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: engine
41 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 30, 2025
The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle slowed down independently and lost automotive power. The contact stated that the vehicle remained in the intersection while awaiting tow services. The contact stated that her boyfriend and son helped to push the vehicle to the right side of the roadway. The contact smelled a burning odor but was unsure where the odor was coming from. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that an independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the ECU was damaged and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V704000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Jan 3, 2025
The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. Additionally, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with an intake manifold failure. The contact was informed that the intake manifold needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 152,151.
Electrical system, Engine, Dec 30, 2024
Camshaft adjuster solenoid leaked oil into wiring harness, caused vehicle to go into limp mode and not accelerate/shift gears. This is a known problem with the m272 engine, this vin did not show up on the recall list.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Nov 7, 2023
Car worked fine, all the sudden it wouldn't turn over, I would put the key in and turn it and nothing would happen, I was stuck and had to catch a ride, lucky that I was able, a car company that is supposedly reliable shouldn't allow there cars to completely give out on people during the middle of winter storms and not take ownership, when the customer has taken good care of the car. Talked to several mechanics and turned out it was the Electronic Steering Lock (ESL) module that had malfunctioned probably due to the software and electrical. Due to this only the Benz dealerships can repair, I had to tow it to a dealership and was charged around $2000 after haggling over the price. Terrible experience and should be recalled by MB, I have seen many complaints about this online and was very disappointed there wasn't a cheaper solution. Was both a safety issue, inconvenient and very costly.
Electrical system, Engine, Dec 6, 2022
The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz C350. The contact stated that after the vehicle was turned off, she attempted to restart the vehicle, but the engine failed to turn over. The contact stated that the next day the vehicle started; however, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the speedometer started to malfunction. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the contact was unsure if the vehicle was diagnosed. Additionally, the contact stated that on a separate occasion while driving at an undisclosed speed, she noticed that water had started to leak from the sun visor. The contact also heard water moving around on the floorboard. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 166,000.
Engine, May 17, 2021
Error codes 1200 and 1208 regarding the lack of tension on the timing belt due to a worn sprocket. It was certified by two different Mercedes Benz mechanics with ample experience with these cars. Vehicle still runs but I was warned to stop it and fix it before it is a major problem.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Feb 26, 2021
THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND CAME BACK OUT AND IT WOULD NOT START. THE FRONT WHEELS WERE LOCKED. THE KEY WENT IN AND TURNED. THE LIGHTS AND POWER WAS THERE BUT, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE FRONT WHEELS WERE LOCKED AND SO WAS THE DRIVE SHIFTER. THE FIRST TIME THE CAR WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND MY WIFE WAS LEFT STRANDED. THE SECOND TIME WAS IN OUT DRIVEWAY. WE CAME HOME TO GET SOMETHING AND WHEN WE WENT OUT IT WOULDN'T START.
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.
Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Jul 19, 2017
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER VEHICLE INSPECTION I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP. MERCEDES BENZ HOUSTON-GREENWAY PLAZA DID CAM SHAFT SOLENOID WORK COST $500. ROUGHLY A WEEK LATER I GOT STRANDED AT WORK. I WAS ABLE TO TAKE TO GET IT TO START AGAIN AND TOOK IT TO REPAIR SHOP NOW ITS $1,346.29 FOR ENGINE COMPUTER WORK.
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
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.
