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
836 reports, newest first.
Air bags, Oct 20, 2017
TAKATA RECALL - PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO DEALER. HAVE UNTIL DECEMBER 27, 2017 TO FILE A PROOF OF CLAIM - CANNOT DO UNTIL REPAIR IS PERFORMED AND THIS IS DEPENDENT UPON PARTS BEING AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Oct 20, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS INDEPENDENTLY DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V363000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. CROWN EURO CARS LOCATED AT 6001 34TH ST N, ST.PETERSBURG, FL WAS NOT CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY AND THEY DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
Air bags, Oct 19, 2017
THE RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED OVER A YEAR AGO AND STILL NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. MY DASH LIGHT IS ON SPECIFYING AN AIRBAG MALFUNCTION. IF DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING IT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS OR EVEN FATAL INJURY TO MYSELF, MY FAMILY, OR ANYONE ELSE IN THE CAR. I CANNOT EVEN SELL THE CAR DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE RECALL, DUE TO GETTING LOW BALLED SIGNIFICANTLY BELOW MARKET VALUE.
Air bags, Oct 19, 2017
TAKATA RECALL. I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM MB ON MAY 2016 AND ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE ON AUGUST 2016 AND HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED MY MB SINCE THEN. IT HAS BEEN ONE YEAR AND FIVE MONTHS SINCE THE FIRST RECALL NOTICE AND MB HAS NOT CONTACTED ME TO HAVE THE AIRBAGS REPLACED.
Air bags, Oct 18, 2017, crash
TAKATA RECALL I HAD AN ACCIDENT WHERE MY VEHICLE WAS MOTIONLESS ANOTHER VEHICLE THEN BACKED INTO ME CAUSING DAMAGES TO THE PASSENGER DOOR AND SHATTERING WINDOW, MIRROR, AND HEAVY DAMAGE TO DOOR DOOR,WINDOW, MIRROR HAD TO BE REPLACED AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY THIS HAPPENED IN JUNE 2016 IN APRIL 2016 MY GRANDDAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND HAD AN ACCIDENT CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE BOTH ACCIDENTS COST OVER 4,000.0 EACH WITH A DEDUCTIBLE OF 1000.0 EACH ACCIDENT. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER AFTER TAKING MY CAR IN FOR THE RECALL IN FEBRUARY 2016 THAT SERVICE WOULD DISABLE THE AIRBAGS. THE ACCIDENT IN APRIL MY VEHICLE WAS MOVING THE ACCIDENT IN JUNE THE VEHICLE THAT HIT ME WAS NOT INSURED AND THUS I WAS LIABLE FOR THE DEDUCTIBLE. ACCIDENTS WERE ON CITY STREETS. ACCIDENT IN APRIL VEHICLE WAS TURNING AND HIT A TELEPHONE POLE GUIDE WIRE (DAMAGE: GRILL,HOOD,RADIATOR, A/C EVAPORATED, AND OTHER PARTS ) ALL WERE REPLACED.
Air bags, Oct 11, 2017
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF SOUTH ATLANTA, 3775 ROYAL S PKWY, ATLANTA, GA 30349 (470) 819-2400) INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Steering, Oct 3, 2017
NEED TO HAVE A RECALL FOR CARS ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN SWITCH FAILURE. KEY SWITCH FAILURE CAUSED STEERING COLUMN TO LOCK WHILE VEHICLE IN MOTION. UNABLE TO TURN OR PULL OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD. CAR ENGINE STOPPED IN MIDDLE OF CITY STREET. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. DRIVER AND PASSENGERS UNABLE TO GET TO OR NO WHERE TO GO FOR SAFETY DUE TO HIGH VOLUME OF TRAFFIC. THERE ARE MANY NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND ISSUES PERTAINING TO THE MALFUNCTIONING KEY SWITCH SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND CAR RECALL INITIATED TO UPGRADE TO A SAFER MORE RELIABLE PART IMMEDIATELY.
Air bags, Sep 22, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 AND 16V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (RBM MERCEDES-BENZ IN ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Steering, Electrical system, Sep 18, 2017
VEHICLE FAILED TO START/CRANK AFTER ONLY 28,000 MILES. CAUSE WAS A FAILED ESL (ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK) PART OF THE ELECTRONIC THEFT SYSTEM THAT TIES WITH THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH. THE FAILURE OF THIS PART DISABLES THE CAR AND IS UNUSABLE. THIS ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL, W204 - C-CLASS 300/350, HAS AN ABNORMAL AMOUNT OF REPORTS VIA MERCEDES BENZ INTERNET FORUMS ABOUT THIS VERY FAILURE. 13 PAGES WORTH ON ONE. GIVEN THE LOW AMOUNT OF MILES ON MY VEHICLE, THE FAILURE RATE SEEMS UNREASONABLY HIGH. THE PART FAILURE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE USE/ABUSE OF THE VEHICLE.
