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
Steering, Electrical system, Jun 14, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF SOUTH CHARLOTTE (950 N POLK ST, PINEVILLE, NC 28134, (704) 837-7955) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SEIZED AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,017. *AS*JB
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Air bags, Mar 26, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING, THE SRS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE HORN, HEADLIGHTS, CRUISE CONTROL, AND TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 AND 16V363000 (AIR BAGS) AND CALLED MERCEDES-BENZ OF AUGUSTA (3061 WASHINGTON RD, AUGUSTA, GA 30907, (706) 860-1111). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SHE WOULD BE PLACED ON A WAITING LIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTICED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.
Steering, Electrical system, Nov 18, 2018
THE ELS WENT OUT . WHICH I'VE BEEN TOLD IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN OF THE ELS
Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 10, 2018
MY 2008 MERCEDES BENZ 300C STARTED THEN SHUT OFF IN MY DRIVEWAY. I HAD THE CAR LESS THAN 30 DAYS FROM PURCHASE. I CALLED THE DEALER AND HE CAME AND DID SOMETHING TO THE FUSE BAND IT START ED. NEXT DAY SAME THING, STARTED THEN SHUT OFF. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC, IT TOOK HIM TWO WEEKS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. HE NARROWED IT DOWN TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. HOWEVER, HE WANT AUTHORIZED TO ACCESS THE IGNITION, SO IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CAME BACK AFTER 2 WEEKS AND SAID IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. FINE, I PAID A LITTLE OVER $1K FOR THE DESPAIR. I GO TO PICK IT UP THEN I'M TOLD IT SHUT OFF. THIS IS AFTER A FULL DIAGNOSTIC TEST. MIND YOU, MY MECHANIC CALLED THE REP AT MERCEDES BENZ AND TOLD THEM EXACTLY WHAT THE ISSUES WAS AND THEY IGNORED IT. FAST FORWARD, I TELL THEM IN MY FRUSTRATION TO GO AND FIX THE CAR. I GET A QUOTE OF 878, AND THAT THEY WOULDN'T CHARGE FOR LABOR, PARTS ONLY. THEY CLAIM THE PARTS HAD TO BE ORDERED FROM GERMANY. TWO WEEKS LATER, A FULL MONTH AND A HALF OF WAITING FOR MY CAR, THE DEALER TELLS ME THE COST IS NOW 1919. LUDICROUS! THEY CLAIM THAT I NEEDED A KEY, THAT MY KEY WASN'T WORKING. WHAT? MY KEY WAS WORKING JUST FINE. THE C300 IGNITION ISSUES ARE OVERWHELMING AND NEED TO BE RECALLED. BUYER BEWARE!
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Oct 9, 2018
TAKATA RECALL HEADLIGHTS FLICKERING WHEN CAR IS OFF ALSO HEADLIGHT RANDOMLY GO OFF WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ETC AND WHEN LIGHTS STAY ON IT DRAINS THE CAR BATTERY
Steering, Electrical system, Sep 24, 2018
CAR WILL NOT START AFTER DIVING. POWER FROM BATTERY IS GOOD. DOOR STILL LOCK AND UNLOCK. THIS PARTICLUAF BRAND HAS ISSUE WITH ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCKING AND LEAVING CAR MOBILELESS. CANNOT PLACE CAR IN NEAUTRAL FOR TOWING.
Power train, Electrical system, Seat belts, Sep 18, 2018
TRANSFER CASE RESEAL. I HAVE A 2008 C300 I BOUGHT WITH 56K MILES ON IT, I HAD TO HAVE THE WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED IMMEDIATELY. WHEN THIS SERVICE TOOK PLACE, I WAS INFORMED THAT I NEED TO HAVE MY TRANSFER CASE RESEALED AND THE CAM SHAFT MAGNETS REPLACED. THIS CAR HAS SUCH LOW MILES ON IT. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS NEEDED AT THIS TIME. I HAVE SEEN ON MANY BOARDS, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. WHY HASN'T MB RECALLED THIS YET? IT APPEARS THE 2008 MODEL IS PLAGUED WITH PROBLEMS AS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING LOCK AS WELL AS IT FAILED. AGAIN, COMMON PROBLEM AND NOT RECALL. I NOW HAVE A SEATBELT SENSOR THAT FAULTY. ALL OF THIS BEFORE I HAVE EVEN HIT 100K. MY 2001 ML IS WELL OVER 200K AND I HAVE NEVER HAD THESE ISSUES WITH THE ML.
