2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300 Electrical System Problems

The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while at the car wash and attempting to wash the vehicle, there was popping sound coming from the vehicle, and the contact saw smoke coming from the speakers and called the Fire Department however, no damages were found. The vehicle was taken to the residence and an independent mechanic inspected the vehicle but found no issues with the vehicle. The trunk was opened, and the contact became aware of water inside the taillight housings. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 180,000.

Mileage: 180,000

The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that upon turning off the vehicle, there was an abnormal clicking sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the following day, the vehicle failed to start after several attempts and required a jumpstart. The contact replaced the battery; however, the failure persisted. The contact disconnected the battery to prevent the battery from draining. The dealer and the manufacturer were not yet notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

Mileage: 200,000

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2008 Mercedes Benz C300. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 125,985, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 128,917.

Mileage: 128,917

The vehicle has been loosing power during driving. Acceleration will die, then power will return. In addition exterior lighting will also malfunction or not work. As well ans other items associate with power or the unit that controls the power of those items After taking the vehicle in multiple times we had been told and looked up about the recall. Multiple are in place but the recall regarding the electrical/ power train / lighting r/t units in place and this recall sounds spot on with issues the vehicle is having .

The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. The contact stated that a message to remove the ignition key was displayed. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The contact stated that later, while starting the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start as intended. In addition, the contact stated the steering wheel had seized. The contact inspected the battery and determined there was no failure with the battery. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact was requested to pay a diagnostic fee and declined. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer for a diagnostic test. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

Mileage: 90,000

Camshaft adjuster solenoid leaked oil into wiring harness, caused vehicle to go into limp mode and not accelerate/shift gears. This is a known problem with the m272 engine, this vin did not show up on the recall list.

Car has been in and out of the shop. Initially I have been contacting Mercedes about airbag messages and continued message of SRS Malfunction on dashboard. Airbags had been recalled and supposedly replaced on multiple occasions. This SRS continues to remain even after repair or being seen for this issue only for other components to have failed and me having to pay for those in the process. The SRS Malfunction remains an issue until the next issue is affected. Recently an entire Electronic SAM Module Component was replaced as the culprit only to have more issues and the SRS remained. Mercedes has contended that each time they saw the vehicle the the SRS Malfunction was not the problems while other documents were repaired such as battery and SAM. In the meantime since then the car has stalled, components that were working are no longer inoperable. There was a recall that was applied to only specific vehicles of my model year which state the SRS Malfunction was to be replaced and made whole. I never received one of those notices and I will note that my vehicle obviously was affected and should also have this component replaced as it fits the same model year and make of the issues Mercedes has repaired already on affected vehicles. This issue has been on going for several years and Mercedes has failed to rectify this component that makes it dangerous and causes safety concerns for us with the understanding that their note on their website about the SRS Malfunction appeared to me a cop out for them to not be responsible for the fix and recall thsr may have affected more vehicles than its originally accessed number. Instead of fixing this issue they continually find other repairs they indicate as the issue only to end up right back with the same SRS Malfunction and stalling issues with vehicle once again and want to use excuse of car's age as issue and failing to acknowledge and address the SRS Malfunction. Your system would not allow file upload. I can still provide

The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that an unknown warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and drove the vehicle a short distance before the vehicle lost motive power again. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact stated while the vehicle was sitting in the driveway, the vehicle independently started and accelerated. The contact stated that the battery terminals were disconnected. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with failed wiring harness. The contact was informed that the wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not assist. The failure mileage was approximately 171,846.

Mileage: 171,846

Car worked fine, all the sudden it wouldn't turn over, I would put the key in and turn it and nothing would happen, I was stuck and had to catch a ride, lucky that I was able, a car company that is supposedly reliable shouldn't allow there cars to completely give out on people during the middle of winter storms and not take ownership, when the customer has taken good care of the car. Talked to several mechanics and turned out it was the Electronic Steering Lock (ESL) module that had malfunctioned probably due to the software and electrical. Due to this only the Benz dealerships can repair, I had to tow it to a dealership and was charged around $2000 after haggling over the price. Terrible experience and should be recalled by MB, I have seen many complaints about this online and was very disappointed there wasn't a cheaper solution. Was both a safety issue, inconvenient and very costly.

