While driving home from work, without any warning or blunt force the sunroof exploded and shattered glass was everywhere
2017 Mercedes-Benz C300 body problems
24 complaints (11% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 40,000. 2 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 24
- of this car's complaints
- 11%
- typical mileage
- 40,000
- crashes
- 2
- recalls
- 3
Which part fails
- Body18
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 body problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2017 Mercedes-Benz C300 body
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
Structure: body: roof and pillars
- What is wrong
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2014-2020 C-Class, CLA, GLA, S-Class, GLC, and GLE vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle details. The front roof panel located between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof may not have been bonded correctly to the vehicle during a prior repair, allowing the front panel to detach from the vehicle.
- Risk
- A detached roof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the front panel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 2, 2024. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on, March 22,2024, and August 2, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1‑800‑367‑6372. This recall is an expansion of the federal safety agency recall number 21V‑197.
Recall number 23V854000 · Recall details
Structure: body: roof and pillars
- What is wrong
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2020 C300 Coupe, C43 Coupe AMG, C43 AMG, 2015-2020 C300, GLA250, 2016-2018 C350e, CLA45 Coupe AMG, 2015 C400, S65 AMG, 2015-2019 C63 AMG, 2016 C450, 2015-2016 GLA45 AMG, S600, 2016-2020 GLC300, 2017-2019 GLC43 AMG, GLE43 Coupe AMG, 2014-2019 CLA250 Coupe, 2014-2015 CLA45 AMG, 2018 GLC63 AMG, 2014-2017 S550, 2018-2020 S450, 2016-2019 GLE63 Coupe AMG, 2016 GLE450 Coupe, 2014-2020 S63 AMG, 2018-2019 S560, and 2019 GLC350e vehicles equipped with a panoramic sunroof. The front roof panel located between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof may not have been bonded correctly to the vehicle during a prior repair.
- Risk
- The adhesive bonding of the front panel might deteriorate, possibly causing the front panel to detach from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Mercedes-Benz dealer will remove the bonded panel and will install a new front panel by following the detailed repair instructions and using the approved primer, cleaner and adhesive, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021 and October 26, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1‑800‑367‑6372.
Recall number 21V197000 · Recall details
Structure: body
- What is wrong
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Mercedes C300 Cabriolet, C300 4Matic Cabriolet, C43 AMG Cabriolet, C63S AMG Cabriolet, and C63 AMG Cabriolet vehicles. Due to a bonding issue introduced in the production process, the rear beltline trim may separate from the vehicle.
- Risk
- If the beltline trim were to separate from the vehicle while driving, it could become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear beltline trim and replace the trim if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on September 21, 2018. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1‑800‑367‑6372.
Recall number 18V456000 · Recall details
Related investigations
Front Roof Panel Detachment
On January 8, 2021, after ongoing review with Mercedes Benz, the federal safety agency Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE21-001 to assess allegations of front roof panel detachments while driving at highway speeds in certain 2015 Mercedes-Benz (Mercedes) C-Class vehicles.The subject front roof panel is a stationary panel composed of polycarbonate and is attached to the vehicle via adhesive at the time of manufacture. The panel is found on subject vehicles equipped with panoramic sunroofs. Over time, the subject panels may exhibit cosmetic degradation leading to replacement of the panel, a procedure which entails: removal of the old panel and adhesive, site preparation, and installation of a replacement panel with new adhesive.The consumer complaints that prompted the opening of PE21-001 all described detachments of front roof panels that had been replaced after the vehicle was put into service.Mercedes' internal investigation identified a broader scope of affected vehicles (2014-2020 CLA, GLA, C, S, GLC, and GLE class) and found the following potential service procedure- related causes of front roof panel detachments:- Improper surface pretreatments such as the use of the wrong primer or cleaner or scoring of the surface; or - Use of the incorrect adhesive.These conditions lead to a front roof panel bond that, even if sound at the time of repair, cannot maintain its strength over time and environmental exposure.Mercedes updated its service and parts ordering systems to reinforce the proper use of specified kits and procedures via webinars, shop foreman meetings, and explicit reference to the risks incurred by diverging from the repair procedures. Mercedes is also furnishing parts ordering assistance, and will hold dealerships accountable for improper repairs.ODI's analysis of the ten complaints it has received from the public (VOQ's) and MBUSA's complaint data submitted in response to the information request letter for PE21-001 identified a total of 57 non-duplicative reports alleging incidents in which the front roof panel detached from the vehicle while in motion. Included within the 57 reports are incidents where consumers state the panel detached ...and flew off into traffic.On March 19, 2021, Mercedes notified the federal safety agency that it would recall subject vehicles with front roof panels known to have been replaced after the original sale of the vehicle. In total, the recall (designated as Recall 21V197) covers 15,099 vehicles that were ever registered in the United States. Based on Recall 21V197 and the remedy implemented by Mercedes, further investigation does not appear to be warranted at this time.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The ODI complaints cited above can be viewed at under the following ODI identification numbers: 11376425, 11352686, 11351629, 11349158, 11341541, 11337594, 11324100, 11311591, 11222127, 11404183
PE21001
What 2017 Mercedes-Benz C300 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH on the highway, the contact heard a popping sound coming from an unknown part of the vehicle. The contact pulled over to the side of the road, exited the vehicle, and became aware that the roof panel had shuddered. The contact stated there was no glass in the vehicle. No injuries were sustained. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on two occasions. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or the dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer by the previous owner to be repaired under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V197000 (STRUCTURE); however, the recall repair failed to prevent the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall related to the failure. The manufacturer offered the contact a trade for the vehicle. The failure mileage was 105,000.