Power train, Engine, Nov 1, 2016
ISSUE WITH CAM GEARS. MERCEDES HAS KNOW ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR MANY MANY YEARS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. CAR IS UNSAFE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND COSTS ABOUT $8000 TO FIX. FROM THE ONLINE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FROM 2013 "THE ENGINES ARE EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE GEARS IN THEIR BALANCE SHAFTS OR WITH DEFECTIVE IDLE GEARS. THESE DEFECTIVE GEARS WEAR OUT PREMATURELY, EXCESSIVELY, AND WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MALFUNCTION, THE 'CHECK ENGINE LIGHT' TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE TO MISFIRE AND/OR STOP DRIVING." *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Sep 6, 2016
FROM A PARKED VEHICLE, I UNLOCKED CAR AND INSERTED KEY AND TURNED TO START POSITION 2. NO STEERING UNLOCK, SHIFT LEVER STUCK IN PARK AND NO ENGINE START. MESSAGE "TAKE YOUR KEY FROM IGNITION" APPEARED AS WELL WHEN I OPENED DOOR. VOLTAGE FROM BATTERY WAS 12.7 VDC. HAD CAR TOWED TO MERCEDES BENZ DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH EIS FAILURE (ELECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM). COST FOR REPAIR: $1,350.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Jul 27, 2016
ON JULY 21,2016 AT 9AM AND I PARKED MY CAR AND WENT TO WORK, 2 HOURS LATER CAME BACK AND TRY TO START THE CAR, DID NOT START. CAR DOOR LOCKS AND TRUNK LOCKS OPEN AND CLOSE BUT WHEN I TURN THE IGNITION ON , NO RESPONSE, NO DISPLAY ON INSTRUMENT PANEL AROUND SPEEDOMETER GAUGES. NO HISSING OR CRANKING OR BEEPING NOISE ALSO. STEERING COLUMN WAS ALSO LOCKED UP AND INOPERABLE.ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO COMMAND SCREEN WITH LCD DISPLAY THAT CONTROLS ALL FUNCTIONS SMOKED A LITTLE AND WAS SHUT DOWN DISPLAY. GOING TO THE LAST WEEKS PROBLEM STEERING COLUMN HAS LOCKED ME OUT AND ALSO EIS THAT IS THE COMMUNICATOR FROM IGNITION SWITCH AND ALTERNATOR OR STARTED DO NOT FUNCTION ALSO. I HAPPENED TO SEE MORE THAN HUNDREDS OF CAR WITH THE SAME YEAR GROUP AND MODEL HAS SMILIAR PROBLEMS .MY CAR MILEAGE WAS 93121. I WOULD LIKE MAKE THIS AS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM OF UNRELIABILITY OF THE PARTS AND THE MANUFACTURER LET IT ROLL OFF ASSEMBLY LINE WITH OUT DOING DILIGENT TESTING OF THE PARTS INVOLVED FROM THE SUPPLIERS FOR RELIABLITY AND DURABILITY AND IN TURN COST THE CONSUMERS $2000-3000 OF UNNECESSARY EXPENSE/TROUBLESHOOT AND FIX/ THAN YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HELP.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, May 17, 2016
STATIONARY VEHICLE NO START, NO CRANK WITHOUT WARNING WHILE PARKED ON A CITY STREET. FAILURE WITHIN THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK. VEHICLE WILL NOT RECOGNIZE THE DRIVERS KEY. DRIVER AND PASSENGERS LEFT DANGEROUSLY STRANDED WHERE EVER THE VEHICLE IS PARKED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS. THIS FAILURE MAKES IT UNABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL POSITION FOR TOWING.
Engine, Mar 17, 2016
MANIFOLD INTAKE CONTROL ARM BROKE AT AROUND 67,000 MILES CAUSING MAJOR ACCELERATION PROBLEMS PRIMARILY IN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR AT LOW RPMS. IT WAS A SAFETY CONCERN DUE TO RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. AFTER INSPECTING DESIGN OF INTAKE MANIFOLD, THERE ARE MANY PLASTIC PARTS THAT CAN BREAK OFF AND ENTER THE ENGINE CAUSING IRREPAIRABLE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS HAPPENING ON THE FREEWAY AT HIGH SPEED ARE UNIMAGINABLE.
