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.
Exterior lighting, Feb 11, 2014
THE TAIL LIGHT AND BLINKERS OUT AND I AM GETTING SEVERAL ERROR MSGS. ON MY DASHBOARD STATING THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH MY LIGHTS. I CANNOT DRIVE MY CARE WITHOUT LIGHTS ARE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND LEGAL ISSUE. *TR I TOOK MY CAR INTO WALTERS MERCEDES BENZ IN RIVERSIDE LAST WEEK. I WAS TOLD THAT THE ISSUE IS CAUSED BY A MELTED ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR . I CALLED MERCEDES BENZ USA CORPORATE AND WAS ASSIGNED TO [XXX](REGIONAL CASE MGR). HE TOLD ME THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND DUE TO THE FACT THAT MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE $500 REPAIR. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I AM NOT HAPPY WITH PAYING FOR A REPLACEMENT OF A FACTORY DEFECTED PART. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT IF YOU LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Exterior lighting, Feb 8, 2014
CHECK RIGHT TAILLIGHT INDICATOR APPEARED ON DASH. REAR RIGHT LIGHTS OUT. INSPECTED TO FIND ALL BULBS WERE OPERATIONAL BUT WIRE HAD OVERHEATED AND MELTED INTO HOUSING. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Feb 6, 2014
RIGHT TAIL LIGHT CONNECTOR, BROWN WIRE HAS MELTED AND HAS AFFECTED THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE BULBS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. *TR
Exterior lighting, Feb 3, 2014
FROM REVIEWING THE SITE, THIS IS THE SAME COMPLAINT YOU HAVE ALREADY HAD ABOUT THESE CARS. IT APPEARS TO ALREADY BE UNDER INVESTIGATION. IN OUR CASE, A NUMBER OF THE REAR LIGHTS, INCLUDING LIGHTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR, WENT OUT AT ONCE. THIS MEANS TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, SIDE LIGHTS. THE FIRST CLUE WAS THAT MULTIPLE WARNINGS CAME UP ON THE DASH. WE STOPPED CAR, AND ON INSPECTION, SEVERAL LIGHTS ALSO HAD STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE WAS NO OBVIOUS VISUAL OR OLFACTORY SIGN OF OVERHEATING OR FIRE. *TR
Exterior lighting, Feb 3, 2014, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH REAR TAIL LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED AND A BURNING ODOR WAS EMITTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Feb 1, 2014
REAR LIGHT HOUSING ASSEMBLY WIRING SMELLING LIKE SMOKE, OPEN THE TRUCK AND PLASTICS HOUSING WAS MELTING AND VERY HOT. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Jan 28, 2014
THE BROWN WIRE IN THE RIGHT HAND BRAKE LIGHT MELTED THROUGH THE WIRE HARNESS AND STARTED TO MELT THE LIGHT BOARD. THIS IS A FIRE WAITING TO HAPPEN, I SMELT BURNING IN MY CAR WHEN I WAS DRIVING. THE BREAK LIGHT NO LONGER WORKS. *TR
Exterior lighting, Jan 21, 2014
RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT BURNED AT CONNECTOR CAUSING BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE AND POSSIBLY CAUSED SMALL FIRE. *TR
Electrical system, Jan 15, 2014
WHEN THE KEY WAS PLACED IN THE IGNITION, THE KEY WAS NOT RECOGNIZED. THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND THE STEERING WHEEL REMAINED LOCKED. A MESSAGE ON THE DASH ADVISED TO REMOVE THE KEY. THIS WAS NOT A BATTERY ISSUE. THE LIGHTS, RADIO AND CAR LOCKS WORKED FINE. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I AM WAITING FOR THE OUTCOME. IT IS INTERESTING THAT THE TOW COMPANY THAT PICKED UP MY VEHICLE ADVISED ME THAT THEY HAD TOWED APPROXIMATELY 30 MERCEDES IN THE LAST 2 WEEK AND THAT APPROXIMATELY 20 OF THEM WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME COMPLAINTS. PRIOR TO THIS OCCURRENCE, THE WEATHER HAD BEEN UNUSUALLY COLD, DOWN TO THE SINGLE DIGITS. ON THE MORNING OF THE INCIDENT, THE WEATHER HAD WARMED UP. I HAVE BEEN READING THAT THE TROUBLE MAY BE CAUSED BY THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jan 7, 2014
