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, Sep 25, 2013
KEEP GETTING THE "CHECK RIGHT REAR TAIL AND BRAKE LAMP", "CHECK RIGHT REAR SIDEMARKER LAMP", AND "CHECK RIGHT REAR TURN SIGNAL". THE BLINKER WILL WORK FINE, THEN AFTER 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING IT BLINKS VERY FAST AND THE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. SOMETIMES NONE OF THE LIGHTS ON THE RIGHT REAR PANEL WILL TURN ON, SOMETIMES THEY WILL. OR THEY WILL WORK FOR 10 MINUTES AND THEN GO OUT ALONG WITH THE WARNING SIGNS. I LOOKED AT THE BULBS TODAY TO SEE IF ANY WERE BURNED, AND THE HARNESS WAS BURNED AND BROWN! I HAVE SMELLED SMOKE A FEW TIMES WITHIN THE LAST MONTH AS WELL. THIS ISSUE IS GETTING WORSE. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD AND MUST BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY. PLEASE ADVISE! *JS
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Sep 10, 2013, fire
THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE TAIL LAMP ON THE RIGHT SIDE WAS FRIED & FILLED WITH SMOKE AND NOW THE TAIL LAMP GOES VERY DIM & ALMOST OFF, BUT REPLACING WITH NEW BULB DOESN'T HELP. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Sep 4, 2013
TAIL LIGHT MESSAGE. FOUND HARNESS MELTED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT. NOW I GET A MESSAGE FROM BOTH SIDES. *JB
Electrical system, Aug 28, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE FUEL GAUGE READING DISPLAYED EMPTY ALTHOUGH THE FUEL CAPACITY LEVEL WAS HALF FULL. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS 08V303000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Aug 26, 2013
HTTP://JAMAICA-GLEANER.COM/GLEANER/20130717/BUSINESS/BUSINESS81.HTML HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL PASSENGER REAR LIGHTS - WIRE HARNESS IS BURNT AND NOT WORKING . SPOKE WITH MB DEALERSHIP/SERVICE DEPT , THEY SAID I WILL NEED TO HANDLE THE REPAIR OUT OF MY OWN POCKET . I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE MY CAR AS THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS/SIGNAL ARE NOT OPERATIONAL AND NO FUNDS FOR THE REPAIR . THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE TO THE CONSUMERS AND NEED TO BE RECALL IMMEDIATELY !!! *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Aug 22, 2013
CARS AUTOMATED WARNING SYSTEM INDICATED PROBLEMS WITH RIGHT REAR LIGHTING SYSTEM ("CHECK RIGHT REAR TURN SIGNAL ETC"). TOOK CAR TO MECHANIC. THERE HAD BEEN A SHORT IN THE RIGHT REAR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM...PLASTIC CIRCUIT BOX EXHIBITED SIGNS OF A SHORT AND MELTED PLASTIC. MECHANIC REPLACED WIRING, CIRCUIT BOX AND LIGHTS. COULD VERY EASILY HAVE HAD A FIRE IN THE TRUNK OF THE CAR. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Aug 20, 2013
BURNING SMELL AND MELTED CONNECTORS ON REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Aug 18, 2013
THE LEFT REAR LIGHT WAS NOTICED TO BE DIMMER THAN THE RIGHT ONE. ONCE THE LIGHT CLUSTER WAS OPEN UP, A BURN /MELTING OF THE ELECTRICAL SOCKET WAS NOTICED. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Aug 17, 2013
THE LEFT TAIL LIGHT CONNECTOR AND THE PLATE CONNECTION MELTED. REPORTED THE ISSUE TO MB DEALER AND MB CAC BUT THEY REFUSED TO ACCEPT IT AS A DESIGN FLAW. THE EXPLANATION GIVEN TO ME WAS IT MELTED BECAUSE OF HEAT OF LIGHT BULBS. THE SAME FLAW HAS BEEN REPORTED ON MANY FORUM AND I THINK IT IS A RECALL ITEM. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Aug 17, 2013
