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: other or unspecified
44 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Jul 20, 2023
Recalls need to be fixed.
Other or unspecified, Feb 11, 2023
Rear subframe is rusted and corroded
Other or unspecified, Oct 5, 2022
rusted rear subframe
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 29, 2022
Pulled into parking space on side of street and turned off vehicle to pick up restaurant food. Returned to vehicle within 5 minutes, turned the key, and vehicle was dead. 93 year old mother was in car which was now stuck in parking space. We had to open the doors, due to vehicle windows not functioning, to try to prevent inside of car from overheating due to outside temperature. Called AAA, who arrived after about 45 minutes, tried to jump start car, indicated appeared battery was fine. Had to re-contact AAA to get car towed. Waited another 45 minutes for tow truck to arrive. Again checked battery and ignition, battery fine, car was locked in park and steering wheel was locked,. Towing technician had to lift up center console to reach underneath to switch to neutral. Technician had great difficulty getting car onto flatbed of tow truck because it kept slipping back into park. Adding to the difficulty was the location of the car in the parking space on the side of a busy street. Car was towed from Newport, RI to Tiverton, RI to Viti Mercedes dealer, who confirmed the problem. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. The final bill to repair this issue was $2,214.15. Upon review of other incidents that occurred with this make, model and year, there have been a myriad of accounts of this same issue going back many years. Based on the numerous incidents of this type and the potential safety devastation this could have caused, the $2,214.15 paid for repair in addition to $55 for towing should be reimbursed. This is a major safety issue that could be detrimental to the driver, occupants, towing company and other people around the disabled vehicle.
Other or unspecified, Apr 7, 2022
Unknown
Other or unspecified, Apr 6, 2022
Unknown
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, May 14, 2021
DROVE 4 BLOCKS AWAY FROM MY HOME TO THE STORE IN MERCED CA ON GST AND 20TH..WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR IT DIDN'T START AND MY STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED.AND I COULDN'T TAKE IT OUT OF PARK. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TAIL LIGHTS A FEW TIMES THIS LAST MONTH. ## VIN PASSED ## MERCEDES-BENZ 2008 c300 ##
Other or unspecified, Apr 28, 2020
I HAVE BEEN TAKING MY VEHICLE REGULARLY TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. I HAVE NOT ONCE HAD AN ISSUE UNTIL THIS TIME. DURING THE RAINSTORMS MY VEHICLE LEAKED THROUGH THE SUNROOF AND THE PASSENGER FRONT AND BACK SIDE GOT FLOODED. FILED AN INSURANCE CLAIM AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY CAME BACK AND SAID WE DON'T COVER WEARS AND TEARS OF SEALS THROUGH THE SUNROOF. THE VEHICLE RIGHT NOW IS AT THE COLLISION SHOP AND THEY SAID THEY DON'T KNOW IF THE WHOLE SUNROOF NEEDS TO BE CHANGED OR THE SEAL. THEY DON'T WANT TO CHECK BECAUSE OF LIABILITY ISSUES. CALLED THE DEANSHIP AND ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND THEY SAID NO. MY ONLY CONCERN IS IF THE VEHICLE IS BEING SERVICED FOR A FULL INSPECTION WHY DIDN'T THE DEANSHIP ONCE MENTIONED ABOUT THE SUNROOF SEALS NEEDS TO BE CHANGED AT LEAST THIS MANY TIMES IN THIS MANY YEARS. THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS TELLING ME THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD HAVE NOTICED THIS AND HAS TO GIVE A LIST OF ITEMS THAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED IN THIS MANY YEARS. NOW I HAVE TO COME UP WITH WHATEVER THE COST IS GOING TO BE OUT OF MY POCKET DURING THIS PANDEMIC TIMES. IF IT LEAKS AGAIN THEN I WILL NOT HAVE A VEHICLE TO GO TO WORK. NO WORK NO FOOD FOR MY FAMILY. JUST TRYING THE GET AS MUCH AS HELP AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU.
