Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 144 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C350. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 144 · page 1 of 6
The ESL system malfunction causes either steering lock or ignition switch to fail resulting in a failure to start the vehicle creating safety issues and a failure to reach safe destination. This problem is reported to be an extremely common issue in the Mercedes Benz W204 C-Class models.
All of a sudden, the car would not start and inserting the key and turning doesn't do anything. Turns out that like many other folks, the Electronic Steering Lock module is faulty and preventing the car from starting. Found out that only the dealer can fix it and mercedes provides the replacement part. The cost is unaffordable at $2200 from the dealer and the part is back ordered and won't be available for approximately 2 months. This is completely unacceptable and mercedes should prioritize and fix this issue as a safety issue with a recall since it completely makes the car non-driveable and nobody but the dealer can fix this, which allows the dealer to charge any amount they like.
-The rear subframe rusted through and broke. This made the vehicle extremely unsafe to drive. Braking caused the vehicle to veer right and was unsafe to stop. -Both a Mercedes dealership service center and an independent service center confirmed and verified the issue. -The part was inspected by the Mercedes dealership service center and the independent service center. -There were no warning lights or messages. The vehicle started making minor sounds in the rear of the vehicle prior to failure.
The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz C350. The contact stated that after the vehicle was turned off, she attempted to restart the vehicle, but the engine failed to turn over. The contact stated that the next day the vehicle started; however, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the speedometer started to malfunction. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the contact was unsure if the vehicle was diagnosed. Additionally, the contact stated that on a separate occasion while driving at an undisclosed speed, she noticed that water had started to leak from the sun visor. The contact also heard water moving around on the floorboard. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 166,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz C350. The contact attempted to start the vehicle however, the vehicle failed to start-up. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle Electronic Steering Lock failure. The vehicle was currently being repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 78,000.
The rear subframe is corroded, the rear subframe is a structural part of the car that Mercedes refuses to cover under warranty or issue a recall for even though it is issued under recall in Canada
AFTER A FEW YEARS OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE FOLLOWING STOPPED WORKING CAUSING DIFFICULTY DRIVING THE VEHICLE ABS/EPS INOPERATIVE CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, SEVERAL ELECTRICAL FAILURES HAD OCCURRED AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. IT WAS LATER DISCOVERED THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY FUSE. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAD STOPPED WORKING AND THE SRS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WERE NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER PLAZA MERCEDES BENZ LOCATED AT 11910 OLIVE BLVD, CREVE COEUR, MO 63141 AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
CAR HAS SEVERAL RECALLS BUT DUE TO MY GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION MB REFUSES TO ASSIST. NOW THE CAR HAS COMPLETELY MALFUNCTION AND HAS BEEN PARKED UP SINCE SEPTEMBER
NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 16V081, 17V017, AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON, MULTIPLE REQUEST TO CORRECT OPEN RECALL. DEALER STATES PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE
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.
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
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.
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
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
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.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR. MONTHS AFTER THE ODOR WAS NOTICED, THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT FUEL ENTERED INTO THE CARBON FILTER AND THE ENTIRE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
TAKATA RECALL CAR IS NOW TEN YEARS OLD AND REPAIR IS LONG OVERDUE.
TAKATA RECALL- DRIVER'S SIDE
2008 MERCEDES BENZ 350. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REPLACEMENT PARTS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO REPAIR DEFECTIVE AIRBAG. *LD *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C350. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, A FAMILY MEMBER NOTIFIED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TRUNK. THE CONTACT OPENED THE TRUNK AND NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS IN FLAMES AROUND THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS PRESENT, BUT NO REPORT WAS FILED. THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED APPROXIMATELY FOUR YEARS AGO PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL BY MERCEDES-BENZ OF SOUTH ORLANDO IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA. HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED FOR THE RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.
STEERING WHEEL LOCKS WITHOUT WARNING, SHUTTING OFF CONTROL TO THE VEHICLE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE GEAR SHIFT. PROBLEM OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING AND CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS AS WELL AS LEAVE YOU STRANDED WITHOUT AWAY OF STARTING YOUR CAR OR DRIVING IT SAFELY.
TAKATA RECALL. ACCORDING TO TAKATA, IN THE EVENT OF AN INFLATOR RUPTURE, METAL FRAGMENTS COULD PASS THROUGH THE AIR BAG CUSHION MATERIAL, WHICH MAY RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS. I AM ALSO GETTING A FRONT RIGHT SRS MALFUNCTION SERVICE REQUIRED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR AS THE RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED OVER TWO YEARS AGO. THE DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF SOUTH ORLANDO, 4301 MILLENIA BLVD, ORLANDO, FL 32839, (888) 398-3936) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT RECENTLY RECEIVED A POSTCARD FROM TK HOLDINGS, ALERTING HER THAT THEY FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. *TT *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .