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, Other or unspecified, Sep 17, 2015
SAME ISSUE AS LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF OTHERS ARE COMPLAINING OF...CAR FAILS TO START DUE TO EITHER A FAULTY STEERING WHEEL IGNITION LOCK OR EIS NOT RECOGNIZING THE KEY AND THEREFORE NOT STARTING. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE TO ME, DEALER SERVICE ADVISOR KNEW IMMEDIATELY AND EVEN GUESSED AT THE MODEL AND YEAR OF MY VEHICLE, WHICH TELLS ME THAT THIS IS A PREVALENT ISSUE, SUPPORTED BY THE THOUSANDS OF POSTS I HAVE READ ON VARIOUS FORUMS. THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY NIGHTMARE WAITING TO HAPPEN, SIMILAR IN NATURE, IF NOT SCOPE, TO THE GM IGNITION SWITCH RECALL! THE SAME THING COULD HAPPEN IF THE FAILURE OCCURS AT HIGHWAY SPEED.
Steering, Electrical system, Aug 25, 2015
DROVE CAR TO WORK WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. AT THE END OF DAY, CAR WOULD NOT START AND ENGINE WOULD NOT CRANK OR TURN OVER. DASHBOARD INDICATOR, RADIO, WINDOWS, INTERIOR/EXTERIOR LIGHTS WORKED. GOT A JUMP FROM EMPLOYEE PARKING SERVICES, BUT CAR STILL WOULD NOT START. STEERING COLUMN LOCKED AND UNABLE TO SHIFT GEAR TO NEUTRAL. TOWED CAR TO AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND HAD SERVICE DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. ERROR FOUND TO BE RELATED TO SERVICE CAMPAIGN 2008020003 ISSUED MARCH 2008 IN WHICH THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. PER CAMPAIGN, "DAIMLER AG HAS DETERMINED THAT THE EIS MAY MALFUNCTION PREVENTING THE ELECTRIC STEERING LOCK AND THE CENTRAL LOCK FROM FUNCTIONING. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EIS ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES DURING THE NEXT WORKSHOP VISIT. PLEASE NOTE THAT RECALL AND SERVICE CAMPAIGNS DO NOT EXPIRE AND MAY ALSO BE PERFORMED ON A VEHICLE WITH A VEHICLE STATUS INDICATOR. ORDER NO. P-SC-2008020003." PARTS--PART NAME:EIS PART NO: A204 545 14 08 ESTIMATED REPLACEMENT RATE 100%; PART NAME:ORANGE WORKSHOP KEY (MUST BE ORDERED BY VIN) PART NO: A000 766 96 06 9999 ESTIMATED REPLACEMENT RATE 100%. WARRANTY INFORMATION: OPERATION: REPLACE EIS CONTROL MODULE (02-5644); CONNECT/DISCONNECT STAR DIAGNOSIS (02-4762); CONNECT/DISCONNECT BATTERY CHARGER (02-5058). DAMAGE CODE: 46 926 31 7. DO YOUR RESEARCH--THIS PROBLEM HAS AFFECTED THOUSANDS OF MB OWNERS AND HAS OCCURRED TO SOME WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD, MORE SO THAN THE BACK TAIL LIGHT ISSUE WHICH WAS RECALLED. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE AND MAKE THIS A REQUIRED RECALL COVERED BY MERCEDES. DON'T BUY ANOTHER MERCEDES WITHOUT CHECKING THE VMI, VEHICLE MASTER INQUIRY FIRST. LIVES MATTER.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Aug 24, 2015
LAST WEEK 8/11/2015 I DROVE TO THE LUMBAR STORE, PARKED THE CAR AND UPON RETURNING TO THE CAR, THE KEY TURNED COMPLETELY TO THE RIGHT, THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON, THE RINGING NOISE SOUNDED, BUT THE CAR DID NOT TURN OVER, NOTHING HAPPENED. THE DASH READ REMOVE THE KEY FROM IGNITION. I CALLED MY MECHANIC WITH THE ISSUE AND HE SAID USE YOUR KEY FOB TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE CAR; THAT DID NOT WORK, STILL NOTHING. I CALLED THE TOW COMPANY THE BATTERY WAS FULLY CHARGED ( I PURCHASED IT LAST YEAR 2014). THE TOW COMPANY DISABLED THE CABLE TO THE BATTERY WAITED 30 SECONDS AND RECONNECTED THE BATTERY, STILL THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN THE ENGINE OVER. BECAUSE THE LUMBER YARD LOCKED THEIR GATE AT 5 PM THE CAR WAS SCHEDULED TO BE TOWED THE NEXT MORNING. THE CAR STARTED THE NEXT MORNING, I ALLOWED THE TOW COMPANY TO TOW IT ANYWAY AND HAVE THEIR MECHANIC ASSESS THE PROBLEM. THOROUGH-OUT THE DAY THE TOW MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE CAR ON AND DETERMINED THE CAR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY START. THE NEXT DAY I DROVE THE CAR TO A FOREIGN CAR SERVICE SHOP, THEY STATED THE EIS SYSTEM IS NOT ALWAYS RECOGNIZING THE KEY AND ONLY A MB DEALERSHIP CAN FIX IGNITION RELATED PROBLEMS. I CALLED AND GOT A QUOTE, THE EIS PART AND LABOR WILL COST ME $872.31 INCLUDES TAXES (ASSUMING THIS IS THE PROBLEM). AS A NOTE, I USED MY OTHER KEY AND STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS MORNING I USED THE KEY I ALWAYS USE AND IT STARTED. OFF TO THE MB DEALERSHIP.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Aug 17, 2015
CAR HAS FAULTY STEERING LOCK AND HAS TO BE REPLACED AT A HIGH EXPENSE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AS I LEARNED VISITING VARIOUS WEBSITES AND FORUMS.