I am reporting a serious vehicle safety hazard caused by improper and unsafe repair work performed by USA Platinum Motor, located at 1221 California Lane #126B, Arlington, TX. I brought my 2017 Mercedes-Benz C300 in for a cold start rattle with no warning lights or prior issues. The shop diagnosed a loose timing chain and I authorized the repair. After the repairs, the vehicle was returned with critical safety defects, including a loose fuel pump, unsecured fuel line, missing bolts, and improperly reassembled engine components. Shortly after pickup, the car experienced loss of acceleration on the interstate, a strong odor of fuel, and a sudden loss of power, creating a dangerous and life-threatening situation. The vehicle had to be towed back to the shop. The manager, who is not a certified mechanic, admitted he personally “fixed” the issue by tightening the fuel pump himself. A Mercedes-Benz diagnostic inspection later confirmed multiple severe assembly errors, including missing fasteners, unsecured oil cooler, disconnected vent lines, and other safety-related defects in the fuel and cooling systems. These unsafe and negligent repairs created an extreme fire hazard, engine instability, and risk of sudden failure while driving. I am requesting a formal the federal safety agency investigation into this matter to ensure vehicle safety compliance and to prevent similar incidents affecting other consumers.
This is the same as recall for the federal safety agency ID: 21V‑197. The panel flew off my 2017 Mercedes C300 W205. My vin number is not included in the recall. This is a safety issue and will need to be replaced.
Sunroof detachment Sunroof fell off while driving
The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the contact became aware that an unknown part had detached from the vehicle. The contact stated that after stopping to refuel the vehicle, it was discovered that the roof panel was missing. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V854000 (Structure); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 129,000.
The sunroof exploded spontaneously while driving to a destination. When the incident happened, I was stopped at a red light. I panicked as it sounded like gunshots hitting my car. I pulled over to the nearest safest destination to inspect the car. This put the safety of myself at risk and others at risk who were driving along the sides and/or behind me. This incident was confirmed by a dealer, as I went to Mercedes Benz Sugar Land on the following day of the incident and was quoted around $3,700 to have it repaired. The vehicle not been inspected by police and/or insurance. There were no warning signs that this could have happened besides the fact that Mercedes Benz USA is currently under an active lawsuit for this happening to several other drivers. I do believe that this is a manufacturing defect affecting safety, as similar incidents involving Mercedes-Benz panoramic sunroofs, which may indicate a wider defect trend.
When i scan my vehicle there are Mercedes Benz fault codes pertaining to the electrical system but also recalls that haven’t been done but when looking Mercedes Benz web site and the federal safety agency WEBSITE these are aren’t showing up as my particular chassis being included as part of the campaign
My gas door has fell off 3 times exposing my gas cap. I got it replaced twice. It fell off on the highway and the other times I was just doing gas and it fell off into my hand. No excessive force. I didn’t want to pay again to repair it so I just taped it.
I currently have a 2017 Mercedes C300. The panel between the windshield and main panel of the panoramic roof (above the driver) is deteriorating and doesn’t not seem to be fully attached anymore. I had the exact same model but a year older in the past and this same part deteriorated and was subject to recall. I believe there is not only an issue with the part itself, but how Mercedes has bonded these parts to the roof.
Questions about the 2017 Mercedes-Benz C300 body
Does the 2017 Mercedes-Benz C300 have body problems?
Owners have filed 24 complaints about the body of the 2017 Mercedes-Benz C300, 11% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2017 Mercedes-Benz C300 body problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 40,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2017 Mercedes-Benz C300 body?
Yes, 3 recalls: 23V854000, 21V197000, 18V456000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Mercedes-Benz C300 have the most body problems?
The Mercedes-Benz C300 model years with the most body complaints are 2015 (61 complaints), 2013 (58 complaints) and 2012 (55 complaints).
Other 2017 Mercedes-Benz C300 problems
Engine 79Fuel system 33Electrical 31Seat belts 21Airbags 15Steering 13Transmission 12Visibility 9Driver assistance 4Acceleration 2Brakes 2Suspension 2Tires 2
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