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.
Air bags, Oct 23, 2018
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V363000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V081000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. MERCEDES-BENZ OF NEWTON (92 HAMPTON HOUSE RD, NEWTON, NJ 07860, 973-383-8300) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Oct 18, 2018
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300W4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V363000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (MANSFIELD MOTOR GROUP, 1493 PARK AVE W, MANSFIELD, OH 44906, (419) 529-4000) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE BY THE DEALER. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' UPDATED 12/12/18*JB
Air bags, Oct 10, 2018
NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 16V081, 17V017, AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON, MULTIPLE REQUEST TO CORRECT OPEN RECALL. DEALER STATES PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE
Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 10, 2018
MY 2008 MERCEDES BENZ 300C STARTED THEN SHUT OFF IN MY DRIVEWAY. I HAD THE CAR LESS THAN 30 DAYS FROM PURCHASE. I CALLED THE DEALER AND HE CAME AND DID SOMETHING TO THE FUSE BAND IT START ED. NEXT DAY SAME THING, STARTED THEN SHUT OFF. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC, IT TOOK HIM TWO WEEKS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. HE NARROWED IT DOWN TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. HOWEVER, HE WANT AUTHORIZED TO ACCESS THE IGNITION, SO IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CAME BACK AFTER 2 WEEKS AND SAID IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. FINE, I PAID A LITTLE OVER $1K FOR THE DESPAIR. I GO TO PICK IT UP THEN I'M TOLD IT SHUT OFF. THIS IS AFTER A FULL DIAGNOSTIC TEST. MIND YOU, MY MECHANIC CALLED THE REP AT MERCEDES BENZ AND TOLD THEM EXACTLY WHAT THE ISSUES WAS AND THEY IGNORED IT. FAST FORWARD, I TELL THEM IN MY FRUSTRATION TO GO AND FIX THE CAR. I GET A QUOTE OF 878, AND THAT THEY WOULDN'T CHARGE FOR LABOR, PARTS ONLY. THEY CLAIM THE PARTS HAD TO BE ORDERED FROM GERMANY. TWO WEEKS LATER, A FULL MONTH AND A HALF OF WAITING FOR MY CAR, THE DEALER TELLS ME THE COST IS NOW 1919. LUDICROUS! THEY CLAIM THAT I NEEDED A KEY, THAT MY KEY WASN'T WORKING. WHAT? MY KEY WAS WORKING JUST FINE. THE C300 IGNITION ISSUES ARE OVERWHELMING AND NEED TO BE RECALLED. BUYER BEWARE!
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Oct 9, 2018
TAKATA RECALL HEADLIGHTS FLICKERING WHEN CAR IS OFF ALSO HEADLIGHT RANDOMLY GO OFF WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ETC AND WHEN LIGHTS STAY ON IT DRAINS THE CAR BATTERY
Air bags, Oct 5, 2018
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICES FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER (W.I. SIMONSON MERCEDES-BENZ, 1626 WILSHIRE BLVD, SANTA MONICA, CA 90403, 1-800-784-9248) STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. A LOANER VEHICLE OPTION WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Air bags, Oct 4, 2018
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER (KEELER MOTOR CAR COMPANY, 1111 TROY SCHENECTADY RD, LATHAM, NY 12110, (888) 600-3013) STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE AND DID NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WOULD BE SUPPLIED FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE ON A NATIONAL BACKORDER, AND THAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE PLACED ON A WAITING LIST AND CALLED ONCE THE PARTS ARRIVED. THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE A FOLLOW-UP RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR MONTHS DUE TO THE PARTS NOT BEING AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Air bags, Oct 4, 2018
TAKATA RECALL ALMOST 3 YEARS AND NO ACTION
Air bags, Sep 28, 2018
TAKATA RECALL NO ONE IS AVAILABLE TO FIX THIS RECALL FOR ME I HAVE BEEN CALLING OVER TWO YEARS NOW WHEN I NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE
Steering, Electrical system, Sep 24, 2018
CAR WILL NOT START AFTER DIVING. POWER FROM BATTERY IS GOOD. DOOR STILL LOCK AND UNLOCK. THIS PARTICLUAF BRAND HAS ISSUE WITH ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCKING AND LEAVING CAR MOBILELESS. CANNOT PLACE CAR IN NEAUTRAL FOR TOWING.
Power train, Electrical system, Seat belts, Sep 18, 2018
TRANSFER CASE RESEAL. I HAVE A 2008 C300 I BOUGHT WITH 56K MILES ON IT, I HAD TO HAVE THE WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED IMMEDIATELY. WHEN THIS SERVICE TOOK PLACE, I WAS INFORMED THAT I NEED TO HAVE MY TRANSFER CASE RESEALED AND THE CAM SHAFT MAGNETS REPLACED. THIS CAR HAS SUCH LOW MILES ON IT. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS NEEDED AT THIS TIME. I HAVE SEEN ON MANY BOARDS, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. WHY HASN'T MB RECALLED THIS YET? IT APPEARS THE 2008 MODEL IS PLAGUED WITH PROBLEMS AS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING LOCK AS WELL AS IT FAILED. AGAIN, COMMON PROBLEM AND NOT RECALL. I NOW HAVE A SEATBELT SENSOR THAT FAULTY. ALL OF THIS BEFORE I HAVE EVEN HIT 100K. MY 2001 ML IS WELL OVER 200K AND I HAVE NEVER HAD THESE ISSUES WITH THE ML.
