Known APK problem

Mercedes-Benz C-Klasse W205: brakes

On the Mercedes-Benz C-Klasse W205 the APK inspector finds brakes problems 2.0× as often as on cars of the same age: at 5–6 years 3.6%, against about 1.8% nationally.

Illustration Mercedes-Benz C-Klasse W205

Window: Oct 2025 – Sep 2026 · Updated: 16 Oct 2026

What is it?

Worn or rusted brake discs and pads, or uneven braking.

Repair indication: mediuma targeted repair at the garage.

How to check it at the viewing

Look through the wheel at the discs: no deep grooves or thick rust edge. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stay straight.

Ask the seller: When were the brake discs and pads last replaced?

By age

Share of inspected Mercedes-Benz C-Klasse W205s with this defect, compared with all cars of the same age.

Age	Type	C-Klasse W205	95%-CI	National	Difference	n
5 – 6 years	B	0.4%	0.2 – 0.9%	1.3%	0.3×	1,253
5 – 6 years	C	3.6%	2.7 – 4.8%	1.8%	2.0×	1,253
7 – 8 years	B	0.7%	0.5 – 1.1%	1.4%	0.5×	3,751
7 – 8 years	C	2.6%	2.1 – 3.1%	2.6%	1.0×	3,751
9 – 10 years	A	0.5%	0.4 – 0.8%	1.7%	0.3×	4,716
9 – 10 years	B	0.8%	0.6 – 1.1%	1.6%	0.5×	4,716
9 – 10 years	C	2.9%	2.5 – 3.4%	2.9%	1.0×	4,716
11 – 12 years	C	4.6%	3.2 – 6.5%	2.9%	1.6×	655

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 5–6 years

Model	Brakes	Vs. national
Mercedes-Benz C-Klasse W205	3.6%	2.0×
Volkswagen Golf Sportsvan	2.0%	1.1×
MINI Clubman F54	0.6%	0.8×
Fiat 500X	1.4%	1.2×
Nissan Leaf II	0.9%	1.2×

Looking at a Mercedes-Benz C-Klasse W205? Check that car

Enter the plate and see the APK history, open recalls and how this car compares with other Mercedes-Benz C-Klasse W205s of the same age.

All weak spots of the Mercedes-Benz C-Klasse W205 · Brakes: which models more often · Checklist for this model

Frequently asked questions

Does the Mercedes-Benz C-Klasse W205 often have brakes problems?

Yes, more often than average at the APK. At 5–6 years the inspector found a brakes defect on 3.6% of inspected Mercedes-Benz C-Klasse W205s, against about 1.8% of all cars of the same age (2.0×). Source: RDW Open Data, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026.

How do you check the brakes on a used Mercedes-Benz C-Klasse W205?

Look through the wheel at the discs: no deep grooves or thick rust edge. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stay straight.

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