Steering, Electrical system, Air bags, Aug 7, 2015
THESE PARTS POSE A RISK VEHICLE SAFETY AND MAY EXIST ON OTHER VEHICLES OF THIS DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE. PLEASE REVIEW AIR BAGS, STEERING LOCK. ELECTRICAL MAIN SYSTEM. AND TIRES USED ON THIS CAR.....UPDATED 03/15/16 *BF UPDATED 03/17/16.*JB
Electrical system, Aug 5, 2015
CAR WOULD NOT START, LOCKED IN PARK. BATTERY CHECKED OK. ALTERNATE KEY DID NOT START CAR. APPEARS TO BE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH -- WHICH WILL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. NOTED MANY ONLINE FORUM SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, ALONG WITH THE BELOW MBUSA CAMPAIGN. CAMPAIGN NO. 2008020003, MARCH 2008 SUBJECT: MODEL 204, MODEL YEAR 2008 REPLACE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH DAIMLER AG HAS DETERMINED THAT THE EIS MAY MALFUNCTION PREVENTING THE ELECTRIC STEERING LOCK AND THE CENTRAL LOCKING FROM FUNCTIONING. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EIS ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES DURING THE NEXT WORKSHOP VISIT.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Aug 4, 2015
THE KEY LOCKS AND UNLOCKS THE DOORS THE LIGHTS COME ON AND THE DASH LIGHTS UP. YOU CAN INSERT AND TURN THE KEY BUT THE CAR WILL NOT START. THE STERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND IT IS STUCK IN PARK. I TRIED POWER JUMPING AND IT DID NOTHING, I DIDN'T THINK THE BATTERY WAS THE PROBLEM BUT HAD IT CHECKED ANYWAYS. THE BATTERY CHECKED OUT FINE. I CHECK THE FUSES THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE STARTER AND ALL WAS FINE ALSO. ONLY THING LEFT WAS GET IT TOWED TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP, FOUND OUT THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK ISSUE IS A COMMON THING WITH MY CAR MODEL, EIS FAILURE SEEMS INCREASINGLY COMMON ON 2008 MODELS FOR SOME REASON.
Electrical system, Aug 2, 2015
WHEN I LEFT THE GYM MY CAR WOULDN'T NOT START. I HAD TO WALK HOME AND HAVE MY CAR TOWED. BATTERY IS FINE BUT THE IGNITION WON'T TURNOVER. BAD EIS JUST LIKE THE OTHER HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT.
Electrical system, Jul 24, 2015
CAR WILL NOT START. VERY COMMON FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. THE KEY WILL NOT START THE ENGINE
Electrical system, Jul 10, 2015
EIS/ STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILURE. LEFT STRANDED FOR 4 HOURS.
Electrical system, Jul 7, 2015
ON JULY 6, 2015, I LEFT WORK TO GO HOME AND MY CAR WOULD NOT START. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IN THREE WEEKS I HAVE HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED FROM WORK DUE TO IT NOT STARTING. HOWEVER, THIS TIME I HAD IT TOWED TO THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALER AND WAS INFORMED I HAVE A FAULTY EIS SYSTEM THAT NEEDS $2100 IN REPAIRS. I IMMEDIATELY INFORMED THEM THAT THE CAR HAS BEEN SHUTTING DOWN ON ME FOR THE PAST THREE WEEKS AND I DON'T BELIEVE I AM THE ONLY PERSON HAVING THIS PROBLEM. AFTER BEING GIVEN A LOANER CAR, UNTIL I CAN DECIDE TO HAVE THE REPAIR WORK INITIATED, I FOUND OUT THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH THAT MERCEDES BENZ HAS KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS NOT OFFERED TO RECALL ANY OF THE CARS AFFECTED IN THE 2008 C300 CLASS OR ANY OTHER CLASS OF MB WITH THE SAME EIS PROBLEMS. IT'S SAD THAT WE ALLOW THEM TO SELL US THESE CARS AND THEY WONT HONOR OUR PATRONAGE ENOUGH TO FIX THEM WHEN THE BREAK DOWN AS A FAULT OF DESIGN BY MB. IT IS ABSOLUTELY ASTONISHING THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS WITH THIS SAME ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT PLAGUE MB C-CLASS CARS. THE ONLY REASON NO ONE HAS DIED SO FAR, IS BECAUSE ONCE THEY CUT OFF YOU CAN'T START THEM TO DRIVE ANYWHERE..AND THAT LEADS TO SAFETY ISSUES AS WELL!! I HEARD THAT SOME OF THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS CAN BE COVERED UNDER THE CAM SOLENOID RECALL MB HAS. I PLAN ON CHECKING WITH MY DEALER IN REGARDS TO THIS ON TOMORROW. ..UPDATED 08/24/16 *BF
Electrical system, Jul 7, 2015
SAME AS MANY OTHERS, STEERING LOCK, WOULDN'T ID KEY, WOULDN'T START. EIS PROBLEM I BELIEVE. $980 TO FIX WITH ONLY 35K MILES! THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE FORUMS I HAVE VISITED.
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jul 5, 2015
THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK JUST SHUTOFF. THE CAR CAME OUT OF COMFORT WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THE C-IN THE BOX-JUST DISAPPEARED OFF THE CLUSTER AND I KNEW THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE IT HAPPENED THREE TIMES THEM STARTED UP TWO DAYS LATER. THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES C300 AS I READ SO MANY COMPLAINTS AND POSTS.
Electrical system, Jun 22, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE RADIO, THE HEADLIGHTS, AND OTHER ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS OPERATED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Electrical system, Jun 15, 2015
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. FIRST TIME I GO TO START MY 2008 C300 AND IT WILL NOT START, WILL NOT SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, NO WINDOWS WILL GO UP OR DOWN. I AM A REGISTERED NURSE AND WAS WORKING HOME HEALTH. WAS STUCK AT A PATIENTS HOUSE AND NOT ABLE TO SEE ANY OTHER PATIENTS FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK. TOOK TO MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AND TOLD IT WAS THE EIS. SO $1200 DOLLARS LATER IT WAS FIXED. AGAIN 2 YEARS LATER THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENS AND WHAT DO YOU KNOW, EIS AND $1200 REPAIR AGAIN. EVEN THE GUY FROM THE MERCEDES SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL. MERCEDES SHOULD BE ASHAMED TO CHARGE SO MUCH FOR A CAR AND NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR WORK. IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER MERCEDES AS LONG AS I LIVE. MY WIFES FIRST KIA WAS MORE RELIABLE THAN THIS CAR.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Other or unspecified, Jun 12, 2015
ON TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015, I DROVE MY CAR TO WORK AND PARKED AT APPROXIMATELY 7:45 AM. I DID NOT GET BACK INTO THE CAR UNTIL 4:30 PM ON THE SAME DAY. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START UP MY VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT START. I CALLED A MECHANIC FRIEND, AND HE DETERMINED THAT IT IS A FAULTY EIS WHICH IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE DESCRIBING HERE. AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER MERCEDES BENZ!!!!
