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, Dec 23, 2015
I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 MERCEDES 300C, PARKED THE CAR FOR LESS THAN 10 MINUTES RETURNED TO LEAVE AND IT WOULD NOT START. THE KEY LOCKS AND UNLOCKS THE DOORS, THE LIGHTS COME ON, THE RADIO TURNS ON, AND THE DASH LIGHTS UP. YOU CAN INSERT AND TURN THE KEY BUT THE CAR WILL NOT START. THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND THE DRIVE IS LOCKED IN PARK. I TRIED JUMPING IT AND IT DID NOTHING I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS THE BATTERY BUT HAD IT CHECKED ANYWAYS. NOW I'M STRANDED AND HAD TO CALL AAA AND WAIT FOR 2 AND 1/2 HOURS TO HAVE IT TOWED ON A FLAT BED BY A 2ND TOW DRIVER(THE 1ST TOW TRUCK COULDN'T TOW IT BECAUSE THE CAR WOULDN'T SHIFT IN NEUTRAL) TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE EIS AND STEERING LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE COST WAS $1647.24. AFTER RESEARCHING EIS REPLACEMENT THIS IS A COMMON AMONG AMONG MANY MODELS AND MERCEDES SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS.
Electrical system, Dec 22, 2015
WAKING UP TO GO TO WORK, I ATTEMPTED TO START MY CAR. I HAVE HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE SINCE I PURCHASED IT A YEAR AGO, AND WITH ONLY 65K MILES I DIDNT EXPECT ANY PROBLEMS. SINCE IM NOT A CAR GUY I GOT IT TOWED SINCE IT WOULDNT START. NO TICKING NO NOTHING, AND NO WARNING AT ALL. THE MECHANIC SAID THE BATTERY WAS IN GOOD ORDER BUT IT WAS THE EIS THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. LOOKS TO BE A MAJOR CONCERN AND A COMMON PROBLEM FOR OTHER OWNERS. WHAT A WAY TO START THE WEEK OF CHRISTMAS IN TEXAS WITH 70 DEGREE WEATHER
Electrical system, Dec 18, 2015
WOKE UP TO GO TO MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. I WAS HEADED INTO WORK AND WAS LATE BECAUSE OF IT. I TRIED RELAXING EVERYTHING THING FROM FUSES TO NEW KEY TO NEW BATTERY. NOTHING WORKED. IT KEPT MAKING A TICKING NOISE WHEN I WOULD TURN THE CAR ON. THE LIGHTS WOULD LIGHT UP BUT CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER. I OWN A 2008 C300 AND NOTICED IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS PART BUT MERCEDES WILL IT FIX THE ISSUE.
Steering, Electrical system, Dec 12, 2015
EIS ELECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM OR ESL ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK. PUT KEY IN IGNITION AND NOTHING HAPPENS. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. CAR WON'T COME OUT OF PARK. CAR WAS PARKED ALL THREE TIMES THIS HAPPENED, TWICE BEFORE THE CAR WAS DIAGNOSED AT THE MY DEALERSHIP ON CLARK ROAD, IN SARASOTA, FLORIDA, AND ONCE, SO FAR, AFTER PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. REPAIR LASTED TWO DAYS.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Dec 11, 2015
STEERING LOCK FAILED. 10 CENT MOTOR WILL NOT LOCK STEERING WHEEL. CAUSES CAR TO THINK IT IS STOLEN, DISABLES THE ENTIRE CAR. LEFT ME STRANDED IN FREEZING TEMPERATURE WITH NO WARNING. I GOT GAS, GOT IN THE CAR TO LEAVE TO WORK, AND NOTHING WORKED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET SOMEONE TO PICK ME UP, AS MY CELL PHONE WAS ABOUT TO DIE.
Wheels, Dec 8, 2015
WHEEL BOLTS CORRODE EXCESSIVELY DUE TO INCOMPATIBLE METALS BETWEEN ALUMINUM WHEELS AND ZINC PLATED STEEL BOLTS. CAN BE DANGEROUS TO VEHICLE OPERATOR WITH TIME.
