Mercedes-Benz C-Class Safety Ratings
NHTSA gives the 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with 4 stars in the frontal crash test and 4 stars for rollover resistance.
Latest model year (2027):
NHTSA rates the Mercedes-Benz C-Class at 5 ★ overall, 4 ★ frontal crash, 5 ★ side crash and 4 ★ rollover.
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Safety — All Years
| Year | Variant | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021Config 1 of 2 | 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4 DR RWD | 5 ★ | 4 ★ | 5 ★ | 4 ★ | 7 | 14 |
| 2021Config 2 of 2 | 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4 DR 4WD | 5 ★ | 4 ★ | 5 ★ | 4 ★ | 7 | 14 |
| 2018 | 2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4 DR RWD | 5 ★ | 4 ★ | 5 ★ | 4 ★ | 19 | 127 |
| 2017 | 2017 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4 DR 4WD | 5 ★ | 4 ★ | 5 ★ | 4 ★ | 17 | 252 |
Crash-test star ratings sourced from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Ratings apply to the tested body style and can differ between trims and drivetrain layouts.
Mercedes-Benz C-Class data analysis
How Mercedes-Benz C-Class NHTSA rollover risk varies
Across 4 configurations recorded for the 2017 through 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, NHTSA rollover risk runs from 0.1% to 0.1%. The strongest figure belongs to the 2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class (2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4 DR RWD) at 0.1%, and the weakest to the 2021 car (2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4 DR 4WD) at 0.1% — a spread of 1%. The narrow spread means any year of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class in this table behaves much like the others, so you can shop on price, condition and mileage rather than chasing a particular model year.
What changed for 2021
Average NHTSA rollover risk for the 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class is 0.1%, against 0.1% for the 2018 car — it held flat. A carry-over year like this usually means no powertrain or structural change, so an older example is the cheaper way into the same specification.
How to read this Mercedes-Benz C-Class data
This page lists every 2017 through 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class record we hold for this measurement — 4 rows in total, one per configuration and model year rather than a single headline figure. Figures are published as the source agency records them: we do not round, average or interpolate missing years, and a year that is absent from the table is a year with no published measurement rather than a zero. Where a manufacturer offered several drivetrains or body styles in the same year, each appears on its own row, because those variants rarely share the same numbers.
Where these Mercedes-Benz C-Class figures come from
Every value on this page is loaded from federal open data — EPA fuel economy submissions, NHTSA vehicle and crash-test records, and manufacturer specification filings — rather than dealer listings or copied editorial content. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class record refreshes as the agencies publish, which typically means new model-year rows appear in the autumn and crash-test results follow through the model year as vehicles are tested. Because certification data is filed per configuration, treat any single headline number for this vehicle with caution: the figure that applies to a specific car depends on its engine, drivetrain, body style and model year, all of which are listed separately above. If a number here disagrees with a brochure, the brochure is usually quoting the best available configuration rather than the one being sold.
How the 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class scored
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program rates the 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class at 5 stars overall, 4 stars in the frontal barrier test, 5 stars for side impact, 4 stars for rollover resistance. Its calculated rollover risk is 0.1% — the probability the agency's model assigns to a rollover in a single-vehicle crash. Stars are awarded against the test protocol in force for that model year and are not comparable across a protocol change, so read a year's rating against other vehicles of the same year rather than against an older or newer version of the same car.
Recalls and owner complaints
The 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class carries 7 open or completed safety recalls, 14 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 0 agency investigations. Recall counts are not a quality score on their own — a manufacturer that reports and fixes a defect early generates a recall, while one that does not may simply accumulate complaints instead. Check any specific car's VIN against the recall database before purchase: recalls are repaired free of charge regardless of ownership history, but only if the work has actually been carried out.
Driver-assistance equipment and how to read this record
NHTSA records the 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class as offering electronic stability control. Availability means the system was fitted or offered on the model year, not that every individual car has it — options and trim levels vary. This page covers 4 tested configurations across 2017–2021, one row per body style and model year the agency has published. Where a field is blank the vehicle was not tested for that measure rather than scoring zero, and configurations are never merged, because a front-wheel-drive and an all-wheel-drive version of the same nameplate are separate tests.
Frequently Asked Questions About C-Class Safety
Is the Mercedes-Benz C-Class a safe car?
NHTSA gives the Mercedes-Benz C-Class an overall crash rating of 5 out of 5 stars, including 4 stars in the frontal crash test and 5 stars in the side crash test. Ratings are per body style and model year — check the table above for yours.
What is the rollover rating of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class scores 4 out of 5 stars for rollover resistance, with a calculated rollover risk of about 11.1%. Taller vehicles typically score lower here than sedans.
Does the Mercedes-Benz C-Class have driver assistance features?
NHTSA records the tested Mercedes-Benz C-Class as having electronic stability control, without forward collision warning and without lane departure warning. Availability varies by trim and package.
Safety for other Mercedes-Benz models
Safety on other brands
- Acura MDX Safety
- Audi S4 Safety
- BMW X3 Safety
- Buick LaCrosse Safety
- Cadillac XTS Safety
- Chevrolet Malibu Safety
- Chrysler 200 Safety
- Dodge Durango Safety
- Ford Flex Safety
- GMC Canyon Safety
- Honda Pilot Safety
- Hyundai Ioniq 5 Safety
- Infiniti Q50 Safety
- Jeep Cherokee Safety
- Kia Telluride Safety
- Lincoln MKX Safety
- Mazda MX-30 Safety
- Mitsubishi Outlander Safety
- Nissan Altima Safety
- Ram 1500 Safety
- Subaru Ascent Safety
- Tesla Model S Safety
- Toyota C-HR Safety
- Volkswagen Beetle Safety
Compare across every brand
All Mercedes-Benz C-Class specifications
More Mercedes-Benz models
- Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
- Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class
- Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
- Mercedes-Benz E-Class
- Mercedes-Benz EQB
- Mercedes-Benz EQE
- Mercedes-Benz EQS
- Mercedes-Benz G-Class
- Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
- Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class
- Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class
- Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class
- Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class
- Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
- Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class