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, Apr 18, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V711000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V081000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, 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 MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Apr 17, 2017
ESL/EIS FAILURE. WHEN THE KEY IS INSERTED THE CAR WILL NOT START. LIGHTS WORK BUT WINDOWS AND DASH MESSAGE ARE NOT WORKING.
Air bags, Apr 17, 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 TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 06/13/17*LJ *CN
Air bags, Apr 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 PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER AND THE INTERIM NOTICE FROM THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Steering, Apr 5, 2017
STEERING REFUSED TO UNLOCK AND THUS THE CAR WOULD NOT START. CAR WAS STATIONARY SITTING IN THE GARAGE.
Air bags, Apr 1, 2017
KEEP CALLING CAR DEALER BUT ALWAYS TELLING ME "NOT AVAILABLE" AND IT'S HAS BEEN OVER 12 MONTHS
Air bags, Mar 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 16V363000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN: 16V363000(AIR BAGS). PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS).
Air bags, Mar 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 16V363000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE AND PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Air bags, Mar 22, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND 17V017000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/05/17*LJ UPDATED 05/12/2017*JS
Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Mar 14, 2017
LAST WEEK I DROVE MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL. THEN I WENT TO THE GAS STATION AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR TO LEAVE, IT WOULD NOT START. IT DID NOT DO ANYTHING. I COULD NOT EVEN ROLL THE WINDOWS UP. THE CAR DID NOTHING OTHER THAN SAY "REMOVE IGNITION KEY." THE BATTERY WAS TESTED AND FINE. IT HAD JUST BEEN REPLACED 1 MONTH AGO. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER BROUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO THEN SAID IT HAD TO BE BROUGHT TO THE DEALER. THE MERCEDES DEALER SAID IT WAS THE EIS/STEERING SWITCH. THE COST WILL BE $1900. I'VE CALLED OTHER MECHANICS. NO-ONE CAN FIX IT BECAUSE MERCEDES HAS THE PARTS AND CODING EXCLUSIVELY. THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY AND WITH THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. LAST YEAR MY CAR ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SRS LIGHT MALFUNCTION. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND THIS WAS ALSO ANOTHER HUGE EXPENSE. THE DEALER DID NOT TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF A RECALL. THEY ACTED LIKE IT WAS A BIG SURPRISE.
Air bags, Mar 10, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Mar 9, 2017
TL* 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 NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Seat belts, Mar 6, 2017
MY COMPLAINT IS THAT IS DOESN'T TAKE THAT [XXX] LONG TO GET NO PARTS IN. THIS [XXX] LIGHT IS VERY AGGRAVATING. THE SELL YOU THESE [XXX] EXPENSIVE AS CARS AND YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT THEY CAN'T GET THE PARTS IN TO FIX THEM? I BET IF THE COST WAS COMING OUT OF OUR POCKETS THE PART WOULD BE IN. JUST [XXX] GET IT DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Feb 26, 2017
START FAILURE AND LOCKED STEERING WHEEL
Electrical system, Engine, Feb 22, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED AND SHUT OFF WHILE IN PARK. THE FAILURE DID NOT OCCUR WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT ALSO SMELLED A FUEL ODOR. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
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.
Steering, Feb 17, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
Air bags, Feb 13, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V363000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTIFICATIONS IN JULY OF 2016. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE A DATE FOR WHEN PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Steering, Electrical system, Feb 12, 2017
STEERING LOCK ISSUE. ENGINE DOES NOT CRANK AND CAR DOES NOT START. UPON INSERTING KEY, AN MESSAGE POPS UP ASKING TO REMOVE THE KEY. STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND CAR STUCK IN PARK. DUE TO THE CONFIGURATION OF MY PARKING GARAGE AND THE FACT THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED, IT TOOK ME SEVERAL DAYS AND 4 DIFFERENT TOW TRUCKS TO SUCCESSFULLY TOW THE CAR 1.5 MILES TO MY LOCAL MB DEALERSHIP. THE DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR OF THE FAULTY STEERING LOCK, WHICH THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAYS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WITH MY MODEL, TOOK AN ENTIRE WEEK. I WAS TOLD MB DOES NOT OFFER A LOANER CAR IN THIS SITUATION. ALL IN ALL, IT TOOK MY 2 WEEKS TO FINALLY GET MY CAR WORKING AGAIN. THE REPAIR WAS $1,200. ADD IN THE 4 TOW TRUCKS, AND 2 WEEKS OF RENTAL CAR AND THIS WAS EASILY A $2,000 ISSUE. MB SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL GIVEN THAT THIS ISSUE IS SO PREVALENT AND CLEARLY A FAULT WITH THE STEERING LOCK PART.
Air bags, Feb 2, 2017
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Feb 1, 2017
IT HAS BEEN SINCE FEB. OF 2016 THAT I WAS NOTIFIED OF A POTENTIALLY FATAL AIR BAG FAULT. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN MY VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY TRIPS DUE TO THAT POTENTIAL DANGER. I THINK MERCEDES SHOULD NOW PROVIDE SOME SORT OF "LOANER"
Electrical system, Jan 28, 2017
EIS FAILURE. VEHICLE HAS 136,000 MILES. INSERTED KEY INTO IGNITION AND TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE. NOTHING HAPPENED, NO START. TRANSMISSION STUCK IN PARK. TRIED JUMP STARTING, REPLACED BATTERY EVEN THOUGH IT TESTED O.K. BUT WAS OLD ENOUGH TO MAKE ME QUESTION IT'S VIABILITY, CHECKED FUSES, ETC. ONLINE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT EIS FAILURE IS A FAIRLY COMMON ISSUE WITH MB PRODUCTS, PARTICULARLY THE C CLASS. THIS IS NOT AN OWNER REPARABLE ITEM. WILL HAVE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND REPAIRED THERE AT THE USUAL INFLATED COST OF DOING SO.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Jan 26, 2017
TAKATA RECALL DRIVER SIDE AND PASSANGER SIDE FRON AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON.
Air bags, Jan 20, 2017
"TAKATA RECALL" RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM MERCEDES-BENZ AUGUST 2016. TO THIS DATE (JAN 20, 2017) NO REPLACEMENTS PARTS HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE AIR BAGS. THIS IS TAKING WAY TO LONG AND WHILE I NEED MY CAR IT IS UNNERVING TO DRIVE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. WHEN WILL THE PARTS BE AVAILABLE? THANK YOU [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Steering, Jan 15, 2017
ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL)GOES OUT DAMAGE WITHOUT REASON,HAPPEN ROUTINELY TO MOST OF THIS MODELS MECHANIC SHOPS AND DEALER STATED IT,VEHICLE PARKED WON'T UNLOCK STEERING OR SIMPLE RESTART