Other or unspecified, Feb 18, 2020
CAR HAS SEVERAL RECALLS BUT DUE TO MY GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION MB REFUSES TO ASSIST. NOW THE CAR HAS COMPLETELY MALFUNCTION AND HAS BEEN PARKED UP SINCE SEPTEMBER
Air bags, Wheels, Other or unspecified, May 29, 2019, crash
TAKATA RECALL I WAS HIT IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION WRECK IN OCTOBER 2018 MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND I'VE BEEN UNDERGOING EXCRUCIATING PAIN PHYSICAL THERAPY PAIN MANAGEMENT AND WILL HAVE SURGERY ON MY SPINE SOON
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 29, 2018
ON SUNDAY, JUNE 27, UPON RETURNING TO MY CAR I DISCOVERED THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT DISENGAGE THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK TO ALLOW ME TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH TO THE ON POSITION OR STEER THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE GEARSHIFT COULD NOT BE DISLODGED FROM THE PARK POSITION. I CONTACTED AAA. A TEST OF BATTERY REVEALED THAT IT WAS FULLY CHARGED. I WAS ABLE TO MANUALLY DISENGAGE THE GEAR SHIFT AND PLACE THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, HOWEVER, THE CAR WAS UNABLE TO BE LOADED ON TO THE FLATBED TOW-TRUCK, AS THE FRONT WHEELS WERE LOCKED AT AN ANGLE AND I WAS PARKED IN PARKING SPACE, BETWEEN THE SIDEWALK TO MY FRONT AND RIGHT SIDE AND A CAR TO MY LEFT. I WAS FORCED TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE AND FIND AN ALTERNATIVE MEANS OF GETTING HOME. FIVE DAYS AND NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS LATER, AAA WAS FINALLY ABLE TO RETRIEVE MY VEHICLE. CONVERSATION WITH MECHANICS AT MB DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS MB TRAINED PRIVATE MECHANIC IDENTIFIED PROBLEM AS DEFECTIVE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH (EIS/ EZS) AND ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL/ ELV). CONTACTED MBUSA CORPORATE OFFICE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR (APPROXIMATELY $1,600) WAS MINE, SINCE, DESPITE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING SIMILAR MECHANICAL ISSUE, THERE IS NOT A RECALL
Other or unspecified, Mar 29, 2018
AIR CONDITIONER SMELLS CORROSION WHILE DRIVING TO WORK AND CAUSED SEVERE HEADACHE REACTION WHILE DRIVING CAR AND WENT TO CAR REPAIR SHOP AND WAS DIAGNOSED TO HAVE A/C COIL LEAKING INSIDE VEHICLE.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Feb 14, 2018
I CANNOT SEEM TO GET MY AIRBAG FIXED EVEN WITH THIS RECALL IN PLACE. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE ASSIST?
Other or unspecified, Feb 10, 2018, fire
FIRE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET
Other or unspecified, Dec 13, 2017
SINCE 2012, FIVE GOODYEAR ASSURANCE FUEL MAX TIRES, SIZE 225/45R17 HAVE FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. GOODYEAR REIMBURSED US FOR SOME OF THE COST. ALL TIRES HAD A FAILURE NOT RELATED TO TREAD LIFE. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT WAS A TIRE WITH LESS THAN 10,000 MILES. IN EACH CASE THE CAR WAS DRIVEN WITHIN SPEED LIMITS AND DID NOT INCUR A TRAUMA. WE BELIEVE THE TIRES, AT LEAST FOUR, WERE FROM A DEFECTIVE BATCH. IN THREE OF THE FAILURES WE WERE LUCKY THAT THE TIRE DID NOT CATASTROPHICALLY FAIL AT SPEEDS OVER 60 MPH.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Nov 15, 2017
TAKATA RECALL - RECEIVED RECALL LETTERS TO CONTACT DEALERSHIP. I HAVE CALLED JACK INGRAM MERCEDES SEVERAL TIMES. THEY SAY THEY DO NOT HAVE PARTS TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE AIR BAGS. I AM STILL DRIVING MY VEHICLE AND PRAYING THAT I DO NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT INFLATING THE AIRBAGS. NOW I HAVE RECEIVED CHAPTER 11 NOTICE FROM TK HOLDINGS INC. I CALLED DEALERSHIP TODAY: 11/15/2017 AND THEY STILL DO NOT HAVE PARTS TO REPLACE AIRBAGS.
