NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK PREVENTS CAR FROM STARTING. CAR WAS AT A STOP AND MOTOR TURNED OFF - CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. STRANDED MILES FROM HOME. THIS HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES NECESSITATING AUTO CLUB TO ATTEMPT TO START.
ESP CONTROL MODULE AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, SPECIFICALLY GETTING OFF THE INTERSTATE ON A CURVED ROAD, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE/CODE ILLUMINATED ACROSS MY DASHBOARD, "BRAKE" EBR ABS ESP INOPERATIVE. I WASN'T SURE WHAT THIS MEANT AND I WAS EXTREMELY ALARMED AND NERVOUS. AS SOON AS I COULD I BROUGHT IT INTO THE SHOP AND THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME IT WASN'T A BRAKE ISSUE, IT WAS A FAULTY ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL PANEL THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT HE HAD JUST REPLACED THESE IN ABOUT 4 OTHER VEHICLES. SAME EXACT PROBLEM. AFTER DOING RESEARCH, IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IT READS THE WHEEL DATA FROM THE SENSORS AS WELL AS THE ABS MODULE WHICH PREVENTS TRACTION AND SLIPPAGE WHEN DRIVING ON THE ROAD, WHEN MAKING SHARP TURNS, OR EVEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. THE CAR SEEMS TO FISHTAIL. IT ALSO PREVENTS STABILITY ON THE ROAD IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. I'VE ALSO NOTICED IT HAS AFFECTED OTHER AREAS OF THE CAR SUCH AS THE TURN SIGNAL, CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISM, STEERING COLUMN AND STARTING UP THE CAR HAS ALSO BEEN AN ISSUE. I'VE HAD TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH A COUPLE OF TIMES TO GET THE CAR STARTED. THE CAR IS ALSO DRIVING ROUGHER THAN USUAL. THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN FOR US BECAUSE I AM A SINGLE MOTHER AND I HAVE A NINE YEAR OLD SON WHO DRIVES WITH ME FREQUENTLY. I'M WORRIED ABOUT OUR SAFETY. NOT TO MENTION OUR FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER TAKATA AIRBAGS STILL HAVE A RECALL THAT HAVE YET TO BE DEALT WITH. IT HAS BEEN WELL OVER A YEAR AND THE PROBLEM STILL HASN'T BEEN RESOLVED. THIS ESP CONTROL MODULE COSTS $1,500 TO REPLACE AND I CANNOT AFFORD THIS. I'M DRIVING AROUND IN A TICKING TIME BOMB JUST WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN. IT IS A MAJOR CONCERN AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I CERTAINLY HOPE YOU TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY AND PLACE THIS ON THE RECALL LIST TO AVOID A BAD SITUATION.
ESL/EIS FAILURE. WHEN THE KEY IS INSERTED THE CAR WILL NOT START. LIGHTS WORK BUT WINDOWS AND DASH MESSAGE ARE NOT WORKING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY INOPERABLE AND DISABLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C350W. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 113,773.
STEERING REFUSED TO UNLOCK AND THUS THE CAR WOULD NOT START. CAR WAS STATIONARY SITTING IN THE GARAGE.
