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, Air bags, Engine, Jun 19, 2017
TAKATA INFLATORS RECALL SRS CONTROLS MANUFACTURING ERROR THIS AUTO SHOULD HAVE NEVER LEFT THE FACTORY FLOOR IT HAS COST ME CONSIDERABLE MENTAL UPSET AND MONEY WHICH I CAN NOT AFFORD IT PARKED UNSAFE TO DRIVE ENGINE LITE ON MERCEDES SHOULD REPAIR OR REBUILT THIS AUTO I AM A DISABLE VETERAN AND NEED MY TRANSPORTATION. MERCEDES SHOULD TAKE THE AIR BAGS OUT BETTER THERE OUT THAN GO OFF ACCIDENTLY
Steering, Electrical system, Jun 13, 2017
ESL FAILED IN UNLOCKED POSITION, CAR WONT START.
Electrical system, May 27, 2017
ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK- CAR WAS RUNNING FINE NO ISSUES PARKED THE CAR WENT BACK OUT TO START LESS THAN AN HOUR AFTER PARKING AND GOT NOTHING DASH CAME ON NO RADIO,NO WINDOWS,NO RELEASE FROM PARK, AND STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND WILL NOT UNLOCK. LEFT STRANDED HAVE TO HAVE A TOW TO CLOSEST MERCEDES BENZ DEALER 45 MILES AWAY....ESTIMATED COST AFTER 310.80 TOW 1200 TO 2000
Steering, Electrical system, May 25, 2017
ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL) GOES OUT DAMAGED WITHOUT REASON, HAPPENED ALL OF A SUDDEN TO MY PARKED CAR. CAR SIMPLY WON'T ATTEMPT TO START AND STEERING HIS COMPLETELY LOCKED. ONLY OPTION IS TO TOW IT TO THE SHOP AND A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR FIX. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF CASES ALREADY REGISTERED ON THIS AND IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS PART USED IN MANY MERCEDES CARS.
Electrical system, May 17, 2017
APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AGO THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK MODULE (ESL MODULE) FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHILE THE STEERING WHEEL AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WERE LOCKED. HAD TO TAKE TO THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE MODULE AT A COST OF $840.00. RIGHT NOW THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH MODULE (EIS MODULE) FAILED AND AGAIN THE STEERING WHEEL AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WERE LOCKED AND THE CAR WILL NOT START. DEALER IS ASKING FOR $1150.00 TO REPAIR. THESE ARE KNOWN DEFECTS IN MERCEDES VEHICLES. I ASKED MERCEDES BENZ USA TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIRS OF THE VEHICLE IN BOTH CASES AND THEY HAVE REFUSED TO ADMIT THAT THESE ARE KNOWN DEFECTS AND TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE.
Electrical system, May 10, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C350W. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 113,773.
Steering, Electrical system, May 9, 2017
VEHICLE PARKED AND LOCKED. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO UNLOCK VEHICLE WITH REMOTE CONTROL, VEHICLE WOULD NOT UNLOCK. DOOR HAD TO BE OPENED MANUALLY WITH "KEY". WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE, NO WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON IN POSITION 2 AND CAR WOUD NOT START IN POSITION 3. TOWING COMPANY WAS CALLED. WAS UNABLE TO START VEHICLE. VEHICLE TOWED TO MBZ DEALER. DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTIONED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. REPLACEMENT COMPLETED.
Steering, Electrical system, May 3, 2017
THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND WILL NOT MOVE. DEALERSHIP AND WEB STATE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL OF THE CAR AND THE EIS AND ESL SWITCHES NEED TO BE REMOVED AND REPLACED.
Electrical system, Apr 30, 2017
ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK PREVENTS CAR FROM STARTING. CAR WAS AT A STOP AND MOTOR TURNED OFF - CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. STRANDED MILES FROM HOME. THIS HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES NECESSITATING AUTO CLUB TO ATTEMPT TO START.
