2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
Strong fuel smell in cabin Can maybe cause a fire
IT'S RIDICULOUS I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF NOVI, MI) YESTERDAY 2016 MERCEDES C300 4MATIC FOR EXTENDED WARRANTY ON LOW PRESSURE FUEL HOSE AS THE CAR CABIN SMELLS LIKE GAS FUMES TO THE POINT WHERE IT GOT ME DIZZY AND NAUSEOUS AND THREW ME IN BED FOR A DAY. WHEN I ARRIVED THERE I WAS TOLD YEAH THIS IS COMMON ON THESE CARS AND WARRANTY WILL TAKE CARE OF IT. GOT A CALL LATER SAYING IT WILL NOT BE COVERED AS THE 10 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY SURPASSED MY CAR AS MY CAR PRODUCTION DATE IS 09/15, I WAS LIKE PLEASE ITS ONLY A COUPLE MONTH AFTER AND ITS A FIRE HAZARDOUS AND HEALTH MATTER THEY WERE LIKE NO, NOW MY CAR IS THERE AND I HAVE TO PAY THEM $850 TO CHANGE AN ISSUE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TAKEN CARE FROM THE BEGINNING FROM THE MANUFACTURER.
An independent service center diagnosed my car as having a fuel leak stemming from the fuel rail and fuel injectors. This is a fire hazard due to a gas leak. There is a gas smell in the interior cabin that I noticed approximately one month ago. I believe this pertains to NHTSA ID #21V961, and I would like NHTSA to consider including my VIN in this recall.
Smells like gas strong
During cold weather there is always a gasoline smell when starting the engine that eventually goes away. On 01/20/2025 the smell was so intense that I decided to stop the engine and leave the car outside the garage just in case. Upon opening the hood, I noticed an amount of a type of liquid similar to gasoline right on the undercarriage protector covers. I could not reach with my hands but instead I used a wood stick that I had in the garage. I reached the liquid and submerged the stick for like 10 seconds and pulled it out. When I smelled it, it indeed smelled like gasoline. I took the stick to the back patio and lighted it up and as I suspected, the tip of the stick lighted up like a torch. I called a nearby mechanic and made an appointment to check it out and today (01/23/2025) I am bringing it in. I went to Youtube and found numerous videos showing this "well known issue" with some of the fuel lines in this type of vehicle which I believe is a tremendous hazard. Just imagine that when I turned the engine up on 01/20/25 the engine could had gone up in flames burning not only the vehicle, but my entire house with maybe my family inside? Please take serious note on this issue and try to come up with a mandatory solution for the problem. I will let you guys know the findings from the Mercedes mechanic once the job if completed in case you need more information. Thanks
Smells like gas and my auto group gave me a recall campaign bulletin showing recall for my make model and year (Mercedes c300 2016), but my VIN doesn’t show it as being covered by that recall.
There is a gas smell pervasive in the driving compartment of the car. My mechanic identified a recall campaign for almost every other 2016 C 300 class vehicle. For some reason, my “platform quote number is not listed, but the problem is exactly the same as described in campaign description number. 21P2197456 released on December 17, 2021.
There is a fuel leak in the engine area and as well.as.undermeath the vehicle and Mercedes only covers a extended warranty which is not fully fixing the issues gas is a dangerous thing and I would.wjy haven't there been a recall on this know.issue with these w205 Mercedes
Vent valve failed and needs repair. I could smell gasoline from my car weeks up to the check engine light going off. These leaking fumes are a hazard to the population and environment. This problem is quite common on Mercedes forums such as MBWorld. This car was diagnosed at an official Mercedes Benz dealership (New London, CT). The check engine light came on weeks after symptoms started to appear (on and off).
Mercedes Benz Selma, Texas Dearlership refuses to service known issue with fuel system leaks on C300 because they cannot reproduce problem. Problem is that don't have the correct environment to test for this know problem. “There is a short rubber fuel line/hose in the engine compartment that is attached with compression clamps; the hose connects the fuel line from the gas tank to the high pressure fuel pump. When it gets cold outside (below ~40 degrees Fahrenheit) the clamps loosen a bit and the hose will leak gas. This is what you will smell in the cabin. Once it gets warmer outside or the engine bay warms up, the smell will tend to go away. No clue how they've gone all this time without a safety recall, but I did make a report to the NHTSB last month when it started happening to me.” The fix is to have the rubber line w/clamps replaced. If you still have warranty the dealer can take care of it. (Provided they are configured to test for this defect properly which they are not. Bottom line, fuel leaks in garages like mine with a gas water heater are a BIG issue. I alerted the dealership that they and MB would be liable if something were to happen since they refused to repair vehicle.
