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U.S. public vehicle records

Mercedes Benz C300 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1,248 owner complaints analyzed

8 distinct recall campaigns

74,200 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2008 to 2009 model years. Data snapshot: . 763 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 452 of 1,248 complaints (36.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior29723.8%
Electrical and battery issues20716.6%
Braking behavior12910.3%
Transmission and shifting181.4%
Engine operation121.0%
Fuel system concerns100.8%

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.

Air Bags
452
Electrical System
417
Steering
268
Exterior Lighting
215
Unknown Or Other
69
Engine
47
Suspension
47
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
37
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags452
Electrical System417
Steering268
Exterior Lighting215
Unknown Or Other69
Engine47
Suspension47
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)37

Air Bags: 452; Electrical System: 417; Steering: 268; Exterior Lighting: 215; Unknown Or Other: 69; Engine: 47; Suspension: 47; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 37

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
41
25,000 to 49,999
92
50,000 to 74,999
253
75,000 to 99,999
206
100,000 to 149,999
136
150,000 and above
35
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00041
25,000 to 49,99992
50,000 to 74,999253
75,000 to 99,999206
100,000 to 149,999136
150,000 and above35

Under 25,000: 41; 25,000 to 49,999: 92; 50,000 to 74,999: 253; 75,000 to 99,999: 206; 100,000 to 149,999: 136; 150,000 and above: 35

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (253). 485 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.

2008
4
2009
4
2010
15
2011
10
2012
11
2013
102
2014
165
2015
163
2016
200
2017
253
2018
135
2019
37
2020
26
2021
30
2022
40
2023
21
2024
16
2025
14
2026
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20084
20094
201015
201110
201211
2013102
2014165
2015163
2016200
2017253
2018135
201937
202026
202130
202240
202321
202416
202514
20262

2008: 4; 2009: 4; 2010: 15; 2011: 10; 2012: 11; 2013: 102; 2014: 165; 2015: 163; 2016: 200; 2017: 253; 2018: 135; 2019: 37; 2020: 26; 2021: 30; 2022: 40; 2023: 21; 2024: 16; 2025: 14; 2026: 2

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 297 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 207 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 129 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 10311679 · 2010-02-18 (February 18, 2010)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH BUT HIS AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SINCE THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, HIS BODY HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING COLUMN TO BREAK. THE CONTACT WAS SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS HEAD AND CHEST. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. HE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE; THE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICL…

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10311679 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10459294 · 2012-05-22 (May 22, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENGINE, THE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THERE WAS A STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED LATER AFTER THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7500.

Owner-reported narrative. 7,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10459294 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10333976 · 2010-05-31 (May 31, 2010)

TWO SEPARATE INSTANCES OF COMMANDED ACCELERATION WITH 2008 MERCEDES C300. PURCHASED THE CAR FROM A PRIVATE USED CAR DEALER IN SEPTEMBER 2009 WITH 10,500 MILES. ON NOVEMBER 1, 2009 I EXPERIENCED FIRST INSTANCE OF UNCOMMANDED ACCELERATION WHILE SLOWING TO A STOP IN A DRIVEWAY. ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO A HIGH RATE AND STRUCK A PARKED TRUCK IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF CAR. SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND CAR SPED AT MAXIMUM RPM ACROSS LAWNS AND STREET UNTIL FINALLY RETURNING TO NORMAL. AT NO TIME WERE THE BRAKES ABLE TO HAVE ANY EFFECT ON SLOWING MY …

Owner-reported narrative. 17,330 miles reported. Look up ODI 10333976 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10511033 · 2013-05-07 (May 7, 2013)

I RECEIVED MESSAGES ON MY DASH STATING TO CHECK REAR LEFT TURN SIGNAL AND REAR LEFT TAIL/BRAKE LAMPS. UPON PULLING OUT THE REAR LEFT (DRIVER'S SIDE) TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY, WHICH HOLDS ALL THE BULBS, I NOTICED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS WOULD FLASH WHEN I JIGGLED THE WIRES BUT NOT STAY ON. I PULLED THE HARNESS PLUG FROM THE SOCKET ON THE ASSEMBLY HOLDING THE BULBS AND NOTICED A BLACKENED BURNT SPOT AND MELTED PLASTIC ON THE PLUG ITSELF, AND ALSO A BURNT SPOT INSIDE THE PLUG SOCKET WHICH ALMOST BURNED THROUGH THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY U…

Owner-reported narrative. 86,949 miles reported. Look up ODI 10511033 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10266871 · 2009-04-20 (April 20, 2009)

SERIOUS DEFECT OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION IN MERCEDES MODEL C300 YEAR 2008. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED AS HE WAS ABOUT TO PARK THE VEHICLE, HE RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, WENT OVER A CONCRETE BARRIER AND HIT THE WALL OF THE BUILDING FINALLY COMING TO REST. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS A RENTAL. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10266871 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10304846 · 2010-02-03 (February 3, 2010)

THE TAXI CAB STOPPED UNEXPECTEDLY AND WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND AND THE MOTOR DID NOT DIE, IT JUST KEPT GOING UNTIL I HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE AT 20 OR 25 MILES AN HOUR. I BELIEVE THERE WAS A STRANGE SOUND WITH THE BRAKES THAT I HAD SEVERAL TIMES REPORTED TO THE DEALER SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10304846 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10537629 · 2013-08-28 (August 28, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A LOCAL DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH HAVING A SHORT IN THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE VEHICLE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10537629 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10547177 · 2013-10-08 (October 8, 2013)

AS REPORTED MULTIPLE TIMES BY OTHERS, TAIL LIGHT CONNECTOR IS INSUFFICIENT TO HANDLE THE HEAT EMANATING FROM THE GROUND (BROWN) WIRE. CONNECTOR BURNS. CABLE COVERING MELTS. ALL TAIL LIGHTS (INCLUDING BRAKES, TURNING AND REVERSE) STOP FUNCTIONING. - SAFETY ISSUE- (NOT TO MENTION GAS TANK SITTING NOT TOO FAR FROM SOURCE OF FIRE) PRELIMINARY SYMPTOMS: RANDOM WARNING MESSAGES IN DASHBOARD ABOUT LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONING. ONE TAIL LIGHT DIMMER THAN THE OTHER. REPAIRS REQUIRED: NEW CONNECTOR/NEW PINS PLUS REGROUNDING TO AVOID CERTAIN RECURRE…

Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10547177 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11139396 · 2018-10-10 (October 10, 2018)

MY 2008 MERCEDES BENZ 300C STARTED THEN SHUT OFF IN MY DRIVEWAY. I HAD THE CAR LESS THAN 30 DAYS FROM PURCHASE. I CALLED THE DEALER AND HE CAME AND DID SOMETHING TO THE FUSE BAND IT START ED. NEXT DAY SAME THING, STARTED THEN SHUT OFF. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC, IT TOOK HIM TWO WEEKS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. HE NARROWED IT DOWN TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. HOWEVER, HE WANT AUTHORIZED TO ACCESS THE IGNITION, SO IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CAME BACK AFTER 2 WEEKS AND SAID IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. FINE, I PAID A LITTLE…

Owner-reported narrative. 67,574 miles reported. Look up ODI 11139396 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

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.

2008
7
2009
8
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20087
20098

2008: 7; 2009: 8

Year-by-year records

Mercedes Benz C300 model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
20086727Not available
20095768+1