Electrical system, Jun 11, 2015
I CAME HOME FROM WORK ON 6/8/2015 AND LATER RETURNED TO MY CAR TO MEET A FRIEND FOR DINNER. THE DOORS UNLOCKED AND THE LIGHTS CAME ON BUT THE CAR WILL NOT START. THE STEERING WHEEL TURNS BUT THE CAR WILL NOT START. I HAVE TRIED BOTH KEYS, CHECKED TH BATTERY. AFTER SPEAKING WITH MY MECHANIC I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT IS IS THE IGNITION SWITCH. I WILL HAVE TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE SEEN ON THE BENZ FORUM THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT MERCEDES WILL NOT TAKE OWNERSHIP OF. I WILL NEVER BY A MERCEDES AGAIN.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 4, 2015
I PARKED THE CAR,FEW HOURS LATER,I TRY TO PUT IT ON,NO STARTING OCCURRED,NO EXTERNAL LIGHT ,THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. I BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY BUT IT DID NOT FUNCTION.I CONSULTED WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS AND ONE THEM TALLED ME THAT PLACE WHERE I PUT THE KEY THAT IS CALLED THE PANEL SWITCH WAS DAMAGE AND SUGGESTED ME TO CALL MERCEDES BENZ DEALER BECAUSE IT HAPPENS THAT THERE WAS RECALLS THAT SEVERAL CARS HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS FOR CARS FROM 2008 -2014.THIS PROBLEM AFFECTED THE ORIGINAL BATTERY THAT I HAD.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiper, May 17, 2015
MY LCD NAVIGATION SCREEN DOES NOT TURN ON ANYMORE. IT RANDOMLY FLASHES WHEN I'M DRIVING AND CAUSES A DISTRACTION. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, IT SEEMS LIKE AN EXTREMELY COMMON ISSUE WITH MANY C300 MODELS OF THE 2008 YEAR. SOME OWNERS HAVE REPORTED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE CORNER OF THE SCREEN.
Steering, Electrical system, May 15, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE LOCK POSITION AND THE KEY WAS NOT PROGRAMMED TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE IGNITION LOCK FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Electrical system, May 14, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE LOCK POSITION AND THE KEY WAS NOT PROGRAMMED TO THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Steering, Electrical system, May 13, 2015
MY VEHICLE WENT COMPLETELY OUT OF SERVICE AND WAS UNABLE TO START DUE TO A FAULTY ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL). MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 69,000 MILES ON IT AND THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH PLENTY OF OTHER C-CLASS MERCEDES BENZ OWNERS WHO HAVE ENCOUNTERED THE SAME ISSUE. MERCEDES BENZ IS FAILING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY WHILE ALSO MY EXTENEDED WARRANTY THAT I PAID $2000 FOR HAS ALSO SAID THEY WILL NOT COVER THIS. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND NOT EVER BUYING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM PRIVILEGE PROTECTION CARE. THEY PLACE GENERIC TERMS IN PARTS OF WHAT THEY COVER AND IF THE DEALER OR SHOP HAS A SPECIFIC NAME FOR YOUR PART, ALTHOUGH IT IS THE PRODUCT OR PART OF THE SAME PART THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, THEY WILL HONOR THE WARRANTY. ALSO THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS RUDE AND NOT VERY HELPFUL AT ALL.
Electrical system, Structure, Engine, May 2, 2015
BELT TENSIONER MAKES LOUD METALLIC NOISE AROUND THE ENGINE AREA. CAR WOULDN'T START. CAMSHAFT ADJUSTER MAGNETS REPLACED. WATER LEAK FROM SUN ROOF DRAIN SIDE MIRROR CRACKED UNDER COLD WEATHER. *TR
Electrical system, Engine, May 1, 2015
GOT IN MY CAR LAST NIGHT TO GO HOME AND ATTEMPTED TO CRANK IT. IT WOULD NOT START. THE KEY TURNED IN THE IGNITION AND LIGHTS WORKED BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. LAST YEAR IN FEBRUARY I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP BY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAVE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED FOR A SIMILAR SITUATION AT MY COST. I AM AWAITING NEWS FROM THE DEALERSHIP AS TO THE PROBLEM THIS TIME BUT THIS IS RIDICULOUS FOR THIS VEHICLE TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF COMPLAINTS FROM SO MANY CONSUMERS AND MERCEDES NOT STAND BEHIND THIS PRODUCT BY RECALLING IT. I AM A WOMAN AND HAD NO ONE TO ASSIST ME OR PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION HOME. YOU BUY A PRODUCT THINKING THAT IT IS DEPENDABLE BUT THIS CAR ISN'T IT. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Apr 27, 2015
SAME AS EVERYONE ELSE. THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND WE HAD IT TOWED IN. I RESEARCHED THE COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND SAW THAT MERCEDES HAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS ISSUE (EIS/SIS) THEY SOLD ME A NEW KEY FOR $547 AND SAID THAT IT WAS FIXED. PICKED IT UP ON SATURDAY AND HAD IT TOWED BACK IN ON TUESDAY. NOW THEY SAY IT'S THE EIS TO THE TUNE OF ANOTHER $1500. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER MERCEDES UNTIL I SEE HOW THEY STAND BEHIND THE ONE I HAVE...I HOPE THAT WE DO NOT HAVE TO CALL THE NEWS STATIONS AND FILE A CLASS ACTION SUIT TO GET IT FIXED. MERCEDES NEEDS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND REPAIR THEIR DEFECT. *TR