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Mercedes-Benz C-Class C 160 Ambition common faults.

2014–2018, saloon, petrol, 129 HP.

The fault list covers: M274DE16AL engine, MB7229, MB7250 transmission.

What you save stays on this device only. My saves

4 fault write-ups. All are important. 5 recalls.

If you know the year, pick it. Faults for other years drop out of the list.

Before you buy

Known faults

4 important faults

critical1

Faulty weld seam on the camshaft: a recall, free replacement

critical

On engines built between July and September 2015 the supplier made a mistake in the welding process, so the weld seam on the camshaft is not as it should be. According to the authority's notice the fault affects individual M270 and M274 four-cylinder petrol engines.

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On the affected cars the camshaft can break, and in doing so it damages the engine and shuts it off. The engine cannot then be restarted, the car comes to a halt, and in the words of the notice this increases the accident hazard.

As a precaution the maker prescribed replacement of the camshafts. The campaign started in November 2015, the target date for completion was the end of 2016, and the replacement is free for the owner.

At a purchase two things have to be cleared up: does the car fall into the production window, and if so, has the recall been carried out on it. The franchised dealer can answer that from the chassis number.

What to check

  • Check the production date of the engine: the examples from between July and September 2015 are affected
  • Ask whether the recall has been carried out, and ask for proof of it
  • If there is no proof, ask the franchised dealer with the chassis number: they can tell you
2 more steps in the write-up

expensive3

Panoramic roof: the glass can shatter on its own while driving

expensive

In the official complaint database the 2014 to 2018 model years account for 230 complaints, and 378 across the whole corpus.

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The characteristic course of events: the panoramic roof glass shatters while driving, with no impact, with a loud bang. Across the whole group 108 complaints use the wording "exploded / shattered into pieces", 155 say it happened while driving, 38 specifically note that nothing struck the roof, and 43 complaints mention injury or cuts from the glass.

By measurement the affected group is primarily the W205 C-Class (2015 to 2017), plus the MFA platform GLA (X156) and CLA (C117) in the 2014 to 2015 model years.

There is no rattle beforehand and no warning. The traces of a replacement show on the seal and the bonding. The replacement is not cheap, and the broken glass falls into the cabin.

The complaint database is American, and the panoramic roof is more common there as an option. The phenomenon itself does not depend on the market.

between 48,000 and 161,000 kmreported complaints only

What to check

  • Ask whether the panoramic roof glass has already been replaced: the traces show on the seal and the bonding
  • Look at the edge of the roof from outside and inside: cracks, chips, signs of earlier repair
  • Ask for the service history and any trace of an insurance claim (glass damage)
2 more steps in the write-up

M274 2.0 turbo: crankcase ventilation (PCV) control valve failure

expensive

On the 2.0 turbo four cylinder (M274, and the transverse M270) the control valve of the crankcase ventilation system fails early. The official database holds 259 reports on it, almost exclusively on the 2015 to 2019 C 300 and GLC 300 versions.

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The symptom: the engine warning light comes on, and diagnostics returns a fault code complaining about crankcase ventilation valve performance. Alongside it you get a fluctuating idle, a whistling or sucking noise from the engine bay, and sometimes harder starting.

The valve is part of the intake system, and if it sticks open or closed the engine either draws false air or the pressure in the crankcase rises. The latter pushes the crankshaft seals out, and from then on you have an oil leak. The valve itself is a cheap part, but getting to it is not always cheap.

On the same engine generation the complaints also include 27 reports of a cracked piston (weighted to the C 300 in 2015 and 2017). That is much rarer. If the engine burns oil or knocks, do not think only of the ventilation valve.

The official data is American, and the 2.0 petrol is far more common there than in Europe.

between 64,000 and 145,000 kmreported complaints only

What to check

  • Ask for a fault code read and look for the code on crankcase ventilation valve performance: that is the characteristic entry
  • Listen to the engine bay at idle: a whistling, sucking noise points to a torn valve diaphragm
  • Look around the valve cover and the crankshaft seals for oil leaks: the consequence of raised crankcase pressure
2 more steps in the write-up

7G-Tronic (722.9): mechatronics and conductor plate

expensive

In the Mercedes 7 speed 722.9 automatic (7G-Tronic / 7G-Tronic Plus) the mechatronics unit and the conductor plate (Leiterplatte) age over time: jerking on shifts, delayed engagement, a "Getriebe schützen" message, and fault codes on the gearbox electronics.

