48V belt starter-generator
usually 60,000–160,000 km · Medium risk
Signs: Start-stop faults, 48V warning
Fix: Replace RSG unit
€700–1,500
Common faults, service intervals and costs
Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W206)
2021–now
2
engines covered
3
known faults
6,655
roadworthiness tests in the statistics
48
official recalls
Enter your VIN and mileage and get a plan built for your exact engine and gearbox.
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W206) has been built since 2021.
For this generation we cover 2 engines and 3 known faults, each with the mileage range where it usually appears.
The most expensive known risk is 48V belt starter-generator: it usually appears at 60,000–160,000 km and costs €700–1,500 to fix.
In UK roadworthiness tests in 2024, at 0–50 thousand km this model most often failed on: tyres and wheels (8.3 %), lights, wipers and visibility (2.7 %), brakes (0.3 %). It fails more often than an average car of the same age and mileage on: tyres and wheels. It fails less often than average on: lights, wipers and visibility.
Engines
| Engine | Fuel | Timing drive | Oil |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 / 2.0 petrol (Mercedes M260 / M264) | Petrol | Chain | 0W-20 / 5W-30 · MB 229.71 / 229.5 · ~6.5 L · every 15,000 km |
| 2.0 d (Mercedes OM654) | Diesel | Chain | 0W-20 / 5W-30 · MB 229.52 / 229.71 · ~6.5 L · every 15,000 km |
Faults by engine
1.5 / 2.0 petrol (Mercedes M260 / M264)
2.0 d (Mercedes OM654)
AdBlue / SCR faults
usually 100,000–180,000 km · Medium risk
Signs: AdBlue warning
Fix: Replace NOx sensor or doser
€300–1,000
Gearboxes
5G / 7G / 9G-Tronic
Conductor plate / speed sensor (5G / 7G-Tronic)
usually 100,000–220,000 km · Medium risk
Signs: Stuck in gear, limp mode, harsh shifts
Fix: Replace the conductor plate; fluid every 60–100,000 km
€500–1,500
Scheduled service
Intervals and typical prices for the 1.5 / 2.0 petrol (Mercedes M260 / M264) engine. Other engines differ in oil, timing drive and some filters; the app gives the exact plan.
| Item | Interval | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil + oil filterEngine | every 15,000 km or every 12 months | €70–150 |
| Cabin (pollen) filterClimate | every 15,000 km or every 12 months | €15–40 |
| Brake fluidBrakes | every 24 months | €50–95 |
| A/C service (regas + desiccant)Climate | every 24 months | €70–150 |
| Air filterEngine | every 30,000 km or every 24 months | €15–45 |
| Spark plugsIgnition | every 60,000 km or every 48 months | €50–160 |
| Automatic transmission fluidTransmission | every 90,000 km | €200–450 |
| Auxiliary (serpentine) beltEngine | every 120,000 km | €70–180 |
| Coolant replacementCooling | every 150,000 km or every 96 months | €70–150 |
| Timing chain inspection (listen on cold start)Engine | every 150,000 km | €0–120 |
| Front brake padsBrakes | usually at 30,000–60,000 km | €60–150 |
| Front brake discs + padsBrakes | usually at 60,000–120,000 km | €150–320 |
| Rear brake padsBrakes | usually at 50,000–90,000 km | €50–130 |
| Tyres (set of 4)Wheels | usually at 40,000–60,000 km | €320–700 |
| Wiper bladesBody | checked at service | €20–50 |
| 12V batteryElectrical | checked at service | €100–220 |
Roadworthiness tests by mileage
Share of tests in the United Kingdom (DVSA MOT, 2024) that this model failed because of each system. Bold red means more often and green less often than an average car of the same age and mileage. Sample: 6,655 tests.
| thousand km | 0–50 | 50–100 |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 0.3 % | 1.2 % |
| Suspension | 0.2 % | 0.6 % |
| Steering | 0.0 % | 0.1 % |
| Tyres and wheels | 8.3 % | 11.6 % |
| Lights, wipers and visibility | 2.7 % | 4.7 % |
| Body and corrosion | 0.1 % | 0.3 % |
| Exhaust, emissions and leaks | 0.2 % | 0.1 % |
Roadworthiness tests in the Netherlands by age
Share of this model's Dutch fleet that had a defect in each system at a roadworthiness test (APK) in 2025. Bold red means more often and green less often than an average car of the same age and fuel. Sample: 3,465 cars.
| age (years) | 3–5 |
|---|---|
| Brakes | 0.0 % |
| Suspension | 0.0 % |
| Steering | 0.0 % |
| Tyres and wheels | 1.2 % |
| Lights, wipers and visibility | 0.5 % |
| Body and corrosion | 0.0 % |
| Exhaust, emissions and leaks | 0.0 % |
Most common engine versions in the EU
New cars of this generation registered in the EU, Iceland and Norway 2010–2025: 220,275, of which 813 in Croatia. The share shows how common each version is.
