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.
Steering, Jul 11, 2016
MALFUNCTIONING ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT WHICH SEEMS TO BE A COMMON DEFECT FOR MB W204
Steering, Jul 7, 2016
08 MERCEDES C300W -- WENT INTO H.E.B FOR 5 MINS, CAR WAS STATIONED ON FLAT SURFACE. RETURNING TO VEHICLE I INSERTED THE KEY, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR WOULD NOT START, NO CRANK WHAT SO EVER. LIGHTS AND RADIO WORKED, BUT THE WINDOWS, STEERING AND SHIFTER WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. DEALER SAYS ITS THE STEERING LOCK AND LOTS OF CUSTOMERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM; UNFORTUNATELY, MERCEDES HAS NOT PUT A RECALL ON IT AS OF YET. TOTAL COST $1,500.00 AS OF 07/05/2016. PART 575.00 DIAGNOSE 175.00 AND LABOR 750.00 WOW. I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER MERCEDES. I NOW KNOW HOW TO RESPOND TO THOSE WHO ASK HOW I FEEL ABOUT MERCEDES. VERY DISAPPOINTING.
Air bags, Jul 5, 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 MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Steering, Power train, Electrical system, Jul 2, 2016
PARKED VECHILE TO MAKE A QUICK STOP WHEN I RETURNED VECHILE WILL NOT START. GOT A JUMP AND IT WAS CONFIRMED IT WAS NOT THE BATTERY CAR WAS ONLY AT 75000 MILES
Electrical system, Jun 27, 2016
FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. HUNDREDS OF FORUMS ONLINE PROVE THAT WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM IN C - CLASS CARS AND OTHERS FROM MERCEDES BENZ THEIR IGNITION SWITCHES PROVE TO BE FAULTY. CAR BECAUSE AUTOMATICALLY STUCK IN PARK AND REQUIRES THOUSANDS TO FIX THE ISSUE. CAR RAN FINE TO WORK AND LEAVING WORK I WAS LEFT IN THE DARK AND LATE HOURS HAVING TO GET IT TOWED. WHICH COULD NOT BE TOWED DUE TO IT BEING STUCK IN PARK. I'VE BEEN QUOTED $1500 TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND IT APPEARS THIS IS COMMON FOR THESE VEHICLES. COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. THE NEAREST DEALER TO FIX THE ISSUE WAS OVER 20 MILES AWAY.
Electrical system, Air bags, Seat belts, Jun 26, 2016
FRONT DRIVER SEAT BELT MAKE THE AIRBAG LIGHT COME ON AND OFF WHEN DRIVING ON THE DASH. CAR WILL NOT START SHORTAGE THAT KILL THE BATTIER THIS IS MY SECOND BATTIER IN A WEEK.
Air bags, Jun 23, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V711000 (AIR BAGS). WHEN THE CONTACT RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE, THE SRS WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THE RECALL WAS FOR THE SRS CONTROL MODULE AND THE SRS WARNING INDICATOR WAS A DIFFERENT MATTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.
Air bags, Seat belts, Jun 21, 2016
JAN 2015 STARTED CARE AND IMMEDIATELY SRS AND SEATBELT LIGHT MESSAGE APPEARED ON DASH. LATE FALL 2015 RECEIVED RECALL LETTER, CALLED MB OF CATONSVILLE, RECEIVED/WENT TO APPOINTMENT FOR REPAIR. MISSED TIME FROM FROM WORK ONLY TO BE TOLD W/N THE HOUR PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE, I WOULD RECEIVE A CALL WHEN IT CAME IN. LATE MAY 16 I RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL LETTER FROM MBUSA REFERRING ME BACK TO THE DEALER. WEDNESDAY 06/15/16 I CONTACTED MBUSA WHO EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE PART FOR THE AIRBAG WAS NOT IN BUT THE SRA PART WAS AVAILABLE AT THE DEALER. I WAS DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO MB OF CATONSVILLE BY MBUSA AND WAS ASSURED PART WAS THERE/ I WAS GIVEN AN APPOINTMENT NEXT DAY THURSDAY AT 8:15 A.M. AT APPT., 2 HOURS LATER I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE SVC MGR. PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. IT MIGHT TAKE UNTIL MONDAY JUNE 20, 2016. IT IS NOW TUESDAY JUNE 21, 2016. I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM MB OF CATONSVILE ABOUT THE PART. NO ONE HAS REACHED OUT TO ME. I ASK FOR A LOANER BECAUSE I WAS TIRED OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH ANXIETY SINCE 2015. IN ORDER FOR ME TO RECEIVE A LOANER I HAVE TO ALLOW THE DEALERSHIP TO HOLD $150.00 ON MY BANK ACCOUNT WHILE I HAVE POSSESSION OF THE LOANER. I CANNOT AFFORD THE COST AT THIS TIME. AND AGAIN I MESSED TIME FROM WORK TO HAVE CAR SERVICED. PLEASE ADVISE OF ANY OPTIONS I HAVE AT THIS TIME.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Jun 17, 2016