Engine, Feb 1, 2016
MY INTAKE MANIFOLD KEEPS BRAKING PART#272-150-24-01. THE FRONT PLASTIC PIECE THAT OPENS THE BAFFLES KEEPS SNAPING THIS IS THE SECOND ONE I BUY IN THE PAST 2 YEARS EACH TIME I PAID $1281.00+LABOR THEY NEED TO MAKE SOMETHING MORE STRONGER THANT THIS, IS A WASTE OF MONEY TO KEEP BUYING THIS.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Dec 11, 2015
STEERING LOCK FAILED. 10 CENT MOTOR WILL NOT LOCK STEERING WHEEL. CAUSES CAR TO THINK IT IS STOLEN, DISABLES THE ENTIRE CAR. LEFT ME STRANDED IN FREEZING TEMPERATURE WITH NO WARNING. I GOT GAS, GOT IN THE CAR TO LEAVE TO WORK, AND NOTHING WORKED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET SOMEONE TO PICK ME UP, AS MY CELL PHONE WAS ABOUT TO DIE.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Dec 3, 2015
I PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE EARLY AFTER NOON IN NOVEMBER 2014, AND SOME TIME LATER THAT DAY THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL RIGHT THEN LEFT THINKING IT MIGHT BE A STEERING LOCK PROBLEM AND KEPT MESSING WITH STEERING COLUMN TRYING TO FIND PROBLEM BEING POSSIBLY A PINCHED WIRE AND THE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS CAME ON DO A SELF CHECK THEN CAR STARTED. USED SCAN TOOL TO RETRIEVE CODES AND NONE WERE FOUND. SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN I PARKED AT A GAS STATION AND PAID FOR GAS AND THE CAR DID NOT START, NOR DID THE USUAL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS COME ON WHEN THE KEY IS INSERTED AND TURNED AS IN THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED. I STARTED TO ADJUST THE STEERING COLUMN SUCH AS TO RAISE THE WHEEL AND THE LIGHTS CAME ON, AND I TURNED THE KEY AND THE CAR STARTED. RAN A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK FOR CODES AND STILL NO CODES STORED. THIRD INCIDENT, PARKED THE CAR AFTER LEAVING CHURCH SERVICE AND THEN WAS ASKED TO MOVE IT FROM THE LAWN SO THE YARD COULD BE WORKED ON. I STARTED THE CAR AND TURNED THE WHEEL AS TO BACK IT UP INTO A DIFFERENT LOCATION. I SHUT THE CAR OFF WITH THE WHEEL TURNED ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT AND THEN WENT TO START IT 2 TO 3 HOURS LATER AND IT WOULD NOT START AND STEERING WHEEL IS ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT AND LOCKED IN THAT POSITION. THINGS I CHECKED. CHARGED BATTERY, BOTH KEY FABS LOCK AND UNLOCK VEHICLE, THE KEY IS RECOGNIZED BY THE SECURITY SYSTEM BUT WILL NOT START THE CAR. THE KEY IS ALSO RECOGNIZED WHEN IN THE IGNITION. AUDIO WARNING COMES ON WHEN KEY IS LEFT IN IGNITION WITH DOOR OPEN. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS IN THE STEERING COLUMN, ONLY BECAUSE EVERY INCIDENT THAT HAS INVOLVED THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSED IT TO START AND NOW WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT GAVE IT THE FINAL FAILURE STATUS.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Nov 4, 2015
PARKED CAR LEFT FOR AN HOUR CAME BACK AND TRIED TO START VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT START DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE EIS (ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH) AND CHARGED ME $1900 TO FIX IT, ALSO BEFORE I TOOK IT IN FOR THAT REPAIR THE SUNROOF WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY AND REAR RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT WENT OUT THEY FIXED THAT UNDER RECALL FREE AFTER THAT MY SUNROOF WORKED FINE. NOW MY SERPENTINE BELT BROKE AND SHREDDED WHILE I WAS DRIVING LOOKED IN MY ENGINE AND THE BELT WAS ALL OVER ENGINE IN PIECES.
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, 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.
Other or unspecified, Engine, May 21, 2015
MYSELF, AS WELL AS PASSENGERS HAVE BEEN CUT BY THE SHARP EDGE OF THE PEELING CHROME ALONG THE TOP RIM OF FRONT CUP HOLDER. I TOLD MY DEALERSHIP AND THEY WANTED CHARGE ME OVER $500 TO REPLACE IT. WHEN GRABBING CHANGE, DRINKS, OR ANYTHING FROM CUP HOLDER THE FRONT OF ONES HAND IS CONSTANTLY EXPOSED TO THIS SHARP EDGE. NOT A SAFETY ISSUE BUT SIMILAR TO THE PEELING CHROME, THE PAINTED TEXT ON SEVERAL CONTROL BUTTONS ON DASH HAVE BEEN PEELING OFF FOR SEVERAL YEARS. A CLEAR SIGN OF POOR QUALITY/CRAFTSMANSHIP. THIS IS MY FIRST MERCEDES AND I AM NOT IMPRESSED WITH THE INTERIOR CRAFTSMANSHIP OF WHAT IS SUPPOSEDLY A TOP LUXURY BRAND. ALSO HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BATTERY 2 TIMES IN 2 YEARS AND HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH BATTERY DYING WITHIN FIRST YEAR OF 2ND BATTERY. DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE FEE TO INSPECT LAST BATTERY.
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