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, Jul 17, 2013
TAILLIGHTS, FAILED RIGHT SIDE CONNECTION MELTED NO RIGHT SIDE TAILLIGHTS LIGHTS (TURN,BRAKE, BACKUP LIGHTS LEFT SIDE FAILED 3/13 ALSO MELTED CONNECTOR WAS STOPPED BY POLICE SAFETY VIOLATION NO TAIL LIGHTS LEFT SIDE FAILED AGAIN THIS WEEK 7/1/2013. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jul 16, 2013
MY RIGHT TAIL LIGHT HAD BEEN DIM FOR AWHILE.I DO REMEMBER FROM TIME TO TIME SMELLING A FAINT ELECTRICAL BURN SMELL BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHERE IS WAS COMING FROM. FINALLY WHEN IT WENT OUT, I PULLED THE LAMP ASSEMBLY WHICH HAS WHAT LOOKS LIKE A CIRCUIT BOARD WHERE THE BULB MOUNTS. THE COPPER "TRACES" WERE FRIED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID "SORRY, IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT WE WILL BE HAPPY TO SELL YOU ONE". I SAID "NO THANKS, IT WILL JUST FAIL THE SAME WAY". SO I TOOK IT HOME AND REPAIRED IT PROPERLY. NOW WORRIED THE OTHER ONE WILL DO THE SAME. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jul 16, 2013
PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT IS CONSIDERABLY DIMMER THAN THE DRIVER SIDE. AFTER EXAMINING THE PASSENGER TAIL LIGHT, I NOTICED THAT THE CONNECTOR OF THE WIRE HARNESS CONNECTED TO THE HOUSING THAT IS HOUSING ALL THE BULBS IS PARTIALLY MELTED AND IT IS EXTREMELY HOT WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ON. I ALSO CHECKED THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE EXACT SAME THING IS HAPPENING ON THERE, TOO, BUT SO FAR TO A LITTLE LESSER EXTENT. LOOKS A LOT LIKE A FIRE HAZARD! *TR
Exterior lighting, Jul 16, 2013
I GET SIGN ON DASH,REAR TAIL LAMPS FAILED, I CHECKED THE LIGHTS ,REPLACED BULB,DOING SAME THING FOUR TIMES,NOTICED SOMETHING BURNING INSIDE THE BULB CONNECTOR,I AM SCARED IT MIGHT CATCH FIRE. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jul 16, 2013
THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONNECTORS TO THE BULBS AND THE PANEL WAS MELTED DUE TO HEAT AND THEREFORE, DIMMING OF THE LIGHTS OCCURRED FOLLOWED BY COMPLETE MALFUNCTION. THE FIRST TIME WAS REPLACED UNDER MANUFACTURER WARRANTY. THE SECOND AND THIRD TIME THIS OCCURRED WAS PAID FOR OUT OF POCKET BECAUSE VEHICLE'S MILEAGE EXCEEDED THE MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY COVERAGE. *TR
Exterior lighting, Jul 15, 2013
JUST SAW ON THE INTERNET THE INVESTIGATION ON 2008 C350 AND FAULTY BRAKE LIGHTS. EVER SINCE ABOUT 2009-2010 WE'VE BEEN PLAGUED WITH ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR, BUT ALWAYS WE GET WARNINGS ABOUT THE TAIL BRAKE LIGHTS. WE'VE HAD THE CAR TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES, AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL EXPENSIVE REPAIRS CHANGING OUT BOARDS. STILL....EVERY TIME YOU START THE VEHICLE YOU HAVE TO CLEAR THE TAILLIGHT ERROR MESSAGES. TO BE FAIR WE'VE NOT HAD ANY BURNING OR MELTED PARTS, MAYBE WE'VE JUST GOTTEN LUCKY. BUT THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE DESIGN/MANUFACTURE OF THE SYSTEM. PLEASE INVESTIGATE FURTHER AND IF WARRANTED START A RECALL!!!! *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jul 15, 2013
MY MESSAGE CTR ON MY MERCEDES C 300 (2008) STEERING WHEEL SAID TO CHECK RIGHT, REAR TAIL AND BRAKE LIGHT. I HAVE CHECKED THE LIGHTS AND HAD A MECHANIC CHECK LIGHTS, AND ALL SEEM FINE. I HEARD THE REPORT ON WBZ RADIO ON 7-15-2013 ABOUT REAR LIGHTS ON MERCEDES 2008, AND 2009 POSSIBLY CAUSING FIRES, AND WONDER IF THE MESSAGE ON MY CAR MAY BE WARNING OF A POSSIBLE FIRE OR FUTURE FAILURE.. I CALLED THE MERCEDES SERVICE DEPT. AND THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM! I CALLED WBZ RADIO IN BOSTON, AND THEY DIRECTED ME TO NHTSB WEB SITE. THE MESSAGE TO CHECK REAR LIGHTS STILL COMES ON. *TR
Exterior lighting, Jul 15, 2013
