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 7, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND16V363000 (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 MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Steering, Electrical system, Oct 3, 2016
CAR WONT START ,LOCAL MECHANIC REFER TO COMMON PROBLEM (IGNITION MODUEL),I WAS COMING OUT OF THE CVS PHATMACY AND THE CAR JUST WONT START ,CALLED MB THE Y ASKED ME TO JUMP START BUT NOTHING ,DIFFERENT KEY NOTHING SO I TOWED TO THE DEALER .
Steering, Sep 21, 2016
DRIVING AT NIGHT AND CAR WAS PARKED. TRIED TO START THE CAR BUT IT WON'T START AT ALL. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS A STEERING LOCK MECHANISM MALFUNCTION. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN SUBMITTED BY OTHER C300 OWNERS AND HAS BEEN A COMMON COMPLAINT. THERE IS A SAFETY CONCERN BY ALL OF US REGARDING THE PROBLEM ESPECIALLY IT CAN HAPPEN ANYTIME. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT THIS BE ESCALATED TO A RECALL FOR ALL AFFECTED MODELS FROM MERCEDES. IT IS UNFAIR TO US TO KEEP PAYING OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE REPAIR. MY CAR ONLY HAS 62200MILES IN IT.
Air bags, Sep 20, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 AND 16V363000 (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. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Electrical system, Engine, Sep 6, 2016
FROM A PARKED VEHICLE, I UNLOCKED CAR AND INSERTED KEY AND TURNED TO START POSITION 2. NO STEERING UNLOCK, SHIFT LEVER STUCK IN PARK AND NO ENGINE START. MESSAGE "TAKE YOUR KEY FROM IGNITION" APPEARED AS WELL WHEN I OPENED DOOR. VOLTAGE FROM BATTERY WAS 12.7 VDC. HAD CAR TOWED TO MERCEDES BENZ DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH EIS FAILURE (ELECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM). COST FOR REPAIR: $1,350.
Air bags, Sep 4, 2016
1ST LETTER: APRIL 2016....STATED PASSENGER AIRBAG TAKATA RECALL. NO LETTER THAT PART IS IN. 2ND LETTER JULY 2016 STATED DRIVER'S AIRBAG TAKATA RECALL. NO LETTER THAT PART IS IN. I AM DRIVING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE FOR DRIVER AND PASSENGER!! LET'S GET GOING PLEASE ON GETTING THE REPLACEMENT AIRBAGS!!!
Steering, Aug 30, 2016
ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK MOTOR FAILURE - CAR DID NOT START AND ENGINE NON-RESPONSIVE. ONLY THE DEALER AND MERCEDES BENZ AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOPS CAN FIX THIS ISSUE. UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.
Air bags, Aug 23, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 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 MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Steering, Electrical system, Aug 19, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C350. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT THE IGNITION FAILED TO TURN OVER AND START. A WARNING INDICATOR TO REMOVE THE KEY APPEARED. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED AND WOULD NOT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL STEERING LOCK MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DECLINED TO FILE A COMPLAINT UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,000. UPDATED 10/04/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE OLD PARTS AND REPAIR RECEIPT ARE AVAILABLE. UPDATED 10/13/16.*JB
Steering, Aug 19, 2016
THIS OCCURRED IN STATIONARY POSITION IN MY GARAGE. STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP WHEN PARKED WITH WHEELS FORWARD / TURNING KEY TO START ENGINE DOES NOT WORK. PER THE DEALER, THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION LOCK ANTI-THEFT CONTROL UNIT IS FAULTY. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF A PROBLEM PRIOR. THIS COULD LEAVE PEOPLE STRANDED IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS.
