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, Apr 18, 2015
THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, THE KEY TURNED IN THE IGNITION WITH NO CRANK. ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL FEATURES WORKED AND THE BATTERY TESTED AS BEING OK. THE ELECTRICAL IGNITION SYSTEM JUST DID NOT RESPOND. TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP. $1350 TO FIX IT. *TR
Electrical system, Apr 15, 2015
THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM ALSO KNOWN AS EIS IS BROKEN. I TURNED IF THE CAR AND IT DID NOT READ MY KEY. AFTER LOOKING IN THE INTERNET AND SPEAKING WITH THE MECHANIC IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE MODELS 2008 09 10 HAVE THIS DEFECTIVE PART. I ALSO SPOKE TO A SERVICE TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALER WHO WISHED TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS AND HE ADMITTED THAT JUST AT HIS DEALER THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES ARE BROUGHT IN FOR THIS SAME ISSUE AND YET MERCEDES BENZ REFUSES TO RECALL. THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO POLICE THIS MATTER WHICH IS COSTING MINIMUM $1300. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Apr 14, 2015
I HAD JUST STOPPED TO PUT GAS IN THE VEHICLE AND UPON COMPLETION I GOT BACK IN THE CAR TO START IT. WHEN I TURNED THE KEY, THE CAR WOULDN'T START. I HAD HEADLIGHTS AND MY DASHBOARD WAS PARTIALLY LIT UP, BUT NOTHING ELSE WOULD WORK. I THEN CALLED THE MB ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE AND A TECHNICIAN CAME OUT AND DETERMINED IT WAS NOT A BATTERY OR STARTER PROBLEM. THE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT IT WAS PROBABLY THE EIS SINCE HE HAD SEEN THE SAME SITUATION BEFORE. AN HOUR LATER THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND DROPPED OFF WITH MUCH TROUBLE SINCE THE STEERING COLUMN DIDN'T FUNCTION. SEVERAL DAYS LATER I GOT A CALL FROM MY SERVICE CONSULTANT, INFORMING ME THAT THE CAR NEEDED THE IGNITION STARTER SWITCH AS WELL AS THE EIS UNIT AND TWO NEW KEYS NEEDED TO BE PROGRAMMED. THE TOTAL WAS $2500. IN THE MEANTIME, I FOUND A TSB NUMBER 2008020003, DATED MARCH 1, 2008, DOCUMENTING THE EXACT PROBLEM I WAS HAVING. IT APPEARS THAT IT WAS A KNOW PROBLEM EVEN BACK IN 2008. MY CAR IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND IT HAS ONLY 32,260 MILES. WHY DIDN'T THIS BECOME A RECALL? I ALSO FEEL LIKE I WAS ROBBED ON THE COST OF THE REPAIRS. I'LL NEVER TRUST THIS CAR AGAIN AND I'M NOT BUYING ANOTHER MERCEDES. *TR
Electrical system, Mar 23, 2015
THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, THE KEY TURNED IN THE IGNITION WITH NO CRANK. ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL FEATURES WORKED AND THE BATTERY TESTED AS BEING OK. THE ELECTRICAL IGNITION SYSTEM JUST DID NOT RESPOND. IN ADDITION, THE WHEELS WERE LOCKED THUS REQUIRING A SPECIAL DOLLY TO TOW THE VEHICLE. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Mar 16, 2015
UPON ENTERING MY VEHICLE AFTER PUMPING GAS LATE ONE EVENING, I PROCEEDED TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE KEY WOULD NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO START. ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH, RADIO AND HEADLIGHTS WERE OPERATIVE AT THAT TIME. I ATTEMPTED A JUMP START TO NO AVAIL. I PROCEEDED WITH HAVING HE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRICAL STEERING/IGNITION SYSTEM THAT WAS ELECTRICAL IN NATURE AND "COMMON" FOR THE YEAR AND MODEL OF THE CAR. IF THIS POTENTIAL DEFECT IS COMMON THEN IT IS "KNOWN" TO THE MANUFACTURER AND ITS DEALERS WHO CAN BE HELD STRICTLY LIABLE OR ANY MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT, OR INADEQUATE WARNING. THAT BEING SAID, IF THE PRODUCT IS DEFECTIVE, WHAT PREVENTS THE RECURRENCE OF THE ISSUE AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE PART, WHICH WOULD ESSENTIALLY BE REPLACING IT WITH ANOTHER DEFECTIVE PART. THIS MATTER IS SERIOUS TO THE CONSUMER, AND THE MANUFACTURE COULD EASILY REDUCE THE RISK OF HARM TO ITS CONSUMERS BY ALTERING THE DESIGN IN A MUCH MORE COST EFFECTIVE MANNER THAN ALLOWING ITS CONSUMERS TO BEAR THE COSTS OF ITS MANUFACTURING ERROR. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Mar 9, 2015
