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, Sep 10, 2014
I PARKED & LOCKED MY CAR WALKED AWAY FROM IT FOR 10 MINS, WHEN I CAM BACK I WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK THE CAR THE SIDE MIRROR FOLDED OUT. WHEN I PLACED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION THE KEY TURNED BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT START NOR COULD I TAKE THE GEAR OUT OF PARK. THE DASH HAD A MESSAGE STATING REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION. THINKING THAT THE BATTERY WAS DEAD I HAD THE BATTERY REPLACE. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH & STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY. TR
Steering, Electrical system, Sep 10, 2014
MERCEDES ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL) FAILED. CAR WOULD NOT START DUE TO THE KEY NOT BEING RECOGNIZED. I WAS ABLE TO CLOSE AND OPEN THE DOORS, LIGHTS CAME ON, BUT WOULD NOT START. BATTERY WAS TESTED WAS IS FINE. STARTER WAS FINE. ALL FUSES WERE FINE. TOWED TO MERCEDES AND THE ESL IS BEING CHANGED AT THE COST OF $1200.00 . THE AUTOMOBILE IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP ONE WEEK LATER. HEARD A LOT OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR FAILURE WITH THE SAME MODELS. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MERCEDES BENZ OF AMERICA IN MONTVALE NJ, BUT THEY INSIST SINCE THE AUTO IS PAST THE WARRANTY PERIOD THEY CANNOT HELP ME FINANCIALLY WITH THE REPAIRS, THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AS MERCEDES IS AWARE OF THIS AND IS NOT OWNING UP TO THEIR MISTAKE. THERE ARE MANY SIMILAR EXPERIENCES AND COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS WITH THE C300 2008, 2009, AND 2010 MODELS. I KNEW WHAT THE MECHANICAL/ELECTRICAL ISSUE WAS FROM READING THE VARIED STORIES ONLINE AND EXPERIENCES FROM OTHER OWNERS, BEFORE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND LOOKED AT FROM THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP. *TR
Exterior lighting, Sep 10, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FAILURE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN...UPDATED 09/25/14 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE FIXED ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2014. UPDATED 10/02/14
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Latches/locks/linkages, Sep 9, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS FAILED TO LOCK MANUALLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE POWER DOOR LOCK SWITCH HAD TO BE USED IN ORDER FOR THE DOORS TO LOCK. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS OPEN AND THE POWER LOCK SWITCH WAS ACTIVATED, ALL THE DOORS, EXCEPT FOR THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, FAILED TO LOCK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. UPDATED 10/24/14*CN UPDATED 4/16/2015 *JS
Steering, Electrical system, Sep 7, 2014
MERCEDES ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL) FAILED. CAR WOULD NOT START DUE TO THE KEY NOT BEING RECOGNIZED. EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE CAR WORKS ELECTRONICALLY, RADIO, WINDOWS, LIGHTS, ETC. BATTERY WAS TESTED WAS IS FINE. STARTER WAS FINE. ALL FUSES WERE FINE. TOWED TO MERCEDES AND HAD ESL CHANGED FOR MORE THAN A THOUSAND DOLLARS. HEARD A LOT OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR FAILURE WITH SAME MODELS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AS MERCEDES IS AWARE OF THIS AND IS NOT OWNING UP TO THEIR MISTAKE. *TR
Steering, Sep 4, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND NO WARNING SENSORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.