Steering, Aug 14, 2016
I STOPPED AT A KWIK TRIP (2006 N SPRING ST, BEAVER DAM, WI 53916) TO PUT GAS IN MY 2008 MERCEDES C300. CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER FILLING UP. MY STEERING WAS LOCKED AND SO WAS MY SHIFTING AS I WAS STUCK IN PARK. AFTER TROUBLESHOOTING THINGS SUCH AS THE BATTERY, FUSES, ETC I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND OUT MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN IN THE SAME SITUATION. THERE ARE VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE AND FORUMS WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF VIEWS AND NUMEROUS POSTS DESCRIBING WHAT SEEMS TO BE A ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL) OR ELECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM (EIS). I KNOW MERCEDES HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE ARGUED IT IS NOT A SAFETY HAZARD BUT THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES WHERE IT CAN BE A BIG SAFETY HAZARD. LUCKILY IT WAS SUMMER HERE IN WISCONSIN WHERE I WAS STUCK AT THAT GAS STATION FROM 7:30PM - 1:00AM. SO ESSENTIALLY THE PROBLEM HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH FILLING UP WITH GASOLINE. IT IS JUST WITH THE CAR SUDDENLY NOT STARTING. IT IS A ESL FAILURE AND IT ISN'T ONLY A SAFETY HAZARD, MERCEDES IS CHARGING 1300-1900 FOR WHAT THEY ACKNOWLEDGE HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE WITH CERTAIN MODELS! I FILED THIS THANKS TO A FORUM, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER THERE IS A LOT OF EVIDENCE OF THIS ON THE WEB.
Steering, Electrical system, Aug 9, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C350. WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH, A CLICKING SOUND WAS HEARD AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Air bags, Aug 9, 2016
TAKATA RECALL THIS PROBLEM HAS GONE FROM A TAKARA RECALL TO A PASSENGER -SIDE AIRBAG RECALL. I AM HIGHLY CONCERNED THAT EVERYDAY I TRANSPORT MY CHILD TO AND FROM SCHOOL CAN BE AT DANGER OF METAL FRAGMENTS DEPLOYING IF THIS AIRBAG RELEASES.
Steering, Electrical system, Aug 9, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK AND IGNITION MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.
Air bags, Aug 8, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V363000 (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 NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Aug 4, 2016
I TOOK MY C300 MERCEDES BENZ (WITH ONLY 52,000 MILES), TO THE MERCEDES BENZ OF MIAMI DEALERSHIP TO CHECK THE WIRING IN BOTH HEAD LAMPS, SINCE THE HEADLIGHTS WERE INTERMITTENTLY FLICKERING ON AND OFF, WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THIS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WAS OF SERIOUS CONCERN FOR ME AS A 72 YEARS' OLD SENIOR, COULD BE A DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE, CREATING A LIFE AND DEATH SITUATION. MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER, JUAN OBANDO, TOLD ME THAT THE WIRING TO THE HEADLAMPS WAS CORRODED AND COULD NOT BE REPLACED. I WOULD HAVE TO BUY TWO (2) COMPLETE NEW HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY UNITS COSTING $1,890.- PLUS TAX AND LABOR INSTALLATION. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHTS AND UNPREDICTABLY AND INTERMITTENTLY LOSING HEAD AND LOW BEAM LIGHTS, IS OF GRAVE SAFETY CONCERN TO ME AND CREATES A HAZARD TO PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROADWAY AND HIGHWAYS. UPDATED 03/29/2017 *JS
Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), Aug 4, 2016
STILL NOT FIXED ----2 YEARS LATER THEY SAY (M/B) "THE BEST OR NOTHING " AND I HAVE NOTHING BUT UN- SAFETY AND DANGER,AND PLENTY OF LETTERS THAT DO NOTHING AGAIN, BUT THEY SAID THAT . LETS PUT A DATE TO IT.!!!!!!!!
Steering, Jul 30, 2016
TRIED TO START THE CAR TOTALLY DEAD, STEERING COLUMN LOCKED, TOWED IT TO THE MECHANIC THE MECHANIC STATES THAT HE IS TRYING TO PURCHASE THE PART FROM MERCEDES. MERCEDES STATES THAT THE CAR MIGHT HAVE TO TOWED THERE BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THEY HAVE TO HANDLE THE REPAIR. WAITING TO HEAR IF MERCEDES WILL SELL THE PART 8/1/16. OBVIOUSLY A RECALL ISSUE HOW CAN THE GOVERNMENT HELP US WITH THIS OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.
