Used Mercedes C-Class (Mk4, 2014-2021) - What should you look for?
The Mk4 Mercedes C-Class has had its fair share of issues, with owners often reporting reliability problems
In its final year being featured as a car available to buy new, the Mercedes C-Class Mk4 wasn’t exactly a standard-setter in our 2021 Driver Power survey. The C-Class was ranked 71st out of 75 cars, and owners said they weren’t impressed with the build quality or reliability. Keep a look out for the issues below when you’re looking around used examples.
Common used Mercedes-Class Mk4 problems
Brakes
The brakes on the Mercedes C-Class Mk4 can squeal, in particular the ones on the front wheels, and this can be difficult to rectify.
Wind noise
Poorly fitting doors and seals can result in an excessive amount of wind noise entering the cabin.
Audio
Many Mercedes C-Class Mk4 owners say the standard-fit stereo isn’t punchy enough. Even the upgraded sound system has suffered from this issue.
Trim
The artificial leather MB-Tex seat upholstery can discolour and appear stained.
Recalls
The Mercedes C-Class Mk4 has suffered 20 recalls to date, covering a variety of faults and defects. These include a leaking AdBlue filler pipe on diesel models, loss of power assistance for the steering, oil and fuel leaks and the engines running the risk of stalling. Other issues the fourth-gen Mercedes C-Class has been recalled for include seatbelts failing to function properly and airbags failing to go off in the event of an accident, and a loss of control when driving due to the steering column working free.