2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class problems, complaints & recalls
NHTSA has received 46 owner complaints about the 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, or 6.9 per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.16, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 82 model-year 2020 vehicles we track, it ranks #13 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Mercedes-Benz models its rate is 33% lower; against other Luxury sedans it is 35% higher.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Complaints filed between 2020-05-18 and 2026-08-02. Median delay from incident to filing: 8 days.
Analysis
The previous model year (2019) drew 9.8 complaints per year, more than this one. The following model year (2021) drew 2.6 per year, fewer than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2020 model collected 10 complaints, 82% lower than the average vehicle of the same model year.
The most common problem area is Engine (19.6% of complaints), followed by Body & structure (19.6%) and Electrical (15.2%). Within Engine reports, owners most often mention “cylinder”, “loss power”, “engine”, “authorized” and “exhaust”. 5 reports (10.9%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 5 injuries and 0 deaths.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 42 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was after five years (33% of incidents). 11 complaints were filed in the last 12 months.
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for this model year.
Complaint index
- vs. all tracked vehicles0.16
- vs. other Mercedes-Benz models0.67
- vs. other 2020 models0.18
- vs. other Luxury sedans1.35
- Complaints in first 2 years on the road · vs. same-year average (10)0.18
- #13 of 82 · 2020Rankings ›
1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road.
What owners complain about
vs. all vehicles: 1.00 = All-vehicle average
Engine · Common terms in reports
- cylinder5
- loss power4
- engine8
- authorized3
- exhaust3
- defect4
Body & structure · Common terms in reports
- sunroof4
- closing3
- trunk3
- closed3
- exact3
- panel3
Problem areas: Engine · Electrical · Body & structure
When complaints were filed
- Crashes reported: 5
- Fires reported: 0
- Injuries: 5
- Deaths: 0
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 42 months
What owners report
I own a 2020 Mercedes-Benz C300 equipped with a power trunk. On July 22, 2026, I took my vehicle to Annapolis Mercedes-Benz because the power trunk was repeatedly closing on its own while people were standing in the trunk opening.
The contact owns a 2020 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact was reversing out of her driveway at 3 MPH, the contact was using her rearview camera.
Automatic trunk closing mechanism caused the trunk hood to close on my head as I was putting groceries in the trunk. This has occurred several times in the past but this time it hit my head with more force.
Vehicle has ongoing and recurring electrical and engine-related defects that affect safe operation. The primary systems involved are the electrical system, engine ignition system, and powertrain. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.
The contact owns a 2020 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while at a stop, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · 2020 · Luxury sedans
| Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 BMW 5 Series | 15 | 2.2 | 0.05 |
| 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class | 20 | 3.0 | 0.07 |
| 2020 Lexus ES | 24 | 3.6 | 0.09 |
| 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 46 | 6.9 | 0.16 |
| 2020 BMW 3 Series | 52 | 7.8 | 0.19 |
| 2020 Audi A4 | 157 | 23.5 | 0.56 |
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year.
Investigations
No NHTSA investigation covers the tracked model years.
Frequently asked questions
How many complaints were filed for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
46 complaints were filed with NHTSA for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, or about 6.9 per year on the road.
What is the most common problem reported for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
The most common category is Engine, accounting for 19.6% of complaints.
Does the 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class have any recalls?
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for this model year.
Is the 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class still generating complaints?
11 complaints were filed in the last 12 months.
How does the 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class compare with similar vehicles?
NHTSA has received 46 owner complaints about the 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, or 6.9 per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.16, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 82 model-year 2020 vehicles we track, it ranks #13 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Mercedes-Benz models its rate is 33% lower; against other Luxury sedans it is 35% higher.