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.
Electrical system, Jul 24, 2015
CAR WILL NOT START. VERY COMMON FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. THE KEY WILL NOT START THE ENGINE
Steering, Jul 23, 2015
CAR WILL NOT START - DID A SEARCH COMMON FAULT STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAIL - MERCEDES NEEDS TO RECALL FIX FOR FREE
Steering, Jul 13, 2015
I WENT TO A STORE AND WHEN A RETURN BACK FOR MY CAR, MY MERCEDES BENZ C300 2088 DIDN'T START, I THOUGH IT WAS THE KEY BUT WHEN I USE MY OTHER KEY DIDN'T WORK ETHER. I TOWED MY CAR AND TOOK IT TO THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALER. NOW THE TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE STEERING COLUMN LOO AND THEY WANT ME TO CARGO ME OVER $1400. I DON'T THINK IS FARE BECAUSE IT IS A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM, A LOT O PEOPLE IS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME THINK, EVEN THE EMPLOYES TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE ONE CAR A WEEK FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THAT HAS TO BE A RECALL. I'M NOT PAYING FOR A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM. LETS DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!
Seat belts, Jul 11, 2015
SRS MALFUNCTION DRIVERS SIDE WARNING CAME ON. ONLY COMES ON WHEN MY HUSBAND DRIVES, NEVER HAS WITH ME AND I AM THE PRIMARY DRIVER DAILY. DEALERSHIP WANTS TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WHICH IS $500 - $1000. WHY DOES IT ONLY DO THIS WHEN MY HUSBAND DRIVES? THEY CANNOT TELL ME THAT. AND WE CAN GO FROM 1 MPH UP TO ANYTHING. HELP!
Electrical system, Jul 10, 2015
EIS/ STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILURE. LEFT STRANDED FOR 4 HOURS.
Power train, Jul 9, 2015
STARTED REVERSING CAR WHEN I STOPPED THE CAR CONTINUED MOVING. CAR WAS IN PARK. CAN START CAR BUT IT APPEARS TO BE STUCK IN NEUTRAL, WILL ROLL BACK OR FORWARD - NO GEARS ENGAGE.
Electrical system, Jul 7, 2015
ON JULY 6, 2015, I LEFT WORK TO GO HOME AND MY CAR WOULD NOT START. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IN THREE WEEKS I HAVE HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED FROM WORK DUE TO IT NOT STARTING. HOWEVER, THIS TIME I HAD IT TOWED TO THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALER AND WAS INFORMED I HAVE A FAULTY EIS SYSTEM THAT NEEDS $2100 IN REPAIRS. I IMMEDIATELY INFORMED THEM THAT THE CAR HAS BEEN SHUTTING DOWN ON ME FOR THE PAST THREE WEEKS AND I DON'T BELIEVE I AM THE ONLY PERSON HAVING THIS PROBLEM. AFTER BEING GIVEN A LOANER CAR, UNTIL I CAN DECIDE TO HAVE THE REPAIR WORK INITIATED, I FOUND OUT THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH THAT MERCEDES BENZ HAS KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS NOT OFFERED TO RECALL ANY OF THE CARS AFFECTED IN THE 2008 C300 CLASS OR ANY OTHER CLASS OF MB WITH THE SAME EIS PROBLEMS. IT'S SAD THAT WE ALLOW THEM TO SELL US THESE CARS AND THEY WONT HONOR OUR PATRONAGE ENOUGH TO FIX THEM WHEN THE BREAK DOWN AS A FAULT OF DESIGN BY MB. IT IS ABSOLUTELY ASTONISHING THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS WITH THIS SAME ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT PLAGUE MB C-CLASS CARS. THE ONLY REASON NO ONE HAS DIED SO FAR, IS BECAUSE ONCE THEY CUT OFF YOU CAN'T START THEM TO DRIVE ANYWHERE..AND THAT LEADS TO SAFETY ISSUES AS WELL!! I HEARD THAT SOME OF THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS CAN BE COVERED UNDER THE CAM SOLENOID RECALL MB HAS. I PLAN ON CHECKING WITH MY DEALER IN REGARDS TO THIS ON TOMORROW. ..UPDATED 08/24/16 *BF
Electrical system, Jul 7, 2015
SAME AS MANY OTHERS, STEERING LOCK, WOULDN'T ID KEY, WOULDN'T START. EIS PROBLEM I BELIEVE. $980 TO FIX WITH ONLY 35K MILES! THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE FORUMS I HAVE VISITED.
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jul 5, 2015
THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK JUST SHUTOFF. THE CAR CAME OUT OF COMFORT WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THE C-IN THE BOX-JUST DISAPPEARED OFF THE CLUSTER AND I KNEW THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE IT HAPPENED THREE TIMES THEM STARTED UP TWO DAYS LATER. THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES C300 AS I READ SO MANY COMPLAINTS AND POSTS.