Electrical system, Air bags, Sep 13, 2018
TAKATA RECALL, AND SRS MODULE. MERCEDES BENZ PARAMUS WILL NOT FIX RECALL UNLESS I PAY 400 DOLLARS FOR A MALFUNCTION ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT BUCKLE, WHICH WORKS FINE AND LOCKS IN PLACE. FOR PREVIOUS RECALL AT MERCEDES BENZ IN ENGLEWOOD NJ, THEY SERVICE SHOP ALWAYS UPCHARGES AND IF I REFUSE TO PAY THEY WILL NOT DO RECALL. THE ENGLEWOOD ONE TRIED TO CHARGE ME 700 DOLLARS FOR A O2 SENSOR THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BEFORE THEY CAN FIX RECALL AND I HAD REFUSED. THIS WAS TWO YEARS AGO. NOW ON 9/12/18 AT 3:00PM I DROPPED MY CAR OFF FOR THE RECALL, THEN THEY STATED THAT THEY WILL DO IT, THEN MAGICALLY MY STEERING WHEEL COLUMN LOCKED AND CHARGED ME 1100 DOLLARS TO FIX IT WITHOUT FIXING ME RECALL BECAUSE THEY STATED THAT THE SEATBELT BUCKLE WAS FAULTY AND THEY NEED TO FIX THAT AND CHARGE ME 400 DOLLARS BEFORE THEY CAN FIX RECALL. MY PHONE NUMBER IS [XXX] I AM [XXX] AND I RESIDE AT [XXX], THE SHOP GIVING ME PROBLEMS IS LOCATED IN MERCEDES BENZ IN PARAMUS NJ. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Electrical system, Aug 15, 2018
THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START AND DOESN'T RECOGNIZE THE KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DEAD AND HAD TO JUMP START IT. I DROVE THE CAR TO HAVE THE BATTERY REPLACED THINKING THAT WAS IT. WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE GARAGE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS AS THE DEALERSHIP WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT COULD DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR.
Steering, Electrical system, Jul 30, 2018
TAKATA RECALL CAR IS COMPLETELY LOCKED UP SAYS REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION, LEFT ME STRANDED SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE FAILURE WITH STEERING LOCK AND ESL
Steering, Electrical system, Jul 19, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, 'TAKE THE KEY OUT THE IGNITION' APPEARED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF BOSTON (259 MCGRATH HWY, SOMERVILLE, MA 02143, (617) 666-4100) AND REPAIRED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE OF THE DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,669.
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 29, 2018
ON SUNDAY, JUNE 27, UPON RETURNING TO MY CAR I DISCOVERED THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT DISENGAGE THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK TO ALLOW ME TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH TO THE ON POSITION OR STEER THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE GEARSHIFT COULD NOT BE DISLODGED FROM THE PARK POSITION. I CONTACTED AAA. A TEST OF BATTERY REVEALED THAT IT WAS FULLY CHARGED. I WAS ABLE TO MANUALLY DISENGAGE THE GEAR SHIFT AND PLACE THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, HOWEVER, THE CAR WAS UNABLE TO BE LOADED ON TO THE FLATBED TOW-TRUCK, AS THE FRONT WHEELS WERE LOCKED AT AN ANGLE AND I WAS PARKED IN PARKING SPACE, BETWEEN THE SIDEWALK TO MY FRONT AND RIGHT SIDE AND A CAR TO MY LEFT. I WAS FORCED TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE AND FIND AN ALTERNATIVE MEANS OF GETTING HOME. FIVE DAYS AND NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS LATER, AAA WAS FINALLY ABLE TO RETRIEVE MY VEHICLE. CONVERSATION WITH MECHANICS AT MB DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS MB TRAINED PRIVATE MECHANIC IDENTIFIED PROBLEM AS DEFECTIVE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH (EIS/ EZS) AND ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL/ ELV). CONTACTED MBUSA CORPORATE OFFICE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR (APPROXIMATELY $1,600) WAS MINE, SINCE, DESPITE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING SIMILAR MECHANICAL ISSUE, THERE IS NOT A RECALL
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Air bags, Jun 6, 2018
TAKATA RECALL , EXTERIOR LIGHTING RECALL
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Air bags, May 14, 2018
TAKATA RECALL MY AIRBAG IS NOT WORKING, AND MY LIGHTING HAS A PROBLEM . MY BACK LIGHT STAY ON ALL OF THE TIME EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS OFF .I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR 3 WEEKS AGO AND I JUST REALIZED THAT.
