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, Electrical system, Oct 14, 2015
DROVE MY CAR HOME AND IT RAN FINE. THE NEXT MORNING THE CAR WOULD NOT START. DASH LIGHTS AND RADIO CAME ON BUT ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. TOOK MY VEHICLE TO DEALER AND FOUND OUT IT WAS THE EIS SWITCH THAT IS BAD WHICH SEEMS TO FAIL IN THE MODEL. IT COST ME $1500 TO REPLACE SWITCH. MERCEDES NEEDS TO DO A RECALL OR REIMBURSE FOR REPAIRS BECAUSE THERE ARE OVER 2,000 COMPLAINTS ON THIS PART AND YEAR VEHICLE.
Electrical system, Oct 13, 2015
IGNATION SWITCH COMPLELY DEAD. BATTERY OK. VEHICALE WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY. USED VEHICALE IN MORNING RAN FINE. WENT USED VEHICALE AFTERNOON. IGNATION SWITCH COMPLELY DEAD. THEY MUST BE RECALL ON THIS IGNATION SWITCH PROBLEM. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER.
Steering, Electrical system, Oct 11, 2015
I DROVE WITHOUT PROBLEM TO A LOCAL STORE, LESS THAN 4 MILES AWAY. I WAS IN THE STORE 5 MINUTES. WHEN I CAME OUT AND TRIED TO START MY CAR, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED IN PLACE AND THE DASH SAID "TAKE KEY FROM IGNITION". THE LIGHTS AND RADIO WORKED, HOWEVER THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT WORK AND THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON. ALSO, THE SHIFT WAS STUCK IN "PARK" AND COULD NOT BE PLACED INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT AN OVERRIDE.
Electrical system, Oct 11, 2015
HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH AND/OR STEERING WHEEL LOCKING MECHANISM. VEHICLE WILL NOT START. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MANY C 300'S
Electrical system, Oct 5, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V303000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
Steering, Electrical system, Oct 5, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH OR THE COMPUTER SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR UPDATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING IGNITION AND LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
Air bags, Sep 26, 2015
DRIVER AIRBAG LIGHT COME ON DASH AND OFF.
Steering, Sep 26, 2015
STEERING LOCK FAILURE: I CAN NOT TURN WHEELS AND START THE ENGINE. A LOT OF MERCEDES CUSTOMERS COMPLAINTS ABOUT EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS TO BE TOWED AND REPAIR ONLY BY THE DEALER. IT SHOULD QUALIFIED FOR RECALL!!!
Steering, Sep 18, 2015
PARK THIS CAR ON MY DAUGHTER SCHOOL AFTER CLASS TURN OFF WHEN TRAY TO STAR ENGINE NOTHING HAPPENS THE STEERING LOCK DOESN'T WORK AND SHUT DOWN ALL CAR COST ME 1600 PLUS TWO WEEK RENT A CAR BECAUSE DE PART HAVE TO BUY ON GERMANY BELIEVE IT OR NOT THE PART COST $350 TWO HRS DEALER WORK $1250
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Sep 17, 2015
SAME ISSUE AS LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF OTHERS ARE COMPLAINING OF...CAR FAILS TO START DUE TO EITHER A FAULTY STEERING WHEEL IGNITION LOCK OR EIS NOT RECOGNIZING THE KEY AND THEREFORE NOT STARTING. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE TO ME, DEALER SERVICE ADVISOR KNEW IMMEDIATELY AND EVEN GUESSED AT THE MODEL AND YEAR OF MY VEHICLE, WHICH TELLS ME THAT THIS IS A PREVALENT ISSUE, SUPPORTED BY THE THOUSANDS OF POSTS I HAVE READ ON VARIOUS FORUMS. THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY NIGHTMARE WAITING TO HAPPEN, SIMILAR IN NATURE, IF NOT SCOPE, TO THE GM IGNITION SWITCH RECALL! THE SAME THING COULD HAPPEN IF THE FAILURE OCCURS AT HIGHWAY SPEED.