MULTIPLE SYSTEM WARNINGS ON DASH SAYING TO CHECK RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT, BRAKE LAMP, AND SIGNAL LIGHT. UPON REPLACEMENT OF LIGHT BULBS, NOTICED THAT THE GROUND WIRE CABLE COVERING WAS MELTED AS WELL AS BURNS AND MELTING ON THE BULB HOUSING UNIT. ALL RIGHT REAR LIGHTS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY OR DIMLY AND NOW DON'T WORK AT ALL. NOW, THERE ARE SYSTEM WARNINGS FOR LEFT REAR LIGHTS AS WELL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS A FIRE CAN START IN THE TRUNK OF THE CAR AS WELL AS HAVING REAR LIGHTS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL WITH NO WARNING. VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WON'T REPAIR AT NO CHARGE UNLESS THERE IS A RECALL. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES, BY BOTH THE MANUFACTURER AND AUTHORIZED DEALERS. RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. *TR
Exterior lighting, Electrical system, Jan 6, 2014
WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAYED IN INSTRUMENT PANEL ADVISING TO CHECK REAR RIGHT HAND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS, ON INITIAL INSPECTION IN THE TRUCK THEIR WAS A SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC EMIGRATING FROM THE RIGHT HAND SIDE REAR LIGHT CLUSTER ON REMOVAL OF THE FUSE PANEL COVER AND INSPECTION THE WIRES WHICH CONNECT THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE LIGHTING BACKPLATEI I WAS UNABLE TO HOLD THE CONNECTOR WITH A NAKED HAND DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE TEMPERATURE. AFTER LEAVING THINGS TO COOL DOWN FOR 60 MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR FROM LIGHTING CLUSTER BACK PLATE TO FIND THAT THE EARTH PIN (BROWN WIRE EXTREME RIGHT HAND SIDE ) WAS MELTED AND ALSO THE PIN TO WHICH IT MATED TOO HAD ALSO BEGAN TO MELT THE PLASTIC WHICH SUPPORTED THE PIN ON HE LIGHTING BACK PLATE. THE EARTH (BROWN WIRE) IS OF AN EXTREMELY LOW GAUGE FOR THE POTENTIAL LOAD THIS WIRE WOULD POTENTIALLY NEED TO CARRY UNDER MAXIMUM LOAD (ALL LIGHTS LIT). *TR
Exterior lighting, Jan 6, 2014
AFTER PARKING MY C350 I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE TRUNK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I OPENED THE TRUNK TO DISCOVER THE SOURCE OF THE SMOKE WAS THE TRUNK FUSE BOX PANEL. I REMOVED THE PANEL AND FOUND THAT THE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS SMOKING. FOLLOWING THE REMOVAL DIRECTIONS IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL, I REMOVED THE MULTI-PIN CONNECTOR AND NOTICED THAT THE HOUSING AROUND THE BROWN CONDUCTOR WAS COMPLETELY MELTED AND CORRODED. THERE WAS A DISTINCT SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC. I THEN DROVE HOME WITH THE PASSENGER TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY DISCONNECTED FOR FEAR OF FURTHER DAMAGE OR AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. LUCKILY I WAS NOT PULLED OVER NOR DID I CAUSE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO INACTIVE BRAKE/REVERSE LIGHTS. ONCE HOME, I DETERMINED THAT THE BURNED AND CORRODED CONDUCTOR MUST BE THE GROUND CONNECTION. I BELIEVE THAT THE GROUND CABLE IN THE TAIL LIGHT HARNESS IS NOT OF HEAVY ENOUGH GAUGE TO HANDLE THE CURRENT THAT PASSES THROUGH IT UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. HERE IS THE MATH: EACH BULB IS 21W. IF YOU ARE AT A STOPLIGHT AT NIGHT WITH YOUR HEADLIGHTS ON AND YOU'RE TURNING RIGHT, THERE WILL BE 5 BULBS ACTIVE (PER SIDE). THIS IS A TOTAL OF 105W. AT 12V, 105W TRANSLATES TO ABOUT 9A. THE RECOMMENDED WIRE GAUGE IS 16-18 AT THIS LEVEL OF CURRENT. THE BROWN WIRE IN THE TAIL LIGHT HARNESS IS AN 18 GAUGE WIRE I BELIEVE. THIS WIRE IS RIGHT AT ITS LIMIT FOR CURRENT HANDLING. WE KNOW THAT IN THE REAL-WORLD, CURRENT CAN EASILY EXCEED THEORETICAL LIMITS, SO ENGINEERS OFTEN OVER-SPEC WIRE TO BE TOTALLY SURE THAT A CIRCUIT WILL NOT FAIL. IN THIS CASE, THE MERCEDES-BENZ ENGINEERS DID NOT OVER-SPEC THE WIRE...THEY UNDER-SPEC'D THE WIRE, AND IT FAILED! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND A RECALL, SINCE THIS IS POTENTIALLY A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. A CAR COULD EASILY GO UP IN FLAMES DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. OR AN ACCIDENT COULD HAPPEN DUE TO BRAKE/REVERSE/TURNING LIGHTS THAT HAVE BURNED UP AND FAILED. *TR
Electrical system, Jan 3, 2014