LAST WEEK I DROVE MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL. THEN I WENT TO THE GAS STATION AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR TO LEAVE, IT WOULD NOT START. IT DID NOT DO ANYTHING. I COULD NOT EVEN ROLL THE WINDOWS UP. THE CAR DID NOTHING OTHER THAN SAY "REMOVE IGNITION KEY." THE BATTERY WAS TESTED AND FINE. IT HAD JUST BEEN REPLACED 1 MONTH AGO. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER BROUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO THEN SAID IT HAD TO BE BROUGHT TO THE DEALER. THE MERCEDES DEALER SAID IT WAS THE EIS/STEERING SWITCH. THE COST WILL BE $1900. I'VE CALLED OTHER MECHANICS. NO-ONE CAN FIX IT BECAUSE MERCEDES HAS THE PARTS AND CODING EXCLUSIVELY. THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY AND WITH THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. LAST YEAR MY CAR ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SRS LIGHT MALFUNCTION. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND THIS WAS ALSO ANOTHER HUGE EXPENSE. THE DEALER DID NOT TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF A RECALL. THEY ACTED LIKE IT WAS A BIG SURPRISE.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C3000. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND 17V017000 (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 REPAIRS. THE WHITE PLAINS NY DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS INDEPENDENTLY DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V363000 (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. CROWN EURO CARS LOCATED AT 6001 34TH ST N, ST.PETERSBURG, FL WAS NOT CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY AND THEY DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
START FAILURE AND LOCKED STEERING WHEEL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED AND SHUT OFF WHILE IN PARK. THE FAILURE DID NOT OCCUR WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT ALSO SMELLED A FUEL ODOR. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR STRANGE NOISES. DEALER STATED THAT FRONT AXLES ARE COMING APART. THAT LARGE AMOUNTS OF METAL ARE MISSING FROM THE FRONT AXLES.
EIS FAILURE. VEHICLE HAS 136,000 MILES. INSERTED KEY INTO IGNITION AND TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE. NOTHING HAPPENED, NO START. TRANSMISSION STUCK IN PARK. TRIED JUMP STARTING, REPLACED BATTERY EVEN THOUGH IT TESTED O.K. BUT WAS OLD ENOUGH TO MAKE ME QUESTION IT'S VIABILITY, CHECKED FUSES, ETC. ONLINE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT EIS FAILURE IS A FAIRLY COMMON ISSUE WITH MB PRODUCTS, PARTICULARLY THE C CLASS. THIS IS NOT AN OWNER REPARABLE ITEM. WILL HAVE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND REPAIRED THERE AT THE USUAL INFLATED COST OF DOING SO.
STEERING LOCK ISSUE. ENGINE DOES NOT CRANK AND CAR DOES NOT START. UPON INSERTING KEY, AN MESSAGE POPS UP ASKING TO REMOVE THE KEY. STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND CAR STUCK IN PARK. DUE TO THE CONFIGURATION OF MY PARKING GARAGE AND THE FACT THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED, IT TOOK ME SEVERAL DAYS AND 4 DIFFERENT TOW TRUCKS TO SUCCESSFULLY TOW THE CAR 1.5 MILES TO MY LOCAL MB DEALERSHIP. THE DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR OF THE FAULTY STEERING LOCK, WHICH THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAYS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WITH MY MODEL, TOOK AN ENTIRE WEEK. I WAS TOLD MB DOES NOT OFFER A LOANER CAR IN THIS SITUATION. ALL IN ALL, IT TOOK MY 2 WEEKS TO FINALLY GET MY CAR WORKING AGAIN. THE REPAIR WAS $1,200. ADD IN THE 4 TOW TRUCKS, AND 2 WEEKS OF RENTAL CAR AND THIS WAS EASILY A $2,000 ISSUE. MB SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL GIVEN THAT THIS ISSUE IS SO PREVALENT AND CLEARLY A FAULT WITH THE STEERING LOCK PART.
NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 716V081 RECALL DATE: FEBRUARY 11, 2016 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER: 2016020003 CERTAIN MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLES AND ONE FCA MODEL ARE EQUIPPED WITH DRIVER-SIDE FRONT AIRBAGS PROVIDED BY THE SUPPLIER TK HOLDINGS INC. ("TAKATA"). ON JANUARY 25, 2016 TAKATA FILED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT WITH NHTSA ANNOUNCING A POTENTIAL DEFECT IN SOME OF THE SUBJECT INFLATORS. BASED UPON TAKATA'S INFORMATION TO DATE, TAKATA IS AWARE OF FOUR TEST RUPTURES IN BALLISTIC TESTS OF NON-DESICCATED PSDI-5 INFLATORS. TAKATA IS NOT AWARE OF ANY FIELD INCIDENTS IN WHICH A PSDI-5 INFLATOR HAS RUPTURED, EITHER DESICCATED OR NON-DESICCATED. TAKATA IS TAKING THIS ACTION IN AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, TO ADDRESS ALL OF THE SUBJECT NON-DESICCATED PSDI-5 AIR BAG INFLATORS, DUE TO THE SIMILARITIES OF DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING CHARACTERISTICS FOR THIS TYPE OF INFLATOR USED IN THE U.S. MARKET. DAG IS NOT AWARE OF ANY FIELD INCIDENTS WITH THE SUBJECT TAKATA PSDI-5 INFLATORS. HOWEVER, BASED ON THE INFORMATION ABOVE AND IN AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, DAG WILL CONDUCT A VOLUNTARY RECALL OF THE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SUBJECT TAKATA PSDI-5 INFLATORS IN THE UNITED STATES AS IDENTIFIED BY TAKATA IN THE DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT.
ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL)GOES OUT DAMAGE WITHOUT REASON,HAPPEN ROUTINELY TO MOST OF THIS MODELS MECHANIC SHOPS AND DEALER STATED IT,VEHICLE PARKED WON'T UNLOCK STEERING OR SIMPLE RESTART
TAKATA RECALL - MANUFACTURER HAS FAILED TO FULFILL THE RECALL AND REPLACEMENT OF DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS
TAKATA RECALL: I HAVE AIR BAG RECALL 3 TIMES: FEB 11, 2016, MAY 25, 2016, JAN 10, 2017 BUT WHEN I CONTACTED MY MERCEDES BENZ DEALER 5 TIMES, THEY SAID THE AIRBAG REPLACEMENT HASN'T ARRIVED ON ALL THE TIMES I CALLED. FEB 11, 2016: IT'S DRIVER-SIDE FRONT AIRBAGS DEFECT RELATED TO TAKATA PSDI-5 INFLATORS. MAY 25, 2016: PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT AIRBAGS TAKATA PSPI-2 INFLATORS. JAN 10, 2017: PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT AIRBAGS DEFECT RELATED TO INFLATORS.
TRANSMISSION LEAKS SO CAR STARTS SHIFTING HARD JERKING LEARCHING. MECHANIC SAYS IT IS A TORQUE CONVERTER SEAL THAT LEAKS SO NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. BUT HAVE TO PULL THE ENGINE & TRANSMISSION OUT TO SPLIT SO THE LABOR IS 22-23 HOURS LABOR WHEN THE PART IS ONLY LIKE $23 SO THE REPAIR BECAUSE OF THE LABOR WOULD BE ABOUT $2200 WHICH WE CAN'T AFFORD. THE MECHANIC FOUND SO MANY SAME VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. BUT OF COURSE THE DEALER WON'T REPORT BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO MAKE THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR TO SO MANY VEHICLES. WHILE DRIVING FAST OR SLOW ACCELERATING BREAKING TO SLOW DOWN, TAKING OFF AT A STOP SIGN STOP LIGHT GOING IN REVERSE ETC IT HESITATES TO GO INTO GEAR. KEEPS HAPPENING MULTIPLE TIMES A YEAR WE HAVE TO KEEP CHECKING CHANGING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID & GETTING IT TOPPED OFF.
THE HEADLIGHTS (LOW BEAM) FLICKER OR TURN OFF COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING AND WHILE THE LIGHT SWITCH IS IN THE "ON" POSITION (NOT "AUTO"). THIS HAPPENS DURING THE DAY OR AT NIGHT TIME, WHICH CONSTITUTES A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. *TR
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
THE STEERING WHEEL ELECTRONIC LOCK, SHUT DOWN MY CAR. I DROVE TO THE DOCTORS OFFICE AND IT STOP WORKING. IT WOULD NOT START. I FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE 1000 OF COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.. BUT SINCE THERE ISN'T A RECALL WE WOULD BE SUBJECTED TO PAYING OUT OF OUR POCKET. ABOUT $950.