This auto has approximately 45,000 miles on it and was found to have a fuel leakage issue on a high pressure pump and a fuel hose. Gas smell was very bad and upon inspection, gas was leaking at the hose / pump connection directly onto the engine. I had the defect repaired for a total of $1288.57 and tried to submit the claim to Mercedes. I found out that this issue has been a problem for Mercedes and they have published an extended warranty rather than issue a recall. Mercedes has now declined the complaint and because this seems to be a major issue I wanted to press this with your agency. Please let me know if you would like any additional documentation regarding this matter. Thank you - [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
It is such a common issue reported by many 2016 c300 owner who experienced error code p052e bad Pve valve. My car only has 40,000 miles. I think the manufacture should be responsible for a recall. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Fuel smell in cab of car. Strong smell. Took it to dealer and they said they were damp with fuel
When i would turn the car to warm up, it has a hefty gasoline smell. Ive seen a lot of people online talk about the same issue. It seems there is a leak somewhere and it is definitely not safe. Especially when i turn on the heat, it just blows the gasoline into my face. This cant be safe and should definitely be fixed
Strong smell of gasoline on a daily basis for 3 months. Took vehicle to mechanic's and was informed that the fuel lines were leaking. Was shown the cracked lines.
2016 MERCEDES BENZ C300. When I start the car , you smell gas inside and outside of the car. Also the fumes come the vent when the heat is turned on. I have approximately 69,700 miles on my car
There is a strong fuel smells in the interior of my vehicle during a cold start of the vehicle, this is a 2016 Mercedes Benz C300, i called the Mercedes Benz customer service at 800-367-6372 and i was told my vehicle didn't qualify for a free repair. Thank you. Manuel
Car smells like gasoline especially when the s/c or heater is in use.
Car cabin continuously smells like gas after several repairs to the AC. AC was repaired because of mold issue a few months back, however, issues with the AC is always a problem with this car and model.
Horrible fuel smell coming through Air conditioning vents on cold start up. This presents a safety hazard as there is an obvious fuel leak on a still late model vehicle with no safety recall in sight.
Fuel leak from fuel lines from high pressure fuel pump. This is a common problem for C300s from 2015 to 2019, especially in cold weather. Fumes in cabin and fire risk in engine compartment.
My vehicle: (1) smells of gasoline through the vents. The smell of gasoline is SO STRONG that I have had to pull over and get out of the vehicle. My car has 104,000 miles on it. Not a lot of miles for a 2016. There are NO warning lights on indicating a problem with the vehicle. (2) The silver trim/coating that covers the window buttons and around the entire dashboard has bubbled overnight and is flaking off. It constantly cuts fingers and arms. (3) Approximately 5 months ago the headliner in the car started buckling.
With cold weather most w205 Mercedes, and specifically the one I have which is a C300 2016 starts having a strong Gas smell when I start the car at cold, and with the cold weather, the smell is getting stronger. There is already a class action going on in a different state concerning that issue, and it is probably a major and safety concern issue in those cars as a hose is a leaking fuel whenever the weather is cold. I ried with the dealership and they said no recall or anything for that issue yet.
THE VEHICLE HAS A STRONG GAS SMELL WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IDLING. DEALER CHANGED THE 2 FUEL LINES AND CLAMPS. IT'S COMMON PROBLEM IN W205 C300 CARS. THE CAR WAS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THE CAR HAS 29K MILES. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THESE FUEL HOSES. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION INVESTIGATION: HTTPS://WWW.SAUDERSCHELKOPF.COM/INVESTIGATIONS/AUTOMOTIVE/MERCEDES-C300-AND-GLA250-FUEL-SMELL-CLASS-ACTION-INVESTIGATION/ YOU CAN SEE MULTIPLE PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME FUEL LINES; - HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/LQZZMGFDQ3O - HTTPS://MBWORLD.ORG/FORUMS/C-CLASS-W205/737303-DEALER-SAYS-FUEL-SMELL-LEAK-W205-2015-C300-BASE.HTML
THERE IS A RAW FUEL SMELL INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE CAR WHEN DRIVING. I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THERE IS A LAWSUIT AGAINST MERCEDES-BENZ FOR FAULTY FUEL LINES THAT THEY ARE REFUSING TO REPAIR. I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE FUEL LINES AS COUNTLESS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE WHERE THE RUBBER HOSES ARE FAILING PREMATURELY. I HAVE A 2016 C300 WITH ONLY 37,100 MILES ON IT THAT IS KEPT UP ON AND THE DEALERSHIP IS SAYING THAT THE FUEL LINES ARE TYPICAL WEAR ITEMS AND THAT THE CPO WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THE REPAIR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE AND LEAKING FUEL INTO THE ENVIRONMENT AND FUEL LINES SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED ALREADY.
Trend Over Time
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Quick Summary
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class has 36 FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.