Electrical system, Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), Apr 26, 2017
ESP CONTROL MODULE AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, SPECIFICALLY GETTING OFF THE INTERSTATE ON A CURVED ROAD, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE/CODE ILLUMINATED ACROSS MY DASHBOARD, "BRAKE" EBR ABS ESP INOPERATIVE. I WASN'T SURE WHAT THIS MEANT AND I WAS EXTREMELY ALARMED AND NERVOUS. AS SOON AS I COULD I BROUGHT IT INTO THE SHOP AND THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME IT WASN'T A BRAKE ISSUE, IT WAS A FAULTY ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL PANEL THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT HE HAD JUST REPLACED THESE IN ABOUT 4 OTHER VEHICLES. SAME EXACT PROBLEM. AFTER DOING RESEARCH, IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IT READS THE WHEEL DATA FROM THE SENSORS AS WELL AS THE ABS MODULE WHICH PREVENTS TRACTION AND SLIPPAGE WHEN DRIVING ON THE ROAD, WHEN MAKING SHARP TURNS, OR EVEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. THE CAR SEEMS TO FISHTAIL. IT ALSO PREVENTS STABILITY ON THE ROAD IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. I'VE ALSO NOTICED IT HAS AFFECTED OTHER AREAS OF THE CAR SUCH AS THE TURN SIGNAL, CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISM, STEERING COLUMN AND STARTING UP THE CAR HAS ALSO BEEN AN ISSUE. I'VE HAD TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH A COUPLE OF TIMES TO GET THE CAR STARTED. THE CAR IS ALSO DRIVING ROUGHER THAN USUAL. THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN FOR US BECAUSE I AM A SINGLE MOTHER AND I HAVE A NINE YEAR OLD SON WHO DRIVES WITH ME FREQUENTLY. I'M WORRIED ABOUT OUR SAFETY. NOT TO MENTION OUR FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER TAKATA AIRBAGS STILL HAVE A RECALL THAT HAVE YET TO BE DEALT WITH. IT HAS BEEN WELL OVER A YEAR AND THE PROBLEM STILL HASN'T BEEN RESOLVED. THIS ESP CONTROL MODULE COSTS $1,500 TO REPLACE AND I CANNOT AFFORD THIS. I'M DRIVING AROUND IN A TICKING TIME BOMB JUST WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN. IT IS A MAJOR CONCERN AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I CERTAINLY HOPE YOU TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY AND PLACE THIS ON THE RECALL LIST TO AVOID A BAD SITUATION.
Electrical system, Apr 24, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY INOPERABLE AND DISABLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Apr 17, 2017
ESL/EIS FAILURE. WHEN THE KEY IS INSERTED THE CAR WILL NOT START. LIGHTS WORK BUT WINDOWS AND DASH MESSAGE ARE NOT WORKING.
Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Mar 14, 2017
LAST WEEK I DROVE MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL. THEN I WENT TO THE GAS STATION AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR TO LEAVE, IT WOULD NOT START. IT DID NOT DO ANYTHING. I COULD NOT EVEN ROLL THE WINDOWS UP. THE CAR DID NOTHING OTHER THAN SAY "REMOVE IGNITION KEY." THE BATTERY WAS TESTED AND FINE. IT HAD JUST BEEN REPLACED 1 MONTH AGO. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER BROUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO THEN SAID IT HAD TO BE BROUGHT TO THE DEALER. THE MERCEDES DEALER SAID IT WAS THE EIS/STEERING SWITCH. THE COST WILL BE $1900. I'VE CALLED OTHER MECHANICS. NO-ONE CAN FIX IT BECAUSE MERCEDES HAS THE PARTS AND CODING EXCLUSIVELY. THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY AND WITH THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. LAST YEAR MY CAR ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SRS LIGHT MALFUNCTION. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND THIS WAS ALSO ANOTHER HUGE EXPENSE. THE DEALER DID NOT TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF A RECALL. THEY ACTED LIKE IT WAS A BIG SURPRISE.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Feb 26, 2017
START FAILURE AND LOCKED STEERING WHEEL
Electrical system, Engine, Feb 22, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED AND SHUT OFF WHILE IN PARK. THE FAILURE DID NOT OCCUR WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT ALSO SMELLED A FUEL ODOR. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Steering, Electrical system, Feb 12, 2017
STEERING LOCK ISSUE. ENGINE DOES NOT CRANK AND CAR DOES NOT START. UPON INSERTING KEY, AN MESSAGE POPS UP ASKING TO REMOVE THE KEY. STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND CAR STUCK IN PARK. DUE TO THE CONFIGURATION OF MY PARKING GARAGE AND THE FACT THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED, IT TOOK ME SEVERAL DAYS AND 4 DIFFERENT TOW TRUCKS TO SUCCESSFULLY TOW THE CAR 1.5 MILES TO MY LOCAL MB DEALERSHIP. THE DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR OF THE FAULTY STEERING LOCK, WHICH THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAYS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WITH MY MODEL, TOOK AN ENTIRE WEEK. I WAS TOLD MB DOES NOT OFFER A LOANER CAR IN THIS SITUATION. ALL IN ALL, IT TOOK MY 2 WEEKS TO FINALLY GET MY CAR WORKING AGAIN. THE REPAIR WAS $1,200. ADD IN THE 4 TOW TRUCKS, AND 2 WEEKS OF RENTAL CAR AND THIS WAS EASILY A $2,000 ISSUE. MB SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL GIVEN THAT THIS ISSUE IS SO PREVALENT AND CLEARLY A FAULT WITH THE STEERING LOCK PART.
Electrical system, Jan 28, 2017
EIS FAILURE. VEHICLE HAS 136,000 MILES. INSERTED KEY INTO IGNITION AND TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE. NOTHING HAPPENED, NO START. TRANSMISSION STUCK IN PARK. TRIED JUMP STARTING, REPLACED BATTERY EVEN THOUGH IT TESTED O.K. BUT WAS OLD ENOUGH TO MAKE ME QUESTION IT'S VIABILITY, CHECKED FUSES, ETC. ONLINE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT EIS FAILURE IS A FAIRLY COMMON ISSUE WITH MB PRODUCTS, PARTICULARLY THE C CLASS. THIS IS NOT AN OWNER REPARABLE ITEM. WILL HAVE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND REPAIRED THERE AT THE USUAL INFLATED COST OF DOING SO.