FAULT INDICATOR FOR LEFT SIDED REAR LIGHTS SPORADICALLY SHOW DEFECT LAMPS, BUT THEY ARE NOT. FINALLY A PARTLY BROKEN/CORRODED GROUND RETURN WAS DETECTED. THE SAME HAPPENED TO THE RIGHT SIDED REAR LIGHTS ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER. DEFECT WAS FINALLY REPAIRED, EXPENSES COVERED BY MERCEDES INTERNATIONAL ADRESS COTTONWOOD ARIZONA IS INCORRECT BUT COUNTRY IS AUSTRIA, CITY VIENNA [XXX] IS INCORRECT BUT ERROR CHECKER DID NOT ACCEPT CORRECT AUSTRIAN PHONE NUMBERS PHONE NUMBER [XXX] AND [XXX] ARE CORRECT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Exterior lighting, Jan 2, 2014, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S SIDE FOG LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE BECAUSE THE SOCKETS HAD MELTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
Exterior lighting, Jan 2, 2014
THE ONBOARD COMPUTER INDICATED THAT THE R REAR TURN SIGNAL HAD FAILED. VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE WIRING INSIDE THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY SHOWED THAT THE CONNECTOR FOR THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS WHICH DELIVERS POWER TO THE TAIL LIGHTS HAD MELTED. THIS CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE BULB, CARRIER, PLUG AND SOCKET PARTS. ALL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE ON THE C CLASS MERCEDES FOR THIS MODEL YEAR. *TR
Exterior lighting, Dec 31, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TAILLIGHT FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 31, 2013
REAR LIGHTS CIRCUIT BOARD BURNT AND WIRE FOR LIGHTS MELTED. *TR
Exterior lighting, Dec 30, 2013
RIGHT REAR LIGHTS WENT OUT ON CAR, STARTED SMELLING MELTING PLASTIC. STOPPED AND CHECKED THE PLUG THAT WENT INTO THE LIGHTS HAS MELTED. *TR
Exterior lighting, Dec 29, 2013
THE PASSENGER TAIL LAMP BULB CARRIER, GROUND WIRE, AND CONNECTING PLASTIC HARNESS ALL MELTED CAUSING MY TAIL LAMPS TO APPEAR DIM AND EVENTUALLY MELTED TO THE POINT THE PASSENGER BRAKE LIGHTS, REAR RUNNING LAMPS, REAR PASSENGER TURN SIGNAL AND REAR FOG LAMP ALL COMPLETELY QUIT FUNCTIONING. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL MERCEDES BENZ DEALER AND THEY WOULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY OR GOOD WILL EVEN KNOWING IT TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. I PURCHASED THE PARTS THAT THEY CLAIMED HAVE BEEN UPDATED (ALTHOUGH THEY APPEAR TO BE EXACTLY THE SAME) AND HAD THEM REPLACED. TIME WILL TELL WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS A PERMANENT FIX TO THE PROBLEM. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 29, 2013
REAR TAILLIGHTS STARTED SMOKING. IT WAS ALL BURNED OUT CAUSING REAR RIGHT TAILLIGHT TO MALFUNCTION. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 29, 2013
RIGHT READ BRAKE LAMP HARNESS MELTED CAUSING MALFUNCTION OF THE BRAKE LAMPS. WARNING INDICATOR IN THE DASH. I AM WORRIED ABOUT A FIRE. ALSO LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS STOPPED WORKING FOR NO REASON. CHECKED THE BULBS AND THEY ARE BOTH GOOD. *TR
Exterior lighting, Dec 25, 2013
MY RIGHT REAR TAIL LAMP WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE DIRECTIONAL WAS BLINKING RAPIDLY. THE MALFUNCTION REQUIRED THE REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF THE RIGHT REAR BULB CARRIER. THE CAR WAS NO LONGER ON WARRANTY AND I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OUT OF POCKET. I UNDERSTAND THAT TAIL LIGHT FAILURE IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND YEAR, USUALLY CAUSED BY WIRING DEFECT. THE DEALER NEVER INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN THIS MODEL. I HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THE MALFUNCTION HOWEVER THEY WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 20, 2013
REAR LIGHTING FAILURE (TAILLIGHT). FAILURE CAUSING MY VEHICLE LIGHTS TO VERY DIM AND SOME BULBS ARE NOT ILLUMINATE AT ALL. OCCURS WITH LEFT TAILLIGHT (BRAKE LIGHT). I SEE SOME BURNING ON PLASTIC PANEL THAT BULBS GOES IN. *TR
Steering, Dec 19, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING LOCK FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 16, 2013
STARTED TO GET THE MESSAGE TO CHECK MY REAR, RIGHT TURNINF SIGNA, FOG LAMPS, BRAKE LIGHTS. CHECKED ALL THE BULBS AND THEY ARE FINE. PUT THE HARNESS BACK AND REALIZED IT WAS A LITTLE HOT AND WHEN I LOOKED THE WIRE TO THE FAR RIGHT I THINK IS EXPOSE AND ON THE OTHER SIDE IT IS BURNT THROUGH THE PLASTIC. MESSAGE COMES OFF AND ON DURING DRIVING. *TR