Steering, Sep 4, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,918.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Sep 1, 2014
I WAS DRIVING WHEN I GOT A RIGHT REAR LIGHT TAIL AND BRAKE WARNING NOT WORKING FOR THE SECOND TIME. I JUST REPLACED THE BULBS A MONTH AGO JULY 2014. WHEN I CHECKED TO REPLACE THEM I SMELL SOMETHING BURNT AND UPON FURTHER CLOSE INSPECTION I SAW BARED BROWN WIRE BURNT CONNECTOR (OUTER EDGE WIRE ON THE CONNECTOR) AND SOME SIGNS OF MELTING ON THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE BROWN WIRE THAT WAS BARE BURNT THROUGH THE CONNECTION THAT PROBABLY CAUSED THE SHORTING. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Sep 1, 2014
PARKED BY CAR AS USUAL, CAME OUT AN HOUR LATER AND MY CAR WOULDN'T START. THE KEY FOB LOCKS AND UNLOCKS THE DOOR AND THE LIGHTS STILL COME ON BUT WHEN I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND TURN THE KEY THE CAR WON'T START. THE ROAD SIDE SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED THE KEY FOB IS NOT BEING RECOGNIZED AND THAT IS THE REASON THE CAR WON'T START. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Aug 30, 2014
EIS STEERING FAILURE, CAR UNABLE TO START! THIS HAPPENED LESS THAT A MONTH AFTER BRINGING MY CAR IN FOR EXPENSIVE DEALERSHIP SERVICE AND EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT! BUYER BEWARE! *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Aug 27, 2014
THE ENGINE DIES. THIS IS KNOWN BY MERCEDES BENZ AND IS BEING REPORTED ALL OVER. THE IGNITION SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND REPLACED. WHY IS NHTSA DRAGGING ITS FEET ON THIS ISSUE. SOMEONE WILL BE INJURED OR KILLED BY THIS, IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY HAPPENED. *TR
Electrical system, Aug 24, 2014
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND TURNING INTO KING SOOPERS SHOPPING MART WHEN MY CAR JUST DIED. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY AND COASTED INTO A PARKING SPOT. I THEN CHECKED MY STEREO AND INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS TO SEE IF IT WAS THE BATTERY. IT WASN'T, THEY ALL WORKED FINE. BUT TURNING THE IGNITION TO START THE CAR DID NOTHING. IT SEEMED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. AFTER PLAYING WITH THE STEERING WHEEL FOR A FEW MINUTES IT UNLOCKED ITSELF AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AGAIN. I CONTINUED TO THE GROCERY STORE BUT BEFORE I GOT THERE IT DID THE SAME THING AGAIN. I DRIFTED INTO A PARKING SPOT AGAIN AND THIS TIME IT WAS DEAD FOR GOOD. I HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED TO A MERCEDES REPAIR SHOP (SALIMS SILVER STAR). MY MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH AND A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MERCEDES. AFTER $1700 ON A CAR WITH LESS THAN 50,000 IT IS FINALLY FIXED. MY LIFE WAS IN DANGER DRIVING A CAR KNOWN TO HAVE IGNITION SWITCH ISSUES. THIS IS CRIMINAL AND I'M LUCKY THE PROBLEM OCCURRED WHILE IN A PARKING LOT AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 65. PLEASE RECALL THIS ISSUE AS MERCEDES IS MAKING A FORTUNE OFF OF IT'S CUSTOMERS CHARGING $1700 FOR AN ISSUE THEY CAUSED !!! *TR
Steering, Aug 21, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.
Exterior lighting, Aug 20, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C 300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V177000 (LIGHTING). HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT SURE WHEN THEY WOULD RECEIVE THE PARTS NEEDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,936.
Electrical system, Engine, Aug 20, 2014
ENTER THE CAR AND PUT THE KEY IN. ALL I CAN HEAR WAS LITTLE TICKING SOUND CAME FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AFTER PUTTING THE FOB KEY IN. THE BATTER HAS BEEN CHECKED AND IS OK. SHIFTER WON'T MOVE, THE STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T COME OUT OF ITS LOCK AND THE CAR WON'T START. CONSOLE AND RADIO TURNS ON AND CAR LOCKS/UNLOCKS.THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WITH THESE COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME YEAR CAR IN THE SAME CLASS BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. MERCEDES BENZ NEEDS TO COVER THESE PARTS AND REPAIR BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE USE OR ABUSE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
Air bags, Aug 20, 2014, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE THAT THE DRIVING PATTERN ON THE ROAD CHANGED AND CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 11/05/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HER SON RECEIVED SEVERE FACIAL, HEAD INJURIES. SURGERY WAS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO RECONSTRUCT FACIAL FRACTURES AND LACERATIONS. UPDATED 7/15/2015*JS
Electrical system, Aug 19, 2014
PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE AND THE NEXT MORNING, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. FIRST, I THOUGHT IT WAS A BATTERY PROBLEM. CHANGED THE BATTERY AND USED A NEW ELECTRONIC KEY BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START. *TR
Electrical system, Aug 18, 2014