Steering, Electrical system, Dec 20, 2016
ORDINARY DAY AT MY JOB, GOT OFF AND WENT TO MY CAR AND PUT THE KEY IN LIGHTS IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CAME ON AND MESSAGE WAS " REMOVE THE KEY" TURN THE KEY TO ACCESSORY NOTHING HAPPENS, TURN IT ALL THE WAY TO START THE IGNITION NOTHING HAPPENS, THE VEHICLE IS STUCK IN PARK AND THERE IS NO WAY TO MOVE THE SHIFTER. AFTER A RESEARCH ONLINE AND FEW PHONE CALLS I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AMONG MERCEDES VEHICLES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY DID DIAGNOSE IT FOR STEERING WHEEL LOCK AND QUOTED ME $1,300 FOR REPAIRS. I DO BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL OR AT LEASE MERCEDES-BENZ OF USA TAKE IT'S PART AND REIMBURSE THE PARTS SINCE IT'S A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. I'M NOT HAPPY AT ALL OF THE WAY THEY DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 16, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO OPERATE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE CABLE WIRE CONNECTED TO THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT BULBS WERE DAMAGED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE PARKING INDICATOR ALSO FAILED AND THE CABLE CONNECTED TO THE PARKING INDICATOR WAS DAMAGED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS NEEDED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
Steering, Electrical system, Dec 7, 2016
2008 MERCEDES C300 WITH BAD ESL. COST TO FIX IS $1200. SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUES WITH MERCEDES AS AN INTERNET SEARCH LEADS TO MANY OTHER WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I PARKED THE CAR AT WORK, THEN WENT OUT SEVERAL HOURS LATER TO GO TO LUNCH AND IT WOULD NOT START. THERE WAS NO SOUND OF THE STARTER OR ANY OTHER NOISES WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY, BUT ALL THE LIGHTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE ELECTRICAL WORKED ON THE CAR. JUST TO BE SAFE, TRIED TO JUMP THE CAR, BUT IT STILL DID NOT START. CAR WAS STUCK AND COULD NOT SHIFT IT INTO NEUTRAL. HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO GET IT TOWED MY LOCAL MBZ DEALER. TURNS OUT IT HAS A BAD ESL.
Steering, Electrical system, Dec 5, 2016
AN HOUR AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, I WAS UNABLE TO START IT BACK UP. HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER AND DIAGNOSED WITH EIS/ESL FAILURE, AT A COST OF $1700 TO REPLACE. MERCEDES DISAVOWED ALL KNOWLEDGE OF THIS BEING A COMMON ISSUE, DESPITE HUNDREDS OF ONLINE COMPLAINTS TO THE CONTRARY. ALL SIGNS POINT TO THIS BEING DUE TO A CHEAP/FAULTY PART AT MANUFACTURE, WHICH CAN FAIL AT ANY TIME, LEAVING DRIVERS STRANDED IN POTENTIALLY UNSAFE AREAS OR ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CAR HAS 75000 MILES AND EXEMPLARY SERVICE RECORD. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Nov 25, 2016
FRONT LAMPS AND HEADLIGHT KEEP RANDOMLY NOT FUNCTIONING AT START OR WHEN DRIVING. WARNING LIGHT THAT BULB IS OUT COMES ON BUT THEN GOES AWAY AND THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON AFTER A LITTLE OF TIME AND A RESTART OF ENGINE.
Electrical system, Nov 22, 2016
WHEN REPLACING A HEADLIGHT BULB I NOTICED THE H7 WIRE WAS COMPLETELY EXPOSED WITH NO INSULATION, AS I TRIED TO WRAPPED THEM IN ELECTRICAL TAPE TO GET A TEMPORARY FIX, THE LITTLE INSULATION STILL LEFT ON THE CABLE CRUMBLED. I ENCOURAGE TO CHECK THE CABLE INSULATION ON YOUR VEHICLE AS THIS CAN CAUSE A SHORTAGE AND FAIL HEADLIGHTS.
Electrical system, Nov 16, 2016
CAR WAS PARKED AND WENT TO DRIVE CAR. IT WILL NOT START. BOTH KEYS WILL NOT WORK. PROBLEM IS WITH ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. NO INSTRUMENTATION DISPLAY. CAN NOT SHIFT CAR OUT OF PARK. TRIED JUMPING CAR AND IT WILL NOT START. REPLACED BATTERY AND IT WILL NOT START.
Steering, Electrical system, Air bags, Nov 3, 2016
C300 NOT STARTING DUE TO BAD ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK MECHANISM, SEEMS TO BE COMMON.