Which has fewer problems, the 2016 Audi RS 7 or the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

2016 Audi RS 7 has 6 documented failure points and 6 NHTSA complaints; 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class has 6 and 315.

2016 Audi RS 7 vs 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Q: Which is better, the 2016 Audi RS 7 or the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

2016 Audi RS 7 scores higher on Milo's 10-point buy score (2016 Audi RS 7: 6/10, 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class: 5/10). 2016 Audi RS 7: 560hp of twin-turbo Bentley engine wrapped in a used Audi that costs Porsche money to fix — glorious if you can afford the aftercare. 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class: Buys like a $50k car for $18k, but budget like you're driving a science project.

Two luxury sedans, compared on what actually matters when you're buying used: what breaks, when it breaks, and what it costs you.

2016 Audi
RS 7

6/10

560hp of twin-turbo Bentley engine wrapped in a used Audi that costs Porsche money to fix — glorious if you can afford the aftercare.

2016 Mercedes-Benz
C-Class

5/10

Buys like a $50k car for $18k, but budget like you're driving a science project.

Milo scores the 2016 Audi RS 7 higher — 6/10 against 5/10.

By the numbers

Green is the better number — higher on every score, lower on failures, complaints and recalls.

	Audi RS 7	Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Known failure points	6	6
NHTSA complaints	6	315
Safety recalls	0	0
Service bulletins	0	0
Reliability	52	42
Cheap to own	22	30
Fun factor	93	68
Holds value	38	38
Enthusiast cred	78	45

The most expensive thing that goes wrong

2016 Audi RS 7

Turbo oil feed/screen clogging leading to turbo failure (the TSB referenced in complaints)

$3,000–$6,00040k–70k mi

2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

AMG M177/M276 V8/V6 variants: rare but documented sudden engine failure even with full maintenance history

$15,000–$25,00080k–150k mi

If you buy one, buy this one

✅ 2016 Audi RS 7

A 2016 RS 7 with the Dynamic Package (larger brakes, sport differential, raised top speed), full documented Audi dealer or specialist service history including proactive water pump/coil replacement, and clean CarFax — ideally still under an extended warranty (CPO or aftermarket).

✅ 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

A 2016 C300 4MATIC sedan (not the coupe/convertible for structural rigidity and lower cost) with the Premium and Multimedia packages, full dealer service history, and ideally under 70k miles — or if budget allows, a C450 4MATIC for the M276 V6 punch without AMG ownership costs.

Narrowed it down? Get the full report

This comparison is model-level. Milo's report goes car-level — the one you're actually looking at:

A line-by-line negotiation script
The pre-purchase inspection checklist
VIN-specific open recalls
What it's really worth right now
Your next 15,000 miles, forecast
Hidden features & money-savers

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Scores and findings blend documented NHTSA recalls and complaints with patterns synthesized from owner communities. Always inspect the specific vehicle and verify open recalls by VIN before buying.

2016 Audi RS 7 problems · 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class problems · All vehicles