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, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Jun 5, 2014
RIGHT TAIL LIGHT WARNING SIGNALS APPEARED, UPON EXAMINING THE TAIL LIGHT CONNECTION IT APPEARED BURNED AND MELTED. ALL RIGHT TAIL LIGHTS WERE OUT INCLUDING SIGNALING. *TR
Exterior lighting, May 26, 2014
I WAS DRIVING AROUND 8PM HERE IN CANADA WHEN I WAS PULLED OVER FOR A FLICKERING DRIVER-SIDE TAIL LIGHT. THE OFFICER WARNED ME THAT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. MY WIFE TOLD ME AFTER DRIVING BESIDE ME THAT THE LIGHT FLICKERS INTERMITTENTLY, AND WHEN IT IS NOT, THE PARKING LIGHT ITSELF IS MUCH DIMMER THAN THE PASSENGER-SIDE TAIL LIGHT. I'VE TRIED REPLACING THE BULBS, BUT NOTHING CHANGES. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ONLINE, I'VE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH 2008-2011 MERCEDES C-CLASS MODELS. I'VE FOUND THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRING FOR THE TAILLIGHTS IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY GROUNDED, CAUSING MELTING OF THE WIRING HARNESS, AND IN SOME CASES, CAUSING A FIRE. I'VE CALLED MERCEDES DEALERSHIPS HERE IN VANCOUVER, BUT BECAUSE THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, IT IS AN EXPENSIVE ISSUE TO FIX. IT IS ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD TO MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TR
Exterior lighting, May 5, 2014
THE REAR LIGHTS CONTINUE TO FAIL - BRAKE LIGHTS, STOP LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS AND BACKUP LIGHTS FAIL REPEATEDLY. THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR ANNOUNCES LIGHTS ARE OUT AND WHEN I CHECKED THE BULBS ARE INTACT BUT AND THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON BY JIGGLING THE WHOLE LIGHTING HOUSING. THEY GO OUT AGAIN AS SOON A TRAVEL RESUMES. *TR
Exterior lighting, May 1, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE GROUND WIRE AND THE TAIL LIGHT CONNECTORS BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,100 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,200.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 27, 2014
TAIL LIGHT CONNECTORS OVERHEAT AND MELTED THE LIGHT HOLDER ASSEMBLY. FIRE RISK. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 23, 2014
THE REAR PASSENGER TAIL LAMPS ARE DIMMING TO ABOUT HALF THE NORMAL STRENGTH. THE BULBS ARE ALL FINE, BUT I AM GETTING NOTICES ON THE DASH THAT THE LIGHTS NEED TO GET CHECKED. I CHECKED THE REAR LIGHT HARNESS AND IT APPEARS THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HAS MELTED SO THAT IT CAN'T BE REMOVED FROM THE COMPONENT THAT ACTUALLY HOLDS THE BULBS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS MIGHT BE A FIRE HAZARD. THE ELECTRICAL FAILURE ALSO SEEMS TO BE AFFECTING THE HORN. THERE ARE TWO HORNS ON THIS CAR. ONE IS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND ONE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE PASSENGER SIDE HORN IS NOT FUNCTIONING. IT APPEARS LIKE THERE IS WEAK TO NO ELECTRICAL POWER ON THAT SIDE OF THE CAR. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TOO AS I CAN'T WARN OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD IF NEEDED. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 21, 2014