I ENTERED MY 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300 AFTER WORK, AND IT WOULD NOT START. I WAS STRANDED FOR 2 AND 1/2 HOURS WAITING FOR THE COMPLIMENTARY TOW TRUCK MERCEDES BENZ WAS SENDING. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP AT 7PM WHERE IT SAT ALL WEEKEND UNTIL THEY CHECKED IT ON MONDAY 3/9/15. THEY CALLED ON 3/9/15 AND STATED IT WAS THE ELECTRICAL STEERING DEVICE AND WOULD COST $950. THIS IS A COMMON MALFUNCTION IN THE 2008 C300 THAT MERCEDES IS NOT TAKING OWNERSHIP OF. THERE ARE NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE FACED THIS PROBLEM, AND ARE CHARGED EXTREME AMOUNTS TO HAVE IT FIXED. (SEE MBWORLD) THIS IS NOT A DEFECT DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR, THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MANUFACTURING, A DEFECT WHICH IS UNFAIR TO THE CONSUMER. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THE ELECTRONIC STEERING DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR. CAMPAIGN NUMBER 2008020003 (NJ) TO: ALL MERCEDES BENZ CENTERS, MODEL 204, MODEL YEAR 2008, REPLACE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH WAS PUBLISHED IN MARCH 2008 NOTING "DAIMIER 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." CONSUMERS ARE LEFT SHOULDERING THE COST OF A PROBLEM MERCEDES BENZ IS AWARE OF, YET WILL NOT DO A RECALL. *TR
Electrical system, Feb 12, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE KEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,685.
Steering, Electrical system, Feb 5, 2015
I HAVE A C350 SPORT, I WENT TO START THE CAR AND THE CAR DIDN'T START. THE LIGHTS CAME ON, NAVIGATION CAME UP, BUT IT WOULD NOT START. IT SEEMED AS IF THE CAR DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY; AS THE DISPLAYED MESSAGE WAS "TAKE KEY FROM IGNITION". THE FOLLOWING DAY I PAID SOMEONE TO COME OUT AND LOOK AT THE CAR, AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. BATTERY TESTED NORMAL AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A CLOSE CALL. THEN I LEFT TO RUN ERRANDS AND IT WOULDN'T START AND NEVER STARTED AGAIN. AFTER PAYING $160 FOR THE TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP; I WAS TOLD IF I DID NOT HAVE 2 KEYS THEN THEY CAN'T TEST IT. SO AFTER ORDERING A SECOND KEY AT $375; I FOUND OUT IT WASN'T THE KEY! IF THIS CAR HAS SO MUCH TECHNOLOGY IN IT, WHY CAN'T YOU TEST THE EIS WITH A DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER, WITHOUT BLOWING MONEY ON A $375 DOLLAR KEY? AFTER THAT FAILURE I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH. I HAVE A 15 YEAR OLD TOYOTA CAMRY AND THE [XXX] THING HAS NEVER HAD 1 ISSUE. I BUY THIS CAR AND AT 89,000 MILES THE EIS GOES OUT. POORLY MADE AND HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED. THE TOTAL COST FOR THIS JOKE WAS $1,780 AND I DIDN'T EVEN GET THE OIL CHANGED! I THINK THEY DO THIS TO GET MORE MONEY, THEY SHOULD RECALL THE EIS AND ELS IN ALL MERCEDES THAT ARE HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES AND NOT MAKE THE CUSTOMER PAY. IT MAKES ME NOT WANT TO BE A CUSTOMER ANYMORE BECAUSE OF THIS AND THEIR LACK OF WANTING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FAILURE. *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Electrical system, Air bags, Seat belts, Jan 31, 2015