ORDINARY DAY AT MY JOB, GOT OFF AND WENT TO MY CAR AND PUT THE KEY IN LIGHTS IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CAME ON AND MESSAGE WAS " REMOVE THE KEY" TURN THE KEY TO ACCESSORY NOTHING HAPPENS, TURN IT ALL THE WAY TO START THE IGNITION NOTHING HAPPENS, THE VEHICLE IS STUCK IN PARK AND THERE IS NO WAY TO MOVE THE SHIFTER. AFTER A RESEARCH ONLINE AND FEW PHONE CALLS I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AMONG MERCEDES VEHICLES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY DID DIAGNOSE IT FOR STEERING WHEEL LOCK AND QUOTED ME $1,300 FOR REPAIRS. I DO BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL OR AT LEASE MERCEDES-BENZ OF USA TAKE IT'S PART AND REIMBURSE THE PARTS SINCE IT'S A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. I'M NOT HAPPY AT ALL OF THE WAY THEY DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM.
TAKATA RECALL, AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON IN MOTION DRIVING IN CITY STREET.
BELT HAS TORN TO SHREDS HAS HAD IT REPLACED 2 TIMES THE PULLIES ARE BAD
2008 MERCEDES C300 WITH BAD ESL. COST TO FIX IS $1200. SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUES WITH MERCEDES AS AN INTERNET SEARCH LEADS TO MANY OTHER WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I PARKED THE CAR AT WORK, THEN WENT OUT SEVERAL HOURS LATER TO GO TO LUNCH AND IT WOULD NOT START. THERE WAS NO SOUND OF THE STARTER OR ANY OTHER NOISES WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY, BUT ALL THE LIGHTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE ELECTRICAL WORKED ON THE CAR. JUST TO BE SAFE, TRIED TO JUMP THE CAR, BUT IT STILL DID NOT START. CAR WAS STUCK AND COULD NOT SHIFT IT INTO NEUTRAL. HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO GET IT TOWED MY LOCAL MBZ DEALER. TURNS OUT IT HAS A BAD ESL.
AN HOUR AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, I WAS UNABLE TO START IT BACK UP. HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER AND DIAGNOSED WITH EIS/ESL FAILURE, AT A COST OF $1700 TO REPLACE. MERCEDES DISAVOWED ALL KNOWLEDGE OF THIS BEING A COMMON ISSUE, DESPITE HUNDREDS OF ONLINE COMPLAINTS TO THE CONTRARY. ALL SIGNS POINT TO THIS BEING DUE TO A CHEAP/FAULTY PART AT MANUFACTURE, WHICH CAN FAIL AT ANY TIME, LEAVING DRIVERS STRANDED IN POTENTIALLY UNSAFE AREAS OR ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CAR HAS 75000 MILES AND EXEMPLARY SERVICE RECORD. *TR
WHEN REPLACING A HEADLIGHT BULB I NOTICED THE H7 WIRE WAS COMPLETELY EXPOSED WITH NO INSULATION, AS I TRIED TO WRAPPED THEM IN ELECTRICAL TAPE TO GET A TEMPORARY FIX, THE LITTLE INSULATION STILL LEFT ON THE CABLE CRUMBLED. I ENCOURAGE TO CHECK THE CABLE INSULATION ON YOUR VEHICLE AS THIS CAN CAUSE A SHORTAGE AND FAIL HEADLIGHTS.
TAKATA RECALL I HAVE BEEN WAITING MORE THAN 1 YEAR FOR PARTS TO BECOME AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION. I THINK MERCEDES IS STALLING TO AVOID THESE REPAIRS.
SO FAR NOTHING IS AFFECTED BUT I USE THIS CAR TO GO TO WORK EVERY DAY, TO TAKE MY CHILDREN TO THEIR SPORTS AND DO ALL THE ERRANDS OF MY HOUSEHOLD.. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR ANYMORE ALWAYS THINKING THAT I CAN HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND CAN BE INJURED FOR WHAT IT SUPPOSE TO PROTECT US OR EVEN DIE. I NEED A SOLUTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, I CANT WAIT FOR SOMETHING TO GET WRONG. I FEEL THE NEED TO PROTECT MY CHILDREN AND MYSELF TO A POSSIBLE DANGER.
