The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly veered to the left. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel became inoperable, and the contact was unable to straighten the steering wheel. The brake pedal was also depressed. The contact attempted to depress the accelerator pedal however, the vehicle started to stall. The contact pulled over into a parking lot and was able to restart the vehicle. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 82,000.
2015 Mercedes-Benz C300 engine problems
128 complaints (34% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 53,000.
- owner complaints
- 128
- of this car's complaints
- 34%
- typical mileage
- 53,000
- crashes
- 0
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
- Exhaust system: emission control: crankcase (PCV)1
- Cooling system1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
Mercedes-Benz C300 engine problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300 engine
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Check engine light 59Engine failure 18Loss of power 14Stalling 12Misfire 5
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Related investigations
C300 Wrist-pin allegation
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 complaint condition: “Clattering/rattling or knocking noise from the crank assembly of the engine when cold at oil temperatures up to approximately 50°C mostly heard on engine deceleration” and listed the cause as under analysis. The TSB gave further instructions on the collection of information and discouraged the replacement of any components. On September 21, 2015, TSB Version 4 introduced engine build clean points (March 27, 2015 or April 20, 2015 depending on the engine plant); cause: unfavorable tolerance of the piston wrist pin resulting in enlarge end float of the connecting rod in the piston; and remedy: compare the complaint vehicle sound to an enclosed sound file under various operating conditions and then if verified, replace the pistons, connecting rods, and bearings, using updated pistons that include updated wrist pins. A review of the petitioner’s vehicle service history indicates that this labor operation was performed in March of 2016. In its November 22, 2022 response to ODI's September 28, 2022 Information Request (IR) letter, Mercedes stated that the limited number of potentially affected wrist pins could contribute to an unintended noise, but pose no motor vehicle safety risk. ODI's analysis of the field data furnished with the Mercedes IR response and within its own Vehicle Owners Questionnaire (VOQ) database support this assertion, finding no relationship between wrist-pin conditions cited in the TSB and engine failure or loss of motive power. Broader searches of both data sources for engine stalling related to engine durability identified no trends meriting further investigation. After conducting a technical review of the petitioner’s submissions, the vehicle history of the petitioner's vehicle, Mercedes TSB—LI03.10-P-060916, information provided by Mercedes-Benz in response to the Agency's Information Request, and data within its own files; the federal safety agency has concluded that there is insufficient evidence to pursue a formal investigation. Accordingly, the Agency has denied the petition. the federal safety agency will continue to review any new information or incidents as they are submitted to the Agency. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing the federal safety agency's reasons for denial of the petition will be published in the future. The petition and its attachments can be reviewed at under reference ODI number 11450360.
DP22002
What 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
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?
The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that approximately every 6-8 months, the vehicle sputtered while driving at various speeds or while idling. The contact stated that a month after the first failure had occurred, the front end of the vehicle lowered as if the shocks or hydraulic system had failed. The failure had occurred 3 times within a year and a half. The contact stated that after the second failure, the entire vehicle lowered several inches, and at the third failure, only the front end of the vehicle was lowered. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the hydraulic pump and the connections from the shocks to the hydraulic pump had failed. The failure reoccurred approximately 8 months later. The vehicle was returned to the dealer who diagnosed the same failure and completed the same repairs. The failure reoccurred approximately 8 months later, and the vehicle was returned to the dealer who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer provided the contact with a loaner while attempting to have the contact trade the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000. The VIN was not available.
The engine lamp turned yellow. The car got inspected by a mechanic and showed code. P052E, which indicates the defect in the crankcase ventilation valve. I see that many cars of the same model in which were produced about the same year had the same defect. I called the manufacture customer service and they claim that my van was not included in the recall. My vehicle likely had the same problem as other people did in the past, but for some reason my vin was not included.
failed piston wrist pins from early production of mercedes w205 c300. The issue was diagnosed by mercedes of manhattan and could not provide me a fix. Stated that the issue is common with the vehicle and it does not warrant a recall for this issue. i believe its a safety issue and my vehicle only has 60K miles
P052e positive crankcase ventilation regularly valve. 2015 Mercedes Benz c300 turbo 4matic
Crankcase Ventilation Valve Problem code P052E71
Purchased vehicle in march 2024 it went thru emission inspection in 2022 after failing it passed second time . I go for inspection and it fails emission test again just passed two years later. After doing my research Positive Crankcase Ventilation System seems to be a very common problem. It also cost 2000 to fix. Appreciate you time thank you
Unknown
Pcv valve failure po52e error
Questions about the 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300 engine
Does the 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300 have engine problems?
Owners have filed 128 complaints about the engine of the 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300, 34% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300 engine problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 53,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300 engine?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
What year does the Mercedes-Benz C300 have bad engine?
The Mercedes-Benz C300 model years with the most engine complaints are 2015 (128 complaints), 2016 (95 complaints) and 2017 (79 complaints).
Other 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300 problems
Fuel system 70Body 61Electrical 50Steering 23Suspension 22Transmission 20Driver assistance 18Visibility 16Airbags 12Brakes 9Wheels 8Acceleration 5Tires 3Seat belts 2Seats 2Lights 1
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