GOOD AFTERNOON. I CURRENTLY OWN A 2008 C300. I NOTICED MY REAR TAIL LIGHT WARNING INDICATOR CAME ON ABOUT A MONTH AGO. UPON CHECKING THE BULB, I NOTICED THE JACKET ON ONE OF THE WIRES GOING INTO THE CONNECTOR WAS FRAYED. I PUT SOME ELECTRICAL TAPE ON IT HOPING THAT WOULD SOLVE THE ISSUE. 1 MONTH LATER, I AM NOW HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN. I WENT TO CHECK ON THE LIGHT AND NOTICED THE FRAYING WAS GROWING WORSE AND THE WIRE WAS SO HOT I WAS CONCERNED IT WAS GOING TO START A FIRE. I HAVE SINCE REMOVED THE BULB TO PREVENT A FIRE FROM STARTING. IN DOING SOME RESEARCH, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE ON THIS VEHICLE. BEING THAT THIS IS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD AND COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO A FIRE AND EVEN THE LOSS OF LIFE, I AM CURIOUS HOW AND WHY THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THIS DEFECT. IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THIS ISSUE PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THANK YOU *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 19, 2014
I BEGAN TO GET WARNINGS THAT THE LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE LEFT REAR SIGNAL INDICATOR IN THE DASH BLINKED RAPIDLY, AND THE COMPUTER GAVE WARNING MESSAGE. WHEN I REMOVED THE BULB PANEL I NOTICED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS PLUG WAS BURNT AND THE PLASTIC HOUSING THAT HELD THE BULBS WAS BURNT. THE BROWN WIRE ON THE END OF THE HARNESS CONNECTOR WAS BURNT AND THE METAL TAB THAT THE CONNECTOR CONNECTED TO WAS MELTED ALONG WITH THE PLASTIC PLUG. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 18, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BULBS WERE CHANGED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE WIRING HARNESS AND THE LIGHTING BOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 16, 2014, fire
THE REAR WIRING FOR THE TAIL LIGHT LIGHTING SPARKED. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR SMELLED STRONGLY OF BURNING PLASTIC. AFTER A QUICK LOOK OVER I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING ALARMING. THE VERY NEXT DAY ALL OF THE LIGHTING ON THE REAR RIGHT TAIL LIGHTS WENT OUT, ALL INDICATORS CAME ON IN THE DASH SHOWING THAT ALL BULBS WERE MALFUNCTIONING. AFTER PULLING THE HOUSING UNIT OUT, I FOUND THAT THE WIRE WAS BURNED AND SO WAS THE UNIT THE WIRES ATTACHED TO; MELTED AND BURNED. WIRING SHOULD NOT CATCH ON FIRE, THIS COULD HAVE EASILY SPREAD AND WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO FIX, THEY CUT THE WIRE TO ATTACH MORE BUT CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. *TT
Equipment, Apr 13, 2014
MY RADIO PLAYS BUT SMELL LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING WHEN I TURN IT ON (WIRES) RADIO STILLS PLAYS BUT SCREEN GOES IN AND OUT WAS TOLD I NEED NEW RADIO BUT WAS NEVER TOLD THAT RADIO MAY CATCH ON FIRE . *JS
Exterior lighting, Apr 11, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO FUNCTION. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE WIRES HAD MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEARER WHO STATED THAT THE HEAD LAMP BOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.
Electrical system, Apr 7, 2014
AN ERROR MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED AFTER DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE. THE ERROR INDICATED A FAILURE IN THE LEFT TAIL LIGHT AND A BURNING SMELL. ON INVESTIGATION I FOUND A BURNED AREA OF THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY GROUND WIRE CONNECTOR. I REPLACED THE BULB HOLDER AND WIRING CONNECTOR. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. ON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I FOUND THAT THE SAME ISSUE WAS PRESENT ON THE RIGHT SIDE TAIL LIGHT. I ALSO FOUND THAT MOST OF THE LIGHT BULBS ON EACH SIDE WERE VERY DIM. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION. THE LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER STATED THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE TAIL LIGHTS AT THE TIME I BOUGHT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 5, 2014
