW 3 Series — specifications by family, equipment feature by feature, safety record and ownership costs. You can re-weight what matters to you and the verdict recalculates.

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.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations4 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates4 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls2NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints4NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratingsnoneNHTSA NCAPNHTSA has not tested this model year. Cars are selected for testing, so untested is not unsafe.
Service bulletins497NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
InvestigationsnoneNHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationNo defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No 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 NHTSA13 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

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.

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