Steering, Power train, Jun 26, 2015
WAS MAKING A TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND GAS WOULD NOT WORK. CAR SLOWED TO THE STOP AND I HAD TO TURN OFF AND TURN BACK ON. 5 MINUTES LATER WAS DRIVING AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AGAIN AND CAR SLOWED TO A STOP. HAD TO GET CAR TOWED WHEN IT WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON.
Electrical system, Jun 22, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE RADIO, THE HEADLIGHTS, AND OTHER ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS OPERATED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Electrical system, Jun 15, 2015
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. FIRST TIME I GO TO START MY 2008 C300 AND IT WILL NOT START, WILL NOT SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, NO WINDOWS WILL GO UP OR DOWN. I AM A REGISTERED NURSE AND WAS WORKING HOME HEALTH. WAS STUCK AT A PATIENTS HOUSE AND NOT ABLE TO SEE ANY OTHER PATIENTS FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK. TOOK TO MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AND TOLD IT WAS THE EIS. SO $1200 DOLLARS LATER IT WAS FIXED. AGAIN 2 YEARS LATER THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENS AND WHAT DO YOU KNOW, EIS AND $1200 REPAIR AGAIN. EVEN THE GUY FROM THE MERCEDES SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL. MERCEDES SHOULD BE ASHAMED TO CHARGE SO MUCH FOR A CAR AND NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR WORK. IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER MERCEDES AS LONG AS I LIVE. MY WIFES FIRST KIA WAS MORE RELIABLE THAN THIS CAR.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Other or unspecified, Jun 12, 2015
ON TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015, I DROVE MY CAR TO WORK AND PARKED AT APPROXIMATELY 7:45 AM. I DID NOT GET BACK INTO THE CAR UNTIL 4:30 PM ON THE SAME DAY. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START UP MY VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT START. I CALLED A MECHANIC FRIEND, AND HE DETERMINED THAT IT IS A FAULTY EIS WHICH IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE DESCRIBING HERE. AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER MERCEDES BENZ!!!!
Electrical system, Jun 11, 2015
I CAME HOME FROM WORK ON 6/8/2015 AND LATER RETURNED TO MY CAR TO MEET A FRIEND FOR DINNER. THE DOORS UNLOCKED AND THE LIGHTS CAME ON BUT THE CAR WILL NOT START. THE STEERING WHEEL TURNS BUT THE CAR WILL NOT START. I HAVE TRIED BOTH KEYS, CHECKED TH BATTERY. AFTER SPEAKING WITH MY MECHANIC I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT IS IS THE IGNITION SWITCH. I WILL HAVE TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE SEEN ON THE BENZ FORUM THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT MERCEDES WILL NOT TAKE OWNERSHIP OF. I WILL NEVER BY A MERCEDES AGAIN.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 4, 2015
I PARKED THE CAR,FEW HOURS LATER,I TRY TO PUT IT ON,NO STARTING OCCURRED,NO EXTERNAL LIGHT ,THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. I BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY BUT IT DID NOT FUNCTION.I CONSULTED WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS AND ONE THEM TALLED ME THAT PLACE WHERE I PUT THE KEY THAT IS CALLED THE PANEL SWITCH WAS DAMAGE AND SUGGESTED ME TO CALL MERCEDES BENZ DEALER BECAUSE IT HAPPENS THAT THERE WAS RECALLS THAT SEVERAL CARS HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS FOR CARS FROM 2008 -2014.THIS PROBLEM AFFECTED THE ORIGINAL BATTERY THAT I HAD.
Other or unspecified, Engine, May 21, 2015
MYSELF, AS WELL AS PASSENGERS HAVE BEEN CUT BY THE SHARP EDGE OF THE PEELING CHROME ALONG THE TOP RIM OF FRONT CUP HOLDER. I TOLD MY DEALERSHIP AND THEY WANTED CHARGE ME OVER $500 TO REPLACE IT. WHEN GRABBING CHANGE, DRINKS, OR ANYTHING FROM CUP HOLDER THE FRONT OF ONES HAND IS CONSTANTLY EXPOSED TO THIS SHARP EDGE. NOT A SAFETY ISSUE BUT SIMILAR TO THE PEELING CHROME, THE PAINTED TEXT ON SEVERAL CONTROL BUTTONS ON DASH HAVE BEEN PEELING OFF FOR SEVERAL YEARS. A CLEAR SIGN OF POOR QUALITY/CRAFTSMANSHIP. THIS IS MY FIRST MERCEDES AND I AM NOT IMPRESSED WITH THE INTERIOR CRAFTSMANSHIP OF WHAT IS SUPPOSEDLY A TOP LUXURY BRAND. ALSO HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BATTERY 2 TIMES IN 2 YEARS AND HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH BATTERY DYING WITHIN FIRST YEAR OF 2ND BATTERY. DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE FEE TO INSPECT LAST BATTERY.
