RoadVitals

2008 Mercedes-Benz C 300 Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Dec 20, 2022
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
1%
of 672 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C 300 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming body or structure

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structure
Filed Dec 20, 2022

My car has 85,000 miles on it and the Rear Trailing Arm Frame on the drivers side has rusted from the inside out. It is a good thing I have become aware of this, as it was about to break and cause me to lose control of my car. This needs to be recalled before someone gets hurt. In Canada and Germany Mercedes is fixing this for free. Why have Americans not been warned about this potentially deadly safety issue? I am reading many common experiences of cars with less than 50,000 miles on them.

NHTSA ID
11498338
Incident
Dec 20, 2022
Body & structure
Filed Jan 27, 2022

The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that the vehicle was to a State Inspection Station to be State Inspected however while inspecting the vehicle the mechanic found severe corrosion and rust holes in the rear subframe of the vehicle. The contact was informed that the subframe needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

NHTSA ID
11449181
Incident
Jan 25, 2022
Mileage
72,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 17, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNDISCLOSED SPEEDS, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE RATTLED AND VIBRATED ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF FORT MITCHELL (2100 DIXIE HWY, FORT MITCHELL, KY 41011) WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SUB FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE SUBFRAME WAS REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,000.*DT*LN*AS

NHTSA ID
11339954
Incident
Nov 21, 2018
Mileage
250,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 15, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SWERVED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE DRIVER NEARLY LOST CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME FAILED DUE TO EXTREME RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000. ...UPDATED 11/15/17 *BF CONSUMER STATED REPLACED REAR SUBFRAME UPDATED 7/17/18*JB *TR

NHTSA ID
11023618
Incident
Aug 24, 2017
Mileage
99,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalEngine
Filed May 2, 2015

BELT TENSIONER MAKES LOUD METALLIC NOISE AROUND THE ENGINE AREA. CAR WOULDN'T START. CAMSHAFT ADJUSTER MAGNETS REPLACED. WATER LEAK FROM SUN ROOF DRAIN SIDE MIRROR CRACKED UNDER COLD WEATHER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10714160
Incident
Jan 2, 2012
Mileage
60,000 mi
Body & structureBrakesDriver assistance
Filed Feb 20, 2015
Crash reported

UPON COMMENCING MY EXIT FROM THE PARKING LOT ADJACENT TO MY CHURCH, I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE BOLTED FORWARD AT FULL SPEED CRASHING THROUGH THE PARKING LOTS FENCE AND INTO A MAJOR AVENUE (WHERE, FORTUNATELY NO TRAFFIC WAS TRANSITING AT THE MOMENT). THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND TO MY INITIAL ATTEMPTS TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAD TRAVERSED THE FOUR LANE AVENUE AND REACHED THE SIDEWALK ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AVENUE THAT I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL AND JUDICIOUSLY PARK SAME UNTIL A POLICE ACCIDENT REPORT COULD BE FILED ([XXX]) AND THE VEHICLE TOWED AWAY. VEHICLE IS NOW IN A REPAIR SHOP AND ESTIMATED COSTS ARE APPROXIMATELY $10,000. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10689712
Incident
Feb 1, 2015
Mileage
54,000 mi
Body & structureEngine
Filed Jul 12, 2010

MY CAR SMELLS LIKE MILDEW AND MOLDY. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER ABOUT 3 TIMES ABOUT THIS SITUATION. I HAVE RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS AND ALLERGIES AND I CAN HARDLY USED THIS CAR, IT STINKS AND BOTHERS MY BREATHING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10342816
Incident
Oct 28, 2008
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Jun 22, 2010

LTR FAD FM (IN) FM OWNER OF A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300 RE DEFECTIVE REAR DOOR LOCKING KNOB, THE PLASTIC LOCKING KNOB CAME OFF WHILE UNLOCKING THE DOOR MANUALLY BUT THE DOOR DID NOT UNLOCK, REPLY ATTN. DARLEE MCCOLLUM, DC OFC (ENVELOPE ONLY)

NHTSA ID
10340018
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Body & structure
Filed Apr 16, 2008

MY 2008 C300 MOONROOF HAS A DEFECT. THE OPERATION CONTROL PANEL WILL NOT AUTO OPEN OR AUTO CLOSE. MY CAR HAS 338 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE HAD IT FOR 8 DAYS. 4 OF THESE 8 DAYS IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP. MERECEDES ENGINEERING IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THEIR WILL BE A SOFTWARE UP DATE FOR THE CAR IN JUNE, BUT IT IS APRIL. THERE ARE FIVE REPORTED CASES AND ONE OF THEM IS MINE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE OCP WITH ONE FROM ANOTHER C300 FROM THEIR LOT NOT EVEN BRAND NEW PARTS!!!! BUYER BEWARE. THIS IS A TEMPORARY FIX THEY SAID AND ALL C300 WILL NEED THIS SOFTWARE UPDATE. I AM SURPRISED THERE ISN'T A SERVICE BULLETIN YET! *TR

NHTSA ID
10224686
Incident
Apr 8, 2008
Mileage
32 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .