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 30, 2014
PARKED THE CAR IN MY DRIVE WAY N T CAR WOULD NOT START. KEY WOULD NOT FUNCTION. *TR
Electrical system, Jul 30, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE BATTERY WAS REMOVED, CHARGED, AND RE-INSTALLED, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESTART. THE RADIO AND HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED WHEN THE BATTERY WAS RE-INSTALLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
Power train, Electrical system, Jul 29, 2014
THE ENTIRE CAR LOSES POWER, NOTHING WORKS. *JS
Electrical system, Air bags, Engine, Jul 23, 2014
CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN. NOTHING WORKED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THIS HAS OCCURRED TO MANY OTHER CARS AND THE MANUFACTURER IS WELL AWARE OF THIS CONDITION. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO BE INJURED OR KILLED (IF THIS HAS NOT ALREADY HAPPENED) BEFORE THIS DEFECT IS ADDRESSED ? *TR
Electrical system, Jul 17, 2014
PARKED MY CAR IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY JOB, CAME BACK SAND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. WE TESTED THE BATTERY AND NO RESULTS. WE EVENTUALLY TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND DETERMINE IT WAS THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK AND THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THE CAR GENERALLY DOES NOT LET YOU KNOW WHEN THIS ISSUE WILL ARISE. I WAS QUOTED $2,428 TO FIX BOTH, AFTER ARGUING WITH THEM ABOUT THIS ISSUE, THEY LATER DISCOUNT IT TO $1,780. I THINK THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. I COULD HAVE BEEN ON THE FREEWAY WHEN IT STOP AND WOULD HAVE BEEN A CATASTROPHIC EVENT. ALSO, I AM CONSTANTLY REPLACING MY LIGHT BULBS. CAN YOU INVESTIGATE IF THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THESE CAR. *TR
Steering, Jul 16, 2014
I WENT TO START MY CAR AFTER JUST USING IT AND IT DID NOT START. THE LIGHTS WORKED, RADIO WORKED, EVERYTHING BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE CAR WOULDN'T EVEN TURN OVER AS IF IT WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN ON. I REMOVED THE BATTERY AND GOT IT CHECKED. AUTO ZONE STATED THE BATTERY WAS AT 79% BUT THIS SHOULD NOT KEEP THE CAR FROM RUNNING. I GOT MY CAR TOWED TO THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP IN GEORGETOWN TX. I WAS ADVISED AFTER THE DIAGNOSTIC WAS RAN THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE "STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY" NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WITH PARTS AND LABOR I WAS QUOTED ABOUT $1,067. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Jul 14, 2014
CAR WILL NOT START. WINDOWS, SUNROOF, STEERING INOPERABLE. NO POWER TO CAR WITH EXCEPTION OF RADIO AND LOCK/UNLOCK. NEED TO OVERRIDE TO GET CAR OUT OF PARK. OCCURRED FIRST TIME ON 7/7 AND I WAS STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT. SECOND TIME OCCURRED ON 7/12, CAR WAS PARKED ON SIDE OF ROAD AND WOULD NOT START. NEEDED TO BE TOWED ON FLATBED TO DEALER. DEALER CONFIRMED ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK DEFECTIVE AND $1,000 FOR REPLACEMENT AND PART. VERY COMMON IN MERCEDES C300 MODELS. PLEASE RESEARCH TO SEE IF THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. I PERFORMED A GOOGLE SEARCH ON THE ISSUE AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE OWNERS AND FORUMS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUE FROM A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES INCLUDING USA. THANK YOU. *TR
Electrical system, Equipment adaptive/mobility, Engine, Jul 13, 2014
IT APPEARS THAT THE EIS MODULE HAS FAILED, I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND SEVERAL OTHER CONSUMERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES WITH THIS PARTICULAR YEAR AND MODEL VEHICLE. THIS CONCERNS ME. WHY HASN'T ANY RECALLS BEEN DONE TO FIX THIS ISSUE. IT SEEM LIKE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. WHAT IF I WERE DRIVING MY CAR AND THE EIS HAD MALFUNCTIONED. I WOULD HAVE LOST POWER TO MY VEHICLE AS WELL AS ALL STEERING ABILITIES. COULD YOU PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE? *TR
Air bags, Seat belts, Jul 10, 2014
SRS MALFUNCTION FOR FRONT LEFT SEAT MESSAGE POPPED UP RECENTLY. ON FURTHER INVESTIGATION BY A MECHANIC IS WAS FOUND THAT THE ERROR CODE WAS 9B51 WHICH MEAN THAT THE FRONT LEFT SEAT BELT BUCKLE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS ISSUE IS(AS EXPLAINED BY THE MECHANIC) THAT IN AN EVENT OF A CRASH THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY, WHICH IS PRETTY SERIOUS. ALTHOUGH I WAS STILL UNDER THE FACTORY WARRANTY FOR MILES (50,000) MY YEARS WITH THE CAR WAS ABOVE THEIR YEAR LIMIT(4 YEARS). I HAVE SEEN EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE BEING REPORTED BY MANY BENZ C300 YEAR 2008+ OWNERS REPORTING THIS ISSUE IN MANY FORUMS ONLINE AND THERE'S A MENTION OF THIS ISSUE TO NHTSA AS WELL. *TR
Steering, Jul 9, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS ABLE TO TURN FROM THE ON AND OFF POSITION BUT WOULD NOT START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,952.