Air bags, Seat belts, May 20, 2015
PASSENGER SEATBELT IS CLICKED ON, BUT IT KEPT ON BEEPING SHOWING THAT ITS NOT CLICK ON WHILE DRIVING. IT DOES THAT VERY OFTEN SINCE I GOT THE CAR BACK IN 2011. THE SAME AS THE PASSENGER AIRBAG, THE LIGHT SENSOR KEEPS ON POPPING ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING TOO. I DONT KNOW IF THIS A PROBLEM I SHOULD TAKE CARE OF MYSELF BECAUSE OF MY DAILY DRIVING.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiper, May 17, 2015
MY LCD NAVIGATION SCREEN DOES NOT TURN ON ANYMORE. IT RANDOMLY FLASHES WHEN I'M DRIVING AND CAUSES A DISTRACTION. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, IT SEEMS LIKE AN EXTREMELY COMMON ISSUE WITH MANY C300 MODELS OF THE 2008 YEAR. SOME OWNERS HAVE REPORTED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE CORNER OF THE SCREEN.
Steering, Electrical system, May 15, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE LOCK POSITION AND THE KEY WAS NOT PROGRAMMED TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE IGNITION LOCK FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Electrical system, May 14, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE LOCK POSITION AND THE KEY WAS NOT PROGRAMMED TO THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Steering, Electrical system, May 13, 2015
MY VEHICLE WENT COMPLETELY OUT OF SERVICE AND WAS UNABLE TO START DUE TO A FAULTY ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL). MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 69,000 MILES ON IT AND THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH PLENTY OF OTHER C-CLASS MERCEDES BENZ OWNERS WHO HAVE ENCOUNTERED THE SAME ISSUE. MERCEDES BENZ IS FAILING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY WHILE ALSO MY EXTENEDED WARRANTY THAT I PAID $2000 FOR HAS ALSO SAID THEY WILL NOT COVER THIS. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND NOT EVER BUYING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM PRIVILEGE PROTECTION CARE. THEY PLACE GENERIC TERMS IN PARTS OF WHAT THEY COVER AND IF THE DEALER OR SHOP HAS A SPECIFIC NAME FOR YOUR PART, ALTHOUGH IT IS THE PRODUCT OR PART OF THE SAME PART THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, THEY WILL HONOR THE WARRANTY. ALSO THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS RUDE AND NOT VERY HELPFUL AT ALL.
Electrical system, Structure, Engine, May 2, 2015
BELT TENSIONER MAKES LOUD METALLIC NOISE AROUND THE ENGINE AREA. CAR WOULDN'T START. CAMSHAFT ADJUSTER MAGNETS REPLACED. WATER LEAK FROM SUN ROOF DRAIN SIDE MIRROR CRACKED UNDER COLD WEATHER. *TR
Electrical system, Engine, May 1, 2015
GOT IN MY CAR LAST NIGHT TO GO HOME AND ATTEMPTED TO CRANK IT. IT WOULD NOT START. THE KEY TURNED IN THE IGNITION AND LIGHTS WORKED BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. LAST YEAR IN FEBRUARY I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP BY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAVE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED FOR A SIMILAR SITUATION AT MY COST. I AM AWAITING NEWS FROM THE DEALERSHIP AS TO THE PROBLEM THIS TIME BUT THIS IS RIDICULOUS FOR THIS VEHICLE TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF COMPLAINTS FROM SO MANY CONSUMERS AND MERCEDES NOT STAND BEHIND THIS PRODUCT BY RECALLING IT. I AM A WOMAN AND HAD NO ONE TO ASSIST ME OR PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION HOME. YOU BUY A PRODUCT THINKING THAT IT IS DEPENDABLE BUT THIS CAR ISN'T IT. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Apr 27, 2015
SAME AS EVERYONE ELSE. THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND WE HAD IT TOWED IN. I RESEARCHED THE COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND SAW THAT MERCEDES HAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS ISSUE (EIS/SIS) THEY SOLD ME A NEW KEY FOR $547 AND SAID THAT IT WAS FIXED. PICKED IT UP ON SATURDAY AND HAD IT TOWED BACK IN ON TUESDAY. NOW THEY SAY IT'S THE EIS TO THE TUNE OF ANOTHER $1500. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER MERCEDES UNTIL I SEE HOW THEY STAND BEHIND THE ONE I HAVE...I HOPE THAT WE DO NOT HAVE TO CALL THE NEWS STATIONS AND FILE A CLASS ACTION SUIT TO GET IT FIXED. MERCEDES NEEDS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND REPAIR THEIR DEFECT. *TR
Electrical system, Apr 18, 2015
THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, THE KEY TURNED IN THE IGNITION WITH NO CRANK. ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL FEATURES WORKED AND THE BATTERY TESTED AS BEING OK. THE ELECTRICAL IGNITION SYSTEM JUST DID NOT RESPOND. TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP. $1350 TO FIX IT. *TR