NHTSA campaign 16V438000
Mercedes Benz Recall 16V-438: Software Error May Disable Power Steering Assist
NHTSA recall 16V438000 was reported by Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. on June 15, 2016, with 17 vehicles potentially affected (per NHTSA). NHTSA's record lists the Mercedes Benz C 300 for the 2016 model year. Owners were notified on December 19, 2016, per NHTSA.
Updated daily from NHTSA's recall files
Is my vehicle included?
This page lists, by model year, the vehicles NHTSA's recall record names for campaign 16V438000 in the model years try.vin imports (1995 and later); NHTSA's own record can list more. A model year on the list doesn't mean every vehicle of that year is included, and some may already have been repaired.
To see whether a specific vehicle is included and still needs the repair, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Mercedes Benz VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Key facts
- NHTSA campaign
- 16V438000 (also written 16V-438 or 16V438)
- Filed by
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.
- Report received
- Potentially affected
- 17 vehicles (per NHTSA)
- Component
- Steering — Electric Power Assist System
- Owners notified
Repair completion: 100% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated October 21, 2026)
NHTSA cautions against comparing completion rates across recalls or manufacturers. How try.vin reads them.
Vehicles listed for this recall
NHTSA's recall record lists these vehicles for recall 16V438000. try.vin imports model years 1995 and later, so NHTSA's own list can be longer. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to it. Build dates are NHTSA's range for a model year (per NHTSA); a vehicle built in that range is not necessarily included.
Mercedes Benz
Mercedes Benz C 300
- 2016 · Vehicles built November 4, 2015 – March 1, 2016 (per NHTSA)
NHTSA's recall notice
As NHTSA's recall record states it for campaign 16V438000.
Defect description
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2016 C300 4Matic vehicles manufactured November 4, 2015, to March 1, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the electric power steering assist system may shutdown due to a software error.
Safety consequence
If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Manufacturer remedy
MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the electric power steering control unit, free of charge. The recall began January 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Sources
Official NHTSA notice for recall 16V438000
Campaign details come from NHTSA's recall files, which try.vin imports once a day. The plain-language subject and the completion rate come from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Recalls Data dataset. How try.vin reads recall data.