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 PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH (BENZEL-BUSCH MOTOR CAR, 28 GRAND AVE, ENGLEWOOD, NJ 07631) WHO STATED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO SPEAK TO THE DEALER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND AN ERROR MESSAGE REGARDING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG APPEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BENZEL-BUSCH MOTOR CAR AGAIN WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT SHOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMED PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
CAR WAS PARKED AND WENT TO DRIVE CAR. IT WILL NOT START. BOTH KEYS WILL NOT WORK. PROBLEM IS WITH ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. NO INSTRUMENTATION DISPLAY. CAN NOT SHIFT CAR OUT OF PARK. TRIED JUMPING CAR AND IT WILL NOT START. REPLACED BATTERY AND IT WILL NOT START.
CAR SUDDENLY WOULD NOT START. STEERING LOCKED, IGNITION WOULD TURN, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. IN A LOANER CAR NOW. SAID IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $1200.00 TO FIX THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK PROBLEM. TECHNICIAN SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG C300. THIS IS AN OUTRAGE, AND MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE.
C300 NOT STARTING DUE TO BAD ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK MECHANISM, SEEMS TO BE COMMON.
FRONT LAMPS AND HEADLIGHT KEEP RANDOMLY NOT FUNCTIONING AT START OR WHEN DRIVING. WARNING LIGHT THAT BULB IS OUT COMES ON BUT THEN GOES AWAY AND THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON AFTER A LITTLE OF TIME AND A RESTART OF ENGINE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO OPERATE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE CABLE WIRE CONNECTED TO THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT BULBS WERE DAMAGED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE PARKING INDICATOR ALSO FAILED AND THE CABLE CONNECTED TO THE PARKING INDICATOR WAS DAMAGED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS NEEDED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL
TAKATA RECALL IS EFFECTING MY ABILITY TO FEEL SAFE , AND CONFIDENT ABOUT DRIVING THIS VEHICLE PLUS NO DEALER REALLY WANTS THIS VEHICLE ON TRADE UNTIL THE RECALL IS PERFORMED. WHY AREN'T PARTS BEING RELEASED FOR THIS VEHICLE BUT OTHER CAR MANUFACTURES HAVE SEEMED TO BE REPLACING THEIRS?? I WOULD LOVE TO BE INFORMED A LITTLE MORE OR THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF ACTION US CONSUMERS CAN TAKE AGAINST THE MANUFACTURE OF THESE AIRBAGS!!!! *TR
ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK FAIL CAR WON'T TURN ON
ISSUE WITH CAM GEARS. MERCEDES HAS KNOW ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR MANY MANY YEARS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. CAR IS UNSAFE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND COSTS ABOUT $8000 TO FIX. FROM THE ONLINE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FROM 2013 "THE ENGINES ARE EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE GEARS IN THEIR BALANCE SHAFTS OR WITH DEFECTIVE IDLE GEARS. THESE DEFECTIVE GEARS WEAR OUT PREMATURELY, EXCESSIVELY, AND WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MALFUNCTION, THE 'CHECK ENGINE LIGHT' TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE TO MISFIRE AND/OR STOP DRIVING." *TR
CAR WILL NOT START WHILE PARKED. BATTERY CHECKED AND TESTED GOOD BY AAA. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. CAR WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. TOWED TO CHRISTIAN BROTHERS AUTOMOTIVE AND PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS EIS FAILURE. WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS CAR. HOWEVER, IT IS A 'DEALER ONLY' REPAIR DUE TO MERCEDES REFUSAL TO EITHER SELL PARTS OR RELEASE CODES TO INDEPENDENT DEALERS. WAS ALSO TOLD THERE IS A LAWSUIT ATTEMPTING TO FORCE MERCEDES TO CEASE WITH THE PROPRIETARY BALONEY. THE REPAIRS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE AND THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL OR, AT THE VERY LEAST, ALL THE NECESSARY PARTS AND CODES NEED TO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITIES.
CAR WONT START ,LOCAL MECHANIC REFER TO COMMON PROBLEM (IGNITION MODUEL),I WAS COMING OUT OF THE CVS PHATMACY AND THE CAR JUST WONT START ,CALLED MB THE Y ASKED ME TO JUMP START BUT NOTHING ,DIFFERENT KEY NOTHING SO I TOWED TO THE DEALER .