Steering, Electrical system, Dec 7, 2015
THE VEHICLE LEFT ME STRANDED AND LOCKED OUT. I WAS UNABLE TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL PREVENTING A PROPER TOW.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Dec 3, 2015
I PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE EARLY AFTER NOON IN NOVEMBER 2014, AND SOME TIME LATER THAT DAY THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL RIGHT THEN LEFT THINKING IT MIGHT BE A STEERING LOCK PROBLEM AND KEPT MESSING WITH STEERING COLUMN TRYING TO FIND PROBLEM BEING POSSIBLY A PINCHED WIRE AND THE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS CAME ON DO A SELF CHECK THEN CAR STARTED. USED SCAN TOOL TO RETRIEVE CODES AND NONE WERE FOUND. SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN I PARKED AT A GAS STATION AND PAID FOR GAS AND THE CAR DID NOT START, NOR DID THE USUAL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS COME ON WHEN THE KEY IS INSERTED AND TURNED AS IN THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED. I STARTED TO ADJUST THE STEERING COLUMN SUCH AS TO RAISE THE WHEEL AND THE LIGHTS CAME ON, AND I TURNED THE KEY AND THE CAR STARTED. RAN A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK FOR CODES AND STILL NO CODES STORED. THIRD INCIDENT, PARKED THE CAR AFTER LEAVING CHURCH SERVICE AND THEN WAS ASKED TO MOVE IT FROM THE LAWN SO THE YARD COULD BE WORKED ON. I STARTED THE CAR AND TURNED THE WHEEL AS TO BACK IT UP INTO A DIFFERENT LOCATION. I SHUT THE CAR OFF WITH THE WHEEL TURNED ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT AND THEN WENT TO START IT 2 TO 3 HOURS LATER AND IT WOULD NOT START AND STEERING WHEEL IS ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT AND LOCKED IN THAT POSITION. THINGS I CHECKED. CHARGED BATTERY, BOTH KEY FABS LOCK AND UNLOCK VEHICLE, THE KEY IS RECOGNIZED BY THE SECURITY SYSTEM BUT WILL NOT START THE CAR. THE KEY IS ALSO RECOGNIZED WHEN IN THE IGNITION. AUDIO WARNING COMES ON WHEN KEY IS LEFT IN IGNITION WITH DOOR OPEN. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS IN THE STEERING COLUMN, ONLY BECAUSE EVERY INCIDENT THAT HAS INVOLVED THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSED IT TO START AND NOW WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT GAVE IT THE FINAL FAILURE STATUS.
Steering, Nov 30, 2015
MY C300 WAS FUNCTIONING PERFECTLY WITH NO ISSUES. WHEN I CAME OUT TO START THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY. I HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT'S THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK FAIL. I LOOKED THIS UP AND IT IS SOMETHING VERY COMMON WITH THE 2009 MODEL. THERE ARE SEVERAL POST ON THE INTERNET ASKING FOR THIS TO BE A RECALL ITEM. THIS IS THE SECOND OR THIRD TIME. THIS NEEDS A RECALL.
Steering, Nov 21, 2015
ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK FAIL OR EIS THE CAR WILL NOT START
Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Nov 20, 2015
A FEW MONTHS BACK, MY WIFE WAS STRANDED IN HER OFFICE PARKING LOT AS THE CAR WON'T START. WHEN SHE PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IT WOULD SIMPLY MAKE CLICKING SOUNDS BUT WILL NOT START. SHE WAS ABLE TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE CAR. WE CALLED AAA WHO CHECKED THE BATTERY AND SAID IT WAS WORKING FINE. THE AAA REP SAID THAT HE HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM QUITE A FEW TIMES BEFORE IN THE MB CARS AND WE WOULD HAVE TO CALL MB OR THEY CAN TOW IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. WE THEN CALLED MERCEDES BENZ (MB) ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE WHO CAME AND CHECKED THE CAR. THE MB REP SAID THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK AND IT WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THEY GAVE ME A QUOTE OF AROUND $1500 OVER PHONE. FINALLY I HAD AAA TOW MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND GOT IT REPAIRED FOR AROUND $800. WHILE RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THAT THERE WERE 1000S OF THREADS ONLINE WHERE THE OWNERS OF 2008 AND 2009 C CLASS WERE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE AND HOW EACH ONE HAD TO SHELL OUT ANYWHERE FROM $1200 TO $1600 AT THE DEALERSHIP TO GET IT REPAIRED. I CALLED MB AND THEY ADMITTED THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE BUT CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I WAS QUITE APPALLED AT THIS SITUATION WHERE THIS BEING A KNOWN ISSUE FACED BY 1000S OF MB CUSTOMERS BUT MB WOULD NOT FIX IT. HERE IS A SAMPLE OF GOOGLE SEARCH WHERE YOU WILL FIND MULTIPLE PEOPLE REPORTING THIS PROBLEM - HTTPS://WWW.GOOGLE.COM/WEBHP?SOURCEID=CHROME-INSTANT&ION=1&ESPV=2&IE=UTF-8#Q=2008%20MERCEDES%20C300%20ELECTRONIC%20STEERING%20LOCK EVEN YOUTUBE HAS MULTIPLE VIDEOS WHERE CUSTOMERS HAVE RECORDED THIS ISSUE. ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK, ELECTRONIC IGNITION LOCK AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL ARE KNOWN AND VERY PREVALENT ISSUES RELATED TO C CLASS OF YEAR 2008 AND 2009. AS I CUSTOMER, I WOULD APPRECIATE IF THE NHA CAN LOOK INTO THIS AND HELP CUSTOMERS RECOVER THE MONEY THEY HAVE SPENT TOWARDS THE REPAIR OF THESE ISSUES.
