Mercedes Benz 208 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
7 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
62,559 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 to 2004 model years. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 7 complaints (28.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 1 | 14.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 14.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights | 1 |
| Structure | 1 |
| Tires | 1 |
Service Brakes: 2; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel: 1; Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights: 1; Structure: 1; Tires: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 1 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2006: 3; 2007: 2; 2016: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11155438 · 2018-12-02 (December 2, 2018)
AFTER JUST GETTING MY CAR FROM DEALERSHIP 6 DAYS PRIOR, MY WIFE AND I WERE COMING DOWN A HILL WHEN MY BRAKING SYSTEM STARTED TO MALFUNCTION AND AS WE CAME TO THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL AND COSTED TO A STOP THE BRAKING SYSTEM COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN.
Owner-reported narrative. 144,115 miles reported. Look up ODI 11155438 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10164201 · 2006-08-02 (August 2, 2006)
AT 2 AM WHILE DRIVING ON I-95 OUTSIDE OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FL. THE DRIVE SHAFT FLY WHEEL BROKE FROM THE ENGINE DAMAGING AND MAKING INOPERATIVE ACCESSORIES SUCH AS POWER STEERING AND WATER PUMP COOLING ACTION. FORTUNATELY, THE CRANK SHAFT APPARENTLY WAS NOT DAMAGED NOR DID THE ENGINE SEIZE AS GENERALLY HAPPENS WITH THIS FREQUENT OCCURRENCE ON THE MERCEDES BENZ INSTALLED ENGINES OF THE DODGE SPRINTER. FOUR SPRINTER CERTIFIED MECHANICS AND TWO SERVICE MANAGERS SUBSEQUENTLY ATTESTED TO THE REGULAR OCCURRENCE OF THIS POORLY ENGINEERED DESIGN WHICH IS…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10164201 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2003 | 0 |
| 2004 | 0 |
2001: 0; 2003: 0; 2004: 0