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, Jul 27, 2016
KEY IS NOT RECOGNIZED WHEN INSERTED IN THE IGNITION. THEREFORE, CAR WILL NOT START. DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH (EIS)IS FAULTY. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED THROUGH OUT THE USA. THE REPAIR COSTS IS ESTIMATED AT $800-2,000 DOLLARS. ON JULY 19TH, 2016, I RAN SEVERAL ERRANDS. ONCE AT HOME, I TRIED TO START MY CAR. THE IGNITION DID NOT TURN BUT BATTERY LIFE WAS STRONG. DASHBOARD READ " REMOVE KEY CAR WILL NOT START..."
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Jul 27, 2016
ON JULY 21,2016 AT 9AM AND I PARKED MY CAR AND WENT TO WORK, 2 HOURS LATER CAME BACK AND TRY TO START THE CAR, DID NOT START. CAR DOOR LOCKS AND TRUNK LOCKS OPEN AND CLOSE BUT WHEN I TURN THE IGNITION ON , NO RESPONSE, NO DISPLAY ON INSTRUMENT PANEL AROUND SPEEDOMETER GAUGES. NO HISSING OR CRANKING OR BEEPING NOISE ALSO. STEERING COLUMN WAS ALSO LOCKED UP AND INOPERABLE.ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO COMMAND SCREEN WITH LCD DISPLAY THAT CONTROLS ALL FUNCTIONS SMOKED A LITTLE AND WAS SHUT DOWN DISPLAY. GOING TO THE LAST WEEKS PROBLEM STEERING COLUMN HAS LOCKED ME OUT AND ALSO EIS THAT IS THE COMMUNICATOR FROM IGNITION SWITCH AND ALTERNATOR OR STARTED DO NOT FUNCTION ALSO. I HAPPENED TO SEE MORE THAN HUNDREDS OF CAR WITH THE SAME YEAR GROUP AND MODEL HAS SMILIAR PROBLEMS .MY CAR MILEAGE WAS 93121. I WOULD LIKE MAKE THIS AS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM OF UNRELIABILITY OF THE PARTS AND THE MANUFACTURER LET IT ROLL OFF ASSEMBLY LINE WITH OUT DOING DILIGENT TESTING OF THE PARTS INVOLVED FROM THE SUPPLIERS FOR RELIABLITY AND DURABILITY AND IN TURN COST THE CONSUMERS $2000-3000 OF UNNECESSARY EXPENSE/TROUBLESHOOT AND FIX/ THAN YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HELP.
Electrical system, Jul 26, 2016
ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH (EIS) HAS FAILED TWICE! IN 6 WEEKS AND NOW THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK MUST ALSO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A CONCERN THAT THE ESL MAY MALFUNCTION AND LOCK STEERING WHILE DRIVING. THIS ISSUE APPEARS TO BE WIDE SPREAD IN 2008 AND 2009 MERCEDES C300 VEHICLES. NO SUPPORT FROM MERCEDES AFTER CALLS TO NJ HEADQUARTERS.
Air bags, Jul 26, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 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 CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE....UPDATED 11/01/16 *BF
Steering, Jul 21, 2016
I WENT TO THE CINEMA AS REGULAR DAY, NO RAIN NOR HOT. WHEN I'M BACK AFTER 2 HOURS, THE CAR SUDDENLY COULD NOT START WITHOUT WARNINGS OR ANYTHING ELSE. THE LIGHT STILL GOOD, BATTERY IS GOOD, RADIO STILL ON. SO I WENT ON RESEARCH AND THERE ARE TONS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS C300 MODEL ON THE STEERING LOCK PROBLEM. I DON'T KNOW WHY MERCEDES BENZ LET IT HAPPEN, THERE ARE NO FAULT FROM CUSTOMERS; THEY SHOULD RECALL TO CHANGE THE STEER WHEEL, WHICH EASY COST YOU $1,600. I WOULD NOT HAPPY AT ALL FOR MERCEDES BENZ QUALITY CONTROL SINCE IT LET THE C300 HAS THAT DEFAULT WITHOUT ANY NOTICES OR ATTEMPT TO ALERT CONSUMERS.
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..