Steering, Jul 8, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENGINE, THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK ENGAGED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSE THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000.
Steering, Jul 7, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO START AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,800.
Steering, Jul 2, 2014
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND I FELT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HAVING WEIRD PROBLEM WHEN I WAS TRYING TO TURN, AFTER I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND IT DIDN'T TURN BACK TO ITS OWN POSITION, SO I HAD TO TURN IT BY MYSELF. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE POWER STEERING PUMP OR THE RACK HAD PROBLEM, BUT THEN I BOUGHT TO THE SHOP AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE PUMP AND THE RACK WORKED FINE AND THEY DID RUN COMPUTERIZE ON MY CAR AND COULDN'T SEE ANY PROBLEM, BUT WHEN HE DROVE HE DID FELT SOMETHING IS WEIR FROM THE STEERING WHEEL STIFFNESS AND STILL NOW WE ALL DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME MY CAR IS STILL VERY NEW, IT HAS BEEN 6 YEARS, IT HAS ONLY 39,654 AND IT SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM YET AT THIS TIME. *TR
Electrical system, Jun 29, 2014
ON WAY HOME FROM WORK IN POURING DOWN RAIN, I STOPPED AT SUPERMARKET. WHEN I RETURNED TO VEHICLE AND TURNED THE IGNITION TO START CAR, NOTHING HAPPENED. IT WAS DEAD. AFTER TRYING FOR THIRD TIME, WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED, "REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION." WHEN TOWER ARRIVED, THE GEAR SHIFT WOULD NOT MOVE OUT OF PARK. GARAGE MECHANIC ELIMINATED BATTERY PROBLEM AND RECOMMENDED IT BE TOWED BACK TO DEALERSHIP, 50 MILES AWAY. I AM WAITING FOR THEIR MECHANIC TO DISCOVER ROOT CAUSE. I DO NOT LIKE THE UNEXPECTED PROBLEM OF BEING STRANDED. THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS OF A PRE-WARNING. IF MERCEDES-BENZ DOES NOT OWN THIS, I WILL TRADE IT SOLELY ON GROUNDS OF RELIABILITY AND WILL NOT PURCHASE A MERCEDES-BENZ AGAIN. *TR
Electrical system, Jun 25, 2014
IGNITION/ENGINE AND COMPLETE SYSTEM FAILURE. SAFETY ISSUE. THE CAR LOSES ALL CONTROL, INCLUDING BRAKES AND STEERING. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO BE INJURED OR DIE (IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY HAPPENED) BEFORE THIS ISSUE IS ADDRESSED. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jun 25, 2014
I HAVE A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C350. THE REAR PASSENGER TAILLIGHT MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING ME TO BE PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE. MERCEDES BENZ HAS SINCE RECALLED THE FAULTY TAIL LIGHTS AND IS SCHEDULED TO RELEASE REPLACEMENT PARTS TO MB DEALERS NEXT MONTH. HOWEVER, IT SEEMS THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. SOMETIMES THE RADIO STATION CHANGES WHEN I ADJUST THE CABIN AIR TEMPERATURE (AIR CONDITIONER). THE DASHBOARD CONTROL PANEL CONSTANTLY DISPLAYS WARNING MESSAGES ABOUT FAILING HEADLIGHTS AND SIDE MARKERS. ASIDE FROM THE RECALLED PASSENGER TAILLIGHT WHICH IS VISIBLY DIMMER THAN THE DRIVER SIDE TAILLIGHT, THE OTHER LIGHTS APPEARED TO BE WORKING FINE. YESTERDAY THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR AND THE COOLANT INDICATOR ON THE DASH CAME ON - THE ANTIFREEZE AND FUEL TANKS ARE BOTH FULL. I HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT THE LIGHTS, ONLY TO DISCOVER THE PLASTIC HOUSING IS COMPLETELY SINGED AND MELTED IN THE HEADLIGHTS AND SIDE MARKERS, JUST LIKE IT IS IN THE DEFECTIVE RECALLED TAILLIGHT. THE CAR IS ONE OVER-PRICED FIRE TRAP - AT THIS POINT I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT. WHAT IS EVEN MORE DISTURBING TO ME, IS THAT MERCEDES BENZ IS WELL AWARE OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE C CLASS. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE ONLINE - POSTED TO BLOGS AND NHTSA WEBSITE. MERCEDES IS TRYING TO PIECE-MEAL OUT A REMEDY. MEANWHILE, THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE! WHEN WILL NHTSA RECALL THE ENTIRE MERCEDES C CLASS LINE DUE TO DEFECTIVE ELECTRICAL ISSUES? *TR
Electrical system, Jun 23, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING LOCK/IGNITION COMPONENT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jun 21, 2014, fire
WHILE ON HIGHWAY I NOTICED BURNING PLASTIC SMELL COMING FROM REAR OF CAR. WHEN I PULLED OVER AND OPENED MY TRUNK, I NOTICED THAT THE TAIL LIGHT WAS SMOKING. WHEN I DETACHED THE LIGHTING PLATE I NOTICED THAT THE BROWN WIRE CONNECTOR HAD MELTED THROUGH THE LIGHTING PLATE AND THAT ALL OF MY TAIL LIGHTS WERE VERY DIM. *TR
Steering, Jun 18, 2014
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, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PARTS WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN WERE DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.