FOR UNKNOWN REASON, A WARNING ABOUT SRS RESTRAINT SYSTEM DRIVER SIDE FAILURE. UNSURE IF THIS IS AIR BAG, OR SEAT BELT RELATED. DEALER WANTED $2200. TO FIX. OUTRAGEOUS SAFETY ISSUE. FROM ONLINE SEARCH THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN REGULARLY TO MB PRODUCTS. WHY HAS DOT NOT TAKEN ACTION. THANK YOU FOR A RESPONSE. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Jan 21, 2015
I DROVE CAR TO WORK IN THE A.M. WHEN I GOT READY TO LEAVE FOR THE DAY THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE LIGHTS AND LOCKS AND RADIO WORKED, BUT THE ENGINE WOULDN'T TURN OVER. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAS BEEN THERE FOR A FEW DAYS. JUST GOT A CALL THAT THEY THINK IT IS BOTH THE EIS AND ESL, BUT THEY NEED MY SECOND KEY TO BE SURE. AFTER READING MULTIPLE FORUMS WITH THIS PROBLEM, AND CALLING ANOTHER DEALERSHIP, IT SEEMS THE REAL ISSUE MY ONLY BE THE ESL. I SAY ONLY BECAUSE IT CUTS MY COST IN HALF, BUT IT REALLY SUCKS THAT THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND MERCEDES HAS YET TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR
Electrical system, Jan 21, 2015
I WENT TO GO TURN ON MY CAR AND IT FAILED. NO SOUND OR ANYTHING. I CALLED AAA THEY CAME AND SAID THE BATTERY IS GOOD THEY JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG. I HAD TO GET MY CAR TOW WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND IT TOOK THEM ABOUT A WEEK TO REALIZE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. I CALLED MERCEDES BENZ AND THEY HAD NO EXPLANATION TO WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT OR WHY IT HAPPEN. THEY FINALLY FIGURED IT OUT AND THEY SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRIC STEERING LOCK PROBLEM AND THAT ITS FOR SECURITY REASONS AND THAT IT CAN HAPPEN ANYTIME. I ALSO HAD TO GET A PROGRAMMING KEY. THIS COST WAS VERY EXPENSIVE TO NOT HAVE AN EXPLANATION. I ALSO NOTED THAT A LOT OF C CLASS USERS HAD THIS VERY SAME ISSUE AND WE ARE NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THERE ISN'T A RECALL. *TR
Electrical system, Jan 8, 2015
CAR WONT START. COMPUTER RECOGNIZES KEY IN IGNITION BUT DOESN'T TURN ON ANY INSTRUMENTS OR START THE CAR. TRIED A SPARE KEY - SAME ISSUE. REMOTES UNLOCK AND LOCK FINE BUT IGNITION WONT TURN ON. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Jan 2, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK SYSTEM AND THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
Electrical system, Dec 29, 2014
ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH AND STEERING LOCK RENDERED US COMPLETELY STRANDED IN OUR CAR. COULD NOT EVEN PUT IT IN NEUTRAL WITHOUT USING THE MANUAL OVERRIDE. AFTER RESEARCHING IN THE INTERNET IT SEEMS THIS IS SOMEWHAT COMMON IN THIS VEHICLE, AND UNFORTUNATELY IS COSTING ME $1350!! ONLY THE DEALERSHIP CAN DO THIS. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC ONLY TO HAVE IT TOWED AGAIN TO MERCEDES DEALERSHIP. *TR
Electrical system, Dec 24, 2014
11/28 : I DRIVE MY 08C350 TO 7/11 STORE CLOSE TO MY HOUSE TO PICK UP SOME FOR THE TRIP THE NEXT DAY. THE CAR WOULD NOT START (RADIO, POWER WINDOW...ARE WORKING). I CALL FLETCHER JONES MERCEDES BENZ, THEY ADVISE ME TO USE THE SPARE KEY, I WALK HOME TO GET THE SPARE KEY, SAME THING. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO FETCHER JONES FOR REPAIR, THE REPAIR COST ME $1064.78. ONE MONTH EARLIER, IT COST ME ALMOST $1800,00 TO FIX THE CAMSHAFT SENSORS AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD SENSOR. ALL OF THESES 3 PROBLEMS ARE WELL KNOWN FOR THE C CLASS W204 (FROM 2008 TO 2011), BUT MERCEDES BENZ NEVER ACCEPT THE BAD DESIGN OR FAULT. WHETHER NHTSA CAN DO SOMETHING TO FORCE THE COMPANY ACCEPT THE FAULTY DESIGN TO HELP OUT THE CAR'S OWNER ?. THANKS. *TR
