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, Jul 30, 2018
MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED FOR THE TAKATA RECALL AND I HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE REPLACEMENT. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MERCEDES DATED DECEMBER 2017 INDICATING THE PARTS FOR MY CAR SHOULD BE IN BY MARCH 31,2018. THIS IS ONLY COMMUNICATION I RECEIVED. I CALLED ON APRIL 25, 2018 AND TODAY JULY 30,2018. STILL NO REPLACEMENT FOR MY CAR. I WAS INFORMED THAT NHTSA WAS CONTROLLING WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE SENT ON MY CAR.
Steering, Electrical system, Jul 30, 2018
TAKATA RECALL CAR IS COMPLETELY LOCKED UP SAYS REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION, LEFT ME STRANDED SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE FAILURE WITH STEERING LOCK AND ESL
Steering, Jul 20, 2018
THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK MECHANISM FAILED, LOCKING THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH PREVENTED IGNITION AND THE ABILITY TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO MANUAL FOR TOWING. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED ON A PUBLIC ROADWAY IN ORDER TO ASSIST A LOST CHILD. AFTER THE POLICE ARRIVED TO ASSIST, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART, PUSHED, OR MOVED FURTHER OFF OF THE ROAD. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS REPAIR IS A COMMON COMPLAINT ON 2008 C300 CARS AND THE OEM PARTS WERE PART OF A BAD BATCH OF SUPPLIER PARTS.
Steering, Electrical system, Jul 19, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, 'TAKE THE KEY OUT THE IGNITION' APPEARED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF BOSTON (259 MCGRATH HWY, SOMERVILLE, MA 02143, (617) 666-4100) AND REPAIRED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE OF THE DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,669.
Air bags, Jul 18, 2018
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V363000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V081000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. THE DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF STEVENS CREEK, 4500 STEVENS CREEK BOULEVARD, SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA 95129) CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Jul 18, 2018, crash
I WAS TRAVELING DOWN ROSWELL ROAD AND A 2009 CHEVY SUBURBAN HIT THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY VEHICLE. MY CAR WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET GOING STRAIGHT. THE SUBURBAN WAS MAKING A LEFT OUT OF A COMPLEX AND DID NOT SEE MY CAR IN FRONT OF HIM AND HIT MY PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. I HAVE ATTACHED PHOTOS. WONDERING WHY MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BASED ON THE IMPACT. LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS SITTING AT THE BACK OF THE CAR, THOUGH, MY SISTER WAS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE.
Air bags, Jul 16, 2018
CONTACTED CAR MANUFACTURER AS WELL AS DEALER 5 TIMES.WAS SENT A NOTICE THAT IT WOULD BE FIXED JUNE 2018.CALLED AGAIN 7/12/2018 THEY SAID THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE.THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION.WHAT CAN BE DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM?
Air bags, Jul 13, 2018
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT SATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V017000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTIFICATIONS IN 2016. MERCEDES-BENZ OF BURLINGTON (80 CAMBRIDGE STREET, BURLINGTON, MA 01803, (781) 229-1600) SCHEDULED TWO RECALL REMEDY APPOINTMENTS IN JUNE AND JULY. WHEN THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER TO VERIFY THE APPOINTMENT, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Jul 11, 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 TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Jul 10, 2018
"TAKATA RECALL" DEALER IN MY AREA SAYS NO PARTS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS FROM DAY 1.
