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, Apr 15, 2015
THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM ALSO KNOWN AS EIS IS BROKEN. I TURNED IF THE CAR AND IT DID NOT READ MY KEY. AFTER LOOKING IN THE INTERNET AND SPEAKING WITH THE MECHANIC IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE MODELS 2008 09 10 HAVE THIS DEFECTIVE PART. I ALSO SPOKE TO A SERVICE TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALER WHO WISHED TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS AND HE ADMITTED THAT JUST AT HIS DEALER THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES ARE BROUGHT IN FOR THIS SAME ISSUE AND YET MERCEDES BENZ REFUSES TO RECALL. THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO POLICE THIS MATTER WHICH IS COSTING MINIMUM $1300. *TR
Steering, Power train, Apr 15, 2015
THE SERPENTINE BELT SHREDDED FOR THE THIRD TIME AFTER HAVING IT REPLACED TWICE WITHIN FOUR WEEKS. AS OF 4/15/2015 THIS CAR WILL HAVE ITS 4TH BELT INSTALLED. CLEARLY THE TENSIONER AND PULLEY(S) ARE MAJORLY DEFECTED. EACH TIME THESE INCIDENTS WERE LIFE THREATENING FOR ME AND MY DAUGHTERS. WE WERE SIMPLY BLESSED NOT HAVE BEEN HIT BY OTHER DRIVERS WHEN THE CAR LOST TOTAL CONTROL WITH NO STEERING POWER. EACH TIME OF THE CAR'S MALFUNCTION, I WAS SURROUNDED BY OTHER DRIVERS, MOVING WITH THE STEADY FLOW OF TRAFFIC.THESE ARE SERIOUS ISSUES. I CAN'T IMAGINE IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT A FASTER PACE. NOW I AM FACING THE EXPENSE OF REPLACING THE BELT FOR THE THIRD TIME(MAKING THIS THE 4TH BELT), REPLACING THE PARTS, THE COST OF LABOR, AND THE COST FOR A RENTAL DURING THE REPAIR TIME. MERCEDES SHOULD BE HONORABLE AND DEMAND A RECALL ON THESE PARTS IMMEDIATELY, BEFORE SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATH(S) OCCUR. THIS COUNTRY DOES NOT NEED TO BE REMINDED OF THE SENSELESS BEHAVIORS OF THE FORD PINTO OR THE MOST RECENT, TOYOTA TRAGEDIES. MERCEDES CAN CONTROL THE OUTCOME OF THESE SITUATIONS WITH A SIMPLE RECALL. THE COST OF THE PARTS IN BULK OR WHOLESALE WOULD BE A VERY SMALL PRICE COMPARED TO THE HEARTACHE OF LOOSING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OR CAUSING THE ULTIMATE RESULT - DEATH! *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Apr 14, 2015
I HAD JUST STOPPED TO PUT GAS IN THE VEHICLE AND UPON COMPLETION I GOT BACK IN THE CAR TO START IT. WHEN I TURNED THE KEY, THE CAR WOULDN'T START. I HAD HEADLIGHTS AND MY DASHBOARD WAS PARTIALLY LIT UP, BUT NOTHING ELSE WOULD WORK. I THEN CALLED THE MB ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE AND A TECHNICIAN CAME OUT AND DETERMINED IT WAS NOT A BATTERY OR STARTER PROBLEM. THE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT IT WAS PROBABLY THE EIS SINCE HE HAD SEEN THE SAME SITUATION BEFORE. AN HOUR LATER THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND DROPPED OFF WITH MUCH TROUBLE SINCE THE STEERING COLUMN DIDN'T FUNCTION. SEVERAL DAYS LATER I GOT A CALL FROM MY SERVICE CONSULTANT, INFORMING ME THAT THE CAR NEEDED THE IGNITION STARTER SWITCH AS WELL AS THE EIS UNIT AND TWO NEW KEYS NEEDED TO BE PROGRAMMED. THE TOTAL WAS $2500. IN THE MEANTIME, I FOUND A TSB NUMBER 2008020003, DATED MARCH 1, 2008, DOCUMENTING THE EXACT PROBLEM I WAS HAVING. IT APPEARS THAT IT WAS A KNOW PROBLEM EVEN BACK IN 2008. MY CAR IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND IT HAS ONLY 32,260 MILES. WHY DIDN'T THIS BECOME A RECALL? I ALSO FEEL LIKE I WAS ROBBED ON THE COST OF THE REPAIRS. I'LL NEVER TRUST THIS CAR AGAIN AND I'M NOT BUYING ANOTHER MERCEDES. *TR
Steering, Mar 30, 2015
MY WIFE WAS GOING TO TAKE MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL WENT TO START THE CAR AND CAR WON'T START. THE KEY WOULD TURN LIGHT S WORK BUT ENGINE WOULDN'T TURN OVER HAD IT TOWED TO GAINESVILLE MERCEDES WHERE THEY SAID THE STEERING INTERLOCK SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1200.00. THERE ARE LOTS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME ISSUE LUCKY MY WIFE WAS NOT ALONE AT AND THIS HAPPENED NO WARNING AT ALL!! *TR
Engine, Mar 26, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTERLOCK SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Electrical system, Mar 23, 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. IN ADDITION, THE WHEELS WERE LOCKED THUS REQUIRING A SPECIAL DOLLY TO TOW THE VEHICLE. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Mar 16, 2015
UPON ENTERING MY VEHICLE AFTER PUMPING GAS LATE ONE EVENING, I PROCEEDED TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE KEY WOULD NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO START. ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH, RADIO AND HEADLIGHTS WERE OPERATIVE AT THAT TIME. I ATTEMPTED A JUMP START TO NO AVAIL. I PROCEEDED WITH HAVING HE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRICAL STEERING/IGNITION SYSTEM THAT WAS ELECTRICAL IN NATURE AND "COMMON" FOR THE YEAR AND MODEL OF THE CAR. IF THIS POTENTIAL DEFECT IS COMMON THEN IT IS "KNOWN" TO THE MANUFACTURER AND ITS DEALERS WHO CAN BE HELD STRICTLY LIABLE OR ANY MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT, OR INADEQUATE WARNING. THAT BEING SAID, IF THE PRODUCT IS DEFECTIVE, WHAT PREVENTS THE RECURRENCE OF THE ISSUE AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE PART, WHICH WOULD ESSENTIALLY BE REPLACING IT WITH ANOTHER DEFECTIVE PART. THIS MATTER IS SERIOUS TO THE CONSUMER, AND THE MANUFACTURE COULD EASILY REDUCE THE RISK OF HARM TO ITS CONSUMERS BY ALTERING THE DESIGN IN A MUCH MORE COST EFFECTIVE MANNER THAN ALLOWING ITS CONSUMERS TO BEAR THE COSTS OF ITS MANUFACTURING ERROR. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Mar 9, 2015
I ENTERED MY 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300 AFTER WORK, AND IT WOULD NOT START. I WAS STRANDED FOR 2 AND 1/2 HOURS WAITING FOR THE COMPLIMENTARY TOW TRUCK MERCEDES BENZ WAS SENDING. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP AT 7PM WHERE IT SAT ALL WEEKEND UNTIL THEY CHECKED IT ON MONDAY 3/9/15. THEY CALLED ON 3/9/15 AND STATED IT WAS THE ELECTRICAL STEERING DEVICE AND WOULD COST $950. THIS IS A COMMON MALFUNCTION IN THE 2008 C300 THAT MERCEDES IS NOT TAKING OWNERSHIP OF. THERE ARE NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE FACED THIS PROBLEM, AND ARE CHARGED EXTREME AMOUNTS TO HAVE IT FIXED. (SEE MBWORLD) THIS IS NOT A DEFECT DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR, THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MANUFACTURING, A DEFECT WHICH IS UNFAIR TO THE CONSUMER. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THE ELECTRONIC STEERING DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR. CAMPAIGN NUMBER 2008020003 (NJ) TO: ALL MERCEDES BENZ CENTERS, MODEL 204, MODEL YEAR 2008, REPLACE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH WAS PUBLISHED IN MARCH 2008 NOTING "DAIMIER 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." CONSUMERS ARE LEFT SHOULDERING THE COST OF A PROBLEM MERCEDES BENZ IS AWARE OF, YET WILL NOT DO A RECALL. *TR
Structure, Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Feb 20, 2015, crash
UPON COMMENCING MY EXIT FROM THE PARKING LOT ADJACENT TO MY CHURCH, I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE BOLTED FORWARD AT FULL SPEED CRASHING THROUGH THE PARKING LOTS FENCE AND INTO A MAJOR AVENUE (WHERE, FORTUNATELY NO TRAFFIC WAS TRANSITING AT THE MOMENT). THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND TO MY INITIAL ATTEMPTS TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAD TRAVERSED THE FOUR LANE AVENUE AND REACHED THE SIDEWALK ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AVENUE THAT I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL AND JUDICIOUSLY PARK SAME UNTIL A POLICE ACCIDENT REPORT COULD BE FILED ([XXX]) AND THE VEHICLE TOWED AWAY. VEHICLE IS NOW IN A REPAIR SHOP AND ESTIMATED COSTS ARE APPROXIMATELY $10,000. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Electrical system, Feb 12, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE KEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,685.
Steering, Feb 9, 2015
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES C CLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING SYSTEM SEIZED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.
Steering, Electrical system, Feb 5, 2015
I HAVE A C350 SPORT, I WENT TO START THE CAR AND THE CAR DIDN'T START. THE LIGHTS CAME ON, NAVIGATION CAME UP, BUT IT WOULD NOT START. IT SEEMED AS IF THE CAR DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY; AS THE DISPLAYED MESSAGE WAS "TAKE KEY FROM IGNITION". THE FOLLOWING DAY I PAID SOMEONE TO COME OUT AND LOOK AT THE CAR, AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. BATTERY TESTED NORMAL AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A CLOSE CALL. THEN I LEFT TO RUN ERRANDS AND IT WOULDN'T START AND NEVER STARTED AGAIN. AFTER PAYING $160 FOR THE TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP; I WAS TOLD IF I DID NOT HAVE 2 KEYS THEN THEY CAN'T TEST IT. SO AFTER ORDERING A SECOND KEY AT $375; I FOUND OUT IT WASN'T THE KEY! IF THIS CAR HAS SO MUCH TECHNOLOGY IN IT, WHY CAN'T YOU TEST THE EIS WITH A DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER, WITHOUT BLOWING MONEY ON A $375 DOLLAR KEY? AFTER THAT FAILURE I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH. I HAVE A 15 YEAR OLD TOYOTA CAMRY AND THE [XXX] THING HAS NEVER HAD 1 ISSUE. I BUY THIS CAR AND AT 89,000 MILES THE EIS GOES OUT. POORLY MADE AND HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED. THE TOTAL COST FOR THIS JOKE WAS $1,780 AND I DIDN'T EVEN GET THE OIL CHANGED! I THINK THEY DO THIS TO GET MORE MONEY, THEY SHOULD RECALL THE EIS AND ELS IN ALL MERCEDES THAT ARE HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES AND NOT MAKE THE CUSTOMER PAY. IT MAKES ME NOT WANT TO BE A CUSTOMER ANYMORE BECAUSE OF THIS AND THEIR LACK OF WANTING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FAILURE. *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Steering, Engine, Feb 3, 2015
I DROVE TO WORK ON THE 29TH, AND TO AND BACK AN APPOINTMENT, I WENT TO LEAVE WORK THAT EVENING AND MY CAR WOULD NOT START. THE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. AND WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ICE STORM, I CALLED MERCEDES ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE AND I GUESS MY ASSISTANCE EXPIRED SO THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE $175 TO TOW MY CAR, SO I USED MY VERIZON ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO PICK UP AND TAKE TO A FRIENDS SHOP TO FIX BUT BECAUSE OF THE STORM I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET MY CAR PICKED UP FOR 25 HOURS AND SINCE IT WAS FRIDAY NIGHT BY THAT TIME MY CAR DIDN'T GET LOOKED AT BY MY FRIENDS REPAIR SHOP UNTIL MONDAY 4 DAYS LATER I FIND OUT THAT THE VEHICLE CANT BE FIXED BY ANYONE ELSE BUT MERCEDES, BECAUSE EVERYTHING IN THE CAR IS SEIZED UP AND NO ONE KNEW HOW TO GET IT UNSEIZED. SO MONDAY AT NOON I CALLED MERCEDES ROADSIDEAGAIN TO GET THE CAR TOWED AGAIN. BECAUSE OF THE WONDERFUL CUSTOMER SERVICE FROM THE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TEAM AT MERCEDES THEY ENDED UP SENDING 3 TOW TRUCKS OVER TO PICK MY CAR UP, THE FIRST ONE SHOWED UP AFTER MY FIRST SHOP CLOSED, THE SECOND TOW TRUCK WAS UNABLE TO PICK UP THE CAR BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW IT WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR SO FINALLY ANOTHER 24 HOURS HAD PAST BEFORE THEY GOT MY CAR WHICH IS 1/4 OF A MILE AWAY FROM THE REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS. MY CAR HAS BEEN BROKE FOR ALMOST A WHOLE WEEK KNOW AND STILL KNOW ONE KNOWS WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR IN THE MEAN TIME THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO LOANER CAR FOR ME TO USE AND I SPENT 3 HOURS SITIING IN A DISABLED CAR IN AN ICE STORM WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO COME AND GET ME. IT REALLY SOUNDS LIKE THE SAME PROBLEM EVERYONE ELSE ON THIS SITE HAS EXPERIENCED WHO KNOWS HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE THEM TO KFIGURE IT OUT AT THIS PACE, I WILL UPDATE THIS IF I EVER FIND OUT. *TR
