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: steering
169 reports, newest first. Show all
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.
Steering, Service brakes, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 21, 2015
MY CAR DID NOT RESPOND WHEN I TRIED TO START AND THE STEERING WAS LOCKED AND I COULD NOT FIRE THE IGNITION. I TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST MERCEDES SHOWROOM AND THEY SAID THAT THE STEERING WAS LOCKED AND SHOULD BE REPLACED WHICH WILL COST ME $1100. I HAVE READ COUPLE OF POSTS ONLINE AND I SEE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND IT IS REALLY BAD THAT MERCEDES DID NOT FIX THIS AND NOT EVEN TAKING CARE OF THE VEHICLES WHICH ARE EFFECTED.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Aug 21, 2015
I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY C300 FOR THE LAST 3-4 YEARS AND HAVE MULTIPLE ISSUES RANGING FROM STEERING PUMP FAILURE TO CONDENSOR ISSUES AND LIGHTING ISSUES INCLUDING A RECALL FOR THE TAIL LIGHTS. YESTERDAY AFTER HAVING PARKED MY CAR FOR ALMOST 4 DAYS SINCE I COMMUTE FOR WORK AND TAKE TRAIN, UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS NO IGNITION. I COULD SEE THE LIGHTS INSIDE THE CAR INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER WAS VISIBLE AND I CAN ACTIVATE THE LOCKS WITH KEY, BUT ENGINE WOULD NOT START. CAR IS STANDING IN PARK POSITION SO I CANNOT EVEN MOVE IT TO NEUTRAL. I CALLED MBENZ ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT IS RELATED TO STEERING LOCK. NOW THAT I GOT IT TOWED, CHECKED WITH MECEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP I HAVE TO PAY ALMOST 1000$ JUST FOR THIS STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTION. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN OCCURRING TO A LOT OF C300 2008 MODELS. THIS SHOULD BE SEEN AS A SERIOUS ISSUE AS VEHICLE IS TOTALLY NON-FUNCTIONAL. MY WORK IS EFFECTED AND MISSED A COUPLE BUSINESS MEETINGS.
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
Steering, Aug 6, 2015
THE CAR CUT OFF AND THEN WOULD NOT STAR TOR GO INTO GEAR AFTER THAT. TRIED USING BOTH KEYS WITH NO RESPONSE FROM THE VEHICLE.
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.
Steering, Jul 28, 2015
PARKED THE CAR AND WENT TO WORK. CAME BACK AND THE CAR COULDN'T START. HAD TO TOW TO THE DEALERS PLACE LAST NIGHT. TODAY, GOT A CALL FROM THEM SAYING THE STEERING GOT LOCKED AND SAID TAT IT IS VERY COMMON ON THESE CARS. IT WILL COST ABOUT $1200 TO TEAR UP STEERING AND CHANGE THE ESL. BY CHECKING ONLINE Y'DAY EVENING AND TODAY, I CAME TO KNOW, THIS IS NOT NEW AND MOST OF THE 2008/2009 C300 HAVE THIS ISSUE. WE ASKED DEALERS NOT TO REPAIR IT AS THEY ARE WAITING ON OUR WORD. I AM PLANNING TO CONTACT THE BENZ CUSTOMER SERVICE FIRST AND SEE WHAT THEY SAY. THEN I WILL GO AN ATTORNEY AND FILE THE COMPLAINT. I DO SEE THAT CUSTOMER SERVICE DID NOT EVEN RESPOND TO THE REQUEST. SO, I DO NOT WANT WASTE MY TIME BY CALLING THEM AND GETTING UPSET. THEY HAVE THE DETAILS AND CONTACT INFO IF THEY WANT TO CONTACT ME. WE BUY BENZ FOR RELIABILITY AND THAT VERY POINT IS NOT TRUE LOOKING AT THIS ISSUE AND CHECKING THE ONLINE COMPLAINTS. LUCKILY WE DO HAVE A 3RD CAR THAT OUR SON USES AND I CAN LEAVE BENZ IN GARAGE UNTIL THIS ISSUE GETS FIXED FROM BENZ CORPORATION.
Steering, Jul 23, 2015
CAR WILL NOT START - DID A SEARCH COMMON FAULT STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAIL - MERCEDES NEEDS TO RECALL FIX FOR FREE
Steering, Jul 13, 2015
I WENT TO A STORE AND WHEN A RETURN BACK FOR MY CAR, MY MERCEDES BENZ C300 2088 DIDN'T START, I THOUGH IT WAS THE KEY BUT WHEN I USE MY OTHER KEY DIDN'T WORK ETHER. I TOWED MY CAR AND TOOK IT TO THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALER. NOW THE TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE STEERING COLUMN LOO AND THEY WANT ME TO CARGO ME OVER $1400. I DON'T THINK IS FARE BECAUSE IT IS A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM, A LOT O PEOPLE IS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME THINK, EVEN THE EMPLOYES TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE ONE CAR A WEEK FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THAT HAS TO BE A RECALL. I'M NOT PAYING FOR A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM. LETS DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!
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.
Steering, Power train, Jun 26, 2015
WAS MAKING A TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND GAS WOULD NOT WORK. CAR SLOWED TO THE STOP AND I HAD TO TURN OFF AND TURN BACK ON. 5 MINUTES LATER WAS DRIVING AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AGAIN AND CAR SLOWED TO A STOP. HAD TO GET CAR TOWED WHEN IT WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON.
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.
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.