DRIVER INFORMATION SYSTEM SHOWED THAT THE REAR RIGHT BRAKE LAMP WAS OUT. WHILE CHECKING THE REAR TAIL LAMPS FOR OPERATION, ALL OF THE LAMPS ON THE PASSENGER TAIL LAMP WERE INOPERATIVE (BRAKE, TURN, REVERSE, PARKING). UNDER FURTHER EXAMINATION OF THE PROBLEM, THE DRIVER SIDE LIGHTS APPEARED TO BE DIM AND FLICKERING. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER REAR TAIL LIGHT CONNECTORS WERE FOUND MELTED AND EMITTING SMOKE AT THE CONNECTORS BROWN WIRE. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE CLOSEST MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP (MERCEDES BENZ OF ARLINGTON). THE DEALERSHIP HAD QUOTED $500 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE REAR TAIL LAMP BULB HOLDERS AND CONNECTORS. A REPAIR WAS MADE BY AN INDEPENDENT SHOP USING DEALER BOUGHT PARTS, BUT WE FEAR THAT THE PROBLEM MAY RETURN. *TR
Exterior lighting, Jul 15, 2013
RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT CONNECTOR SMOKED AND MELTED CONNECTOR. CIRCUIT BOARD WHERE ALL THE LIGHTS ARE CONTAINED MELTED WITH HOLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BOARD. INSPECTED LEFT SIDE CIRCUIT BOARD AND FOUND HOLE STARTING TO BURN BUT NO CONNECTOR DAMAGE WAS PRESENT AT THAT TIME. REPLACED LEFT SIDE BOARD AS A PRECAUTION AND HAVE MONITORED IT SINCE. REPLACED CONNECTOR AND WIRING ON THE RIGHT REAR SIDE ALONG WITH THE CIRCUIT BOARD. I SAVED BOTH BOARDS IN CASE THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE EXAMINED FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. *TR
Steering, Jul 15, 2013
MERCEDES C350 2008 52,000 MILES.CAR SUDDENLY WOULD NOT START. LIGHTS WORKED, CONSOLE SCREEN CAME ON, NAVIGATION SCREEN POPPED UP. IT WASN'T BATTERY,NOT BOTH CAR KEYS.CANNOT GET OUT OF PARK,STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. HAD TO TOW TO NEAREST DEALERSHIP 70 MILES AWAY. BAD STEERING WHEEL LOCK (ICM)IGNITION CONTROL REPLACEMENT COST $1500. MECHANIC PRIOR LOOKED AND TRIED ORDERING PART. WOULDN'T SELL IT TO HIM BECAUSE IT WAS SUPPOSABLE A RECALLED PART!? DEALERSHIP SAID NO RECALL OR WARRANTY, OUT OF POCKET. THEN WHEN INFORMED REPAIR DONE, I WAS TOLD COMMAND CONTROL NOT WORKING $500 TO FIX. I BOUGHT MERCEDES BECAUSE ITS SUPPOSE TO BE RELIABLE.VERY DISAPPOINTED. GOING BACK TO BMW ACCORDING TO MB BLOGS IT IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH 2088 C CLASS. THERE'S A BULLETIN NOTICE ON THIS ISSUE ALSO CALLED EIS !! *TR
Exterior lighting, Jul 15, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PANEL LIGHTING STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Jul 15, 2013
WHILE DRIVING IN THE EVENING ON HIGHWAY, BOTH TAIL LAMP WARNINGS CAME ON INDICATING BULBS HAD BURNED OUT. I STOPPED CAR AFTER SMELLING AN ODOR. I SAW THE LEFT TAIL LAMP WAS DIM AND THE RIGHT TAIL LAMP WAS NORMAL. I DID NOT OPEN TRUNK. AFTER REACHING MY DESTINATION I CHANGED THE LEFT TAIL LAMP BULB, BUT BULB WAS STILL DIM. I PULLED OFF THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AND FOUND 3 LEADS ON THE CONNECTER BURNED AND MELTED. I WENT TO THE DEALER IN ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA AND INQUIRED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I WAS INFORMED NO RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED AND THE DEALER WOULD NOT FIX. SO, I PURCHASED LEFT TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY, CONNECTOR AND PINS TO MAKE REPAIR MYSELF (I AM A FORMER AIRPLANE MECHANIC). TAIL LAMPS HAVE BEEN FUNCTIONING NORMALLY SINCE I REPLACED THE PARTS. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jul 15, 2013
RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT DASH MONITOR INDICATED A PROBLEM. FOUND THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT CIRCUIT BOARD GROUND WIRE BURNED AND SMOKING. PLASTIC CONNECTOR AND LIGHTING CIRCUIT BOARD MELTING. APPEARS THAT THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT DRAW IS GREATER THAN THE GROUND WIRE CAN HANDLE. TAKEN TO DEALER FOR FIX. NO RESPONSE AS YET, BUT BASED ON OTHER ONLINE REPORTS, IT APPEARS UNLIKELY THEY WILL SUPPORT A WARRANTY CLAIM FIX. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jul 8, 2013, fire
THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TAIL LIGHT HARNESS CAUGHT FIRE AND MELTED. THERE ARE COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS AND REPORTS ON THIS ISSUE, BUT MERCEDES REFUSES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM OR DO A RECALL. MOST INCIDENTS OCCUR BETWEEN 50,000 AND 60,000 MILES AND IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. YOU CAN GOOGLE THIS ISSUE AND SEE THE WIDE SPREAD COMPLAINTS ON THE MELTING WIRING HARNESS. THERE ARE ALSO SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS ON MB FORUM. BELOW IS ANOTHER WEBSITE WITH SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF MELTED TAIL LIGHT WIRING AND NON-WORKING TAIL/BRAKE AND TURN SIGNALS. I'VE CONTACTED RELIABLE MERCEDES IN SPRINGFIELD, MO AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEIR SHOP HAS REPAIRED MANY MERCEDES C300'S WITH MELTED TAIL LIGHT WIRING, BUT SAID MERCEDES WILL NOT FIX RECALL THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A TREMENDOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOUR AGENCY ADDRESS THIS MATTER WITH MERCEDES. HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2009/MERCEDES/C300/ELECTRICAL_SYSTEM/PROBLEM.ASPX. *TR
Exterior lighting, Jul 5, 2013
HEADLIGHTS NOT WORKING BECAUSE OF FAULTY, BURNT WIRES. MERCEDES WILL NOT HONOR WARRANTY. SAID WIRES ARE COVERED BUT NOT HEADLIGHT ALTHOUGH THE WIRES ARE INSIDE HEADLIGHT AND CAUSED THE LIGHTS TO STOP WORKING. HAPPENED ON BOTH MY HEADLIGHTS. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Jun 20, 2013
MORE PROBLEMS WITH MODEL 204. THERE IS A NO EXPIRE RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 200802003 FOR THE ISSUE I HAVE HOWEVER MY VIN IS NOT PART OF IT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. PLACED MY KEY AND CAR WON'T START, NO CRANK. GOT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT MY STEERING LOCK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR ANYMORE. IMAGING DRIVING HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY FROM HOME AND SUDDENLY YOUR "STEERING LOCK" MALFUNCTIONS! SCARY. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Other or unspecified, Jun 13, 2013
AFTER TAKING MY CARE TO THE DEALER, I HAD A ERROR MESSAGE ON MY DISPLAY STATING THAT MY RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT IS OUT. THEN A MESSAGE STATING MY RIGHT LOW BEAM IS OUT. I REPLACED ALL THE BULBS..... FIVE DAYS LATER I GET ANOTHER RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT IS OUT. TWO WEEKS LATER MY RIGHT LOW BEAM IS OUT AGAIN. SEEMS THERE IS A WIRING SHORT THAT KEEPS BURNING OUT THE LOW BEAM AND TAIL LIGHT. OH BY THE WAY TAIL LIGHT/BRAKE LIGHTS WORK. STILL HAVE ERROR MESSAGE. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jun 12, 2013
PASSENGER TAIL WIRE HARNESS HAS MELTED TO THE CONNECTOR AND THE LAMP HOLDER. THIS IS BECAUSE THE CONNECTOR PINS USED FOR THE GROUND WIRE CANNOT SIMPLY HANDLE THE LOAD. I AM NOT SURE HOW THE PASSED THE MB QUALITY CONTROL. THIS COULD EASILY BE A FIRE HAZARD. MB DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDED THE SAME PIN CONNECTOR TO FIX BUT I'M SURE THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. I AM FILING THIS INCASE MY CAR BURNS BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE. *TR
Electrical system, Jun 2, 2013
MERCEDES BENZ C300, 2008 WAS STOPPED IN ORDER TO BE PARKED. I ACCIDENTALLY LEFT THE CAR IN "DRIVE" AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF COMPLETELY. I DO NOT PLACE MY KEY IN THE CAR IGNITION...I USE THE "KEYLESS GO" FEATURE AVAILABLE BY MERCEDES BENZ. THE KEY FOB ALWAYS REMAINS IN MY POCKET. I EXITED THE CAR, CLOSED THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR AND WITH MY KEY FOB I LOCKED ALL THE CAR DOORS AND WALKED AWAY FROM THE CAR. 45 MINUTES LATER I NOTICED FROM MY OFFICE WINDOW THE CAR HAD ROLLED APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET. I FEEL THERE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE IN THAT IT SHOULD NOT HAVE ALLOWED ME TO LOCK ALL THE CAR DOORS WITH THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE. OTHER MERCEDES BENZ VEHICLES DO NOT EXHIBIT THIS FAULTY FEATURE AND MAKE THE DRIVER AWARE THAT THE CAR IS IN DRIVE OR ELSE SOME MERCEDES MODELS AUTOMATICALLY MOVE THE CAR INTO "PARK" FROM "DRIVE" TO AVOID THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT THE CAR CAN ROLL AWAY BY ITSELF. *TR
