2022-2023 Mercedes-Benz C 300 Fuses and Circuit Breakers Recall (24V446)

Recall 24V446 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2022-2023 Mercedes-Benz C 300 in recall 24V446?

The bolt securing the electrical wire to the pre-fuse box could be improperly tightened, causing the wire to overheat.

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2022-2023 C 300 vehicles. The bolt securing the electrical wire to the pre-fuse box could be improperly tightened, causing the wire to overheat. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024070005.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Is it safe to drive a 2022-2023 C 300 with recall 24V446?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An overheated wire can cause a fire and a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: An overheated wire can cause a fire and a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the fuses and circuit breakers.

Which vehicles are included in recall 24V446?

Recall 24V446 covers 1,058 vehicles: 2022-2023 Mercedes-Benz C 300.

NHTSA lists 1,058 vehicles in this campaign, built June 24, 2021 to August 20, 2022. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the C 300 fuses and circuit breakers recall?

Yes. Dealers will inspect and rework the wiring harness, as necessary free of charge.

Dealers will inspect and rework the wiring harness, as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 2, 2024. Owner may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.

Manufacturer recall number: 2024070005.

When was recall 24V446 announced?

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC reported recall 24V446 to NHTSA on June 14, 2024. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as August 2, 2024.

This recall was filed 27 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 422 days. If your C 300 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my C 300 is part of recall 24V446?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 24V446 is open on your C 300, it will be listed there.

Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 24V446000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.

What should C 300 owners do about recall 24V446?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 24V446000 applies to your C 300.
2. Book the recall appointment with any authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
3. Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
4. Keep a simple log of any fuses and circuit breakers symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.

What are C 300 owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 47 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 12 of them about the electrical system.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the electrical system have been filed since recall 24V446 was reported (1) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 47 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 12 of them involve the electrical system. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.

• 2022 Mercedes-Benz C 300: 25 complaints in total, 7 about the electrical system
• 2023 Mercedes-Benz C 300: 22 complaints in total, 5 about the electrical system

A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):

There have been two complete failures of the control module /screen in the center dash of the vehicle which operates all vehicle features and some key safety features. The screen simply ceases operation and shuts down all controls for the vehicle.

2022 Mercedes-Benz C 300 owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11478169, filed August 8, 2022

The contact owns a 2022 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V678000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue.

2022 Mercedes-Benz C 300 owner, GA, NHTSA complaint 11489659, filed October 17, 2022

The contact owns a 2022 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V678000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount time for the recall repair.

2022 Mercedes-Benz C 300 owner, GA, NHTSA complaint 11491821, filed November 1, 2022

Can recall 24V446 make my C 300 a lemon in California?

Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.

Recall 24V446000 does not automatically make your C 300 a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?

Intermittent electrical problems are a frequent source of repeat repair visits: the dealer cannot reproduce the fault, the owner brings the 2022-2023 Mercedes-Benz C 300 back, and the problem shows up again.

This is not the first recall for this problem. When a manufacturer has to recall the same fuses and circuit breakers again, that suggests the earlier fix did not work. If your 2022-2023 Mercedes-Benz C 300 has had this repair more than once, keep every repair order.

Earlier campaigns on these vehicles involving the same component: 24V115000.

Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.

An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.

Frequently asked questions about recall 24V446