Steering, Sep 8, 2015
2008 MERCEDES BENZ C350 - 70,677 AFTER DRIVING THE CAR IN THE MORNING, I WENT TO CRANK THE CAR LATER IN THE DAY AND IT WOULD NOT START. IGNITION WOULD TURN, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED - ONLY A CLICKING SOUND WHEN I REMOVED THE KEY. LOCKS, ALARM, LIGHTS (INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR), RADIO AND AIR CONDITIONER WORKED FINE, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK AND THE BRAKE WAS LOCKED IN PLACE. BATTERY TESTED NORMAL AT 12.4 VOLTS. I TRIED THE SECOND KEY, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START. TOOK IT TO MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A STEERING LOCK / IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM AND IT WAS A COMMON ISSUE THEY SEE IN THIS YEAR AND MODEL. THEY WANTED $1,200 TO REPLACE THE STEERING LOCK. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM IN MERCEDES BENZ 2008 C CLASS, BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL AND MERCEDES WILL NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE.
Exterior lighting, Aug 28, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,800.
Steering, Electrical system, Aug 25, 2015
DROVE CAR TO WORK WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. AT THE END OF DAY, CAR WOULD NOT START AND ENGINE WOULD NOT CRANK OR TURN OVER. DASHBOARD INDICATOR, RADIO, WINDOWS, INTERIOR/EXTERIOR LIGHTS WORKED. GOT A JUMP FROM EMPLOYEE PARKING SERVICES, BUT CAR STILL WOULD NOT START. STEERING COLUMN LOCKED AND UNABLE TO SHIFT GEAR TO NEUTRAL. TOWED CAR TO AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND HAD SERVICE DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. ERROR FOUND TO BE RELATED TO SERVICE CAMPAIGN 2008020003 ISSUED MARCH 2008 IN WHICH THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. PER CAMPAIGN, "DAIMLER AG HAS DETERMINED THAT THE EIS MAY MALFUNCTION PREVENTING THE ELECTRIC STEERING LOCK AND THE CENTRAL LOCK FROM FUNCTIONING. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EIS ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES DURING THE NEXT WORKSHOP VISIT. PLEASE NOTE THAT RECALL AND SERVICE CAMPAIGNS DO NOT EXPIRE AND MAY ALSO BE PERFORMED ON A VEHICLE WITH A VEHICLE STATUS INDICATOR. ORDER NO. P-SC-2008020003." PARTS--PART NAME:EIS PART NO: A204 545 14 08 ESTIMATED REPLACEMENT RATE 100%; PART NAME:ORANGE WORKSHOP KEY (MUST BE ORDERED BY VIN) PART NO: A000 766 96 06 9999 ESTIMATED REPLACEMENT RATE 100%. WARRANTY INFORMATION: OPERATION: REPLACE EIS CONTROL MODULE (02-5644); CONNECT/DISCONNECT STAR DIAGNOSIS (02-4762); CONNECT/DISCONNECT BATTERY CHARGER (02-5058). DAMAGE CODE: 46 926 31 7. DO YOUR RESEARCH--THIS PROBLEM HAS AFFECTED THOUSANDS OF MB OWNERS AND HAS OCCURRED TO SOME WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD, MORE SO THAN THE BACK TAIL LIGHT ISSUE WHICH WAS RECALLED. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE AND MAKE THIS A REQUIRED RECALL COVERED BY MERCEDES. DON'T BUY ANOTHER MERCEDES WITHOUT CHECKING THE VMI, VEHICLE MASTER INQUIRY FIRST. LIVES MATTER.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Aug 24, 2015