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The repair is typically replacing the mechatronics unit or the conductor plate together with an oil change: not the whole gearbox. The complaint is most common on the longitudinal platforms from around 2005 to 2015 (C/E/ML and the early GLC).

The 9G-Tronic (725.0) is a different design; this applies only to the 7G.

between 100,000 and 220,000 km

What to check

  • Try it cold and warm: a delayed 1 to 2 or 2 to 3 shift is suspect
  • Watch for the gearbox warning or the "Getriebe schützen" message on the dash
  • Ask for a fault code read on the gearbox controller (not just the engine codes)
1 more steps in the write-up

Checklist

Mercedes-Benz C-Class C 160 Ambition

First what you would check on any car. Then the faults of this model.

Before you buy

Checklist

The printed sheet starts with what you would check on any car. What you tick stays on this device only.

On every car

Ask the owner

Faults of this model

vinkodex.com · Before you buy it, see what can go wrong.

Official recall5 recallsShow

The manufacturer fixes these for free at a franchised dealer. Ask with the VIN whether it was done.

Most recent: 1 September 2017

A12/1352/17Safety recallFire1 September 2017 · EU Safety Gate

The starter current limiter may be overloaded and overheat. As a consequence, the surrounding components could ignite, leading to a fire.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: 01/09/2017

The authority's notice

A12/00323/21Safety recallFireno date · EU Safety Gate

The maximum permissible operating temperature of individual diodes on the alternator rectifier bridge could be exceeded and the diodes could subsequently fail. Consequently, an improper flow of current from the on-board electrical system battery through the alternator to the vehicle earth could occur. As a result, the windings in the alternator stator could be heated to such an extent that an outbreak of fire cannot be ruled out.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/0164/19Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

There may be cracks in a securing nut in the steering gear of rear-wheel-drive vehicles. The nut could consequently break if the steering system is subject to a very high lateral force, which could result in rotating parts in the steering gear affecting the casing and thereby blocking the steering system.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/0296/19Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

In vehicles with rear-wheel drive, a lock nut in the steering gear may be cracked. Consequently, when the steering is placed under high forces it could break, which would block the steering gear and increase the risk of accident.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/0561/17Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The steering coupling might not have been screwed to the correct torque specification. As a consequence, the steering coupling can become detached from the steering wheel axle and it would become impossible to steer the vehicle.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

Engine and transmission

1 engines · 2 transmissions

M274DE16AL

115 kW (156 HP) · petrol

MB7229 · 7G-Tronic / 7G-Tronic Plus, longitudinal (Mercedes 722.9 / NAG2)

automatic · 7 speed

Torque limit700 Nm
MakerMercedes-Benz

We built the code from the model and the gear count. The factory sheet does not state it. More than one transmission is possible. 7 gears = MB7229, 9 gears = MB7250.

Variant data

What is in this version

Factory data

Trim
C 160 Ambition
Body
saloon
Fuel
petrol
Transmission
automatic
Engine size
1595 cc
Power
95 kW (129 HP)
Drive
RWD
Production
2014–2018

Factory service interval

The manufacturer specifies this for this version. Of the mileage and the time, the one that comes first is the one that counts.

  • Air filter

    • 60,000 km or 4 years

  • Cabin (pollen) filter

    • 30,000 km or 2 years

  • Brake fluid change

    • first: 3 years, then 2 years(first change at 3 years, then every two years)

  • Spark plugs, petrol

    • 60,000 km or 6 years
All W205 versions

Information, not an expert opinion

We write the descriptions, and we put the source next to them. A person reviews them before they go out. They are still information, not a technical expert opinion.

  • A fault on the list does not mean the car you are looking at has it.
  • A fault missing from the list does not mean the model is fault-free. Write-ups are made model by model. Not all of them are done.
  • You decide whether to buy. This is no substitute for an inspection. That needs a workshop and a history check.
Details in the terms