2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Problems

Above Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300.

< older2009
Complaints
942
Crashes
25
Fires
23
Injuries
43
Fatalities
Recalls
7

Worst 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1270 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:92,547 mi
Crash-related:12
Fires:1
#2222 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:100,354 mi
Fires:10
#3133 complaints

Steering Defects

Avg mileage:88,761 mi
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300.

Airbags
270
complaints
Crashes
12
Fires
1
Avg Miles
92,547
Electrical Faults
222
complaints
Crashes
Fires
10
Avg Miles
100,354
Steering Defects
133
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
88,761
Headlight/Taillight Failures
102
complaints
Crashes
Fires
10
Avg Miles
107,705
Engine Problems
31
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
117,464
Seat Belt Issues
21
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
83,004
Electronic Stability Control
17
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
92,600
Transmission / Drivetrain
16
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
59,180
Brakes
15
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
72,555
Suspension Failures
12
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
99,626
Unintended Acceleration
8
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
Avg Miles
31,637
Body Structure
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
115,750
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wheel Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Ignition
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine & Cooling
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Other Equipment
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Hydraulic Brakes
2
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
Steering:Column
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tires:Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Instrument Cluster
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Instrument Panel:Speedometer/Odometer
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Wiring
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300

7 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~1,453,885 vehicles.

22V168000Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:engine Control Module (ecu/ecm):software · Electronic Stability Control (esc):control Module:software · Exterior Lighting:lighting Control Module:software
~22 affected

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2010 E350, 2014 G550, 2008-2009 C300, 2008 C350, 2009 CLK550, 2007 SL550, SLK280, and 2008 SLK350 vehicles. Various control units may have been updated with incorrect software configuration during a service repair. This can result in various system failures, such as loss of drive power, reduced exterior lighting, or loss of dynamic control functions, including stability and traction control.

17V177000Electrical System:software · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control Module-inactive
~51 affected

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 AMG GT-S, GLC300, CLA250 and GLE300d 4Matic vehicles, 2013 C250, E350 BlueTec and G63 AMG vehicles, 2008-2014 C300 vehicles, 2013-2014 C300 4Matic and ML350 4Matic vehicles, 2009 C350 vehicles, 2014 CLS550, E350 4Matic, E350 Coupe 4Matic, E350 Wagon 4Matic, GLK350 and SL550 vehicles, 2012 CLS550 4Matic vehicles, 2012-2016 E350 vehicles, 2016-2017 GL450 4Matic vehicles, 2012-2014 ML350 4Matic BlueTec vehicles, 2015 S550, S550 4Matic and C300 4Matic Sedan vehicles, 2015-2016 C300 Sedan vehicles, and 2017 SL63 AMG vehicles. Various control units on these vehicles may have been updated with incorrect software, potentially affecting the correct deployment of the air bags in the event of a crash.

17V017000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~104,119 affected

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2012 C300 4Matic, C250, C250 Coupe, C350, C350 Coupe 4Matic, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG, C63 AMG Coupe, E350 Coupe 4Matic, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, E550 Cabrio, E550 Coupe, GLK350 4Matic, GLK350, SLS AMG Cabrio, and SLS AMG Coupe vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above MBUSA is recalling certain 2009 C300 4Matic, C300, C350 and C63 AMG vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above MBUSA is recalling certain 2008 C300 4Matic, C300, and C350 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

16V363000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~258,163 affected

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 C300 Sedan, C300 4matic Sedan, C350 Sedan, C63 AMG Sedan vehicles, 2010-2011 GLK350, GLK350 4-Matic and E350 Coupe vehicles, 2011 SLS AMG, E350 Convertible, E550 Coupe and E550 Convertible vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, MBUSA is recalling certain model year 2008 C300 Sedan, C350 Sedan, C63 AMG Sedan and C300 4-Matic Sedan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Vehicles not originally sold or ever registered in either Zones A or B are not subject to this safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

16V081000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
~711,159 affected

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 ML320 BlueTec 4Matic, GL320 BlueTec 4Matic and R320 CDI 4Matic, 2011 E350 Cabriolet and E550 Cabriolet, 2009-2011 ML350, ML350 4Matic, ML550 4Matic, ML63 AMG, and C63 AMG, 2010-2011 ML450 4Matic Hybrid, E350 Coupe, E350 4Matic, E550 Coupe, E550 4Matic, and E63 AMG, 2011-2012 GL350 BlueTec 4Matic and R350 BlueTec 4Matic, 2009-2012 GL450 4Matic, GL550 4Matic and R350 4Matic, 2007-2008 SLK280, SLK350, and SLK55 AMG, 2011-2014 SLS AMG Coupe, 2012 SLS AMG Cabriolet, 2013-2014 SLS AMG GT and SLS AMG GT Cabriolet, 2005 C230 Kompressor and C320, 2006-2007 C230, 2006-2011 C350, 2008-2011 C300 and C300 4Matic, 2010-2012 GLK350 and GLK350 4Matic and 2007-2008 Chrysler Crossfire vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

15V711000Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control Module-inactive
~127,504 affected

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 C300 Sedan, C300 4Matic, C63 AMG, and C350 vehicles, and 2010 GLK350 and GLK350 4Matic vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the air bag control unit may corrode and cause the control unit to malfunction.

14V177000Exterior Lighting:tail Lights
~252,867 affected

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (Mercedes) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 C300, C300 4Matic, C350, and C63 AMG vehicles manufactured January 26, 2007, through July 13, 2011. In the affected vehicles, a poor electrical ground connection may result in the dimming or failure of the tail lights.

Other Mercedes-Benz C300 Years

Wider context: See the full Mercedes-Benz C300 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

Check Your Specific 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300

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