REAR PASSENGER TAIL LIGHTS IN MY 2008 C300 WERE DIM AND GOT DASH WARNING LIGHT TO CHECK REAR LIGHTS. A COUPLE BULBS WERE OUT SO WHEN I LOOKED AT THE ASSEMBLY AND PUSHED ON IT THE LIGHTS THAT WERE OUT LIT UP TEMPORARILY AND I NOTICED THE CABLE HARNESS THAT PLUGS IN IT WAS CORRODED ON THE END AND THE BROWN WIRE AT THE END WAS EXPOSED (MELTED?) AND THE BLACK PLUG LOOKS WARPED (MELTED?), LOOKS LIKE A COMMON PROBLEM BASED ON FORUM REPORTS. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 1, 2014
RIGHT SIDE TAILLIGHT WIRING MELTING, LIGHTS NOT WORKING. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Mar 26, 2014
DASH PANEL READ AN ERROR OF TAIL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS OUT ON RIGHT SIDE. DROVE HOME FROM WORK , APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES, SMELLED WIRES BURNING. WAITED TOOK CAR TO AUTOZONE TO GET BULBS REPLACED. BY THE TIME I ARRIVED, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE COMPARTMENT. THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY HAD CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED THE PLUG AND THE BOARD. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Mar 25, 2014
MY REAR BACK TAIL LIGHT WIRING PANEL FRIED . THE LIGHT IS NOT WORKING AT ALL AND WHEN I CALLED MANHATTAN MERCEDES DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NOT AN APPOINTMENT AVAILABLE TWO WEEKS FROM 3/7/2014 THEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP IN BROOKLYN AND THEY TOLD ME THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY APPOINTMENTS EITHER SO I JUST SHOWED UP THERE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT DUE TO MY TAIL LIGHT BEING FULLY OUT I AM NOT ALOUD TO DRIVE MY CAR SINCE ITS A SAFETY ISSUES BUT THEY DID NOTHING TO HELP ME OUT AND TOLD ME THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO ORDER THE PART EVEN THOUGH IT IS A RECALL THEN THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY AROUND $ 400 DOLLARS FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR BUT STILL THEY HAD NO APPOINTMENT FOR ME TO COME IN AND FIX IT IS 3/25/2014 AND I STILL HAVE A BROKEN CAR AND NO WAY OF DRIVING IT OR FIXING IT BECAUSE NO OTHER SHOP WILL TAKE MY CAR IN SINCE IT IS A DEALER ISSUE. *TR
Exterior lighting, Mar 24, 2014, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, A BURNING ODOR EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LATER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE INTERIOR TRUNK AREA. THERE WERE NO FLAMES PRESENT HOWEVER, THE WIRING HARNESSES FOR BOTH TAILLIGHTS WAS FOUND TO BE BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Mar 20, 2014
RECEIVED WARNING ON DASH TO CHECK REAR DRIVER TAIL LIGHT. TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER TO GET IT CHECKED OUT AND WAS TOLD THE WIRES FROM THE TAIL LIGHT WERE MELTED FROM THE ELECTRICAL PANEL AND MY CAR IS RUNNING ON BACK UP LIGHTS. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL BACK LIGHT SYSTEM SINCE THE MELTED WIRES WOULD EVENTUALLY DAMAGE THE ENTIRE BRAKE LIGHT SYSTEM. THE COST TO REPAIR $900. CAR SMELLS BURNT INSIDE, AND IN THE TRUNK. I AM AFRAID OF A FIRE, AND GETTING REAR ENDED IF MY BRAKE LIGHTS STOP WORKING. *TR
Exterior lighting, Mar 4, 2014
REAR TAIL LAMPS INTERMITTENTLY INOPERATIVE/DIM. INTERMITTENT BURNING SMELL IN TRUNK AREA NEAR LAMP HOUSING.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Feb 28, 2014, fire
AS I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT BOTH MY WIFE, KIDS AND MYSELF SMELLED A STRONG ODOR IN THE CABIN OF THE CAR. IT WAS WORSE TOWARDS THE BACK SEAT WHERE THE KIDS WERE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND GOT THE FAMILY OUT OF THE VEHICLE (MERCEDES BENZ C300 2008) AND SAW THAT GREY SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE TRUNK OF THE CAR. WHEN I OPENED THE TRUNK I NOTICED THAT THE SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE RIGHT TAIL LIGHT. THE CABLE THAT FEEDS ELECTRICITY TO THAT PANEL SHORTED AND CAUSED A SMALL FIRE WHICH TURNED OFF THE MINUTE I SHUT THE VEHICLE DOWN. I THEN TRIED PULLING OUT THE CABLE FROM THE LIGHT PANEL AND IT DID NOT BUDGE BECAUSE IT MELTED AND FUSED TOGETHER WITH THE LIGHT PANEL. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Feb 23, 2014