MY 2008 MERCEDES AMG C63 HAD BEEN OPERATING WITHOUT FLAWS UNTIL RECENTLY, I PARKED, WENT IN THE GYM TO WORK OUT FOR 45 MINS. WHEN I CAME OUT AND TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, WOULDN'T COME OUT OF PARK. LEFT ME STRANDED. I HAVE READ DOZENS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE MERCEDES-BENZ FORUMS ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE HAPPENING TO OTHER OWNERS OF 2008-2009 MERCEDES C63 SEDANS. MERCEDES HAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN LISTING THIS AS A COMMON OCCURRENCE, AND THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN LOCK HAS TO BE REPLACED(USUALLY BETWEEN $1200-1500). THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT, AND SHOULD BE REPLACED UNDER RECALL, AS IT DRASTICALLY EFFECTS THE RELIABILITY AS WELL AS SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE, EVEN WHEN NOT MOVING. AT NO FAULT OF THE OWNER, OWNER WILL BE LEFT STRANDED ANYWHERE WITHOUT WARNING, AS NO MALFUNCTION INDICATOR DISPLAYS, VEHICLE JUST DIES SUDDENLY.
Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jun 13, 2016
AIR BAG NOT WORKING03.
Other or unspecified, Jun 6, 2016
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO A SOCCER TOURNAMENT WITH THE GIRLS WHILE I WAS OUT OF TOWN. SHE GOT GAS IN AN AREA UNFAMILIAR AND WENT TO START THE CAR AND THE REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION APPEARED. SHE HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AND THEY WERE LEFT STRANDED AT A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT IN AN UNFAMILIAR AND SEEDY AREA UNTIL HER PARENTS COULD COME GET THEM. THEY MISSED THE TOURNAMENT. WHEN I GOT HOME I WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF HOW COMMON THIS IS. VERY FRUSTRATED AT MB. THIS IS MY SECOND C300 AND IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE AFTER THE AIRBAG RECALL I GET CALLS FROM THE DEALER ONCE A WEEK TO UPGRADE THIS CAR BECAUSE SUPPOSEDLY THEY ARE WORTH GOOD TRADE IN RIGHT NOW.
Steering, Electrical system, Jun 5, 2016
MY CAR WON'T START, READ ONLINE HUNDREDS OF OTHERS CARS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM FOR 2008 4MATIC C300. WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL.
Air bags, Jun 1, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V711000 (AIR BAGS) AND WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, "RIGHT FRONT SRS MALFUNCTION" WAS DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 07/12/16*LJ THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, AFTER THE REPAIR, THE RIGHT FRONT SRS MALFUNCTION INDICATOR CONTINUED TO DISPLAY ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. UPDATED 07/20/16.*JB
Other or unspecified, May 30, 2016
THE EIS JUST FAILED AFTER REPLACING THE BATTERY. CAR WORK FINE AFTER THE FIRST DAY I CHANGED THE BATTERY, THEN I PARKED THE CAR AND WHEN I WENT TO START THE CAR LATER THAT DAY IT SAID, TAKE KEY OUT OF IGNITION.
Air bags, May 18, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE SRS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE WHAT PART NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V711000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR COULD NOT BE PERFORMED UNTIL THE PRIOR FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS ALSO INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, May 17, 2016
STATIONARY VEHICLE NO START, NO CRANK WITHOUT WARNING WHILE PARKED ON A CITY STREET. FAILURE WITHIN THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK. VEHICLE WILL NOT RECOGNIZE THE DRIVERS KEY. DRIVER AND PASSENGERS LEFT DANGEROUSLY STRANDED WHERE EVER THE VEHICLE IS PARKED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS. THIS FAILURE MAKES IT UNABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL POSITION FOR TOWING.