LAST WEEK 8/11/2015 I DROVE TO THE LUMBAR STORE, PARKED THE CAR AND UPON RETURNING TO THE CAR, THE KEY TURNED COMPLETELY TO THE RIGHT, THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON, THE RINGING NOISE SOUNDED, BUT THE CAR DID NOT TURN OVER, NOTHING HAPPENED. THE DASH READ REMOVE THE KEY FROM IGNITION. I CALLED MY MECHANIC WITH THE ISSUE AND HE SAID USE YOUR KEY FOB TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE CAR; THAT DID NOT WORK, STILL NOTHING. I CALLED THE TOW COMPANY THE BATTERY WAS FULLY CHARGED ( I PURCHASED IT LAST YEAR 2014). THE TOW COMPANY DISABLED THE CABLE TO THE BATTERY WAITED 30 SECONDS AND RECONNECTED THE BATTERY, STILL THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN THE ENGINE OVER. BECAUSE THE LUMBER YARD LOCKED THEIR GATE AT 5 PM THE CAR WAS SCHEDULED TO BE TOWED THE NEXT MORNING. THE CAR STARTED THE NEXT MORNING, I ALLOWED THE TOW COMPANY TO TOW IT ANYWAY AND HAVE THEIR MECHANIC ASSESS THE PROBLEM. THOROUGH-OUT THE DAY THE TOW MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE CAR ON AND DETERMINED THE CAR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY START. THE NEXT DAY I DROVE THE CAR TO A FOREIGN CAR SERVICE SHOP, THEY STATED THE EIS SYSTEM IS NOT ALWAYS RECOGNIZING THE KEY AND ONLY A MB DEALERSHIP CAN FIX IGNITION RELATED PROBLEMS. I CALLED AND GOT A QUOTE, THE EIS PART AND LABOR WILL COST ME $872.31 INCLUDES TAXES (ASSUMING THIS IS THE PROBLEM). AS A NOTE, I USED MY OTHER KEY AND STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS MORNING I USED THE KEY I ALWAYS USE AND IT STARTED. OFF TO THE MB DEALERSHIP.
Steering, Service brakes, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 21, 2015
MY CAR DID NOT RESPOND WHEN I TRIED TO START AND THE STEERING WAS LOCKED AND I COULD NOT FIRE THE IGNITION. I TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST MERCEDES SHOWROOM AND THEY SAID THAT THE STEERING WAS LOCKED AND SHOULD BE REPLACED WHICH WILL COST ME $1100. I HAVE READ COUPLE OF POSTS ONLINE AND I SEE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND IT IS REALLY BAD THAT MERCEDES DID NOT FIX THIS AND NOT EVEN TAKING CARE OF THE VEHICLES WHICH ARE EFFECTED.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Aug 21, 2015
I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY C300 FOR THE LAST 3-4 YEARS AND HAVE MULTIPLE ISSUES RANGING FROM STEERING PUMP FAILURE TO CONDENSOR ISSUES AND LIGHTING ISSUES INCLUDING A RECALL FOR THE TAIL LIGHTS. YESTERDAY AFTER HAVING PARKED MY CAR FOR ALMOST 4 DAYS SINCE I COMMUTE FOR WORK AND TAKE TRAIN, UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS NO IGNITION. I COULD SEE THE LIGHTS INSIDE THE CAR INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER WAS VISIBLE AND I CAN ACTIVATE THE LOCKS WITH KEY, BUT ENGINE WOULD NOT START. CAR IS STANDING IN PARK POSITION SO I CANNOT EVEN MOVE IT TO NEUTRAL. I CALLED MBENZ ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT IS RELATED TO STEERING LOCK. NOW THAT I GOT IT TOWED, CHECKED WITH MECEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP I HAVE TO PAY ALMOST 1000$ JUST FOR THIS STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTION. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN OCCURRING TO A LOT OF C300 2008 MODELS. THIS SHOULD BE SEEN AS A SERIOUS ISSUE AS VEHICLE IS TOTALLY NON-FUNCTIONAL. MY WORK IS EFFECTED AND MISSED A COUPLE BUSINESS MEETINGS.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Aug 17, 2015
CAR HAS FAULTY STEERING LOCK AND HAS TO BE REPLACED AT A HIGH EXPENSE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AS I LEARNED VISITING VARIOUS WEBSITES AND FORUMS.
Steering, Electrical system, Air bags, Aug 7, 2015
THESE PARTS POSE A RISK VEHICLE SAFETY AND MAY EXIST ON OTHER VEHICLES OF THIS DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE. PLEASE REVIEW AIR BAGS, STEERING LOCK. ELECTRICAL MAIN SYSTEM. AND TIRES USED ON THIS CAR.....UPDATED 03/15/16 *BF UPDATED 03/17/16.*JB
Steering, Aug 6, 2015
THE CAR CUT OFF AND THEN WOULD NOT STAR TOR GO INTO GEAR AFTER THAT. TRIED USING BOTH KEYS WITH NO RESPONSE FROM THE VEHICLE.