Electrical system, Air bags, Seat belts, Jan 31, 2015
FOR UNKNOWN REASON, A WARNING ABOUT SRS RESTRAINT SYSTEM DRIVER SIDE FAILURE. UNSURE IF THIS IS AIR BAG, OR SEAT BELT RELATED. DEALER WANTED $2200. TO FIX. OUTRAGEOUS SAFETY ISSUE. FROM ONLINE SEARCH THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN REGULARLY TO MB PRODUCTS. WHY HAS DOT NOT TAKEN ACTION. THANK YOU FOR A RESPONSE. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Jan 21, 2015
I DROVE CAR TO WORK IN THE A.M. WHEN I GOT READY TO LEAVE FOR THE DAY THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE LIGHTS AND LOCKS AND RADIO WORKED, BUT THE ENGINE WOULDN'T TURN OVER. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAS BEEN THERE FOR A FEW DAYS. JUST GOT A CALL THAT THEY THINK IT IS BOTH THE EIS AND ESL, BUT THEY NEED MY SECOND KEY TO BE SURE. AFTER READING MULTIPLE FORUMS WITH THIS PROBLEM, AND CALLING ANOTHER DEALERSHIP, IT SEEMS THE REAL ISSUE MY ONLY BE THE ESL. I SAY ONLY BECAUSE IT CUTS MY COST IN HALF, BUT IT REALLY SUCKS THAT THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND MERCEDES HAS YET TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR
Electrical system, Jan 21, 2015
I WENT TO GO TURN ON MY CAR AND IT FAILED. NO SOUND OR ANYTHING. I CALLED AAA THEY CAME AND SAID THE BATTERY IS GOOD THEY JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG. I HAD TO GET MY CAR TOW WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND IT TOOK THEM ABOUT A WEEK TO REALIZE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. I CALLED MERCEDES BENZ AND THEY HAD NO EXPLANATION TO WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT OR WHY IT HAPPEN. THEY FINALLY FIGURED IT OUT AND THEY SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRIC STEERING LOCK PROBLEM AND THAT ITS FOR SECURITY REASONS AND THAT IT CAN HAPPEN ANYTIME. I ALSO HAD TO GET A PROGRAMMING KEY. THIS COST WAS VERY EXPENSIVE TO NOT HAVE AN EXPLANATION. I ALSO NOTED THAT A LOT OF C CLASS USERS HAD THIS VERY SAME ISSUE AND WE ARE NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THERE ISN'T A RECALL. *TR
Steering, Jan 21, 2015, crash
I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A SNAP , AS SOON I TRY TO PULL OVER MY STEERING WHEEL BECOMES VERY STIFF, VERY HARD TO TURN. HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND CALL FOR A TOW TRUCK. WHEN I OPEN THE HOOD IT SMELL LIKE SOMETHING BURNT AND I SAW THE BELT IN PIECES. I SPOKE TO MY MECHANIC AND HE CONFIRMED IT WAS THE BELT AND THE IDLE PULLEY. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND ALOT OF C CLASS CARS ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. HOPEFULLY MERCEDES BENZ CAN FIX THIS BEFORE A TRAGEDY HAPPENS. *TR
Steering, Jan 15, 2015
MY CAR WOULD NOT START, BUT THE KEY TURNED OVER. I HAD IT TOWED AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK, AND MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN REPAIR IT. I WAS TOLD THAT A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED FOR THIS PART. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I DID RESEARCH AND SAW THAT HUNDREDS OF CARS OF THE SAME MODEL HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS PART. I INFORMED THE DEALER THAT I WAS AMAZED THAT THERE IS NOT A RECALL BECAUSE IT IS EVIDENT THAT THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THIS PRODUCT AND MERCEDES NEEDS TO ADDRESS IT, AND I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. MY SERVICE ADVISOR ADMITTED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS PART BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. THE GENERAL MANAGER FORWARDED MY CONCERNS TO MERCEDES. THEY CALLED ME BACK AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. IT IS BETWEEN THE DEALER AND ME, SO AS OF NOW, I AM PROBABLY GONNA END UP PAYING NEARLY A $1000 FOR A PART THAT IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT THERE IS NOT ONE! *TR