Electrical system, Air bags, Other or unspecified, Aug 23, 2017
2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REPLACEMENT PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO REPAIR BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS. *LD THE UPDATED 08/23/2017*JS
Other or unspecified, Jul 28, 2017
MY KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WON'T COME OUT!! AND THERE'S NOT POWER FOR ME TO TURN TJRNCAR OVER.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Feb 26, 2017
START FAILURE AND LOCKED STEERING WHEEL
Other or unspecified, Feb 20, 2017
TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR STRANGE NOISES. DEALER STATED THAT FRONT AXLES ARE COMING APART. THAT LARGE AMOUNTS OF METAL ARE MISSING FROM THE FRONT AXLES.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Jan 26, 2017
TAKATA RECALL DRIVER SIDE AND PASSANGER SIDE FRON AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON.
Other or unspecified, Dec 6, 2016
BELT HAS TORN TO SHREDS HAS HAD IT REPLACED 2 TIMES THE PULLIES ARE BAD
Other or unspecified, Nov 17, 2016
SO FAR NOTHING IS AFFECTED BUT I USE THIS CAR TO GO TO WORK EVERY DAY, TO TAKE MY CHILDREN TO THEIR SPORTS AND DO ALL THE ERRANDS OF MY HOUSEHOLD.. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR ANYMORE ALWAYS THINKING THAT I CAN HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND CAN BE INJURED FOR WHAT IT SUPPOSE TO PROTECT US OR EVEN DIE. I NEED A SOLUTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, I CANT WAIT FOR SOMETHING TO GET WRONG. I FEEL THE NEED TO PROTECT MY CHILDREN AND MYSELF TO A POSSIBLE DANGER.
Other or unspecified, Jul 27, 2016
I WAS DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH WHEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION. A FEW SECONDS LATER, I FELT THE CAR PULLING SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT. A FEW GLASS FRAGMENTS THEN STARTED TO COME THROUGH THE SUNROOF COVER AND THIS IS WHEN I SURMISED THAT THE SUNROOF HAD SHATTERED UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS HAPPENED AROUND 6PM TOWARDS THE END OF JULY IN TEXAS DURING A HOT DAY (~+100DEG F). I HAD THE AIR CONDITION ON THE COOLEST (60 DEG F) SETTING AND A LOW TO MODERATE BLOWER FAN SPEED. WHEN I GOT HOME, I NOTICED THAT THE SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED OUTWARDLY. I CAN EASILY IMAGINE SOMEONE SWERVING DUE TO THE SHOCKED OF THE LOUD EXPLOSION AND CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jul 15, 2016
THE ELECTRONIC STEERING CONTROL LOCK MODULE WENT OUT ON MY CAR. THIS SEEMS TO BE A REOCCURRING ISSUE WITH ANY "W204" 2008/2009 MERCEDES BENZ MODEL CAR. I'VE DOCUMENTED OVER A FEW HUNDRED CASES ALONE ON THE FORUMS ONLINE. THIS IS A DEALERSHIP ONLY FIX AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. BASICALLY, SECURITY SYSTEM IN THE CAR THAT LETS THE KEY COMMUNICATE WITH THE IGNITION SYSTEM GOES OUT AND THE CAR WILL NOT START. IT'S A $1200 FIX MINIMUM..