Used Mercedes C-Class Estate 2021-present reliability

When viewing a used car, always follow our used car buying checklist.

While we don't have any reliability data for the current-generation Mercedes C-Class Estate yet, the large list of recalls (outlined below) implies you'll need to do a thorough check of the car before buying. Try all the electrical items while you poke around the interior, try the sat nav and make sure the air-con blows cold air and that there are no weird smells. During your test drive, listen out for any interior rattles; pay attention to the gearbox and that it operates smoothly and that there are no nasty knocks and bangs from the suspension over bumps. Be sure to check the car has a full service history, too.

There have been 38 recalls so far for the C-Class, which is a lot for a car of this age. Some only involve a handful of cars, but others are in the hundreds and a few are in the thousands. For instance, 9925 examples from 2022 and 2023 are involved in a recall that says the fuel pump impeller – which is responsible for pulling the fuel through to the engine – is at risk of deforming. We'd recommend contacting your local Mercedes dealer to check whether your C-Class has been affected. You won't have to pay for anything involving the recall.

While the current-generation C-Class is too new to be included in our latest What Car? Reliability Survey, the previous generation ranked 14th out of 20 executive cars, earning a score of 86.1%. That doesn't bode well for dependability of this current car, trailing behind the likes of the BMW 3 Series, Jaguar XE and Volvo S60. The extensive list of recalls for a car of its age is also a cause for concern.

As a brand, Mercedes placed a disappointing 22nd out of 31 manufacturers in the same survey, scoring 89.7% – below competitors such as Audi, BMW, and Lexus.