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, Jul 30, 2014
PARKED THE CAR IN MY DRIVE WAY N T CAR WOULD NOT START. KEY WOULD NOT FUNCTION. *TR
Electrical system, Jul 30, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE BATTERY WAS REMOVED, CHARGED, AND RE-INSTALLED, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESTART. THE RADIO AND HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED WHEN THE BATTERY WAS RE-INSTALLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
Power train, Electrical system, Jul 29, 2014
THE ENTIRE CAR LOSES POWER, NOTHING WORKS. *JS
Electrical system, Air bags, Engine, Jul 23, 2014
CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN. NOTHING WORKED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THIS HAS OCCURRED TO MANY OTHER CARS AND THE MANUFACTURER IS WELL AWARE OF THIS CONDITION. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO BE INJURED OR KILLED (IF THIS HAS NOT ALREADY HAPPENED) BEFORE THIS DEFECT IS ADDRESSED ? *TR
Electrical system, Jul 17, 2014
PARKED MY CAR IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY JOB, CAME BACK SAND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. WE TESTED THE BATTERY AND NO RESULTS. WE EVENTUALLY TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND DETERMINE IT WAS THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK AND THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THE CAR GENERALLY DOES NOT LET YOU KNOW WHEN THIS ISSUE WILL ARISE. I WAS QUOTED $2,428 TO FIX BOTH, AFTER ARGUING WITH THEM ABOUT THIS ISSUE, THEY LATER DISCOUNT IT TO $1,780. I THINK THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. I COULD HAVE BEEN ON THE FREEWAY WHEN IT STOP AND WOULD HAVE BEEN A CATASTROPHIC EVENT. ALSO, I AM CONSTANTLY REPLACING MY LIGHT BULBS. CAN YOU INVESTIGATE IF THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THESE CAR. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Jul 14, 2014
CAR WILL NOT START. WINDOWS, SUNROOF, STEERING INOPERABLE. NO POWER TO CAR WITH EXCEPTION OF RADIO AND LOCK/UNLOCK. NEED TO OVERRIDE TO GET CAR OUT OF PARK. OCCURRED FIRST TIME ON 7/7 AND I WAS STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT. SECOND TIME OCCURRED ON 7/12, CAR WAS PARKED ON SIDE OF ROAD AND WOULD NOT START. NEEDED TO BE TOWED ON FLATBED TO DEALER. DEALER CONFIRMED ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK DEFECTIVE AND $1,000 FOR REPLACEMENT AND PART. VERY COMMON IN MERCEDES C300 MODELS. PLEASE RESEARCH TO SEE IF THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. I PERFORMED A GOOGLE SEARCH ON THE ISSUE AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE OWNERS AND FORUMS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUE FROM A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES INCLUDING USA. THANK YOU. *TR
Electrical system, Equipment adaptive/mobility, Engine, Jul 13, 2014
IT APPEARS THAT THE EIS MODULE HAS FAILED, I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND SEVERAL OTHER CONSUMERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES WITH THIS PARTICULAR YEAR AND MODEL VEHICLE. THIS CONCERNS ME. WHY HASN'T ANY RECALLS BEEN DONE TO FIX THIS ISSUE. IT SEEM LIKE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. WHAT IF I WERE DRIVING MY CAR AND THE EIS HAD MALFUNCTIONED. I WOULD HAVE LOST POWER TO MY VEHICLE AS WELL AS ALL STEERING ABILITIES. COULD YOU PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE? *TR
Electrical system, Jun 29, 2014
ON WAY HOME FROM WORK IN POURING DOWN RAIN, I STOPPED AT SUPERMARKET. WHEN I RETURNED TO VEHICLE AND TURNED THE IGNITION TO START CAR, NOTHING HAPPENED. IT WAS DEAD. AFTER TRYING FOR THIRD TIME, WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED, "REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION." WHEN TOWER ARRIVED, THE GEAR SHIFT WOULD NOT MOVE OUT OF PARK. GARAGE MECHANIC ELIMINATED BATTERY PROBLEM AND RECOMMENDED IT BE TOWED BACK TO DEALERSHIP, 50 MILES AWAY. I AM WAITING FOR THEIR MECHANIC TO DISCOVER ROOT CAUSE. I DO NOT LIKE THE UNEXPECTED PROBLEM OF BEING STRANDED. THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS OF A PRE-WARNING. IF MERCEDES-BENZ DOES NOT OWN THIS, I WILL TRADE IT SOLELY ON GROUNDS OF RELIABILITY AND WILL NOT PURCHASE A MERCEDES-BENZ AGAIN. *TR
Electrical system, Jun 25, 2014
IGNITION/ENGINE AND COMPLETE SYSTEM FAILURE. SAFETY ISSUE. THE CAR LOSES ALL CONTROL, INCLUDING BRAKES AND STEERING. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO BE INJURED OR DIE (IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY HAPPENED) BEFORE THIS ISSUE IS ADDRESSED. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jun 25, 2014