| Version | Share | Years | CO₂ | Fuel use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 / 2.0 petrol (Mercedes M260 / M264)2.0 (1,993 cm³) · 147 kW (200 hp) · Hybrid | 23.5 % | 2022–2025 | 128 g/km | 4.9 L |
| 1.5 / 2.0 petrol (Mercedes M260 / M264)2.0 (1,999 cm³) · 150 kW (204 hp) · Hybrid | 20.2 % | 2022–2025 | 14 g/km | 0.6 L |
| 1.5 / 2.0 petrol (Mercedes M260 / M264)2.0 (1,993 cm³) · 120 kW (163 hp) · Hybrid | 13.8 % | 2022–2025 | 124 g/km | 4.7 L |
| 1.5 / 2.0 petrol (Mercedes M260 / M264)1.5 (1,496 cm³) · 125 kW (170 hp) · Hybrid | 11.6 % | 2022–2025 | 148 g/km | 6.5 L |
| 1.5 / 2.0 petrol (Mercedes M260 / M264)1.5 (1,496 cm³) · 150 kW (204 hp) · Hybrid | 9.5 % | 2022–2025 | 151 g/km | 6.7 L |
| 1.5 / 2.0 petrol (Mercedes M260 / M264)2.0 (1,993 cm³) · 145 kW (197 hp) · Hybrid | 9.1 % | 2022–2025 | 57 g/km | 2.2 L |
| 1.5 / 2.0 petrol (Mercedes M260 / M264)2.0 (1,993 cm³) · 195 kW (265 hp) · Hybrid | 4.6 % | 2022–2025 | 138 g/km | 5.3 L |
| 1.5 / 2.0 petrol (Mercedes M260 / M264)2.0 (1,999 cm³) · 190 kW (258 hp) · Hybrid | 3.7 % | 2022–2025 | 164 g/km | 7.2 L |
Source: European Environment Agency (EEA), monitoring of CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars, CC BY 4.0. CO₂ and fuel use are official type-approval values (WLTP from 2021), not real-world consumption.
Official recalls
Recalls the manufacturer published in the United Kingdom for this model (48). The same recalls usually apply across Europe. Ask an authorised dealer to check by VIN whether your car is affected and whether the work has been done.
- Steering SRPC2512 - Bolting of Steering Coupling08/09/2025 · R/2025/333
- Seat belt SRPC2506 - Driver seat belt fitting07/05/2025 · R/2025/158
- Fire risk SRPC2419 Misfire Detection M26404/12/2024 · R/2024/474
- Engine / loss of power SRPC2410 – Bolting Connection Pre-Fuse Box19/08/2024 · R/2024/281
- Engine / loss of power SRPC2413 - Screw connections of 12 V and 48 V ground points15/08/2024 · R/2024/299
- Engine / loss of power SRPC2407 – Battery Pole Cover14/05/2024 · R/2024/202
- Suspension / axles SRPC2338 -Rear-Axle Wiring Harness11/04/2024 · R/2024/125
- Engine / loss of power SRPC2401 - System protection25/03/2024 · R/2024/130
The other recalls (40) are listed in the app.
Common questions
Does the Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W206) have a timing chain or a timing belt?
1.5 / 2.0 petrol (Mercedes M260 / M264): chain; 2.0 d (Mercedes OM654): chain.
What are the known problems with the Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W206)?
The faults with the highest risk: 48V belt starter-generator (60,000–160,000 km, €700–1,500); conductor plate / speed sensor (5G / 7G-Tronic) (100,000–220,000 km, €500–1,500); adBlue / SCR faults (100,000–180,000 km, €300–1,000). The full list by engine is on this page.
What does the Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W206) most often fail its roadworthiness test on?
In UK roadworthiness tests in 2024, at 0–50 thousand km this model most often failed on: tyres and wheels (8.3 %), lights, wipers and visibility (2.7 %), brakes (0.3 %). It fails more often than an average car of the same age and mileage on: tyres and wheels. It fails less often than average on: lights, wipers and visibility.
What should you check when buying a used Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W206)?
Before you buy, ask an authorised dealer to check by VIN that the recalls have been done (48 have been published for this model). On the test drive, watch for these signs: start-stop faults, 48V warning; stuck in gear, limp mode, harsh shifts. The full checklist is in the guide to buying a used car.
Other generations
Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W202) 1993–2000Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W203) 2000–2007Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W204) 2007–2014Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W205) 2014–2021
Models with the same engines
These models share engines with this car, so they share some of its faults too.
Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213) 2016–2023Mercedes-Benz A-Class (W177) 2018–Mercedes-Benz GLC (X253) 2015–2022Mercedes-Benz CLA (C118) 2019–Mercedes-Benz Vito (W447) 2014–Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (907 / 910) 2018–Mercedes-Benz GLE (V167) 2019–Mercedes-Benz GLC (X254) 2022–
Other Mercedes-Benz models
Mercedes-Benz Citan (W420) 2021–Mercedes-Benz EQA (H243) 2021–Mercedes-Benz EQB (X243) 2021–Mercedes-Benz EQS (V297) 2021–Mercedes-Benz EQE (V295) 2022–Mercedes-Benz GLA (H247) 2020–Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W223) 2020–Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W214) 2023–Mercedes-Benz EQC (N293) 2019–2024Mercedes-Benz GLB (X247) 2019–
Sources and notes
Faults, intervals and prices are indicative and collected from public sources and owner experience; always rely on the service book and a qualified workshop. Test statistics: DVSA – Anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0. Dutch tests: RDW Open Data (CC0). Engine versions: EEA, monitoring of CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars (CC BY 4.0, DG CLIMA). Owner complaints: NHTSA ODI (public domain). Recalls: DVSA Vehicle Safety Branch Recalls Database, OGL v3.0. Brand and model names are trademarks of their owners and are used only to describe the vehicles.
Updated 08/10/2026