Electrical system, Seats, May 11, 2018
COMAND UNIT WENT OUT ALONG WITH STEREO FUNCTIONS DRIVER SEAT CONTROL WENT OUT
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Mar 29, 2018
TAKATA RECALL , EIS , ESL SEIZED UP AND CAR WON'T START ANYMORE , COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND REPAIR IS COSTLY SHOULD BE RECALLED SINCE IT'S A MANUFACTURED DEFECT AND NOT CAUSED BY THE USER, THIS PROBLEM CAN LEAVE ANYONE STRANDED IN THE WORST OF SITUATIONS AND IT CAN SEIZE UP WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION CAUSING ACCIDENTS AND DANGER TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Mar 16, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C350. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, A FAMILY MEMBER NOTIFIED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TRUNK. THE CONTACT OPENED THE TRUNK AND NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS IN FLAMES AROUND THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS PRESENT, BUT NO REPORT WAS FILED. THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED APPROXIMATELY FOUR YEARS AGO PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL BY MERCEDES-BENZ OF SOUTH ORLANDO IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA. HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED FOR THE RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.
Electrical system, Feb 14, 2018
MY CAR WOULD NOT START... NOTHING WHEN THE I TURN THE KEY INTO THE ON POSITION . THE BATTERY WAS CHECKED AND WAS GOOD. THIS HAPPED SEVERAL TIMES OVER MONTHS BUT TWICE THE CAR STARTED AFTER SITTING MAYBE 8 HOURS. THIS HAPPENED A THIRD TIME A FEW MONTHS LATER. I WAS STRANDED AND ENDED UP HAVING THE CAR TOWED HOME. I TRIED STARTING IT THE NEXT DAY ..NOTHING. MY AUTHORIZED MERCEDES REPAIR SHOP INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION MODULE. I WAITED 2 WEEKS FOR THE PART. COST WAS $1600. JUST A NOTE... I OCCASIONALLY HEARD A FAINT NOISE LIKE A MOTOR RUNNING INSIDE OF MY CAR WHENEVER I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF FOR A COUPLE YEARS BUT DID NOT THINK IT WAS ANY THING TO BE CONCERNED BUT APPARENTLY THIS MAY HAVE BEEN A SIGN OF A FAILING PART.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 13, 2017
DRIVERS SIDE REAR TAILLIGHT ISSUES; BROWN GROUND WIRE SHORTED OUT AND MELTED CONNECTOR PLUG AND SHORTED OUT LAMP ASSEMBLY .
Electrical system, Air bags, Nov 4, 2017
TAKATA RECALL. THIS TAKATA RECALL MIGHT BE MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO RESELL MY VEHICLE.
Steering, Electrical system, Sep 18, 2017
VEHICLE FAILED TO START/CRANK AFTER ONLY 28,000 MILES. CAUSE WAS A FAILED ESL (ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK) PART OF THE ELECTRONIC THEFT SYSTEM THAT TIES WITH THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH. THE FAILURE OF THIS PART DISABLES THE CAR AND IS UNUSABLE. THIS ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL, W204 - C-CLASS 300/350, HAS AN ABNORMAL AMOUNT OF REPORTS VIA MERCEDES BENZ INTERNET FORUMS ABOUT THIS VERY FAILURE. 13 PAGES WORTH ON ONE. GIVEN THE LOW AMOUNT OF MILES ON MY VEHICLE, THE FAILURE RATE SEEMS UNREASONABLY HIGH. THE PART FAILURE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE USE/ABUSE OF THE VEHICLE.
Electrical system, Engine, Aug 29, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT OPENED THE DOOR AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTING WAS NOT ILLUMINATED, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTING WAS DIM, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, AND THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER (SCHUMACHER EUROPEAN, LOCATED AT 18530 N SCOTTSDALE RD PHOENIX, AZ 85054) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 1-956218644. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
Electrical system, Air bags, Other or unspecified, Aug 23, 2017
2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REPLACEMENT PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO REPAIR BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS. *LD THE UPDATED 08/23/2017*JS
Steering, Electrical system, Aug 12, 2017
STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK DISABLING THE CAR FROM BEING STARTED .THE KEY WILL TURN BUT THE CAR WILL NOT START . GOOD THING IT WAS PARKED ON DRIVEWAY !WE ARE UNABLE TO MOVE THE CAR WHATSOEVER , SHIFT MECHANISM IS LOCKED AS WELL DISABLING THE MOVEMENT OF CAR
Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 27, 2017
MY MERCEDES WAS RUNNING GOOD ALL DAY THEN WHEN I WENT TO THE MALL AND CAME BACK BACK TO START MY CAR IT HAD NO POWER. WE TRY JUMPING THE CAR NOTHING. USE A DIFFERENT KEY NOTHING.. IT WON'T START I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK . I TOOK IT TO MERCEDES DEALER JUST TO LOOK AT IT $300 .. NOW THEY SAY IT'S THE KEY INGOTION THAT NEEDS TO REPLACE COST ME $1200+.. I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR 7 MONTHS AGO I HAVE NO WARRANT.. I GOOGLE THE PROBLEM AND IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM THAT PPL HAVE PLZ INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM CUZ IT COST A LOT OF MONEY TO FIX AND I'M OUT OF A CAR FOR A WEEK . THANK YOU