2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 836 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the highest complaint count among 23 C-Class model years with reports.
Of the 2008 reports, 25 involved a crash and 21 involved a fire. 30 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
291 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Mar 26, 2014
DASH PANEL READ AN ERROR OF TAIL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS OUT ON RIGHT SIDE. DROVE HOME FROM WORK , APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES, SMELLED WIRES BURNING. WAITED TOOK CAR TO AUTOZONE TO GET BULBS REPLACED. BY THE TIME I ARRIVED, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE COMPARTMENT. THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY HAD CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED THE PLUG AND THE BOARD. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Mar 25, 2014
MY REAR BACK TAIL LIGHT WIRING PANEL FRIED . THE LIGHT IS NOT WORKING AT ALL AND WHEN I CALLED MANHATTAN MERCEDES DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NOT AN APPOINTMENT AVAILABLE TWO WEEKS FROM 3/7/2014 THEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP IN BROOKLYN AND THEY TOLD ME THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY APPOINTMENTS EITHER SO I JUST SHOWED UP THERE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT DUE TO MY TAIL LIGHT BEING FULLY OUT I AM NOT ALOUD TO DRIVE MY CAR SINCE ITS A SAFETY ISSUES BUT THEY DID NOTHING TO HELP ME OUT AND TOLD ME THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO ORDER THE PART EVEN THOUGH IT IS A RECALL THEN THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY AROUND $ 400 DOLLARS FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR BUT STILL THEY HAD NO APPOINTMENT FOR ME TO COME IN AND FIX IT IS 3/25/2014 AND I STILL HAVE A BROKEN CAR AND NO WAY OF DRIVING IT OR FIXING IT BECAUSE NO OTHER SHOP WILL TAKE MY CAR IN SINCE IT IS A DEALER ISSUE. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Mar 20, 2014
RECEIVED WARNING ON DASH TO CHECK REAR DRIVER TAIL LIGHT. TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER TO GET IT CHECKED OUT AND WAS TOLD THE WIRES FROM THE TAIL LIGHT WERE MELTED FROM THE ELECTRICAL PANEL AND MY CAR IS RUNNING ON BACK UP LIGHTS. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL BACK LIGHT SYSTEM SINCE THE MELTED WIRES WOULD EVENTUALLY DAMAGE THE ENTIRE BRAKE LIGHT SYSTEM. THE COST TO REPAIR $900. CAR SMELLS BURNT INSIDE, AND IN THE TRUNK. I AM AFRAID OF A FIRE, AND GETTING REAR ENDED IF MY BRAKE LIGHTS STOP WORKING. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Feb 28, 2014, fire
AS I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT BOTH MY WIFE, KIDS AND MYSELF SMELLED A STRONG ODOR IN THE CABIN OF THE CAR. IT WAS WORSE TOWARDS THE BACK SEAT WHERE THE KIDS WERE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND GOT THE FAMILY OUT OF THE VEHICLE (MERCEDES BENZ C300 2008) AND SAW THAT GREY SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE TRUNK OF THE CAR. WHEN I OPENED THE TRUNK I NOTICED THAT THE SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE RIGHT TAIL LIGHT. THE CABLE THAT FEEDS ELECTRICITY TO THAT PANEL SHORTED AND CAUSED A SMALL FIRE WHICH TURNED OFF THE MINUTE I SHUT THE VEHICLE DOWN. I THEN TRIED PULLING OUT THE CABLE FROM THE LIGHT PANEL AND IT DID NOT BUDGE BECAUSE IT MELTED AND FUSED TOGETHER WITH THE LIGHT PANEL. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Feb 23, 2014