Steering, Electrical system, Nov 19, 2015
MY 2008 C350 FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING, I CALLED AAA TO COME CHECK THE BATTERY AND THEY SAID THE BATTERY WAS GOOD. I ALSO NOTICED THAT MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT UNLOVK WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED. I CALLED AAA AGAIN AND REQUESTED TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED TO TELL ME THAT MY STEERING COLUMN AND EIS BOTH FAILED AND IT WOULD COST AROUND $1500 TO REPLACE. I WENT ON THE MBUSA FORUM WEBSITE AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, I EVEN SAW A CAMPAIGN NUMBER LISTED FOR THE EIS. IF THESE DEFECTS ARE KNOWN ISSUES AND SINCE THEY FAIL WITHOUT WARNING AND COULD CAUSE THE EIS TO FAIL AND ALONG WITH THE STEERING COLUMN TO LOCK WHILE THE DRIVER IS DRIVING CAUSING AN ACCIDENT OR LEAVING A FAMILY STRANDED, I'M NOT TO SURE WHY THIS SAFETY ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED AND ADDRESSED YET. DO WE NEED PEOPLE TO DIE IN VEHICLE ACCIDENTS FROM THESE PARTS FAILING BEFORE WE DO THE RIGHT THING AND RECALL THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS? I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT MY PARTS FAILED WHEN I WASN'T DRIVING BECAUSE I MIGHT NOT BE THE ONE WRITING THIS COMPLAINT, IT WOULD BE MY DAUGHTERS AND WIFE WRITING AND CRYING BECAUSE A KNOWN DEFECT WAS NOT CORRECTED IN A TIMELY MANNER AND IT TOOK MY LIFE AND POSSIBLY OTHERS. LET'S BE PROACTIVE AND NOT REACTIVE!
Air bags, Seat belts, Nov 17, 2015
CAR WAS WORKING FINE THEN THE FOLLOWING MORNING, I CANNOT GET MY CAR TO START. ON THE DASHBOARD IT READS SRS MALFUNCTION.
Equipment, Nov 16, 2015, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE RADIO WHEN IT WAS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.
Power train, Nov 11, 2015
TRANSMISSION AT 60000 STARTED MAKING NOISE. MY MECHANIC DIAGNOSED AS TRANSMISSION REAR DRIVE SHAFT BEARING. LOOKING ON INTERNET, MANY PEOPLE HAD SAME ISSUE AT EVEN LOWER MILEAGE. AND MERCEDES DOES NOT MAKE JUST BEARING, THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACED.USED TRANSMISSIONS ARE DOING SAME THING. I THINK IT IS TIME TO ISSUE A RECALL
Electrical system, Nov 9, 2015
I REPLACED THE BATTERY AND KEY DUE TO CAR NOT STARTING ($600 AND 1 WEEK IN THE SHOP). 2 DAYS LATER, THE NEW KEY FAILED TO START THE CAR DUE TO THE SAME ISSUE. EIS FAILURE WILL COST ANOTHER $1200. THIS SHOULD BE PART OF A RECALL, I WAS STRANDED TWICE AND IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL.