Electrical system, Aug 5, 2015
CAR WOULD NOT START, LOCKED IN PARK. BATTERY CHECKED OK. ALTERNATE KEY DID NOT START CAR. APPEARS TO BE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH -- WHICH WILL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. NOTED MANY ONLINE FORUM SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, ALONG WITH THE BELOW MBUSA CAMPAIGN. CAMPAIGN NO. 2008020003, MARCH 2008 SUBJECT: MODEL 204, MODEL YEAR 2008 REPLACE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH DAIMLER AG HAS DETERMINED THAT THE EIS MAY MALFUNCTION PREVENTING THE ELECTRIC STEERING LOCK AND THE CENTRAL LOCKING FROM FUNCTIONING. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EIS ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES DURING THE NEXT WORKSHOP VISIT.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Aug 4, 2015
THE KEY LOCKS AND UNLOCKS THE DOORS THE LIGHTS COME ON AND THE DASH LIGHTS UP. YOU CAN INSERT AND TURN THE KEY BUT THE CAR WILL NOT START. THE STERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND IT IS STUCK IN PARK. I TRIED POWER JUMPING AND IT DID NOTHING, I DIDN'T THINK THE BATTERY WAS THE PROBLEM BUT HAD IT CHECKED ANYWAYS. THE BATTERY CHECKED OUT FINE. I CHECK THE FUSES THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE STARTER AND ALL WAS FINE ALSO. ONLY THING LEFT WAS GET IT TOWED TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP, FOUND OUT THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK ISSUE IS A COMMON THING WITH MY CAR MODEL, EIS FAILURE SEEMS INCREASINGLY COMMON ON 2008 MODELS FOR SOME REASON.
Electrical system, Aug 2, 2015
WHEN I LEFT THE GYM MY CAR WOULDN'T NOT START. I HAD TO WALK HOME AND HAVE MY CAR TOWED. BATTERY IS FINE BUT THE IGNITION WON'T TURNOVER. BAD EIS JUST LIKE THE OTHER HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT.
Air bags, Jul 30, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300W. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 TO 70 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAYED "FRONT LEFT SRS MALFUNCTIONED; SERVICE REQUIRED". THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,150.
Air bags, Jul 30, 2015, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A THIRD VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 22,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Steering, Jul 28, 2015
PARKED THE CAR AND WENT TO WORK. CAME BACK AND THE CAR COULDN'T START. HAD TO TOW TO THE DEALERS PLACE LAST NIGHT. TODAY, GOT A CALL FROM THEM SAYING THE STEERING GOT LOCKED AND SAID TAT IT IS VERY COMMON ON THESE CARS. IT WILL COST ABOUT $1200 TO TEAR UP STEERING AND CHANGE THE ESL. BY CHECKING ONLINE Y'DAY EVENING AND TODAY, I CAME TO KNOW, THIS IS NOT NEW AND MOST OF THE 2008/2009 C300 HAVE THIS ISSUE. WE ASKED DEALERS NOT TO REPAIR IT AS THEY ARE WAITING ON OUR WORD. I AM PLANNING TO CONTACT THE BENZ CUSTOMER SERVICE FIRST AND SEE WHAT THEY SAY. THEN I WILL GO AN ATTORNEY AND FILE THE COMPLAINT. I DO SEE THAT CUSTOMER SERVICE DID NOT EVEN RESPOND TO THE REQUEST. SO, I DO NOT WANT WASTE MY TIME BY CALLING THEM AND GETTING UPSET. THEY HAVE THE DETAILS AND CONTACT INFO IF THEY WANT TO CONTACT ME. WE BUY BENZ FOR RELIABILITY AND THAT VERY POINT IS NOT TRUE LOOKING AT THIS ISSUE AND CHECKING THE ONLINE COMPLAINTS. LUCKILY WE DO HAVE A 3RD CAR THAT OUR SON USES AND I CAN LEAVE BENZ IN GARAGE UNTIL THIS ISSUE GETS FIXED FROM BENZ CORPORATION.