THE BRAKE LIGHT (DRIVER SIDE) WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND GIVING MULTIPLE INDICATOR WARNINGS ON THE DASH COMPUTER. AFTER CHECKING TO SEE IF IT WAS A FAULTY BULB... THE HARNESS CONNECTING TO THE TAILLIGHT HOUSING WAS BURNT AND MELTED. THE TAILLIGHT BULB HOUSING WAS BRITTLE AND WAS BURNT AS WELL. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY KNOW OF NO SUCH RECALLS AND ARE REPLACING THE TAILLIGHT BULB HOUSING AND REPLACING THE BURNT HARNESS. (435.00) THEY ALSO SAID THAT THE COMPUTER MODULE IS BAD BECAUSE IT IS TELLING THE BRAKE LIGHT TO STAY ON. THEY ARE NOT SURE WHICH OCCURRED FIRST. THIS IS ANOTHER 1000.00 REPAIR. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ONLINE AND THERE ARE MANY OTHER MERCEDES C-SERIES VEHICLES HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. MOST EXPERTS THINK THE GAUGE OF THE WIRING IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO THE LOAD OF CURRENT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND IS NOT LOOKING LIKE AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS MATTER. *TR
Electrical system, Feb 22, 2014
GETTING INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MESSAGES ABOUT TAIL AND BRAKE LIGHTS TO BE CHECKED. I REPLACED BULBS AND HAVE THE SAME MESSAGES. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE SENSOR MONITORS RESISTANCE AND THE BULBS MAY BE FINE. GETTING MESSAGE FOR BOTH SIDES NOW AND I AM VERY CONCERNED READING SOME OF THE OTHER RESPONSES THAT WE HAVE A DEFECT IN THIS CAR THAT COULD CAUSE INJURIES OR FIRES, THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL FROM MERCEDES. DANGER! DANGER! *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Feb 19, 2014
RIGHT & LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY WIRING HARNESS PLUGS HAVE MELTED WHERE ATTACHED TO THE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY, CAUSING BRAKE, TURN SIGNAL, HAZARD, AND RUNNING LAMPS TO NOT WORK INTERMITTENTLY. BROWN WIRES GET TOO HOT TO TOUCH. SAFETY ISSUE WITH ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Feb 18, 2014
RANDOMLY I STARTED RECEIVING CHECK BULB MESSAGES FOR THE REAR LIGHTS ON BOTH SIDES OF MY CAR. I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT AS I DON'T THINK THEY HAD EVER BEEN CHANGED SO I CHANGED THEM AND ALL WAS FINE AND THEN A FEW WEEKS LATER THE MESSAGES STARTED TO POP UP AGAIN. I RECHECKED THE BULBS TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE SECURELY IN PLACE AND THEY WERE SO I STARTED DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE. PRESENTLY THE ENTIRE LEFT REAR SIDE IS OUT AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE WIRING HAS OVERHEATED AND BEEN SINGED (LOOKS LIKE IT HAD BURNED).WHEN CALLING ALL THE LOCAL SOUTHERN CALI DEALERSHIPS (ORANGE COUNTY/LONG BEACH) NONE OF THEM WILL ADMIT TO IT BEING A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AND FIXING IT FOR FREE BECAUSE THE PARENT COMPANY, MERCEDES BENZ, HASN'T YET. I HAVE NO DESIRE TO PAY FOR A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER OCCURRED IN THE FIRST PLACE. MY MAJOR CONCERN IS ABOUT POTENTIAL FIRES IN THE TRUNK DUE TO THIS. ALL IT WILL TAKE IS ONE SPARK TO CATCH ON SOMETHING IN THE TRUNK AND THEN WELL CAR IS ON FIRE. AS MUCH A MERCEDES BENZ CLAIMS TO BE ABOUT SAFETY, I'M SHOCKED, ONE AT THE DESIGN FLAW AND TWO THAT THEY ARE GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS OF PRETENDING LIKE THE THOUSANDS OF OWNERS WHO HAVE REPORTED THIS ARE MAKING IT UP. THEY NEED TO GET ON THIS ASAP. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Feb 6, 2014
RIGHT TAIL LIGHT CONNECTOR, BROWN WIRE HAS MELTED AND HAS AFFECTED THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE BULBS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Feb 1, 2014
REAR LIGHT HOUSING ASSEMBLY WIRING SMELLING LIKE SMOKE, OPEN THE TRUCK AND PLASTICS HOUSING WAS MELTING AND VERY HOT. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Jan 28, 2014
THE BROWN WIRE IN THE RIGHT HAND BRAKE LIGHT MELTED THROUGH THE WIRE HARNESS AND STARTED TO MELT THE LIGHT BOARD. THIS IS A FIRE WAITING TO HAPPEN, I SMELT BURNING IN MY CAR WHEN I WAS DRIVING. THE BREAK LIGHT NO LONGER WORKS. *TR