THE RIGHT REAR BULB ASSEMBLY AND HARNESS HAVE MELTED AND ARE ONLY INTERMITTENTLY FUNCTIONAL. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Aug 9, 2013
BOTH TAIL LIGHTS LAMP CARRIERS AND CONTACT BUSHINGS HAD MELTED AROUND GROUND WIRES IN MY 2008 C300 MERCEDES. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Aug 6, 2013
DRIVER INFORMATION SYSTEM SHOWED THAT THE REAR RIGHT BRAKE LAMP WAS OUT. WHILE CHECKING THE REAR TAIL LIGHT TO REPLACE THE BULBS WE CHECKED THE HARNESS AND IT WAS COMPLETELY MELTED! THEN I KNEW WHY I HAD SMELT A BURNING SMELL BEFORE. I CALLED MY NEAREST MERCEDES DEALER SHIP AND THEY SAID IT WOULD COST AROUND $500-$600 TO FIX. I DIDN'T HAVE TO EXPLAIN HE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS TALKING ABOUT BUT IM OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS SHOULD BE FIXED BY MERCEDES. ITS ABSURD AND NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO ATTENTION FOR OUR SAFETY. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Aug 3, 2013
WARNING LIGHT CAME ON TO CHECK RIGHT SIDE TAIL AND BRAKE LAMPS. WARNING SIGN TO ALSO CHECK RIGHT TURN SIGNAL. IT APPEARS THAT THESE COME ON AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 30S-1MIN. WHEN OPENED UP THE RIGHT BACK LIGHT KIT, THE PLASTIC HARNESS HOLDING THE BULBS AND WIRES IS BURNING SLIGHTLY AND SLIGHTLY CHARRED. LIGHT BULBS ARE WORKING AS THEY DO INITIALLY TURN ON, BUT THEN GO OFF AFTER 30S-1MIN. ALSO LIGHT COMES UP ON CHECK REAR LEFT TAIL AND BRAKE LAMPS. BUT THESE WORK FINE, AND THE LEFT BACK LIGHT KIT PLASTIC HARNESS APPEARS NORMAL AND FINE. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jul 30, 2013
INSIDE DASH WARNING SAYING "CHECK REAR RIGHT SIGNAL LIGHTS" AND RIGHT SIGNAL FLASHES QUICKER THAN NORMAL. UPON INSPECTION, LIGHTS WERE WORKING BUT BULB HOLDER INSIDE LIGHTS AND CONNECTION HARNESS WAS MELTED WHERE THE BROWN WIRE WAS. UNABLE TO REMOVE HARNESS OUT BECAUSE THE CONNECTOR WAS MELTED ON. SMELLED LIKE FRESH BURNT PLASTIC. SEVERE FIRE HAZARD! *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jul 26, 2013, fire
GROUND WIRE TO REAR RIGHT TAIL LIGHT MELTED AT THE CONNECTION POINT TO THE TAIL LIGHT BOARD AND HARNESS. SMELLED SMOKE AND FOUND DAMAGE SHORTLY AFTER. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jul 25, 2013, fire
AFTER RECEIVING SEVERAL DASHBOARD WARNING MESSAGES AND, I WENT INTO HIGGENBOTHOM MERCEDES IN JACKSON, MS ON 10/12/12 MY VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING A RIGHT REAR CONTACT PLATE AND HARNESS IS SHORTED OUT. ABOUT A WEEK IN A HALF AGO MY LIGHTS ON RIGHT SIDE (BOTH FRONT AND BACK TAIL LIGHTS) WILL FLASH ON AND OFF PERIODICALLY WHEN MY LIGHTS ARE IN THE AUTO POSITION AND THE ENGINE IS OFF. MY DAUGHTER EMAILED ME AN ARTICLE MENTIONING A POSIBLE DEFECT SO I CALLED MERCEDES AND WAS TOLD TO CONTACT MY DEALERSHIP TO GET AN ESTIMATE AND THEN CALL THEM BACK AND A CASE MANAGER WOULD CONTACT ME IN 24 HOURS. I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN 07/24/13 THEY DIAGNOSED THE CAR WITH NEEDING RIGHT TAILAMP BULB HOLDER PLATE. I CONTACTED MERCEDES AGAIN YESTERDAY AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE DIAGNOSIS AND SPOKE TO A CASE MANAGER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS AT THIS TIME AND THEY ARE STILL IN NEGOTIATION WITH NHTSA AND I CAN HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BUT MY VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, BUT AFTER FINDING MY PREVIOUS INVOICE I'M CONFUSSED AS TO WHAT REALLY NEED TO BE REPAIRED BECAUSE THAT IS CLEARLY 2 DIFFERENT DIAGNOSIS, BUT AT BOTH TIMES I WAS TOLD THE PARTS HAD BURNED OUT. I THINK MERCEDES SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND SOON BEFORE THERE ARE INJURIES OR FATALITIES SINCE THEY SAY NON HAS BEEN REPORTED AS OF NOW. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jul 24, 2013