I HAVE A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C350. THE REAR PASSENGER TAILLIGHT MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING ME TO BE PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE. MERCEDES BENZ HAS SINCE RECALLED THE FAULTY TAIL LIGHTS AND IS SCHEDULED TO RELEASE REPLACEMENT PARTS TO MB DEALERS NEXT MONTH. HOWEVER, IT SEEMS THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. SOMETIMES THE RADIO STATION CHANGES WHEN I ADJUST THE CABIN AIR TEMPERATURE (AIR CONDITIONER). THE DASHBOARD CONTROL PANEL CONSTANTLY DISPLAYS WARNING MESSAGES ABOUT FAILING HEADLIGHTS AND SIDE MARKERS. ASIDE FROM THE RECALLED PASSENGER TAILLIGHT WHICH IS VISIBLY DIMMER THAN THE DRIVER SIDE TAILLIGHT, THE OTHER LIGHTS APPEARED TO BE WORKING FINE. YESTERDAY THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR AND THE COOLANT INDICATOR ON THE DASH CAME ON - THE ANTIFREEZE AND FUEL TANKS ARE BOTH FULL. I HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT THE LIGHTS, ONLY TO DISCOVER THE PLASTIC HOUSING IS COMPLETELY SINGED AND MELTED IN THE HEADLIGHTS AND SIDE MARKERS, JUST LIKE IT IS IN THE DEFECTIVE RECALLED TAILLIGHT. THE CAR IS ONE OVER-PRICED FIRE TRAP - AT THIS POINT I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT. WHAT IS EVEN MORE DISTURBING TO ME, IS THAT MERCEDES BENZ IS WELL AWARE OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE C CLASS. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE ONLINE - POSTED TO BLOGS AND NHTSA WEBSITE. MERCEDES IS TRYING TO PIECE-MEAL OUT A REMEDY. MEANWHILE, THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE! WHEN WILL NHTSA RECALL THE ENTIRE MERCEDES C CLASS LINE DUE TO DEFECTIVE ELECTRICAL ISSUES? *TR
Electrical system, Jun 23, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING LOCK/IGNITION COMPONENT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jun 21, 2014, fire
WHILE ON HIGHWAY I NOTICED BURNING PLASTIC SMELL COMING FROM REAR OF CAR. WHEN I PULLED OVER AND OPENED MY TRUNK, I NOTICED THAT THE TAIL LIGHT WAS SMOKING. WHEN I DETACHED THE LIGHTING PLATE I NOTICED THAT THE BROWN WIRE CONNECTOR HAD MELTED THROUGH THE LIGHTING PLATE AND THAT ALL OF MY TAIL LIGHTS WERE VERY DIM. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Jun 11, 2014
GOOD MORNING, I AM EMAILING YOU REGARDING AN INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON MAY 13, 2014 ON THE LIE 495. MY VEHICLE, A 208 MERCEDES C300 STALLED IN THE EMERGENCY LANE AND THE WHEEL LOCKED SOON AFTERWARD. I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE MY CAR, CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ME. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS SITUATION GOES NOTICED. THIS ISSUE CONSISTS IN THESE VEHICLES AND I URGE FOR IT TO GET RECALLED. THE ISSUE IS THE "STEERING LOCK COLUMN". THIS CAUSES THE WHEEL TO LOCK AND BECOME IMMOVABLE. I AM AWARE THAT AN INCIDENT SUCH AS MINE HAPPENED TO A FRIEND WHO HAS THE SAME VEHICLE. IT IS NOT SAFE AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED BEFORE IT RISKS SOMEBODY ELSE'S LIFE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jun 10, 2014
NUMEROUS LIGHT ISSUES CONNECTED TO THE REAR AND FRONT LIGHTING. DIMMING - LOW STRENGTH - AND COMPLETE NON-FUNCTION OF THE REAR LIGHTS AND FRONT LIGHTS ALSO. SO MANY EVENTS THAT REQUIRED REPAIRING. INCIDENTS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT REQUIRING REPAIR. INABILITY TO UTILIZE THE VEHICLE IN THE EVENING. IT WAS A GREAT CAR - BUT I FELT A LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN IT'S SAFETY BECAUSE OF AND WHAT I PERCEIVED AS ELECTRICAL ISSUES. I DECIDED, AFTER MUCH CONSIDERATION, THAT THE CAR NEEDED TO BE TRADED IN. IT WAS PURCHASED BY [XXX]IN NEWPORT BEACH. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Electrical system, Jun 10, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C-300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE PROBLEM RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Jun 5, 2014
RIGHT TAIL LIGHT WARNING SIGNALS APPEARED, UPON EXAMINING THE TAIL LIGHT CONNECTION IT APPEARED BURNED AND MELTED. ALL RIGHT TAIL LIGHTS WERE OUT INCLUDING SIGNALING. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 27, 2014
TAIL LIGHT CONNECTORS OVERHEAT AND MELTED THE LIGHT HOLDER ASSEMBLY. FIRE RISK. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 23, 2014