Electrical system, Dec 2, 2014
ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2013, MY 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300 WITH 32,050 MILES WOULD NOT START DESPITE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. EACH TIME I WOULD TRY AND START IT EVERYTHING CAME ON IN THE CABIN BUT THERE WAS A COMPLETE DISCONNECT TO THE ENGINE WHICH WOULD NOT EVEN CRANK. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE CAME OUT MY HOME AND DETERMINED THE BATTERY WAS FINE, I THEN HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED INTO THE DEALER. DURING THIS VISIT, THEY REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL CONTROL UNIT AND IT WAS THERE FOR A FULL WEEK. IN OCTOBER 2014 AND AT 39,000 MILES, THE PROBLEM BEGAN AGAIN IN THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT START INTERMITTENTLY AND I HAD TO GO BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY AGAIN REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL CONTROL UNIT WHICH TOOK ANOTHER WEEK. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN FOR AN ENTIRE DAY DESPITE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS AND I WAS STRANDED. ANOTHER TOW AND BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN, THIS TIME THEY STATED IT WAS ALSO THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH (EIS) AND ELETRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL) THAT WERE FAULTY AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT AN APPROXIMATE COST OF $2000. I ARGUED WITH THEM EXTENSIVELY ON WHY ALL THESE PARTS WERE FAILING ON A VEHICLE WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL YEAR. AFTER TWO ADDITIONAL WEEKS IN FOR SERVICE, THE VEHICLE WAS JUST RETURNED TO ME. BESIDES A KNOWN MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH THESE PARTS WHICH MB HAS NOT ADDRESSED, THIS ALSO REPRESENTS POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARDS FOR DRIVERS IF YOU BECOME STUCK IN A REMOTE OR DANGEROUS AREA OR IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND CANNOT CALL OUT FOR ASSISTANCE. BASED ON THIS EXPERIENCE AND THE MANY SIMILAR REPORTED AT THE HTTP://MBWORLD.ORG FORUM, THE NHTSA SHOULD COORDINATE A SAFETY RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES WITH MB. THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN ONE RECALL ON THIS MODEL YEAR RELATED TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE TAILIGHTS WHICH COULD CATCH FIRE, MY VEHICLE ALSO HAD THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *JS
Steering, Electrical system, Nov 26, 2014
CAR WON'T START. KEY WILL TURN BUT NOTHING HAPPENS. TRIED JUMP STARTING THE CAR BUT DID NOT WORK. BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING LOCK IS THE PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Nov 26, 2014
MY CAR WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE WHEN I TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND TRIED TO START THE CAR. THERE WAS NOTHING. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES, TURNING THE KEY BACK AND FORTH, TAKING IT OUT, TURNING IT. STILL NOTHING. I CALLED AAA. THEY TESTED THE BATTERY. IT WAS FUNCTIONING. THE AAA TECHNICIAN NOTED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS AND AUDIO LOCKING SIGNALS WERE WORKING. I CALLED, BILL, MY SERVICE TECH AT THE MBZ DEALERSHIP AND LEFT A MESSAGE FOR HIM TO PHONE ME. IN THE MEANTIME, I CALLED A LOCAL MECHANIC THAT HAD REPAIRED OTHER FAMILY VEHICLES. HE SAID HE WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT IT. SO I HAD IT TOWED TO HIS SHOP. BILL CALLED ME BACK LATE AFTERNOON AND ASKED ME TO TRY