2008 Mercedes Benz C-CLASS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
13 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
40,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 13 complaints (53.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 38.5% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 23.1% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 15.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 |
| Tires | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 1 |
| Tires:Sidewall | 1 |
Electrical System: 7; Exterior Lighting: 6; Tires: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 1; Tires:Sidewall: 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 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 3 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 |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 2 |
2007: 1; 2008: 3; 2013: 7; 2014: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10206950 · 2007-10-26 (October 26, 2007)
ACCIDENT. 2008 MERCEDES C-350 REAR ENDED A DELIVERY TRUCK. MERCEDES BEGAN SMOKING IMMEDIATELY AND CAUGHT FIRE WITHIN ONE MINUTE. WITHIN 3-5 MINUTES ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WERE FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAME. DRIVER ESCAPED BEFORE CAR BURNED. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN THIS FRONT END CRASH. DRIVER HAD CONCUSSION AND FACIAL INJURIES FROM HITTING, POSSIBLY STEERING WHEEL. DRIVER SUSTAINED OTHER INJURIES AS WELL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10206950 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10216385 · 2008-01-29 (January 29, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C350. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING SYSTEM LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE LIGHT; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVEN DAYS LATER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10216385 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10224491 · 2008-04-14 (April 14, 2008)
THE TIRES OF THE CAR STARTED GROWING BUMPS ON THE FACE OF THE TIRE. INITIALLY ONE IN ONE TIRE, THEN THE SECOND ONE ON THE SAME TIRE, THEN ONE ON A SECOND TIRE AND FINALLY A THIRD ONE ON THE FIRST TIRE. I CALLED THE DISTRIBUTOR AND WAS TOLD TO BUY NEW TIRES OR GO TO THE TIRE MANUFACTURER FOR WARRANTY. THIS IN MY OPINION IS A SERIOUS SECURITY RISK THAT THE MANUFACTURERS ARE NOT TAKING SERIOUSLY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10224491 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10235787 · 2008-07-25 (July 25, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE VEHICLE HAS MICHELIN PILOT SPORT TIRES, SIZE 232/35/19 (NA) IN THE FRONT AND SIZE 265/30/19 (NA) IN THE REAR. THE TIRES WERE UNDERINFLATED BY THE DEALER, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE ROUGHLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10235787 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10508108 · 2013-04-13 (April 13, 2013)
RIGHT REAR TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY. LIGHTS APPEARED DIM FOR A COUPLE MONTHS AND FIGURED LIGHTS WERE ABOUT IT GO OUT. WENT TO BUY NEW LIGHT BULBS TO REPLACE THE DIMMING BULBS AND WHEN I OPENED THE RIGHT SIDE TO INSTALL THE LIGHT I NOTICED THE ELECTRICAL CORD ATTACHED TO THE ASSEMBLY HAD MELTED. LIGHTS WERE STILL DIM AND CHECKED TO SEE WHAT IT SOUNDED LIKE WHEN I TURNED THE LIGHTS ON AND IT MAKES A CRACKLING ELECTRICAL SOUND. I ASSUME THAT'S WHY IT SMELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING AND WHY THE 8 PRONG PIECE MELTED. 1-6 ON THE ELECTRICAL PIECE LOOK GOOD…
Owner-reported narrative. 48,763 miles reported. Look up ODI 10508108 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10509272 · 2013-04-23 (April 23, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES C- CLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE LIGHT BULBS CHANGED AND THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10509272 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10511637 · 2013-05-13 (May 13, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES C CLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT ONE MONTH LATER, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH AND STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V303000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10511637 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10525416 · 2013-07-17 (July 17, 2013)
EXPERIENCE REAR LIGHTING FAILURE (REAR PASSENGER TAIL/BRAKE LIGHT OUT). HOWEVER, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER REAR TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY/CONNECTORS/ WIRING WERE IN A BURNT/ MELTED CONDITION. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 49,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10525416 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
07V465000 · Seat Belts:Rear/Other
Reported: 2007-10-03 (October 3, 2007)
CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE REAR OUTBOARD SEAT BELTS DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE LAP-BELT LOCKABILITY REQUIREMENT WHICH ENABLES THE LAP BELT PORTION OF THE BELT TO BE LOCKED BY THE USER TO FACILITATE THE USE OF OLDER NON-LATCH DESIGN CHILD RESTRAINT DEVICES.
Consequence: UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, THIS SITUATION MAY CAUSE THE LOCKING MECHANISM NOT TO PERFORM AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD FOR USE WITH OLDER NON-LATCH CHILD RESTRAINTS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL POTENTIALLY AFFECTED SEAT BELTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
NHTSA campaign record ↗