Diagsheet

2015 Mercedes-Benz C300 · symptom sheet

Check engine light or misfire

  • 62owner reports
  • 61,000median miles
  • $2,000median quote
  • 0involved a crash

Newest report Jun 26, 2025 · checked Sep 9, 2026

216 of the 379 complaints on this car are about the engine. 62 of those describe misfire, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2015 C300.

Tick what matches of 62 reports

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7

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the spark plugs (4 reports).

Recalls and investigations

3 recalls on the engine cover the 2015 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

17V-177Mar 14, 2017
Electrical System:Software

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 AMG GT-S, GLC300, CLA250 and GLE300d 4Matic vehicles, 2013 C250, E350 BlueTec and G63 AMG vehicles, 2008-2014 C300 vehicles, 2013-2014 C300 4Matic and ML350 4Matic vehicles, 2009 C350 vehicles, 2014 CLS550, E350 4Matic, E350 Coupe 4Matic, E350 Wagon 4Matic, GLK350 and SL550 vehicles, 2012 CLS550 4Matic vehicles, 2012-2016 E350 vehicles, 2016-2017 GL450 4Matic vehicles, 2012-2014 ML350 4Matic BlueTec vehicles, 2015 S550, S550 4Matic and C300 4Matic Sedan vehicles, 2015-2016 C300 Sedan vehicles, and 2017 SL63 AMG vehicles. Various control units on these vehicles may have been updated with incorrect software, potentially affecting the correct deployment of the air bags in the event of a crash.

Risk and remedy
Risk: If the air bags do not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, there would be an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update software in the affected control units, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
17V-114Feb 23, 2017
Electrical System:Starter Assembly

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2017 C300 4Matic, C300, CLA250, CLA250 4Matic and CLA45 AMG vehicles, 2017 C300 4Matic Cabrio, C300 4Matic Coupe, C300 Cabrio, C300 Coupe, E300, E300 4Matic, E400 4Matic Wagon, E43 AMG 4Matic, GLA250, GLA250 4Matic and GLC300 4Matic Coupe vehicles and 2016 C350e and GLC300 vehicles and 2016-2017 C450 4Matic AMG Sport and GLC300 4Matic vehicles. In the event that the engine or transmission cannot turn over, the starting current limiter may overheat from the repeated attempts of the starter motor attempting to start the vehicle.

Risk and remedy
Risk: If the starting current limiter overheats, the surrounding components can melt, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional fuse in the electrical line to the starter, free of charge. The recall began August 31, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2017080002.
15V-138Mar 10, 2015
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2015 C300 4matic and C400 4matic vehicles manufactured April 7, 2014, to July 25, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may be improperly secured to the fuel tank. Secondly, electrical wires that connect to the fuel delivery module might have been pinched between the flange of the fuel delivery module and the tank.

Risk and remedy
Risk: If the locking plate is not properly secured to the fuel delivery module it may become loose, and leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire. If the electrical wires are pinched, the fuel pump may stop working, resulting in a stall, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles for improperly secured locking plates and pinched wires, correcting the vehicles as necessary, free of charge. The recal began on April 24, 2015. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2015030004.

NHTSA investigations into the engine on the C300

DP22-002opened Sep 12, 2022
Engine And Engine Cooling · model years 2015

C300 wrist-pin allegation. Closed feb 27, 2024.

NHTSA summary
In a letter dated April 29, 2022, Mr. Sergio Betancourt (the petitioner) submitted a petition attributing engine failure of his 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300 to “wrong sized wrist-pins” and asserted that these were prevalent on all Mercedes-Benz models (including the Metris minivan, GLC300, and C300) equipped with a version of the M274 engine. The petition cited Mercedes Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) LI03.10-P-060916 (meant for the 2015 C300) and postulated that the “wrong-sized wrist pin” would allow the piston to “wiggle in the cylinder as it would move up and down”. In addition to the Mercedes-Benz TSB, the petitioner enclosed a service center repair estimate and images of other online submissions discussing the M274 engine. In the incident that prompted the petition, the petitioner reported that the vehicle lost power and shook in response to accelerator application during highway driving, followed by white smoke from the exhaust pipe. The petitioner stated that the subsequent service center visit led to a cracked piston diagnosis. The service record from this visit prescribed an engine teardown to localize the failure and characterize any resulting engine damage and listed a number of repair options that included replacement of one piston, four pistons, or the entire engine long block (depending on the level of damage suffered). TSB LI03.10-P-060916 (“TSB”) was first released on February 27, 2015 and pertained to Engine Code 274.920. It cited the following c
EA13-008opened Dec 20, 2013
Electrical · model years 2010

Loss of rear lighting assembly. Closed may 12, 2014, led to recall 14V-177.

NHTSA summary
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of loss of rear lighting in model year (MY) 2008-2011 Mercedes Benz C-Class vehicles.Complainants alleged that one or both rear lighting assemblies fail to illuminate (i.e., all lights housed within the assembly extinguish, including the stop, tail, and turn signal functions) or illuminate dimly.In some reports, complainants also alleged that the failure was accompanied by a burning smell emanating from the trunk of the vehicle.When examined, these vehicles showed evidence of overheating at the lighting assembly harness connector, including damaged (blackened) wiring and plastic.The rear lighting failures typically involved one side of the vehicle however in some cases both assemblies failed (although probably not simultaneously).ODI identified 5 fire and one injury allegations during the course of this investigation.Two fires occurred while the vehicles were parked.One originated in the vicinity of the driver?s side light assembly where the fire and associated damage was confined to the trunk area, and the fire self extinguished due to oxygen starvation.As a result of the fire, the vehicle was repurchased by Mercedes and salvaged.The second fire originated on the passenger's side and required fire department response to extinguish; the fire damaged the tail light and surrounding body panels as well as the trunk area and wiring.The vehicle was repaired and returned to service.Two f

What owners paid

7 of the 62 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,000 to $2,200.

$1,000$2,000$2,200
$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 50,900 and 80,000 miles, from the 27 reports that gave a mileage.

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What owners wrote

“Check Engine light came on recently, fault code P052E is identified by scanner. Car has 60,000 miles on original it. MB dealer wants to charge $300 for diagnostics, repair job (parts and labor) may cost over $2,000. Since this is critical emission compliance part/system, why is it not recalling?”

Filed Jun 26, 2025 · 60,000 miles

“My 2015 Mercedes Benz vehicle is rarely driven as I took public transportation to work and has ~55000 miles. However, the engine has started throwing error code P052E verified by an independent dealer - crankcase ventilation valve failure. It means the engine could shut off amid driving and I did research and it seems like a very common issue that Mercedes Benz car owner encounter and feels like a severe car defect.”

Filed Jan 29, 2024 · 55,000 miles

“Vehicle experienced loss of power and rough running when check engine light came on. Mercedes dealer reported one of the pistons cracked resulting in catastrophic engine failure with just shy of 61,880 miles on it.”

Filed Jan 12, 2023 · 61,880 miles

“I have an emissions related Check Engine Light (P052E71) relating to the Evaporative/Crankcase ventilation system. I think this should be a Recalled/Warrantee item on the 10 year/100,000 miles federally mandated guarantee. Please advise...”

Filed Jan 5, 2023 · 100,000 miles

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 0 of 62 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.

Other problems on this car