Electrical system, May 13, 2013, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES C CLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT ONE MONTH LATER, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH AND STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V303000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, May 7, 2013
I RECEIVED MESSAGES ON MY DASH STATING TO CHECK REAR LEFT TURN SIGNAL AND REAR LEFT TAIL/BRAKE LAMPS. UPON PULLING OUT THE REAR LEFT (DRIVER'S SIDE) TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY, WHICH HOLDS ALL THE BULBS, I NOTICED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS WOULD FLASH WHEN I JIGGLED THE WIRES BUT NOT STAY ON. I PULLED THE HARNESS PLUG FROM THE SOCKET ON THE ASSEMBLY HOLDING THE BULBS AND NOTICED A BLACKENED BURNT SPOT AND MELTED PLASTIC ON THE PLUG ITSELF, AND ALSO A BURNT SPOT INSIDE THE PLUG SOCKET WHICH ALMOST BURNED THROUGH THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY UNIT. I HAVE PICTURES OF BOTH THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY UNIT PLUG AND SOCKET SHOWING THE BURNED MARKINGS. THIS IS A VERY CONCERNING ELECTRICAL SAFETY HAZARD THAT COULD LEAD TO A FIRE. THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO BE SIMILAR TO 2 OTHER INCIDENTS REPORTED IN THE NHTSA DATABASE FOR THE MERCEDES BENZ C300 2008 MODEL YEAR (INCIDENT #S 10475771 AND 10466181). *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, May 7, 2013
THE TAIL LIGHTS OF MY MERCEDES BENZ C300 2008 STOPPED WORKING. WHEN I WENT TO MY LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER TO SEE WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR, THE SERVICE PERSON AT THE DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE FULLY AWARE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT IT. THEY SAID THAT THE PLASTIC COVERS OF BOTH REAL TAIL LIGHTS ALONG WITH THE WIRE HARNESS HAD MELTED. IN FACT, THE SERVICE PERSON PUT HIS HAND BACK THERE AND HE GOT BURNED BECAUSE THE ENTIRE WIRE ASSEMBLY WAS MELTED AND WAS SHORT. I ASKED THEM TO REPAIR THE CAR FOR FREE BECAUSE THIS IS A DEFECT SINCE THE WIRE HARNESS ASSEMBLIES AND PLASTIC TAIL COVER LIGHTS SHOULD NOT MELT UNDER ANY CONDITIONS. THIS IS BOTH A COLLISION HAZARD AND A FIRE HAZARD AND IT IS VERY COMMON IN THIS MODEL. MERCEDES BENZ USA REFUSED TO FIX THE VEHICLE FOR FREE AS THEY HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO DO SINCE THIS IS A DEFECT. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE PLASTIC COVER AND WIRE HARNESS OF THE REAL TAIL LIGHTS OF THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE THIS SITUATION IS DANGEROUS BOTH IN TERMS OF A FIRE HAZARD AND IN TERMS OF A COLLISION HAZARD. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 23, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES C- CLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE LIGHT BULBS CHANGED AND THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 13, 2013, fire
RIGHT REAR TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY. LIGHTS APPEARED DIM FOR A COUPLE MONTHS AND FIGURED LIGHTS WERE ABOUT IT GO OUT. WENT TO BUY NEW LIGHT BULBS TO REPLACE THE DIMMING BULBS AND WHEN I OPENED THE RIGHT SIDE TO INSTALL THE LIGHT I NOTICED THE ELECTRICAL CORD ATTACHED TO THE ASSEMBLY HAD MELTED. LIGHTS WERE STILL DIM AND CHECKED TO SEE WHAT IT SOUNDED LIKE WHEN I TURNED THE LIGHTS ON AND IT MAKES A CRACKLING ELECTRICAL SOUND. I ASSUME THAT'S WHY IT SMELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING AND WHY THE 8 PRONG PIECE MELTED. 1-6 ON THE ELECTRICAL PIECE LOOK GOOD. 7 IS DAMAGED DUE TO NUMBER 8 COMPLETELY MELTING OFF. *TR
Structure, Mar 27, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. *TR