Electrical system, Jan 15, 2014
WHEN THE KEY WAS PLACED IN THE IGNITION, THE KEY WAS NOT RECOGNIZED. THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND THE STEERING WHEEL REMAINED LOCKED. A MESSAGE ON THE DASH ADVISED TO REMOVE THE KEY. THIS WAS NOT A BATTERY ISSUE. THE LIGHTS, RADIO AND CAR LOCKS WORKED FINE. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I AM WAITING FOR THE OUTCOME. IT IS INTERESTING THAT THE TOW COMPANY THAT PICKED UP MY VEHICLE ADVISED ME THAT THEY HAD TOWED APPROXIMATELY 30 MERCEDES IN THE LAST 2 WEEK AND THAT APPROXIMATELY 20 OF THEM WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME COMPLAINTS. PRIOR TO THIS OCCURRENCE, THE WEATHER HAD BEEN UNUSUALLY COLD, DOWN TO THE SINGLE DIGITS. ON THE MORNING OF THE INCIDENT, THE WEATHER HAD WARMED UP. I HAVE BEEN READING THAT THE TROUBLE MAY BE CAUSED BY THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jan 7, 2014
MULTIPLE SYSTEM WARNINGS ON DASH SAYING TO CHECK RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT, BRAKE LAMP, AND SIGNAL LIGHT. UPON REPLACEMENT OF LIGHT BULBS, NOTICED THAT THE GROUND WIRE CABLE COVERING WAS MELTED AS WELL AS BURNS AND MELTING ON THE BULB HOUSING UNIT. ALL RIGHT REAR LIGHTS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY OR DIMLY AND NOW DON'T WORK AT ALL. NOW, THERE ARE SYSTEM WARNINGS FOR LEFT REAR LIGHTS AS WELL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS A FIRE CAN START IN THE TRUNK OF THE CAR AS WELL AS HAVING REAR LIGHTS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL WITH NO WARNING. VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WON'T REPAIR AT NO CHARGE UNLESS THERE IS A RECALL. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES, BY BOTH THE MANUFACTURER AND AUTHORIZED DEALERS. RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. *TR
Exterior lighting, Electrical system, Jan 6, 2014
WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAYED IN INSTRUMENT PANEL ADVISING TO CHECK REAR RIGHT HAND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS, ON INITIAL INSPECTION IN THE TRUCK THEIR WAS A SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC EMIGRATING FROM THE RIGHT HAND SIDE REAR LIGHT CLUSTER ON REMOVAL OF THE FUSE PANEL COVER AND INSPECTION THE WIRES WHICH CONNECT THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE LIGHTING BACKPLATEI I WAS UNABLE TO HOLD THE CONNECTOR WITH A NAKED HAND DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE TEMPERATURE. AFTER LEAVING THINGS TO COOL DOWN FOR 60 MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR FROM LIGHTING CLUSTER BACK PLATE TO FIND THAT THE EARTH PIN (BROWN WIRE EXTREME RIGHT HAND SIDE ) WAS MELTED AND ALSO THE PIN TO WHICH IT MATED TOO HAD ALSO BEGAN TO MELT THE PLASTIC WHICH SUPPORTED THE PIN ON HE LIGHTING BACK PLATE. THE EARTH (BROWN WIRE) IS OF AN EXTREMELY LOW GAUGE FOR THE POTENTIAL LOAD THIS WIRE WOULD POTENTIALLY NEED TO CARRY UNDER MAXIMUM LOAD (ALL LIGHTS LIT). *TR
Electrical system, Jan 3, 2014
FAULT INDICATOR FOR LEFT SIDED REAR LIGHTS SPORADICALLY SHOW DEFECT LAMPS, BUT THEY ARE NOT. FINALLY A PARTLY BROKEN/CORRODED GROUND RETURN WAS DETECTED. THE SAME HAPPENED TO THE RIGHT SIDED REAR LIGHTS ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER. DEFECT WAS FINALLY REPAIRED, EXPENSES COVERED BY MERCEDES INTERNATIONAL ADRESS COTTONWOOD ARIZONA IS INCORRECT BUT COUNTRY IS AUSTRIA, CITY VIENNA [XXX] IS INCORRECT BUT ERROR CHECKER DID NOT ACCEPT CORRECT AUSTRIAN PHONE NUMBERS PHONE NUMBER [XXX] AND [XXX] ARE CORRECT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 31, 2013
REAR LIGHTS CIRCUIT BOARD BURNT AND WIRE FOR LIGHTS MELTED. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 29, 2013