DRIVING AT NIGHT AND CAR WAS PARKED. TRIED TO START THE CAR BUT IT WON'T START AT ALL. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS A STEERING LOCK MECHANISM MALFUNCTION. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN SUBMITTED BY OTHER C300 OWNERS AND HAS BEEN A COMMON COMPLAINT. THERE IS A SAFETY CONCERN BY ALL OF US REGARDING THE PROBLEM ESPECIALLY IT CAN HAPPEN ANYTIME. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT THIS BE ESCALATED TO A RECALL FOR ALL AFFECTED MODELS FROM MERCEDES. IT IS UNFAIR TO US TO KEEP PAYING OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE REPAIR. MY CAR ONLY HAS 62200MILES IN IT.
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
FROM A PARKED VEHICLE, I UNLOCKED CAR AND INSERTED KEY AND TURNED TO START POSITION 2. NO STEERING UNLOCK, SHIFT LEVER STUCK IN PARK AND NO ENGINE START. MESSAGE "TAKE YOUR KEY FROM IGNITION" APPEARED AS WELL WHEN I OPENED DOOR. VOLTAGE FROM BATTERY WAS 12.7 VDC. HAD CAR TOWED TO MERCEDES BENZ DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH EIS FAILURE (ELECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM). COST FOR REPAIR: $1,350.
1ST LETTER: APRIL 2016....STATED PASSENGER AIRBAG TAKATA RECALL. NO LETTER THAT PART IS IN. 2ND LETTER JULY 2016 STATED DRIVER'S AIRBAG TAKATA RECALL. NO LETTER THAT PART IS IN. I AM DRIVING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE FOR DRIVER AND PASSENGER!! LET'S GET GOING PLEASE ON GETTING THE REPLACEMENT AIRBAGS!!!
EIS ISSUE/STEERING WHEEL LOCK MODULE. VEHICLE WAS DISABLED AND WOULD NOT START DUE TO EIS/STEERING WHEEL LOCK MODULE COMPLICATION. VERY COMMON IN C300 MBZ
I RECEIVED A NOTICE AUGUST, 2016 NOTIFYING ME OF A DEFECTIVE DRIVERSIDE AIRBAG. I CALLED MY DEALER TWICE AND WAS TOLD THEY ARE WAITING TO RECEIVED SHIPMENT AND WILL CONTACT ME WHEN THEY ARRIVE. IT IS NOW OCTOBER ,2017 AND STILL HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM.
I STOPPED AT A KWIK TRIP (2006 N SPRING ST, BEAVER DAM, WI 53916) TO PUT GAS IN MY 2008 MERCEDES C300. CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER FILLING UP. MY STEERING WAS LOCKED AND SO WAS MY SHIFTING AS I WAS STUCK IN PARK. AFTER TROUBLESHOOTING THINGS SUCH AS THE BATTERY, FUSES, ETC I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND OUT MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN IN THE SAME SITUATION. THERE ARE VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE AND FORUMS WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF VIEWS AND NUMEROUS POSTS DESCRIBING WHAT SEEMS TO BE A ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL) OR ELECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM (EIS). I KNOW MERCEDES HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE ARGUED IT IS NOT A SAFETY HAZARD BUT THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES WHERE IT CAN BE A BIG SAFETY HAZARD. LUCKILY IT WAS SUMMER HERE IN WISCONSIN WHERE I WAS STUCK AT THAT GAS STATION FROM 7:30PM - 1:00AM. SO ESSENTIALLY THE PROBLEM HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH FILLING UP WITH GASOLINE. IT IS JUST WITH THE CAR SUDDENLY NOT STARTING. IT IS A ESL FAILURE AND IT ISN'T ONLY A SAFETY HAZARD, MERCEDES IS CHARGING 1300-1900 FOR WHAT THEY ACKNOWLEDGE HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE WITH CERTAIN MODELS! I FILED THIS THANKS TO A FORUM, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER THERE IS A LOT OF EVIDENCE OF THIS ON THE WEB.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026