THE SPARE KEY TO SEE IF IT WOULD START. I HAD MY NEIGHBOR DRIVE ME TO THE SHOP WHERE MY CAR WAS AND TRIED THE SPARE KEY. STILL NOTHING. I SPOKE WITH THE FAMILY MECHANIC. HE WAS NOT ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE, NOR HAD HE SERVICED IT. HE BELIEVED THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE EIS AND SAID THE DEALER NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR. I CALLED BILL BACK. LET HIM KNOW THE SPARE DID NOT WORK AND ARRANGED TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY. LATER THE NEXT DAY, BILL CALLED ME AND STATED THAT THE ISSUE WAS WITH THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM. I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE STEERING LOCK. HE COULD ORDER THE PART. THE COST WOULD BE $1,100. I ASKED WHAT WOULD CAUSE THE PART TO FAIL. HE SAID THAT ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS, LIKE HIS TV, JUST FAIL OVER TIME. I AUTHORIZED THE REPAIR. I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN MY CAR INTO THIS DEALERSHIP FOR ITS REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AND WAS SURPRISED THAT IT WOULD NEED SUCH A CRITICAL AND COSTLY REPAIR. I CHECKED ONLINE AND NOTED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2008 MBZ C300. I AM SURPRISED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT NOTIFIED VEHICLES OWNERS AND TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS APPARENT DEFECT. *TR
Electrical system, Nov 24, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO START. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Electrical system, Nov 23, 2014, fire
I WAS DRIVING LISTENING TO MY MUSIC AND ALL OF A SUDDEN SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM MY MONITOR I THEN QUICKLY TURNED MY MUSIC OFF AND PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. I NOW HAVE A BLACK SCREEN AND MERCEDES SAID THE WHOLE UNIT WILL COST 2,000 DOLLARS I SAID YOU ARE CRAZY THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY MERCEDES. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Nov 20, 2014
CAR YEAR: 2008 MODEL: C300 4MATIC SPORT MILEAGE AT TIME OF FAILURE: 30,893 WARRANTY: EXPIRE ON DUE TO AGE OF CAR, NOT MILEAGE ESTIMATE CAUSE: MANUFACTURING DEFECT PART EFFECTED: EIS (ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH), ESL (ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK), ECU ESTIMATED EFFECTED VINS BASED ON EXTENSIVE ONLINE RESEARCH AND CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS: THOUSANDS ESTIMATE COST OF INDIVIDUAL REPAIRS PER INCIDENT DUE TO DEFECT: $1,200. TO $1,990. ESTIMATE PROFIT FOR DEALERSHIPS: $100MM+ RESEARCH KEYWORDS: MERCEDES BENZ, EIS, ESL, C300 SOURCE OF 99% OF COMPLAINTS: WWW.MBWORLD.COM & INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED MB DEALERSHIP. "SERVICE CAMPAIGN BULLETIN" CAMPAIGN NO. 2008020003, MARCH 2008 RECALL: NOT ISSUED THIS IS REGARDS TO A CONSISTENT AND REPEATED KNOW MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN SEVERAL YEARS MERCEDES BENZ MODELS, THAT THE COMPANY, MERCEDES BENZ (MB) IS AWARE OF AND HAS ISSUED A "SERVICE CAMPAIGN BULLETIN" CAMPAIGN NO. 2008020003, MARCH 2008. UNFORTUNATELY MB CLAIMS THAT THIS ISSUE ONLY AFFECTS "APPROXIMATELY 10 VEHICLES". A 08 MERCEDES C300 THAT I BOUGHT ON 6/12/2013 WITH 9,025 MILES WHEN I BOUGHT IT AND NOW HAS ABOUT 30,896 MILES TODAY 11/20/2014. ON 11/19/2014 MY CAR STOPPED WORKING. \ AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE I NOTICED HUNDREDS UPON THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE 08 C300 KNOWING AS THE EIS,ESL, OR THE IGNITION FAILURE AND REPAIRS UP TO $2000 IN SOME CASES. I WILL NEED TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO A MB DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THIS FIX. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE, YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. *TR