REAR TAILLIGHTS STARTED SMOKING. IT WAS ALL BURNED OUT CAUSING REAR RIGHT TAILLIGHT TO MALFUNCTION. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 29, 2013
RIGHT READ BRAKE LAMP HARNESS MELTED CAUSING MALFUNCTION OF THE BRAKE LAMPS. WARNING INDICATOR IN THE DASH. I AM WORRIED ABOUT A FIRE. ALSO LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS STOPPED WORKING FOR NO REASON. CHECKED THE BULBS AND THEY ARE BOTH GOOD. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 20, 2013
REAR LIGHTING FAILURE (TAILLIGHT). FAILURE CAUSING MY VEHICLE LIGHTS TO VERY DIM AND SOME BULBS ARE NOT ILLUMINATE AT ALL. OCCURS WITH LEFT TAILLIGHT (BRAKE LIGHT). I SEE SOME BURNING ON PLASTIC PANEL THAT BULBS GOES IN. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 16, 2013
STARTED TO GET THE MESSAGE TO CHECK MY REAR, RIGHT TURNINF SIGNA, FOG LAMPS, BRAKE LIGHTS. CHECKED ALL THE BULBS AND THEY ARE FINE. PUT THE HARNESS BACK AND REALIZED IT WAS A LITTLE HOT AND WHEN I LOOKED THE WIRE TO THE FAR RIGHT I THINK IS EXPOSE AND ON THE OTHER SIDE IT IS BURNT THROUGH THE PLASTIC. MESSAGE COMES OFF AND ON DURING DRIVING. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Nov 20, 2013
CONNECTOR (HARNESS) IS MELTED AND SHORTED THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR TAIL LIGHTS AND IS NOW INOP. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Nov 12, 2013
I DROVE MY CAR HOME FROM WORK. EVERYTHING WAS WORKING FINE AND TEN MINUTES LATER WHEN I WENT TO GO BACK TO WORK, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I COULD GET ALL THE ELECTRICAL WORKING , BUT THE CAR WOULD JUST NOT START UP. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK, AND IT NEEDS REPLACED.I GOT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT MY STEERING LOCK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR ANYMORE. IMAGING DRIVING IN A BAD PART OF TOWN SUDDENLY YOUR "STEERING LOCK" MALFUNCTIONS OR MY WIFE IS DRIVING AND IS STUCK IN A BAD PART OF NEW ORLEANS. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Oct 22, 2013
MY RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT CONNECTOR BOARD IS MELTED. ALL MY LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING AT ONCE AND DEALER STATED ITS A FAULTY CONNECTOR BOARD THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. SAME ISSUE SO MANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED. MB NEEDS TO RECALL THIS ISSUE BC IT MAKES NO SINCE I HAVE TO PAY 400.00 FOR A WELL KNOWN ISSUE THAT IS HAZARDOUS WHICH THE DEALER ADVISED. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Air bags, Oct 20, 2013
ALL EXTERIOR LIGHT BULBS KEEP BURNING . -SEAT BELT STAYS ON EVEN IS USED. AIR BAGS COMES ON AND OFF. THE ENGINE MAKES LIKE HIGH IDOL NOISE LIKE THE CAR WANTS TO MOVE EVEN ITS BRAKE. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Oct 8, 2013, fire
AS REPORTED MULTIPLE TIMES BY OTHERS, TAIL LIGHT CONNECTOR IS INSUFFICIENT TO HANDLE THE HEAT EMANATING FROM THE GROUND (BROWN) WIRE. CONNECTOR BURNS. CABLE COVERING MELTS. ALL TAIL LIGHTS (INCLUDING BRAKES, TURNING AND REVERSE) STOP FUNCTIONING. - SAFETY ISSUE- (NOT TO MENTION GAS TANK SITTING NOT TOO FAR FROM SOURCE OF FIRE) PRELIMINARY SYMPTOMS: RANDOM WARNING MESSAGES IN DASHBOARD ABOUT LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONING. ONE TAIL LIGHT DIMMER THAN THE OTHER. REPAIRS REQUIRED: NEW CONNECTOR/NEW PINS PLUS REGROUNDING TO AVOID CERTAIN RECURRENCE AUTHORIZED DEALERS KNOW WELL ABOUT THE PROBLEM. "RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED" "RECALL IS SURELY COMING" BUT WILL NOT REPLACE IF OUT OF WARRANTY REFERENCES: PRIOR REPORT CHAIN NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10499828 PICTURES AND MULTIPLE INFORMATION HTTP://MBWORLD.ORG/FORUMS/C-CLASS-W204/465331-TAIL-LIGHT-CONNECTOR-MELTED.HTML. *TR