Known APK problem
Mercedes-Benz C-Klasse W204: warning lights
On the Mercedes-Benz C-Klasse W204 the APK inspector finds warning lights problems 80% more often than on cars of the same age: at 11–12 years 4.5%, against about 2.5% nationally.
Window: Oct 2025 – Sep 2026 · Updated: 16 Oct 2026
What is it?
A warning light that stays on (for example ABS, airbag or engine fault) points to a fault that has to be read out first.
How to check it at the viewing
Switch on the ignition: all lights come on briefly and go out after starting. If one stays on, ask about the cause.
Ask the seller: Does a warning light ever come on, and has the fault been read out?
By age
Share of inspected Mercedes-Benz C-Klasse W204s with this defect, compared with all cars of the same age.
| Age | Type | C-Klasse W204 | National | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 – 12 years | C | 4.5% | 2.5% | 1.8× |
| 13 – 15 years | C | 3.1% | 2.6% | 1.2× |
| 16+ years | C | 5.7% | 5.7% | 1.0× |
A = structure, safety or costly mechanics; B = fail, usually simple; C = advisory. An age is missing when this defect is not among the most common there.
Comparable cars at 11–12 years
| Model | Warning lights | Vs. national |
|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz C-Klasse W204 | 4.5% | 1.8× |
| SEAT Altea | 2.7% | 1.1× |
| Lexus CT 200h | 0.4% | 5.2× |
| Škoda Rapid | 0.7% | 0.3× |
| Mercedes-Benz A-Klasse W176 | 4.8% | 2.0× |
Looking at a Mercedes-Benz C-Klasse W204? Check that car
Enter the plate and see the APK history, open recalls and how this car compares with other Mercedes-Benz C-Klasse W204s of the same age.
All weak spots of the Mercedes-Benz C-Klasse W204 · Warning lights: which models more often · Checklist for this model
Frequently asked questions
Does the Mercedes-Benz C-Klasse W204 often have warning lights problems?
Yes, more often than average at the APK. At 11–12 years the inspector found a warning lights defect on 4.5% of inspected Mercedes-Benz C-Klasse W204s, against about 2.5% of all cars of the same age (1.8×). Source: RDW Open Data, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026.
How do you check the warning lights on a used Mercedes-Benz C-Klasse W204?
Switch on the ignition: all lights come on briefly and go out after starting. If one stays on, ask about the cause.
Repair indication: small, medium or large. An indication of the usual repair, not a quote: the real cost depends on the car, the cause and the garage.
Source: RDW Open Data (CC0), analysis CarXray.nl. 6,857,004 inspected passenger cars aged 3 years and older, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026. Each car counts once. How we know