2008 Mercedes Benz C problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
2 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
85,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data updated: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 2 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 1 | 50.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 50.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
Exterior Lighting: 2; Electrical System: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 0 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 |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 2 |
2013: 2
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10552989 · 2013-11-19 (November 19, 2013)
WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, A WARNING MSG CAME UP FOR ME TO CHECK THE LEFT TAIL AND BRAKE LIGHTS. I GOT HOME AND CHECKED THE LIGHTS ON THE LEFT SIDE AND NONE OF THEM WERE WORKING. I HAD THESE CHECKED AND WAS GOING TO REPLACE THE BULBS. WAS TOLD REPLACING THE BULBS WAS NOT GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE WIRE HARNESS HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND MELTED THE WIRING AND THE BOARD!!! THIS IS THE 3RD MERCEDES I HAVE HAD AND I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. MY PROBLEM IS I LIVE 1 1/2 HOURS AWAY FROM DEALERSHIP AND I DON'T HAVE THE EXTRA TIME TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 108,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10552989 at NHTSA ↗
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
2 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 133.3%ODI 10552730 · 182,578 miI REAR ENDED ANOTHER A 2012 NISSAN SENTRA AND MY CAR WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOST. THE OTHER VEHICLE HAD VERY MINIMAL DAMAGE. *TR | 2100.0%ODI 10525335 · 63,000 miI HAVE RECEIVED MULTIPLE WARNING SIGNALS INDICATING THAT MY TAIL LIGHTS AND TURNING LIGHTS HAVE FAILED. I INITIALLY THOUGHT MY BULBS WERE BLOWN BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS STRANGE THAT ALL OF THEM WOULD BLOW AT ONE TIME. UPON CHECKING THE PANEL IN THE TRUNK I NOTICED THAT THE WIRES LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE BURNING. I BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER AND THE SAID THEY HAVE NOTICED THE ISSUE BUT DO NOT KNOW THE CAUSE. I ASKED IF THIS WAS RECALLED AND THEY STATED NO, AND THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. AFTER DOING FURTHER RESEARCH I NOTICED … | 428.6%ODI 10525200THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS ON MY MB C350 SHOWS SIGNS OF A BURNING/MELTING ON THE CONNECTOR. I INITIALLY RECEIVED A NOTICE ON MY DASH THAT THE RIGHT REAR BULB WAS BAD AND NOT WORKING. I CHECKED THE CONNECTORS AND IT SHOWED SIGNS OF MELTING/BURNING. AFTER ADJUSTING THE WIRES, THE LIGHTS WOULD WORK UNTIL THE CAR WOULD HIT A BUMP AND I WOULD HAVE TO AGAIN RESET THE WIRES. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 10525335 · 63,000 miI HAVE RECEIVED MULTIPLE WARNING SIGNALS INDICATING THAT MY TAIL LIGHTS AND TURNING LIGHTS HAVE FAILED. I INITIALLY THOUGHT MY BULBS WERE BLOWN BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS STRANGE THAT ALL OF THEM WOULD BLOW AT ONE TIME. UPON CHECKING THE PANEL IN THE TRUNK I NOTICED THAT THE WIRES LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE BURNING. I BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER AND THE SAID THEY HAVE NOTICED THE ISSUE BUT DO NOT KNOW THE CAUSE. I ASKED IF THIS WAS RECALLED AND THEY STATED NO, AND THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. AFTER DOING FURTHER RESEARCH I NOTICED … | 321.4%ODI 10272853 · 7,000 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING SEVERAL COMPUTER DEFECTS. WHILE PARKED ON A HILL AND ATTEMPTING TO PLACE THE GEAR SHIFTER INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL FORWARD INSTEAD OF BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL FORWARD APPROXIMATELY