Electrical system, May 17, 2016
NAVIGATION SCREEN STARTED FLICKERING ON AND OFF AND THEN SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM IT. THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THE RADIO/ NAVIGATION. IF THERE IS SMOKE THEN THERE IS WIRES BURNING WHICH CAN CAUSE A FIRE.
Seat belts, May 15, 2016
AFTER RECALL # 2015110002-NHTSA#15V711 WAS DONE MY SRS LAMP CAME ON AND NOW MB WANTS $663.79 TO REPLACE MY DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE.COULD THIS RECALL CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN.
Air bags, May 13, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V711000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Electrical system, May 12, 2016
STEERING COLUMN LOCK FAILURE. THIS DISABLED THE IGNITION NOT ALLOWING THE CAR TO START. FROM A LITTLE REASEARCH ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON MANY OF THEIR VEHICLES. THIS LEFT ME COMPLETELY STRANDED AND MERCEDES DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THE ISSUE ALTHOUGH IT IS EASY TO FIND AND DIAGNOSE WITH A FEW MINUTES ON THE INTERNET. THERE IS ALSO A EIS ISSUE BUT MINE IS THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK MOTOR CAUSING THE PROBLEM. MERCEDES NEEDS TO RECALL THESE AND MAKE IT RIGHT. THAY COULD STRAND PEOPLE IN A BAD SITUATION. MY CAR RAN FINE BIT WOULD NOT RESTART. ALL LOCK AND UNLOCK FUNCTIONS WORKED. I HAD A MESSAGE ON THE DASH TO REMOVE KEY. IT HAD NO ACCESSORY TURN ON OR CRANK FUNCTION.
Electrical system, May 9, 2016
ESL FAILURE. APPARENTLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON 1200$ ISSUE WITH C-CLASS. THE KEY WOULD TURN BUT THE CAR WON'T START. HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO INSTANTLY KNEW IT WAS THE ESL. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE ISSUES. SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM!
Seat belts, May 9, 2016
SEATBELT BUCKLE OF THE DRIVER SEAT TRIGGERS THE SENSOR THAT DISPLAYS SRS MALFUNCTION. THE DEALER SAID THAT AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY WHEN THIS SENSOR IS TRIGGERED.
Other or unspecified, Apr 25, 2016
I WAS LEFT STRANDED LAST WEEK,IT WAS VERY LATE , STOP TO GET GAS AT A NEAR BY GAS STATION . WHEN I WENT TO TRY TO START MY CAR AFTER PUTTING GAS . THE CAR WOULD NOT START . I HAD TO CALL A FAMILY MEMBER AND A TOW TRUCK.IT WAS VERY LATE AND I WAS NOT IN A NICE AREA SOMETHING BAD COULD OF HAPPEN TO ME. I CALLED MERCEDES BUT THEY SAID NOTHING CAN BE DONE TILL I TAKE THEM THE CAR.
Steering, Apr 15, 2016
ON 3/6/16 THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT GAS STATION FOR A FEW MINUTES. UPON MY RETURN TO THE CAR, THE CAR WOULDN'T START. CONTACTED ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEY TRIED IN VAIN TO START CAR. HAD TO TOW VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP. NEXT DAY, MECHANIC TESTED AND RAN DIAGNOSTICS - FOUND BAD EZL STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY. MILEAGE WAS 92950 AT TIME OF FAILURE. COST $1200. HAD TO WAIT A WEEK TO GET PARTS AND FOR REPAIR. RENTAL EXPENSE WAS AN ADDITIONAL $200. GRAND TOTAL - $1400.
Other or unspecified, Apr 11, 2016
MY MERCEDES C300 2008 WAS PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY. I WALKED OUTSIDE AND WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THAT THE SUNROOF GLASS HAD INEXPLICABLY EXPLODED OUTWARD. PLEASE SEE THE ATTACHED PHOTOS. OUR SLIDING SUNROOF SHADE WAS OPEN. WE FOUND GLASS ALL OVER THE ROOF OF THE CAR, IN THE CAR AND ON THE GROUND. FORTUNATELY, NO FAMILY MEMBER WAS CLOSE TO THE CAR WHEN IT OCCURRED. WE ALSO FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE WERE NOT DRIVING THE CAR, FOR THIS DEFECT AND RESULTING EXPLOSION COULD HAVE CAUSED INJURY AND A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.