NOTICED FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT THE LEFT REAR BRAKE AND TAIL LIGHT WAS MUCH MORE DIM THAN THE CORRESPONDING LIGHTS ON THE RIGHT SIDE. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THESE SAME LAMPS ALSO FLICKERED FROM DIM TO SLIGHTLY BRIGHTER AND REPORTED ON THE NEXT SERVICE APPOINTMENT. WHEN IT CAME BACK FROM THE DEALER THE PROBLEM WAS MARGINALLY BETTER; HOWEVER, IT STILL EXISTS TO THIS DAY. I SEE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON MERCEDES OWNERS HOTLINES WITH VARIOUS DEGREES OF SUCCESS AT THAT DEALERS. I HAVE ALSO SEEN COMMENTS ABOUT A SO-CALLED FIX THAT HAS BEEN MENTIONED. MY COMPLAINT WAS NEVER PRINTED OUT ON MY COPY OF THE WORK ORDER FOR THAT SERVICE DATE EITHER. I'VE GIVEN UP.ON COMPLAINING TO MERCEDES AS I HAD ANOTHER COMPLAINT TO THE FACTORY WHICH ENDED UP JUST BEING BRUSHED OFF AS NORMAL. ONCE AGAIN NO DOCUMENTATION OF THAT VISIT WAS GIVEN EVEN THOUGHT A FACTORY REP WAS PRESENT. MY BELIEF IS THAT THE TAIL LAMPS SHOULD BE FAIRLY EQUALLY BRIGHT IN ORDER TO PROVIDE VEHICLES BEHIND YOU AN ACCURATE LOCATION OF THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE. A PROPER FIX THAT COMPLETELY CORRECTS THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO BE PERFORMED ON THESE VEHICLES AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNERS. I AM THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jul 24, 2013
STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS A FAILURE FOR HEAD LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO REPAIR THE BULBS AND THEY TOLD ME THE CONTROL BOARD FAILED, MELTED AND THEY REPLACED IT. I WAS LATER TOLD THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE 2008 C300. *TR
Electrical system, Jul 18, 2013, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE RADIO AND THE WIRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 109,000. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jul 18, 2013
REAR DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHTS (BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, AND RUNNING LIGHTS) ARE NO LONGER FUNCTIONING. UPON INSPECTION, LIGHTS ARE BARELY FUNCTIONING OR NOT FUNCTIONING AT ALL WITH NO INDICATION OF FAULTY BULBS OR FUSES, AND WIRING HARNESS CONNECTING THE TAIL LIGHTS TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS EXTREMELY HOT. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jul 18, 2013
I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS MESSAGES ON MY 2008 C300 MERCEDES REGARDING TAIL LIGHT/ BRAKE LIGHT OUT. I HAVE NOTICED THAT MY PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHTS/ RUNNING LIGHTS ARE MUCH DIMMER THAN THE DRIVER SIDE LIGHTS. I HAVE INSPECTED THE WIRING HARNESS ASSEMBLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND NOTICED SIGNIFICANT DISCOLORATION WITH THE "BROWN WIRE" AND ASSOCIATED CONNECTOR; THE CONNECTOR HAS ALSO BEEN "HOT" TO THE TOUCH. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER NEXT WEEK TO HAVE IT INSPECTED/ EVALUATED. I REALLY BECAME MORE CAUTIOUS FOLLOWING THE RECENT NEWS ARTICLE REGARDING 2008-2009 MERCEDES TAIL LIGHT ISSUES. SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED/ CORRECTED. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jul 17, 2013
THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. AFTER EXAMINING THE WIRING AND HARNESS WERE MELTED. HAD TO BRING IN TO FIX. THE BACK BOARD WERE THE LIGHTS ARE ON WAS ALSO BURNT. NOW HAVING PROBLEMS ON THE LEFT SIDE. I JUST SAW ON THE NATIONAL NEWS WERE OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR CAR. IT SEEMS THE WIRING IS NOT PROPER SIZE TO HANDLE THE ELECTRIC LOAD. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WITH THE REAR LIGHTS GOING OUT. THE LIGHTS ARE RUNNING WAY TO HOT. SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT ON THIS YEAR 2008 VEHICLE. I HEARD THAT THIS IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY YOU. MY WIFE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE OF GETTING HIT FROM BEHIND BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WITH LIGHTS BURNING OUT OR MAYBE A FIRE FROM THE WIRING MELTING. MERCEDES SAYS THEY WILL NOT FIX AND THAT THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jul 17, 2013
I HAVE RECEIVED MULTIPLE WARNING SIGNALS INDICATING THAT MY TAIL LIGHTS AND TURNING LIGHTS HAVE FAILED. I INITIALLY THOUGHT MY BULBS WERE BLOWN BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS STRANGE THAT ALL OF THEM WOULD BLOW AT ONE TIME. UPON CHECKING THE PANEL IN THE TRUNK I NOTICED THAT THE WIRES LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE BURNING. I BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER AND THE SAID THEY HAVE NOTICED THE ISSUE BUT DO NOT KNOW THE CAUSE. I ASKED IF THIS WAS RECALLED AND THEY STATED NO, AND THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. AFTER DOING FURTHER RESEARCH I NOTICED OTHERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR ISSUES. I DO NOT THINK THAT IT IS FAIR THAT THE CONSUMER SHOULD HAVE TO INCUR THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH SUBPAR MANUFACTURING. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jul 16, 2013
MY RIGHT TAIL LIGHT HAD BEEN DIM FOR AWHILE.I DO REMEMBER FROM TIME TO TIME SMELLING A FAINT ELECTRICAL BURN SMELL BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHERE IS WAS COMING FROM. FINALLY WHEN IT WENT OUT, I PULLED THE LAMP ASSEMBLY WHICH HAS WHAT LOOKS LIKE A CIRCUIT BOARD WHERE THE BULB MOUNTS. THE COPPER "TRACES" WERE FRIED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID "SORRY, IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT WE WILL BE HAPPY TO SELL YOU ONE". I SAID "NO THANKS, IT WILL JUST FAIL THE SAME WAY". SO I TOOK IT HOME AND REPAIRED IT PROPERLY. NOW WORRIED THE OTHER ONE WILL DO THE SAME. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jul 16, 2013
PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT IS CONSIDERABLY DIMMER THAN THE DRIVER SIDE. AFTER EXAMINING THE PASSENGER TAIL LIGHT, I NOTICED THAT THE CONNECTOR OF THE WIRE HARNESS CONNECTED TO THE HOUSING THAT IS HOUSING ALL THE BULBS IS PARTIALLY MELTED AND IT IS EXTREMELY HOT WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ON. I ALSO CHECKED THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE EXACT SAME THING IS HAPPENING ON THERE, TOO, BUT SO FAR TO A LITTLE LESSER EXTENT. LOOKS A LOT LIKE A FIRE HAZARD! *TR