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
Steering, Power train, Apr 15, 2015
THE SERPENTINE BELT SHREDDED FOR THE THIRD TIME AFTER HAVING IT REPLACED TWICE WITHIN FOUR WEEKS. AS OF 4/15/2015 THIS CAR WILL HAVE ITS 4TH BELT INSTALLED. CLEARLY THE TENSIONER AND PULLEY(S) ARE MAJORLY DEFECTED. EACH TIME THESE INCIDENTS WERE LIFE THREATENING FOR ME AND MY DAUGHTERS. WE WERE SIMPLY BLESSED NOT HAVE BEEN HIT BY OTHER DRIVERS WHEN THE CAR LOST TOTAL CONTROL WITH NO STEERING POWER. EACH TIME OF THE CAR'S MALFUNCTION, I WAS SURROUNDED BY OTHER DRIVERS, MOVING WITH THE STEADY FLOW OF TRAFFIC.THESE ARE SERIOUS ISSUES. I CAN'T IMAGINE IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT A FASTER PACE. NOW I AM FACING THE EXPENSE OF REPLACING THE BELT FOR THE THIRD TIME(MAKING THIS THE 4TH BELT), REPLACING THE PARTS, THE COST OF LABOR, AND THE COST FOR A RENTAL DURING THE REPAIR TIME. MERCEDES SHOULD BE HONORABLE AND DEMAND A RECALL ON THESE PARTS IMMEDIATELY, BEFORE SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATH(S) OCCUR. THIS COUNTRY DOES NOT NEED TO BE REMINDED OF THE SENSELESS BEHAVIORS OF THE FORD PINTO OR THE MOST RECENT, TOYOTA TRAGEDIES. MERCEDES CAN CONTROL THE OUTCOME OF THESE SITUATIONS WITH A SIMPLE RECALL. THE COST OF THE PARTS IN BULK OR WHOLESALE WOULD BE A VERY SMALL PRICE COMPARED TO THE HEARTACHE OF LOOSING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OR CAUSING THE ULTIMATE RESULT - DEATH! *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
Steering, Mar 30, 2015
MY WIFE WAS GOING TO TAKE MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL WENT TO START THE CAR AND CAR WON'T START. THE KEY WOULD TURN LIGHT S WORK BUT ENGINE WOULDN'T TURN OVER HAD IT TOWED TO GAINESVILLE MERCEDES WHERE THEY SAID THE STEERING INTERLOCK SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1200.00. THERE ARE LOTS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME ISSUE LUCKY MY WIFE WAS NOT ALONE AT AND THIS HAPPENED NO WARNING AT ALL!! *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
Steering, Feb 9, 2015
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES C CLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING SYSTEM SEIZED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.
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
Steering, Engine, Feb 3, 2015
I DROVE TO WORK ON THE 29TH, AND TO AND BACK AN APPOINTMENT, I WENT TO LEAVE WORK THAT EVENING AND MY CAR WOULD NOT START. THE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. AND WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ICE STORM, I CALLED MERCEDES ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE AND I GUESS MY ASSISTANCE EXPIRED SO THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE $175 TO TOW MY CAR, SO I USED MY VERIZON ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO PICK UP AND TAKE TO A FRIENDS SHOP TO FIX BUT BECAUSE OF THE STORM I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET MY CAR PICKED UP FOR 25 HOURS AND SINCE IT WAS FRIDAY NIGHT BY THAT TIME MY CAR DIDN'T GET LOOKED AT BY MY FRIENDS REPAIR SHOP UNTIL MONDAY 4 DAYS LATER I FIND OUT THAT THE VEHICLE CANT BE FIXED BY ANYONE ELSE BUT MERCEDES, BECAUSE EVERYTHING IN THE CAR IS SEIZED UP AND NO ONE KNEW HOW TO GET IT UNSEIZED. SO MONDAY AT NOON I CALLED MERCEDES ROADSIDEAGAIN TO GET THE CAR TOWED AGAIN. BECAUSE OF THE WONDERFUL CUSTOMER SERVICE FROM THE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TEAM AT MERCEDES THEY ENDED UP SENDING 3 TOW TRUCKS OVER TO PICK MY CAR UP, THE FIRST ONE SHOWED UP AFTER MY FIRST SHOP CLOSED, THE SECOND TOW TRUCK WAS UNABLE TO PICK UP THE CAR BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW IT WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR SO FINALLY ANOTHER 24 HOURS HAD PAST BEFORE THEY GOT MY CAR WHICH IS 1/4 OF A MILE AWAY FROM THE REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS. MY CAR HAS BEEN BROKE FOR ALMOST A WHOLE WEEK KNOW AND STILL KNOW ONE KNOWS WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR IN THE MEAN TIME THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO LOANER CAR FOR ME TO USE AND I SPENT 3 HOURS SITIING IN A DISABLED CAR IN AN ICE STORM WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO COME AND GET ME. IT REALLY SOUNDS LIKE THE SAME PROBLEM EVERYONE ELSE ON THIS SITE HAS EXPERIENCED WHO KNOWS HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE THEM TO KFIGURE IT OUT AT THIS PACE, I WILL UPDATE THIS IF I EVER FIND OUT. *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
Steering, Jan 21, 2015, crash
I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A SNAP , AS SOON I TRY TO PULL OVER MY STEERING WHEEL BECOMES VERY STIFF, VERY HARD TO TURN. HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND CALL FOR A TOW TRUCK. WHEN I OPEN THE HOOD IT SMELL LIKE SOMETHING BURNT AND I SAW THE BELT IN PIECES. I SPOKE TO MY MECHANIC AND HE CONFIRMED IT WAS THE BELT AND THE IDLE PULLEY. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND ALOT OF C CLASS CARS ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. HOPEFULLY MERCEDES BENZ CAN FIX THIS BEFORE A TRAGEDY HAPPENS. *TR