Structure, Sep 15, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SWERVED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE DRIVER NEARLY LOST CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME FAILED DUE TO EXTREME RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000. ...UPDATED 11/15/17 *BF CONSUMER STATED REPLACED REAR SUBFRAME UPDATED 7/17/18*JB *TR
Air bags, Sep 5, 2017
LETTER FROM SENATOR CORNYN ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE 2008 MERCEDES C300 WITH TWO OPEN RECALL NOTICES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN RESOLVED (DUE TO SENATE MAIL SECURITY PROTOCOL PLEASE FAX OR EMAIL WRITTEN RESPONSE TO DALLAS OFFICE) *LD UPDATED 09/05/2017*JS
Air bags, Aug 30, 2017
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V363000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT CONTACTED THE MERCEDES-BENZ OF FORT PIERCE DEALER= LOCATED AT 4500 SOUTH US HWY 1 FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA 34982; 888-918-5510 WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUES. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS REMEDIES NOT YET AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Aug 30, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER MERCEDES BENZ OF SMITHOWN LOCATED AT 600 MIDDLE COUNTRY RD SAINT JAMES NY 11780 WHERE IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL REMEDY PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. (VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE).
Steering, Aug 30, 2017
STEERING LOCK MECHANISM FAULTY. STEERING LOCKED AND CAR INOPERABLE. CAR WAS PARKED. HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER.
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.
Air bags, Seat belts, Aug 24, 2017
TAKATA RECALL: NOTICE OF RECALL FROM APRIL 2016, PARTS FOR BOTH AIRBAGS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. UNREASONABLE PERIOD OF TIME (ABOUT 16-MONTHS) TO RESOLVE THIS SAFETY ISSUE.
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
Steering, Aug 16, 2017
EIS/ESL FAILED AT 100K DESPITE REGULAR MAINTENANCE
Steering, Electrical system, Aug 12, 2017
STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK DISABLING THE CAR FROM BEING STARTED .THE KEY WILL TURN BUT THE CAR WILL NOT START . GOOD THING IT WAS PARKED ON DRIVEWAY !WE ARE UNABLE TO MOVE THE CAR WHATSOEVER , SHIFT MECHANISM IS LOCKED AS WELL DISABLING THE MOVEMENT OF CAR
Air bags, Jul 31, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. MERCEDES-BENZ OF HOUSTON NORTH (17510 NORTH FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77090, TEL: 281-305-8970) WAS CONTACTED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE PARTS NOT BEING MADE AVAILABLE BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
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.
Air bags, Jul 28, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. TAMPA MERCEDES IN TAMPA, FLORIDA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT SHOULD CALL MERCEDES-BENZ USA BECAUSE THEY ONLY HAD PARTS FOR OLDER MODEL YEARS 2006 -2007. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT NHTSA RECEIVED THE PARTS. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO CALL NHTSA. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 27, 2017
MY MERCEDES WAS RUNNING GOOD ALL DAY THEN WHEN I WENT TO THE MALL AND CAME BACK BACK TO START MY CAR IT HAD NO POWER. WE TRY JUMPING THE CAR NOTHING. USE A DIFFERENT KEY NOTHING.. IT WON'T START I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK . I TOOK IT TO MERCEDES DEALER JUST TO LOOK AT IT $300 .. NOW THEY SAY IT'S THE KEY INGOTION THAT NEEDS TO REPLACE COST ME $1200+.. I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR 7 MONTHS AGO I HAVE NO WARRANT.. I GOOGLE THE PROBLEM AND IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM THAT PPL HAVE PLZ INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM CUZ IT COST A LOT OF MONEY TO FIX AND I'M OUT OF A CAR FOR A WEEK . THANK YOU
Air bags, Jul 25, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V363000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V081000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACTED STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (FLETCHER JONES MOTORCARS 3300 JAMBOREE RD, NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92660 (949) 718-3000) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 11/16/2017*JS *JS
Air bags, Jul 24, 2017
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH (BENZEL-BUSCH MOTOR CAR, 28 GRAND AVE, ENGLEWOOD, NJ 07631) WHO STATED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO SPEAK TO THE DEALER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND AN ERROR MESSAGE REGARDING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG APPEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BENZEL-BUSCH MOTOR CAR AGAIN WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT SHOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMED PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.