THE REAR PASSENGER TAIL LAMPS ARE DIMMING TO ABOUT HALF THE NORMAL STRENGTH. THE BULBS ARE ALL FINE, BUT I AM GETTING NOTICES ON THE DASH THAT THE LIGHTS NEED TO GET CHECKED. I CHECKED THE REAR LIGHT HARNESS AND IT APPEARS THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HAS MELTED SO THAT IT CAN'T BE REMOVED FROM THE COMPONENT THAT ACTUALLY HOLDS THE BULBS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS MIGHT BE A FIRE HAZARD. THE ELECTRICAL FAILURE ALSO SEEMS TO BE AFFECTING THE HORN. THERE ARE TWO HORNS ON THIS CAR. ONE IS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND ONE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE PASSENGER SIDE HORN IS NOT FUNCTIONING. IT APPEARS LIKE THERE IS WEAK TO NO ELECTRICAL POWER ON THAT SIDE OF THE CAR. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TOO AS I CAN'T WARN OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD IF NEEDED. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 21, 2014
GOOD AFTERNOON. I CURRENTLY OWN A 2008 C300. I NOTICED MY REAR TAIL LIGHT WARNING INDICATOR CAME ON ABOUT A MONTH AGO. UPON CHECKING THE BULB, I NOTICED THE JACKET ON ONE OF THE WIRES GOING INTO THE CONNECTOR WAS FRAYED. I PUT SOME ELECTRICAL TAPE ON IT HOPING THAT WOULD SOLVE THE ISSUE. 1 MONTH LATER, I AM NOW HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN. I WENT TO CHECK ON THE LIGHT AND NOTICED THE FRAYING WAS GROWING WORSE AND THE WIRE WAS SO HOT I WAS CONCERNED IT WAS GOING TO START A FIRE. I HAVE SINCE REMOVED THE BULB TO PREVENT A FIRE FROM STARTING. IN DOING SOME RESEARCH, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE ON THIS VEHICLE. BEING THAT THIS IS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD AND COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO A FIRE AND EVEN THE LOSS OF LIFE, I AM CURIOUS HOW AND WHY THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THIS DEFECT. IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THIS ISSUE PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THANK YOU *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 19, 2014
I BEGAN TO GET WARNINGS THAT THE LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE LEFT REAR SIGNAL INDICATOR IN THE DASH BLINKED RAPIDLY, AND THE COMPUTER GAVE WARNING MESSAGE. WHEN I REMOVED THE BULB PANEL I NOTICED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS PLUG WAS BURNT AND THE PLASTIC HOUSING THAT HELD THE BULBS WAS BURNT. THE BROWN WIRE ON THE END OF THE HARNESS CONNECTOR WAS BURNT AND THE METAL TAB THAT THE CONNECTOR CONNECTED TO WAS MELTED ALONG WITH THE PLASTIC PLUG. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 18, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BULBS WERE CHANGED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE WIRING HARNESS AND THE LIGHTING BOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 16, 2014, fire
THE REAR WIRING FOR THE TAIL LIGHT LIGHTING SPARKED. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR SMELLED STRONGLY OF BURNING PLASTIC. AFTER A QUICK LOOK OVER I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING ALARMING. THE VERY NEXT DAY ALL OF THE LIGHTING ON THE REAR RIGHT TAIL LIGHTS WENT OUT, ALL INDICATORS CAME ON IN THE DASH SHOWING THAT ALL BULBS WERE MALFUNCTIONING. AFTER PULLING THE HOUSING UNIT OUT, I FOUND THAT THE WIRE WAS BURNED AND SO WAS THE UNIT THE WIRES ATTACHED TO; MELTED AND BURNED. WIRING SHOULD NOT CATCH ON FIRE, THIS COULD HAVE EASILY SPREAD AND WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO FIX, THEY CUT THE WIRE TO ATTACH MORE BUT CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. *TT
Electrical system, Apr 7, 2014
AN ERROR MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED AFTER DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE. THE ERROR INDICATED A FAILURE IN THE LEFT TAIL LIGHT AND A BURNING SMELL. ON INVESTIGATION I FOUND A BURNED AREA OF THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY GROUND WIRE CONNECTOR. I REPLACED THE BULB HOLDER AND WIRING CONNECTOR. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. ON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I FOUND THAT THE SAME ISSUE WAS PRESENT ON THE RIGHT SIDE TAIL LIGHT. I ALSO FOUND THAT MOST OF THE LIGHT BULBS ON EACH SIDE WERE VERY DIM. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION. THE LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER STATED THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE TAIL LIGHTS AT THE TIME I BOUGHT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 5, 2014
REAR PASSENGER TAIL LIGHTS IN MY 2008 C300 WERE DIM AND GOT DASH WARNING LIGHT TO CHECK REAR LIGHTS. A COUPLE BULBS WERE OUT SO WHEN I LOOKED AT THE ASSEMBLY AND PUSHED ON IT THE LIGHTS THAT WERE OUT LIT UP TEMPORARILY AND I NOTICED THE CABLE HARNESS THAT PLUGS IN IT WAS CORRODED ON THE END AND THE BROWN WIRE AT THE END WAS EXPOSED (MELTED?) AND THE BLACK PLUG LOOKS WARPED (MELTED?), LOOKS LIKE A COMMON PROBLEM BASED ON FORUM REPORTS. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 1, 2014
RIGHT SIDE TAILLIGHT WIRING MELTING, LIGHTS NOT WORKING. *TR