ABOUT 3 MOTHS AGO MY CAR WAS UNABLE TO START, MERCEDES BENZ (MB) TECHNICIAN CAME AND DIAGNOSE IT THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH(EIS) - THAT IT WAS NOT RECOGNIZING MY KEY. THE TECH. WIGGLE AROUND THE KEY AND WAS ABLE TO CRANK AND START MY CAR. IT NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL LAST WEEK (AUGUST 16,2014), THE CAR WON'T START AGAIN. I CALLED MB AND THEY SEND ME A TECHNICIAN AT MY HOUSE, HIS DIAGNOSIS WAS THE EIS ISSUE AGAIN AND THIS TIME HE WAS NOT ABLE TO START MY CAR. HE SUGGESTED THAT IT SHOULD BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. THIS MORNING (AUG. 18, 2014), I TRIED TO START MY CAR AND WIGGLE THE KEY ON THE IGNITION AND I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AGAIN. UNFORTUNATELY WHEN I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, I WAS NOT ABLE TO START IT AGAIN. A FRIEND OF MY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE EIS OF MERCEDES BENZ C 350 IN 2008. THE MB CAMPAIGN NO. IS 2008020003, MARCH 2008. I CALLED MERCEDES BENZ AND ASKED THEM IF THEY WILL COVER THE COST FOR REPLACING THE EIS. THEIR RESPONSE WAS, THEY WILL NOT BECAUSE MY CAR VIN WAS NOT ONE OF THE CARS THAT IS BEING RECALLED ABOUT THIS EIS PROBLEM. WHY IS MB IS NOT COVERING THE COST, THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE ON THE RECALL REGARDING THE EIS MALFUNCTION THAT WAS SENT IN MARCH 2008. *TR
Electrical system, Aug 18, 2014, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, WHICH STARTED FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A NEIGHBOR EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT A FAILED FUSE BOX CAUSED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
Steering, Electrical system, Aug 15, 2014
CAR WOULD NOT START MORNING OF 8/8. AAA WAS CALLED. TOW TRUCK DRIVER DETERMINED IT WAS NOT THE BATTERY AND TOWED THE CAR TO MB SERVICE. MERCEDES DIAGNOSED THE FOLLOWING ISSUES WITH MY 2008 C300 WITH 55K MILES: REPLACE ELECTRICAL IGNITION SWITCH, $561 FOR THE PART. REPLACE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK, $384 FOR THE PART. REPROGRAM BOTH KEYS, $595. LABOR FOR ALL OF THE ABOVE, TBD, AS MY CAR IS STILL WITH MERCEDES AS I FILE THIS COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA ON 8/15. THESE ARE OBVIOUSLY MAJOR AND ONGOING ISSUES EXPERIENCED BY MANY C300 OWNERS, AND MERCEDES IS VERY WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE SIMPLY FOUND A GREAT WAY TO EXTORT MONEY FROM THEIR CUSTOMERS, RATHER THAN DOING THE RIGHT THING AND RECALLING THESE FAULTY PARTS BEFORE SOMEONE REALLY GETS HURT. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Aug 14, 2014
MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE IN MANY FORUMS. I WONDER IF SOMEONE HAS TO BE INJURED OR KILLED (IF NOT ALREADY) BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE. THE CAR ARBITRARILY AND WITHOUT NOTICE DIES AND WILL NOT RESTART. IT LEAVES THE DRIVER COMPLETELY VULNERABLE, WHEREVER IT OCCURS. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED IN MY SITUATION. NOTHING WORKED, I HAD TO CALL, TO BE TOLD THAT THIS IS A BATTERY ISSUE. IT WAS NOT, AS DETERMINED BY THE TOW TRUCK COMPANY AND THE DEALERSHIP, AFTER THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THEM. IS THIS EVER GOING TO BE INVESTIGATED AND RECALLED BEFORE FURTHER DAMAGE AND/OR INJURY OCCURS ? *TR
Air bags, Seat belts, Aug 11, 2014
NEAR THE END OF A 388 MILE DRIVE, THE WARNING LIGHT FOR SRS MALFUNCTION CAME ON ALTHOUGH IT SEEMED THAT NO CONDITION CHANGED. MY CAR ALREADY HAD THE TAIL LIGHT FAILURE NOTIFICATION LIGHT ENGAGED FOR A FEW MONTHS ALREADY. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS MAY BE MORE THAN AN ELECTRICAL NOTIFICATION ISSUE AND THAT THE SRS (SECONDARY RESTRAINING SYSTEM) IS NOT GOING TO WORK SHOULD I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Steering, Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Aug 9, 2014
CAR WOULD NOT START OR SHIFT GEARS. BATTERY WAS FOUND TO BE FULLY CHARGED. GEARS AND STEERING COMPLETELY LOCKED OUT. NO DASH BOARD LIGHTING. MERCEDES BENZ DISPATCHED BUT COULD NOT JUMP START. TOWING ONLY AFTER FORCING COVER OFF GEAR SHIFTER AND OVERRIDING GEARS TO PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. 69K MILES. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Aug 4, 2014
CAR WOULD NOT START. DROVE VEHICLE TO WORK AND WORKED PERFECTLY BUT LATER THAT MORNING WHEN I TRIED TO TURN ON THE VEHICLE NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO TURN IT ON. THE LIGHTS AND LOCKS WORKED. ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE ATTEMPTED TO JUMP VEHICLE BUT WAS TOLD BATTERY WAS NOT THE ISSUE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD STEERING LOCK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. SEEMS THIS IS A TYPICAL PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL YEAR. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Jul 31, 2014
PARKED CAR AT A GAS STATION FOR 5 MINS. RETURNED AND CAR WOULD NOT START. DASH STATES REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION. DEALER STATES EIS FAILURE. VERY COMMON IN THESE CARS. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED!! MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS FAILURE. VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD HAPPEN ANYWHERE AT ANYTIME. *TR