Steering, Electrical system, Nov 8, 2015
WE PARKED THE VEHICLE IN A STORE PARKING LOT AFTER DRIVING FOR 40 MINUTES, WENT INTO THE STORE FOR 30 MINUTES CAME OUT AND CAR WOULD NOT START, STEERING WOULD NOT UNLOCK AND SHIFTER WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK. TOWED TO MERCEDES BENZ OF SAN JOSE AND WAS TOLD ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK HAD FAILED. CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ AS VEHICLE ONLY HAD 52,000 MILES AND MERCEDES CUSTOMER RELATIONS STATED THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME THEY HAD HEARD OF THIS. THEY GAVE $200.00 TOWARD THE $1100.00 REPAIR. I ASKED IF THIS COULD OF HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND HE STATED HE NEVER HEARD OF THAT BUT DID NOT GUARENTEE IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING THE WHEEL WOULD HAVE LOCKED AND I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STEER.
Electrical system, Nov 8, 2015
HELLO, I INSERTED MY KEY INTO MY 2008 C300, BUT THE CAR WON'T START. IT TURNS AS IT SHOULD, BUT THE CAR ISN'T STARTING. THE BATTERY FOR THE CAR IS NEW AND READS 12.6 V WHEN TESTED. THE RADIO AND LIGHTS WORK, BUT THE WINDOWS WON'T ROLL UP OR THE SUNROOF, AND THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT DOESN'T LIGHT UP. WITH THE KEY INSIDE THE IGNITION AND THE DOOR OPENED, THE CAR NOTIFIES ME TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. I AM NOT SURE WHAT'S GOING ON, ANY IDEAS?
Electrical system, Air bags, Nov 6, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C350. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SRS MALFUNCTION LIGHT BECAME ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Nov 4, 2015
PARKED CAR LEFT FOR AN HOUR CAME BACK AND TRIED TO START VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT START DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE EIS (ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH) AND CHARGED ME $1900 TO FIX IT, ALSO BEFORE I TOOK IT IN FOR THAT REPAIR THE SUNROOF WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY AND REAR RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT WENT OUT THEY FIXED THAT UNDER RECALL FREE AFTER THAT MY SUNROOF WORKED FINE. NOW MY SERPENTINE BELT BROKE AND SHREDDED WHILE I WAS DRIVING LOOKED IN MY ENGINE AND THE BELT WAS ALL OVER ENGINE IN PIECES.
Steering, Nov 4, 2015
ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILED
Electrical system, Oct 22, 2015
UPDATE: OCT 19, 2015 MY CAR WOULDN'T TURN OVER. THE LIGHTS, RADIO AND BATTERY WERE FINE. I TRIED TO JUMP THE CAR JUST IN CASE (IT WASN'T THE BATTERY) HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME IT WAS THE EIS SWITCH (ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK). PRICE TAG $1212 AND SOME CHANGE.
Electrical system, Oct 20, 2015
I HAD STOPPED TO CHECK THE MAILBOX IN THE PARKING LOT, TURNING THE ENGINE OFF. UPON RETURN, ENGINE WOULDN'T CRANK; WINDOWS WOULDN'T GO DOWN. DASHBOARD INDICATOR & INTERIOR/EXTERIOR LIGHTS WORKED. STEERING COLUMN LOCKED; UNABLE TO SHIFT GEAR FROM PARK. TOWED CAR TO DEALER. I HAD ONLY ONE KEY FOB. THEY WANTED TO TEST A SECOND ONE; SINCE I DIDN'T OWN ONE, THEY STATED I SHOULD PURCHASE ONE FOR $250 IN CASE IT WAS A FOB PROBLEM. IT WASN'T. THE EIS--ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH (THEY CALLED IT "STEERING LOCK" AKA ESL--ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK) IS THE CAUSE, ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY WANT $1100 FOR THAT ISSUE, TOTAL OF $1420 + TAX.
Electrical system, Oct 20, 2015
MY 2008 C300 WAS PARKED. I CAME OUTSIDE TO HEAD OUT AND MY IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN OVER BUT ALL LIGHTS, RADIO, SEAT, ETC WERE WORKING JUST FINE. WINDOWS AND SUNROOF DON'T WORK. MY CAR IS STOPPED AT 68,018 MILES.
Electrical system, Oct 18, 2015
2ND TIME WITH SAME EIS ISSUE IN ONE YEAR. IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN OVER BUT ALL LIGHTS, RADIO, ETC WERE WORKING JUST FINE. IT COST ME $1300 TO GET IT FIXED THE FIRST TIME AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. A YEAR LATER I HAVE TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN?!?! IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT MERCEDES DOES NOT RECALL THIS ISSUE AS IT IS SO COMMON AFTER READING SO MANY POSTS ABOUT IT.