ONE FOOT AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. DURING THIS TIME, THE STEERING WOULD LOCK AND THE BRAKES WOULD LOSE POWER. IT WOULD TAKE TREMENDOUS FORCE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER COULD NOT ASSIST WITH TH… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 321.4%ODI 10272853 · 7,000 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING SEVERAL COMPUTER DEFECTS. WHILE PARKED ON A HILL AND ATTEMPTING TO PLACE THE GEAR SHIFTER INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL FORWARD INSTEAD OF BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL FORWARD APPROXIMATELY ONE FOOT AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. DURING THIS TIME, THE STEERING WOULD LOCK AND THE BRAKES WOULD LOSE POWER. IT WOULD TAKE TREMENDOUS FORCE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER COULD NOT ASSIST WITH TH… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 17.1%ODI 10563723 · 43,400 miAT 43,500 AND 54 MONTHS THE TRANSMISSION IN THE CAR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN PROPERLY SERVICED AT THE MERCEDES DEALER. I BELIEVE THIS MODEL/MAKE HAS DEFECTS AS I HAVE BROUGHT IT BACK FOR SERVICE MANY TIMES. *TR | 1100.0%ODI 10371321 · 1,700 mi2010 MERCEDES BENZ C LASS. LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN WOLF ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT REGARDING PROBLEMS WITH HER 2010 MERCEDES BROUGHT FRM SPECLL OUT HBL OF TYSONS CORNER ON JULY 2010; RESPOND TO HERNDON OFFICE, ATTN: JUDY MCCARY *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE FINAL DIAGNOSIS FROM THE DEALER WAS A COMPUTER GLITCH AND SOFTWARE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER WAS REASSURED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, ON NOVEMBER 15, 2010, THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN … |
| Steering | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 214.3%ODI 10258305 · 1,400 miI BOUGHT A NEW 2009 MB C300 FOR MY WIFE LAST NOVEMBER, LESS THAN THREE MONTH LATER, ITS POWER STEERING QUITTED TO WORK WITHOUT ANY MALFUNCTION SIGN. IT WILL TAKE A PROFESSIONAL WRESTLER TO GET IN AND OUT ITS PARKING PLACE. THIS IS NOT THE WORST PART YET. AFTER NUMEROUS FAILED ATTEMPTS TRYING TO CONTACT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF MY DEALER, I DROVE THE CAR TO THE DEALER THAT IS 40 MILES AWAY FROM MY HOUSE. ONLY THING THEY DID TO THE CAR WAS THAT A SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE OPENED THE HOOD AND ADDED SOME FLUID, WHICH LATE TURNED OUT TO BE USELESS.… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 17.1%ODI 10268930 · 10,000 miMY DAUGHTER WAS IN A CRASH TODAY ON MAY 16, 2009 SHE WAS DRIVING MERCEDES 2009 C300 AND SHE SAID THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK SUDDENLY BEFORE SHE CRASH, SHE WAS DRIVING ONLY AT 15MPH THAT WHY THE IMPACT WAS NOT SO SEVERE, WE ARE VERY LUCKY THAT SHE JUST HAS MINOR INJURIES. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 17.1%ODI 10257668 · 3,500 miI WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHERE I WAS RUN OFF THE ROAD AND INTO A CENTER MEDIAN STEEL BARRIER. MY MERCEDES C300 IS EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM (ESP) AND ACTIVE SEATBELT RESTRAINTS (BOTH OF WHICH FAILED IN THE CRASH). THE ROADS WERE SLICK, HOWEVER, WHEN A CAR SWERVED OVER ON ME AND I ATTEMPTED TO HIT THE BRAKES TO AVOID BEING HIT, MY CAR BEGAN TO FISH-TAIL AND I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AT THE TIME, A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING (POST-CRASH) THAT MY ESP MALFUNCTIONED. IN ADDITION, UPON IMPACT, MY SEAT RESTRAINED ME, HOWEV… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine | 133.3%ODI 10552730 · 182,578 miI REAR ENDED ANOTHER A 2012 NISSAN SENTRA AND MY CAR WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOST. THE OTHER VEHICLE HAD VERY MINIMAL DAMAGE. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | Too few reports for a range | 85,500 mi | 2 (sparse) | ODI 10525335 · 63,000 miI HAVE RECEIVED MULTIPLE WARNING SIGNALS INDICATING THAT MY TAIL LIGHTS AND TURNING LIGHTS HAVE FAILED. I INITIALLY THOUGHT MY BULBS WERE BLOWN BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS STRANGE THAT ALL OF THEM WOULD BLOW AT ONE TIME. UPON CHECKING THE PANEL IN THE TRUNK I NOTICED THAT THE WIRES LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE BURNING. I BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER AND THE SAID THEY HAVE NOTICED THE ISSUE BUT DO NOT KNOW THE CAUSE. I ASKED IF THIS WAS RECALLED AND THEY STATED NO, AND THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. AFTER DOING FURTHER RESEARCH I NOTICED … ODI 10552989 · 108,000 miWHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, A WARNING MSG CAME UP FOR ME TO CHECK THE LEFT TAIL AND BRAKE LIGHTS. I GOT HOME AND CHECKED THE LIGHTS ON THE LEFT SIDE AND NONE OF THEM WERE WORKING. I HAD THESE CHECKED AND WAS GOING TO REPLACE THE BULBS. WAS TOLD REPLACING THE BULBS WAS NOT GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE WIRE HARNESS HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND MELTED THE WIRING AND THE BOARD!!! THIS IS THE 3RD MERCEDES I HAVE HAD AND I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. MY PROBLEM IS I LIVE 1 1/2 HOURS AWAY FROM DEALERSHIP AND I DON'T HAVE THE EXTRA TIME TO… |
| Electrical System | Too few reports for a range | 63,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10525335 · 63,000 miI HAVE RECEIVED MULTIPLE WARNING SIGNALS INDICATING THAT MY TAIL LIGHTS AND TURNING LIGHTS HAVE FAILED. I INITIALLY THOUGHT MY BULBS WERE BLOWN BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS STRANGE THAT ALL OF THEM WOULD BLOW AT ONE TIME. UPON CHECKING THE PANEL IN THE TRUNK I NOTICED THAT THE WIRES LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE BURNING. I BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER AND THE SAID THEY HAVE NOTICED THE ISSUE BUT DO NOT KNOW THE CAUSE. I ASKED IF THIS WAS RECALLED AND THEY STATED NO, AND THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. AFTER DOING FURTHER RESEARCH I NOTICED … |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2009: 6 complaints · 2010: 1 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| 2010 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 11 | 0 | 3 |
| 2010 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Exterior Lighting | Electrical System |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | — | 1ODI 10525335 · 63,000 miI HAVE RECEIVED MULTIPLE WARNING SIGNALS INDICATING THAT MY TAIL LIGHTS AND TURNING LIGHTS HAVE FAILED. I INITIALLY THOUGHT MY BULBS WERE BLOWN BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS STRANGE THAT ALL OF THEM WOULD BLOW AT ONE TIME. UPON CHECKING THE PANEL IN THE TRUNK I NOTICED THAT THE WIRES LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE BURNING. I BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER AND THE SAID THEY HAVE NOTICED THE ISSUE BUT DO NOT KNOW THE CAUSE. I ASKED IF THIS WAS RECALLED AND THEY STATED NO, AND THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. AFTER DOING FURTHER RESEARCH I NOTICED … |
| Electrical System | 1ODI 10525335 · 63,000 miI HAVE RECEIVED MULTIPLE WARNING SIGNALS INDICATING THAT MY TAIL LIGHTS AND TURNING LIGHTS HAVE FAILED. I INITIALLY THOUGHT MY BULBS WERE BLOWN BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS STRANGE THAT ALL OF THEM WOULD BLOW AT ONE TIME. UPON CHECKING THE PANEL IN THE TRUNK I NOTICED THAT THE WIRES LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE BURNING. I BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER AND THE SAID THEY HAVE NOTICED THE ISSUE BUT DO NOT KNOW THE CAUSE. I ASKED IF THIS WAS RECALLED AND THEY STATED NO, AND THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. AFTER DOING FURTHER RESEARCH I NOTICED … | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.