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.
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.
Air bags, Jul 18, 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) 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. THE DEALER MERCEDES-BENZ OF WILMINGTON LOCATED AT 3801 LANCASTER PIKE, WILMINGTON, DE 19805; PHONE NUMBER: (877) 799-8341 WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Steering, Jul 18, 2017
WHILE DRIVING ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING STOPPED WORKING. IT TURNED FREELY BOTH SIDES BUT THE CAR WAS GOING STRAIGHT. IT HAPPENED ON A CITY ROAD. IF IT HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY IT WOULD BE A DISASTER.
Air bags, Jul 14, 2017
TAKATA INFLATORS: IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN 18 MONTHS SINCE THIS RECALL : 16 V081 AND 16 V363 HAVE BEEN ISSUED. STILL NO REPLY FROM MERCEDES. CAN YOU INFORM US AS TO WHAT IS BEING DONE TO REMEDY THESE ISSUES. DRIVING THIS CAR IS SIMILAR TO A "RUSSIAN ROULETTE"!!!!
Air bags, Jul 3, 2017
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATIONS OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 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 RECALLS REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES BENZ OF ARCADIA AT 101 NORTH SANTA ANITA AVENUE ARCADIA, CA 91006 WHERE THEY CONFIRMED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACT ED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT WHAT ZONE THE VEHICLE WAS IN AND THAT PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED FAILURES. THE VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Jun 28, 2017
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND 17V017000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED (FLAGSHIP MOTOR CARS IN LYNNFIELD, MA) 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 WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Jun 26, 2017
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C3000. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND 17V017000 (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 REPAIRS. THE WHITE PLAINS NY DEALER 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.
Air bags, Jun 26, 2017
TAKATA RECALL - RECALL HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING FOR YEARS AND NOTHING BEING DONE.
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
Steering, Electrical system, Jun 13, 2017
ESL FAILED IN UNLOCKED POSITION, CAR WONT START.
Air bags, Jun 8, 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 RECALL REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE LOCAL MERCEDES OF ESCONDIDO DEALER LOCATED ON 1101 W. 9TH AVE, ESCONDIDO, CA 92025, CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WOULD ARRIVE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, May 30, 2017
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) FOR THE DRIVER FRONTAL AIR BAG INFLATOR AND 16V363000 (AIR BAGS) FOR THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAG INFLATOR. THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE LOCAL DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF NORTHLAKE LOCATED AT 10725 OLD STATSVILLE RD, CHARLOTTE, NC) WAS NOT ABLE TO ASSIST THE CONTACT AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE REPAIRING THE VEHICLES IN ORDER ACCORDING TO THE HEAT/ HUMIDITY AND THAT IT WAS NOT TIME TO SERVICE HER VEHICLE YET. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Electrical system, May 27, 2017
ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK- CAR WAS RUNNING FINE NO ISSUES PARKED THE CAR WENT BACK OUT TO START LESS THAN AN HOUR AFTER PARKING AND GOT NOTHING DASH CAME ON NO RADIO,NO WINDOWS,NO RELEASE FROM PARK, AND STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND WILL NOT UNLOCK. LEFT STRANDED HAVE TO HAVE A TOW TO CLOSEST MERCEDES BENZ DEALER 45 MILES AWAY....ESTIMATED COST AFTER 310.80 TOW 1200 TO 2000
Steering, Electrical system, May 25, 2017
ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL) GOES OUT DAMAGED WITHOUT REASON, HAPPENED ALL OF A SUDDEN TO MY PARKED CAR. CAR SIMPLY WON'T ATTEMPT TO START AND STEERING HIS COMPLETELY LOCKED. ONLY OPTION IS TO TOW IT TO THE SHOP AND A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR FIX. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF CASES ALREADY REGISTERED ON THIS AND IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS PART USED IN MANY MERCEDES CARS.
Air bags, May 22, 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 REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Electrical system, May 17, 2017
APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AGO THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK MODULE (ESL MODULE) FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHILE THE STEERING WHEEL AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WERE LOCKED. HAD TO TAKE TO THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE MODULE AT A COST OF $840.00. RIGHT NOW THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH MODULE (EIS MODULE) FAILED AND AGAIN THE STEERING WHEEL AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WERE LOCKED AND THE CAR WILL NOT START. DEALER IS ASKING FOR $1150.00 TO REPAIR. THESE ARE KNOWN DEFECTS IN MERCEDES VEHICLES. I ASKED MERCEDES BENZ USA TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIRS OF THE VEHICLE IN BOTH CASES AND THEY HAVE REFUSED TO ADMIT THAT THESE ARE KNOWN DEFECTS AND TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE.