THE BRAKE LIGHT (DRIVER SIDE) WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND GIVING MULTIPLE INDICATOR WARNINGS ON THE DASH COMPUTER. AFTER CHECKING TO SEE IF IT WAS A FAULTY BULB... THE HARNESS CONNECTING TO THE TAILLIGHT HOUSING WAS BURNT AND MELTED. THE TAILLIGHT BULB HOUSING WAS BRITTLE AND WAS BURNT AS WELL. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY KNOW OF NO SUCH RECALLS AND ARE REPLACING THE TAILLIGHT BULB HOUSING AND REPLACING THE BURNT HARNESS. (435.00) THEY ALSO SAID THAT THE COMPUTER MODULE IS BAD BECAUSE IT IS TELLING THE BRAKE LIGHT TO STAY ON. THEY ARE NOT SURE WHICH OCCURRED FIRST. THIS IS ANOTHER 1000.00 REPAIR. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ONLINE AND THERE ARE MANY OTHER MERCEDES C-SERIES VEHICLES HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. MOST EXPERTS THINK THE GAUGE OF THE WIRING IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO THE LOAD OF CURRENT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND IS NOT LOOKING LIKE AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS MATTER. *TR
Electrical system, Feb 22, 2014
GETTING INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MESSAGES ABOUT TAIL AND BRAKE LIGHTS TO BE CHECKED. I REPLACED BULBS AND HAVE THE SAME MESSAGES. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE SENSOR MONITORS RESISTANCE AND THE BULBS MAY BE FINE. GETTING MESSAGE FOR BOTH SIDES NOW AND I AM VERY CONCERNED READING SOME OF THE OTHER RESPONSES THAT WE HAVE A DEFECT IN THIS CAR THAT COULD CAUSE INJURIES OR FIRES, THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL FROM MERCEDES. DANGER! DANGER! *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Feb 19, 2014
RIGHT & LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY WIRING HARNESS PLUGS HAVE MELTED WHERE ATTACHED TO THE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY, CAUSING BRAKE, TURN SIGNAL, HAZARD, AND RUNNING LAMPS TO NOT WORK INTERMITTENTLY. BROWN WIRES GET TOO HOT TO TOUCH. SAFETY ISSUE WITH ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Feb 18, 2014
RANDOMLY I STARTED RECEIVING CHECK BULB MESSAGES FOR THE REAR LIGHTS ON BOTH SIDES OF MY CAR. I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT AS I DON'T THINK THEY HAD EVER BEEN CHANGED SO I CHANGED THEM AND ALL WAS FINE AND THEN A FEW WEEKS LATER THE MESSAGES STARTED TO POP UP AGAIN. I RECHECKED THE BULBS TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE SECURELY IN PLACE AND THEY WERE SO I STARTED DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE. PRESENTLY THE ENTIRE LEFT REAR SIDE IS OUT AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE WIRING HAS OVERHEATED AND BEEN SINGED (LOOKS LIKE IT HAD BURNED).WHEN CALLING ALL THE LOCAL SOUTHERN CALI DEALERSHIPS (ORANGE COUNTY/LONG BEACH) NONE OF THEM WILL ADMIT TO IT BEING A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AND FIXING IT FOR FREE BECAUSE THE PARENT COMPANY, MERCEDES BENZ, HASN'T YET. I HAVE NO DESIRE TO PAY FOR A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER OCCURRED IN THE FIRST PLACE. MY MAJOR CONCERN IS ABOUT POTENTIAL FIRES IN THE TRUNK DUE TO THIS. ALL IT WILL TAKE IS ONE SPARK TO CATCH ON SOMETHING IN THE TRUNK AND THEN WELL CAR IS ON FIRE. AS MUCH A MERCEDES BENZ CLAIMS TO BE ABOUT SAFETY, I'M SHOCKED, ONE AT THE DESIGN FLAW AND TWO THAT THEY ARE GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS OF PRETENDING LIKE THE THOUSANDS OF OWNERS WHO HAVE REPORTED THIS ARE MAKING IT UP. THEY NEED TO GET ON THIS ASAP. *TR