Air bags, Jul 9, 2018
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF ROCKLIN, 4747 GRANITE DR, ROCKLIN, CA 95677, 888-245-8764) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEIR INFORMATION WAS PLACED ON THE WAITING LIST. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Jun 29, 2018
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED MERCEDES-BENZ OF TACOMA AT (253) 922-6820 (1701 ALEXANDER AVE E C, FIFE, WA 98424) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 29, 2018
ON SUNDAY, JUNE 27, UPON RETURNING TO MY CAR I DISCOVERED THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT DISENGAGE THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK TO ALLOW ME TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH TO THE ON POSITION OR STEER THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE GEARSHIFT COULD NOT BE DISLODGED FROM THE PARK POSITION. I CONTACTED AAA. A TEST OF BATTERY REVEALED THAT IT WAS FULLY CHARGED. I WAS ABLE TO MANUALLY DISENGAGE THE GEAR SHIFT AND PLACE THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, HOWEVER, THE CAR WAS UNABLE TO BE LOADED ON TO THE FLATBED TOW-TRUCK, AS THE FRONT WHEELS WERE LOCKED AT AN ANGLE AND I WAS PARKED IN PARKING SPACE, BETWEEN THE SIDEWALK TO MY FRONT AND RIGHT SIDE AND A CAR TO MY LEFT. I WAS FORCED TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE AND FIND AN ALTERNATIVE MEANS OF GETTING HOME. FIVE DAYS AND NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS LATER, AAA WAS FINALLY ABLE TO RETRIEVE MY VEHICLE. CONVERSATION WITH MECHANICS AT MB DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS MB TRAINED PRIVATE MECHANIC IDENTIFIED PROBLEM AS DEFECTIVE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH (EIS/ EZS) AND ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL/ ELV). CONTACTED MBUSA CORPORATE OFFICE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR (APPROXIMATELY $1,600) WAS MINE, SINCE, DESPITE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING SIMILAR MECHANICAL ISSUE, THERE IS NOT A RECALL
Air bags, Jun 23, 2018
TAKATA RECALL THE RECALL REPAIR SCHEDULE HAS BEEN DELAYED FOR SO MANY TIMES, ONE AFTER ANOTHER. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? SHOULD THE MANUFACTURER, TAKATA, BE TOLD AND PENALIZED FOR ITS IRRESPONSIBILITY?
Air bags, Jun 22, 2018
WHEN - I HAVE LETTERS FROM 2016 REPORTING THIS PROBLEM AND STILL NO FIX FOR MY CAR? THIS IS UNETHICAL....PLEASE HELP ME GET MY CAR REPAIRED.
Air bags, Jun 14, 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 TO DO THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. AUTOHAUS OF PEORIA (2322 W VAN WINKLE WAY, PEORIA, IL 61615, (309) 740-7951) WAS CONTACTED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Jun 13, 2018
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V363000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN JUNE OF 2016. AFTER, CONTACTING THE DEALER (DOWNTOWN LA MOTORS IN LOS ANGELES, CA) AND THE MANUFACTURER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Jun 7, 2018
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V363000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTIFICATIONS IN JUNE OF 2016. THE DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF COVINGTON, 8080 WESTSHORE DRIVE, COVINGTON, LA 70433) STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Steering, Jun 6, 2018
VEHICLE PARKED AND LOCKED IN FRONT MY HOUSE. WHEN ATEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT UNLOCK. I TRIED TWO DIFFERENT KEY TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT STILL THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THERE IS NO WARNING LIGHT. MERCEDES BENZ ROADSIDE ASSISTANT WAS CALLED, AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALER. THEN, DEALER CONFIRMED THAT STEERING LOCK MODULE IN THE COLUMN HAS FAILED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACE, AND WILL COST $1100 PARTS, LABOR, AND TAX TO GET IT DONE EVEN WHEN I HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY. IT WAS SAID THAT THE SERVICE CONTRACT IS A NAMED COMPONENT WARRANTY AND THIS COMPONENT IS NOT ON THE LIST, SO IT IS NOT COVERED. THE VEHICLE IS NOW IN AT THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALER AND IS BEING WORKED ON.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Air bags, Jun 6, 2018
TAKATA RECALL , EXTERIOR LIGHTING RECALL
Air bags, May 21, 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). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE NOT UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DAYTON BEACH MERCEDES-BENZ (1188 N TOMOKA FARMS RD, DAYTONA BEACH, FL 32124) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, May 15, 2018
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V353000 AND 16V081000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED MERCEDES-BENZ OF SARASOTA AT (855) 457-2270 (LOCATED AT 4754 CLARK RD, SARASOTA, FL 34233) AND WAS INFORMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Air bags, May 14, 2018
TAKATA RECALL MY AIRBAG IS NOT WORKING, AND MY LIGHTING HAS A PROBLEM . MY BACK LIGHT STAY ON ALL OF THE TIME EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS OFF .I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR 3 WEEKS AGO AND I JUST REALIZED THAT.
Electrical system, Seats, May 11, 2018
COMAND UNIT WENT OUT ALONG WITH STEREO FUNCTIONS DRIVER SEAT CONTROL WENT OUT
Air bags, May 9, 2018
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 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 (GARAGE ISLA VERDE, LLC, AVE. BALDORIOTY DE CASTRO KM 10.3, CAROLINA, PR 00979, 787-620-1313) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE 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. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.