Engine, Jun 13, 2014
AM CONCERNED WITH THIS 2008 MERCEDES I OWN WITH SIMILAR ISSUES AS GMC CARS WITH THE IGNITION/KEY/ENGINE JUST STOPPING...CAR LOST ALL POWER AND WHEELS LOCKED. THE CAR WAS DRIVING WELL ONE MOMENT THEN STOPPED. WAS NOT INJURED BUT WAS LEFT STRANDED AT NIGHT GETTING OFF WORK WITH NO CAR....HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED OUT OF PARKING LOT WHICH WAS QUITE DIFFICULTY WITH WHEELS LOCKED....AND TAKEN TO MERCEDES DEALERSHIP. IT WAS REPAIRED FOR 800.00$...AND I ASKED IF THIS WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN AND WAS TOLD "PROBABLY"....HAVE NOTICED ONLINE THIS HAS BEEN A KNOW ISSUE IN THE 2008 MODEL.....MY QUESTION IS WHY IS MERCEDES NOT HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR FAULTY PART LIKE GMC IS.....AND I HAVE HEAR THIS HAS HAPPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN MOVING TOO....THAT SCARES MY GREATLY.....THE DEALERSHIP OF NASHVILLE WOULD NOT EVEN ADDRESS ANY CONCERN WITH ME ABOUT THIS.... *JS
Steering, Electrical system, Jun 11, 2014
GOOD MORNING, I AM EMAILING YOU REGARDING AN INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON MAY 13, 2014 ON THE LIE 495. MY VEHICLE, A 208 MERCEDES C300 STALLED IN THE EMERGENCY LANE AND THE WHEEL LOCKED SOON AFTERWARD. I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE MY CAR, CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ME. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS SITUATION GOES NOTICED. THIS ISSUE CONSISTS IN THESE VEHICLES AND I URGE FOR IT TO GET RECALLED. THE ISSUE IS THE "STEERING LOCK COLUMN". THIS CAUSES THE WHEEL TO LOCK AND BECOME IMMOVABLE. I AM AWARE THAT AN INCIDENT SUCH AS MINE HAPPENED TO A FRIEND WHO HAS THE SAME VEHICLE. IT IS NOT SAFE AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED BEFORE IT RISKS SOMEBODY ELSE'S LIFE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR
Steering, Engine, Jun 11, 2014
SHAME ON YOU MERCEDES BENZ! IT APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE THAT THE STEERING LOCK GOES OUT LEAVING YOUR LOYAL CUSTOMERS STRANDED WITH NO ABILITY TO START THE CAR. OK! NOW, I AM TOLD THE COST TO REPAIR IS $1450 FOR THE PART AND THE LABOR. LOOKS LIKE MY NEXT CAR WILL BE A BMW! (STEERING LOCK WENT OUT AT 80K- LEAVING THE CAR UNABLE TO START). *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jun 10, 2014
NUMEROUS LIGHT ISSUES CONNECTED TO THE REAR AND FRONT LIGHTING. DIMMING - LOW STRENGTH - AND COMPLETE NON-FUNCTION OF THE REAR LIGHTS AND FRONT LIGHTS ALSO. SO MANY EVENTS THAT REQUIRED REPAIRING. INCIDENTS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT REQUIRING REPAIR. INABILITY TO UTILIZE THE VEHICLE IN THE EVENING. IT WAS A GREAT CAR - BUT I FELT A LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN IT'S SAFETY BECAUSE OF AND WHAT I PERCEIVED AS ELECTRICAL ISSUES. I DECIDED, AFTER MUCH CONSIDERATION, THAT THE CAR NEEDED TO BE TRADED IN. IT WAS PURCHASED BY [XXX]IN NEWPORT BEACH. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Electrical system, Jun 10, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C-300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE PROBLEM RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
Steering, Jun 6, 2014
STEERING LOCKED! NO RESPONSE FROM THE MAIN PANEL, I CAN JUST LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DOORS. *TR