2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 vs 2016 Volkswagen Jetta
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 21, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 | 2016 Volkswagen Jetta |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 286 | 161 |
| Recall campaigns | 13 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 146 | 823 |
| Investigations | 2 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 7 | 18 |
| Fire reports | 5 | 5 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 28 | 27–44 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 42,000 mi | 46,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Mercedes-Benz C300 | Volkswagen Jetta |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 93 | 43 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 57 | 28 |
| Electrical System | 32 | 36 |
| Power Train | 18 | 22 |
| Structure | 26 | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 9 | 21 |
| Steering | 13 | 11 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 9 | 7 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 41 | 18 |
| Stalling | 10 | 8 |
| Rust / corrosion | 7 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 6 | 7 |
| Oil consumption | 0 | 5 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 5 |
2016 Mercedes-Benz C300
2016 Volkswagen Jetta
Compare all Mercedes-Benz C300 vs Volkswagen Jetta years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.