The Lemon Index
Transmission complaints owners filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) for each model year, per 100,000 cars sold. A complaint counts when it's filed under the transmission, or under the power train and the owner describes the transmission (shifting, slipping, gears, CVT). It's an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and older years have had longer to collect complaints.
What owners describe
Share of this model's transmission complaints that mention each symptom. One complaint can mention several.
In owners' words
Vehicle would not shift out of first gear. Rpms were at shift level, then engine shut down. Restarted and revved engine, loud wailing sound. Car was towed to mercedes benz, they said transmission pump bad as well as transmission, needs replacing.
2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class owner · NHTSA complaint
My car went into limp mode going down the street, had to have her towed to starmotors, the code came up as internal speed sensor and transmission control module, it is known to mbusa about this problem and they need to fix it and not cost out of my pocket
2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class owner · NHTSA complaint
Quick answers
Which Mercedes-Benz C-Class years have transmission problems?
By transmission complaints filed with NHTSA per car sold, the worst Mercedes-Benz C-Class years are 2007, 2006, 2005.
What are common Mercedes-Benz C-Class transmission problems?
Owners most often describe hard or jerky shifting, lost power while driving, stuck in gear or limp mode.
Which Mercedes-Benz C-Class years have the fewest transmission complaints?
Since 2010, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class years with the fewest transmission complaints per car sold are 2013, 2018, 2015.
See every problem, not just the transmission: Mercedes-Benz C-Class reliability by year. How we count