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: exterior lighting
149 reports, newest first. Show all
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, 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.
Exterior lighting, Dec 16, 2014
AFTER I TOOK MY 2008 MERCEDES C350 TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM DO THE REPAIRS FOR THE RECALL ON THE TAIL LIGHTS/BULBS. I KEEP GETTING THE "CHECK RIGHT REAR TURN SIGNAL". THE BLINKER WILL WORK FINE, THEN AFTER 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING IT BLINKS VERY FAST AND THE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. THIS ISSUE IS GETTING WORSE. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD AND MUST BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY. PLEASE ADVICE! EVERYTHING APPEARED TO BE WORKING FINE UNTIL I GOT MY VEHICLE BACK FROM THE SERVICE DEPT. THEY CHANGED THE BULBS. *TR
Exterior lighting, Oct 4, 2014
TAIL LAMP REPLACEMENT- I GOT A RECALL LETTER 4 MONTHS AGO AND NO FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS. EMAIL TO THE DEALER AND COMPANY NOT BEING SATISFACTORILY RESPONDED TO. WHAT'S THE TIMELINE ON THESE RECALLS? *TR
Exterior lighting, Sep 18, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, A WARNING INDICATOR ALERTED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE DRIVER SIDE BULB, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Sep 11, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WIRES WERE FRAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
Exterior lighting, Sep 10, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FAILURE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN...UPDATED 09/25/14 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE FIXED ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2014. UPDATED 10/02/14
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Latches/locks/linkages, Sep 9, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS FAILED TO LOCK MANUALLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE POWER DOOR LOCK SWITCH HAD TO BE USED IN ORDER FOR THE DOORS TO LOCK. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS OPEN AND THE POWER LOCK SWITCH WAS ACTIVATED, ALL THE DOORS, EXCEPT FOR THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, FAILED TO LOCK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. UPDATED 10/24/14*CN UPDATED 4/16/2015 *JS
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Sep 1, 2014
I WAS DRIVING WHEN I GOT A RIGHT REAR LIGHT TAIL AND BRAKE WARNING NOT WORKING FOR THE SECOND TIME. I JUST REPLACED THE BULBS A MONTH AGO JULY 2014. WHEN I CHECKED TO REPLACE THEM I SMELL SOMETHING BURNT AND UPON FURTHER CLOSE INSPECTION I SAW BARED BROWN WIRE BURNT CONNECTOR (OUTER EDGE WIRE ON THE CONNECTOR) AND SOME SIGNS OF MELTING ON THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE BROWN WIRE THAT WAS BARE BURNT THROUGH THE CONNECTION THAT PROBABLY CAUSED THE SHORTING. *TR
Exterior lighting, Aug 20, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C 300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V177000 (LIGHTING). HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT SURE WHEN THEY WOULD RECEIVE THE PARTS NEEDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,936.
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, 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
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, 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
Exterior lighting, May 26, 2014
I WAS DRIVING AROUND 8PM HERE IN CANADA WHEN I WAS PULLED OVER FOR A FLICKERING DRIVER-SIDE TAIL LIGHT. THE OFFICER WARNED ME THAT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. MY WIFE TOLD ME AFTER DRIVING BESIDE ME THAT THE LIGHT FLICKERS INTERMITTENTLY, AND WHEN IT IS NOT, THE PARKING LIGHT ITSELF IS MUCH DIMMER THAN THE PASSENGER-SIDE TAIL LIGHT. I'VE TRIED REPLACING THE BULBS, BUT NOTHING CHANGES. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ONLINE, I'VE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH 2008-2011 MERCEDES C-CLASS MODELS. I'VE FOUND THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRING FOR THE TAILLIGHTS IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY GROUNDED, CAUSING MELTING OF THE WIRING HARNESS, AND IN SOME CASES, CAUSING A FIRE. I'VE CALLED MERCEDES DEALERSHIPS HERE IN VANCOUVER, BUT BECAUSE THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, IT IS AN EXPENSIVE ISSUE TO FIX. IT IS ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD TO MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TR
Exterior lighting, May 5, 2014
THE REAR LIGHTS CONTINUE TO FAIL - BRAKE LIGHTS, STOP LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS AND BACKUP LIGHTS FAIL REPEATEDLY. THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR ANNOUNCES LIGHTS ARE OUT AND WHEN I CHECKED THE BULBS ARE INTACT BUT AND THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON BY JIGGLING THE WHOLE LIGHTING HOUSING. THEY GO OUT AGAIN AS SOON A TRAVEL RESUMES. *TR
Exterior lighting, May 1, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE GROUND WIRE AND THE TAIL LIGHT CONNECTORS BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,100 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,200.
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
Exterior lighting, Apr 11, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO FUNCTION. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE WIRES HAD MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEARER WHO STATED THAT THE HEAD LAMP BOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.
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