Electrical system, May 10, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C350W. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 113,773.
Steering, Electrical system, May 9, 2017
VEHICLE PARKED AND LOCKED. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO UNLOCK VEHICLE WITH REMOTE CONTROL, VEHICLE WOULD NOT UNLOCK. DOOR HAD TO BE OPENED MANUALLY WITH "KEY". WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE, NO WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON IN POSITION 2 AND CAR WOUD NOT START IN POSITION 3. TOWING COMPANY WAS CALLED. WAS UNABLE TO START VEHICLE. VEHICLE TOWED TO MBZ DEALER. DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTIONED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. REPLACEMENT COMPLETED.
Steering, Electrical system, May 3, 2017
THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND WILL NOT MOVE. DEALERSHIP AND WEB STATE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL OF THE CAR AND THE EIS AND ESL SWITCHES NEED TO BE REMOVED AND REPLACED.
Electrical system, Apr 30, 2017
ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK PREVENTS CAR FROM STARTING. CAR WAS AT A STOP AND MOTOR TURNED OFF - CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. STRANDED MILES FROM HOME. THIS HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES NECESSITATING AUTO CLUB TO ATTEMPT TO START.
Air bags, Apr 27, 2017
TAKATA RECALL, MANUFACTURER HAS FAILED TO REMEDY THIS SAFETY RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE IN A TIMELY MANNER.
Electrical system, Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), Apr 26, 2017
ESP CONTROL MODULE AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, SPECIFICALLY GETTING OFF THE INTERSTATE ON A CURVED ROAD, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE/CODE ILLUMINATED ACROSS MY DASHBOARD, "BRAKE" EBR ABS ESP INOPERATIVE. I WASN'T SURE WHAT THIS MEANT AND I WAS EXTREMELY ALARMED AND NERVOUS. AS SOON AS I COULD I BROUGHT IT INTO THE SHOP AND THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME IT WASN'T A BRAKE ISSUE, IT WAS A FAULTY ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL PANEL THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT HE HAD JUST REPLACED THESE IN ABOUT 4 OTHER VEHICLES. SAME EXACT PROBLEM. AFTER DOING RESEARCH, IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IT READS THE WHEEL DATA FROM THE SENSORS AS WELL AS THE ABS MODULE WHICH PREVENTS TRACTION AND SLIPPAGE WHEN DRIVING ON THE ROAD, WHEN MAKING SHARP TURNS, OR EVEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. THE CAR SEEMS TO FISHTAIL. IT ALSO PREVENTS STABILITY ON THE ROAD IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. I'VE ALSO NOTICED IT HAS AFFECTED OTHER AREAS OF THE CAR SUCH AS THE TURN SIGNAL, CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISM, STEERING COLUMN AND STARTING UP THE CAR HAS ALSO BEEN AN ISSUE. I'VE HAD TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH A COUPLE OF TIMES TO GET THE CAR STARTED. THE CAR IS ALSO DRIVING ROUGHER THAN USUAL. THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN FOR US BECAUSE I AM A SINGLE MOTHER AND I HAVE A NINE YEAR OLD SON WHO DRIVES WITH ME FREQUENTLY. I'M WORRIED ABOUT OUR SAFETY. NOT TO MENTION OUR FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER TAKATA AIRBAGS STILL HAVE A RECALL THAT HAVE YET TO BE DEALT WITH. IT HAS BEEN WELL OVER A YEAR AND THE PROBLEM STILL HASN'T BEEN RESOLVED. THIS ESP CONTROL MODULE COSTS $1,500 TO REPLACE AND I CANNOT AFFORD THIS. I'M DRIVING AROUND IN A TICKING TIME BOMB JUST WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN. IT IS A MAJOR CONCERN AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I CERTAINLY HOPE YOU TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY AND PLACE THIS ON THE RECALL LIST TO AVOID A BAD SITUATION.
Air bags, Apr 25, 2017
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND 17V017000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Electrical system, Apr 24, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY INOPERABLE AND DISABLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.
Air bags, Apr 20, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.