Electrical system, Nov 12, 2014
HELLO I AM A OWNER OF A 08 MERCEDES C300 THAT I BOUGHT ON 5/26/2014 WITH ABOUT 77700 MILES WHEN I BOUGHT IT AND NOW HAS ABOUT 80600 MILES TODAY 11/12/2014. ON 11/8/2014 I WAS RUNNING MY USUAL WEEKEND ERRANDS ( BUYING GROCERIES, PAYING BILLS, ETC.) WHEN I STOPPED TO BUYING SOME THINGS FROM A CORNER STORE AND WHEN I GOT BACK INTO MY VEHICLE THE CAR WOULD NOT START WHEN I PUT MY KEY IN. I NOTICE THERE WAS NOT "CLICKING NOISE" FROM WHEN I PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION AND I COULD NOT LOWER MY WINDOWS BUT I STILL HAD POWER NOW KNOWING THAT IT WAS NOT A POWER THING I KNOW IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE IGNITION. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE I NOTICED HUNDREDS UPON THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE 08 C300 KNOWING AS THE EIS,ESL, OR THE IGNITION FAILURE AND REPAIRS UP TO $2000 IN SOME CASES. I GOT MY CAR TOWED TO A MB DEALERSHIP HERE WHERE I LIVE AND THEY ARE NOT LISTENING TO WHAT IAM TELLING. I ALREADY TOLD THEM WHAT IT WRONG AND THEY FORCED ME BASICALLY TO DO THE DIAGNOSTIC ($130) AND TO GET A KEY REPLACEMENT ($300) SO NOW I AM IN THE WHOLE BY A TOTAL OF $2000. I TOLD THEN THAT THESE ISSUES ARE HAPPENING WITH OTHER CUSTOMERS AND THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND THEY DON'T CARE AT ALL. HOW IS THERE NOT A RECALL FOR THIS? SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS CUSTOMERS CANT BE TREATED LIKE THIS ESPECIALLY IF YOU BOUGHT A CAR IN GREAT CONDITION LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AGO. MERCEDES NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THE MISTAKE AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FOR THIS ISSUE HOPEFULLY THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS SOON BECAUSE RIGHT NOW I HAVE TO TAKE A BUS TO WORK EVERYDAY INSTEAD OF HAVING A VEHICLE AND O YA THEY DIDN'T WANNA GIVE ME A COMPLEMENTARY VEHICLE FOR THE MEANTIME. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Oct 30, 2014
I DROVE TO THE STORE AND WHEN I GOT IN MY CAR TO LEAVE THE IGNITION WOULD NOT START WHEN I PUT THE KEY IN AND TRIED TO TURN IT ON. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND I COULD NOT CHANGE THE GEARS OF THE CAR TO NEUTRAL OR ANY OTHER GEAR. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP AND THEY PERFORMED A FULL INSPECTION AND FOUND THAT THE STEERING IS LOCKED. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Oct 27, 2014
I WENT TO START UP MY CAR, BUT WHEN I INSERTED THE KEY AND TURNED IT, THE CAR DID NOT START. TYPICALLY WHEN I INSERT THE KEY, THERE IS A FAST AND STRONG SOUND THAT MAKES IT SEEM LIKE THE CAR IS LOCKING IN THE KEY. THIS TIME, THE SOUND WAS INCREDIBLY SLOW AND WEAK, A SOUND THAT CAUSED ME TO IMMEDIATELY KNOW IT WAS BROKEN. POWER WAS RUNNING THROUGH THE CAR JUST FINE THOUGH, BUT I WAS STILL STRANDED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THEY SAID THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH (EIS) AND ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL) HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Oct 16, 2014
ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTIONED. I'M NOW OUT $1100.00 BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM SO COMMON, A GUY WHO HADN'T EVEN SEEN MY CAR WAS ABLE TO GUESS THE MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR OF MY CAR JUST BY TELLING HIM THE ISSUE. HOW HAS A RECALL NOT BEEN MADE ON THIS PROBLEM? CAR WORKED FINE JUST TWO HOURS BEFORE IT WOULDN'T START... UNBELIEVABLE. *TR