Electronic stability control (ESC), Jan 11, 2015
ON JANUARY 2,2015 WENT FROM HOME TO A RETAIL STORE WITH NO ISSUES. AFTER A FEW MINUTES AT HE STORE WENT BACK TO THE CAR, OPEN DE DOOR, LIGHTS ON, CONTROL PANEL ON, CAR WILL NOT START. PUT KEY ON IGNITION SWITCH, DEAD, WILL NOT MAKE ANY SOUND. USED DIFFERENT SET OF KEYS, NOTHING, CAR DEAD. CALL THE DEALER FOR ADVICE, WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY OR JUMP START THE BATTERY. CALLED MY TOW, DID JUMP START AND NOTHING, CALL DEALER WAS ADVISE TO REPLACE THE BATTERY. GOT NEW BATTERY $200 AND THE CAR STILL NEED IT TO BE TOWED HOME. CAR DOES NOT START, PER A MECHANIC POSSIBLE ESL/EIS . CALLED DEALER ASKING ABOUT RECALL DUE TO MULTIPLE COMPLAINS ON SAME ISSUE AND THEY SAID NO RECALLS HAS BEEN ISSUE GAVE AN ESTIMATE OF $1200 TO REPAIR. PLEASE HELP, THIS IS A MERCEDES-BENZ 2008 71 000 MILES, SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS ISSUE, SAME AS OTHERS MERCEDES-BENZ OWNER AM REALLY DISAPPOINTED ABOUT THE CUST SERVICE AND REPAIRS OF THIS EXPENSIVE CAR. *TR
Electrical system, Jan 8, 2015
CAR WONT START. COMPUTER RECOGNIZES KEY IN IGNITION BUT DOESN'T TURN ON ANY INSTRUMENTS OR START THE CAR. TRIED A SPARE KEY - SAME ISSUE. REMOTES UNLOCK AND LOCK FINE BUT IGNITION WONT TURN ON. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Jan 2, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK SYSTEM AND THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
Steering, Dec 29, 2014
UNABLE TO START VEHICLE. KEY TURNS BUT NO CRANK. SERVICE TECH WAS ABLE TO RELEASE / UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL BY VIOLENTLY SHAKING THE STEERING WHEEL FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AS IF HE WAS TRYING TO BREAK IT. SOMETHING DID RELEASE AND HE WAS THEN ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. BROUGHT THE CAR DIRECTLY TO DEALERSHIP AND I WAS QUOTED $1018 FOR THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK. LOOKS LIKE THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE AND IT'S AN ONGOING ISSUE W/ MERCEDES. *TR
Electrical system, Dec 29, 2014
ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH AND STEERING LOCK RENDERED US COMPLETELY STRANDED IN OUR CAR. COULD NOT EVEN PUT IT IN NEUTRAL WITHOUT USING THE MANUAL OVERRIDE. AFTER RESEARCHING IN THE INTERNET IT SEEMS THIS IS SOMEWHAT COMMON IN THIS VEHICLE, AND UNFORTUNATELY IS COSTING ME $1350!! ONLY THE DEALERSHIP CAN DO THIS. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC ONLY TO HAVE IT TOWED AGAIN TO MERCEDES DEALERSHIP. *TR
Electrical system, Dec 24, 2014
11/28 : I DRIVE MY 08C350 TO 7/11 STORE CLOSE TO MY HOUSE TO PICK UP SOME FOR THE TRIP THE NEXT DAY. THE CAR WOULD NOT START (RADIO, POWER WINDOW...ARE WORKING). I CALL FLETCHER JONES MERCEDES BENZ, THEY ADVISE ME TO USE THE SPARE KEY, I WALK HOME TO GET THE SPARE KEY, SAME THING. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO FETCHER JONES FOR REPAIR, THE REPAIR COST ME $1064.78. ONE MONTH EARLIER, IT COST ME ALMOST $1800,00 TO FIX THE CAMSHAFT SENSORS AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD SENSOR. ALL OF THESES 3 PROBLEMS ARE WELL KNOWN FOR THE C CLASS W204 (FROM 2008 TO 2011), BUT MERCEDES BENZ NEVER ACCEPT THE BAD DESIGN OR FAULT. WHETHER NHTSA CAN DO SOMETHING TO FORCE THE COMPANY ACCEPT THE FAULTY DESIGN TO HELP OUT THE CAR'S OWNER ?. THANKS. *TR
Steering, Dec 22, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.