Electrical system, Air bags, Sep 13, 2018
TAKATA RECALL, AND SRS MODULE. MERCEDES BENZ PARAMUS WILL NOT FIX RECALL UNLESS I PAY 400 DOLLARS FOR A MALFUNCTION ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT BUCKLE, WHICH WORKS FINE AND LOCKS IN PLACE. FOR PREVIOUS RECALL AT MERCEDES BENZ IN ENGLEWOOD NJ, THEY SERVICE SHOP ALWAYS UPCHARGES AND IF I REFUSE TO PAY THEY WILL NOT DO RECALL. THE ENGLEWOOD ONE TRIED TO CHARGE ME 700 DOLLARS FOR A O2 SENSOR THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BEFORE THEY CAN FIX RECALL AND I HAD REFUSED. THIS WAS TWO YEARS AGO. NOW ON 9/12/18 AT 3:00PM I DROPPED MY CAR OFF FOR THE RECALL, THEN THEY STATED THAT THEY WILL DO IT, THEN MAGICALLY MY STEERING WHEEL COLUMN LOCKED AND CHARGED ME 1100 DOLLARS TO FIX IT WITHOUT FIXING ME RECALL BECAUSE THEY STATED THAT THE SEATBELT BUCKLE WAS FAULTY AND THEY NEED TO FIX THAT AND CHARGE ME 400 DOLLARS BEFORE THEY CAN FIX RECALL. MY PHONE NUMBER IS [XXX] I AM [XXX] AND I RESIDE AT [XXX], THE SHOP GIVING ME PROBLEMS IS LOCATED IN MERCEDES BENZ IN PARAMUS NJ. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Air bags, Sep 12, 2018
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V363000 (AIR BAGS). FLETCHER JONES MOTORCARS OF FREMONT (LOCATED AT 5760 CUSHING PKWY, FREMONT, CA 94538, (510) 623-1111) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Air bags, Sep 7, 2018
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL LETTERS FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF HOFFMAN ESTATES (1000 W GOLF RD, HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL 60169, (847) 885-7000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A HARNESS MUST BE REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE BEFORE THE AIR BAG RECALL REPAIRS COULD BE PERFORMED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL LETTERS DID NOT MENTION THAT A HARNESS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPAIRED FIRST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Air bags, Sep 5, 2018
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED TWO RECALL NOTICES FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V363000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF FREDERICKSBURG, 1000 NOBLE WAY, FREDERICKSBURG, VA 22401, (540) 373-5200) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR A RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Exterior lighting, Sep 5, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARKING LAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BAKER MOTOR COMPANY (1513 SAVANNAH HWY, CHARLESTON, SC) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LAMPS OVERHEATED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. ** UPDATED 11/1/18*JB
Air bags, Sep 4, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C350. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT "SRS MALFUNCTION SERVICE REQUIRED" APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL EACH TIME A PASSENGER OCCUPIED THE VEHICLE. MERCEDES-BENZ OF THOUSAND OAKS (3905 AUTO MALL DRIVE, THOUSAND OAKS, CALIFORNIA 91362) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REPAIRED THE VEHICLE PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V711000 (AIR BAGS), BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 118,000.
Air bags, Aug 23, 2018
TAKATA RECALL SINCE 2/9/2016 WAS NOTIFIED IN WRITING. PART IS STILL NOT AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THIS SERIOUS RECALL
Air bags, Aug 17, 2018
TAKATA RECALL NHTSA RECALL NUMBER16V363 AND 16V081 OUTSTANDING SINCE EARLY 2016, AND AS OF TODAY 08/17/2018, WE ARE STILL GETTING THE RUN AROUND FROM MERCEDES BENZ ON A FIX. SPOKE TO MB TODAY ON THEIR TAKATA RECALL HOTLINE 877-496-3691, AND REPRESENTATIVE BY THE NAME OF TAJ EXTENSION 4669 ONLY READ FROM A SCRIPT THAT INDICATED THERE IS AN ESTIMATED PARTS DEPOT ARRIVAL DATE OF 12/31/2018, BUT THAT MAY CHANGE YET AGAIN. PLEASE HELP AS US PARENTS AND OUR KID ARE AT RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY IF THESE DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS ARE NOT REPLACED IN A TIMELY MANNER! THANK YOU.
Electrical system, Aug 15, 2018
THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START AND DOESN'T RECOGNIZE THE KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DEAD AND HAD TO JUMP START IT. I DROVE THE CAR TO HAVE THE BATTERY REPLACED THINKING THAT WAS IT. WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE GARAGE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS AS THE DEALERSHIP WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT COULD DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR.
Air bags, Aug 10, 2018
TAKATA RECALL. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS REMEDIED FOR OVER 2 YEARS NOW, BUT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP DOESN'T HAVE THE PARTS. I LIVE IN A TROPICAL AREA SO THE CHANCES OF AN AIRBAG MALFUNCTION IS GREATER
Air bags, Aug 10, 2018
TAKATA RECALL! WARNING SIGN APPEARED FOR PASSANGER SEAT!! I CAN'T DRIVE THIS CAR WITH AIRBAG MAL FUNCTION!
Air bags, Aug 4, 2018
TAKARA RECALL STILL HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED, IT HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR. I CALL THE DEALER AND THERE RESPONSE IS "IF I AM SO CONCERNED NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR" I HAVE NO OPTION BUT TO DRIVE IT OS MY ONLY WAY TO WORK. I NEED THIS FIXED BOTH AIR BAGS AND MECHANICALS OF AIR BAGS ARE ON RECALL
Air bags, Aug 1, 2018
TAKATA AIRBAGS - STILL NO REMEDY.
Air bags, Aug 1, 2018
TAKATA RECALL: STILL NO REMEDY