Pulled into parking space on side of street and turned off vehicle to pick up restaurant food. Returned to vehicle within 5 minutes, turned the key, and vehicle was dead. 93 year old mother was in car which was now stuck in parking space. We had to open the doors, due to vehicle windows not functioning, to try to prevent inside of car from overheating due to outside temperature. Called AAA, who arrived after about 45 minutes, tried to jump start car, indicated appeared battery was fine. Had to re-contact AAA to get car towed. Waited another 45 minutes for tow truck to arrive. Again checked battery and ignition, battery fine, car was locked in park and steering wheel was locked,. Towing technician had to lift up center console to reach underneath to switch to neutral. Technician had great difficulty getting car onto flatbed of tow truck because it kept slipping back into park. Adding to the difficulty was the location of the car in the parking space on the side of a busy street. Car was towed from Newport, RI to Tiverton, RI to Viti Mercedes dealer, who confirmed the problem. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. The final bill to repair this issue was $2,214.15. Upon review of other incidents that occurred with this make, model and year, there have been a myriad of accounts of this same issue going back many years. Based on the numerous incidents of this type and the potential safety devastation this could have caused, the $2,214.15 paid for repair in addition to $55 for towing should be reimbursed. This is a major safety issue that could be detrimental to the driver, occupants, towing company and other people around the disabled vehicle.

The tail left bulb mount carrier part Number 204-820-15-00-64, one of the terminal in the back, is corroded. Also, one of the cable is burnt. In short, the tail lamp doesn’t work. It is a hazard problem since it affects the brake signaling, turning signaling and all other tail lamps signaling. For many years, I have read many incidents like this reported from owners like me and Mercedes has done nothing. I cannot use the vehicle in this condition because it is is a safety hazard.

Both headlights wiring harnesses (right and left ) wiring has melted and all wiring is now exposed and touching and causing all light bulbs ( headlights-tail lights-turn signals-brake lights-ect) to be shortage out due to the original wiring not being constructed to resist the heat from the engine and environment.We had MB of Maidland,fl and Elite motors of Ococee,fl to view this issue with the only fix is out-of-pocket repair in the thousands of dollars.i have a neighbor with a MB experiencing similar problems

DROVE 4 BLOCKS AWAY FROM MY HOME TO THE STORE IN MERCED CA ON GST AND 20TH..WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR IT DIDN'T START AND MY STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED.AND I COULDN'T TAKE IT OUT OF PARK. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TAIL LIGHTS A FEW TIMES THIS LAST MONTH. ## VIN PASSED ## MERCEDES-BENZ 2008 c300 ##

I TOOK MY CAR TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP FOR AN ALIGNMENT. IT IS A 2008 C300 SERIES. AFTER THEY CALLED AND SAID IT WAS DONE THEY SAID THAT THE ESL MECHANISM LOCKED UP IN THE CAR AND COMPLETELY FAILED. TO THIS POINT I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH THIS CAR, AND I HAVE NEVER HAD IT FAIL. NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT IT JUST HAPPENS TO BE ONE OF THE WORST PARTS THAT THEY HAVE TO REPAIR NOTORIOUSLY IN THESE CARS. SO I CALLED TWO OTHER DEALERSHIPS OF THE SAME BUILD TWO OTHER MERCEDES DEALERSHIPS TOLD ME THE SAME THING. I LOOKED UP IN THE BLOG SYSTEM AND FOUND IN THE NATIONAL SAFETY RECORDS THAT NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME COMPLAINT AND THEY HAVE ALL BEEN FILED. WHY ARE WE NOT STARTING A RECALL ON THIS BECAUSE TO GET MY CAR BACK WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE $167 IS NOW 1,267.00 THIS IS QUITE A JUMP FOR A CAR I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE WITH. THEY INSISTED THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO REPAIR IT AND AS LIKELY AS IT IS IT WAS BOUND TO HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. SO MY COMPLAINT IS WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO START A RECALL ON THIS ITEM. I HAVE A HARD TIME WITH ALL OF THE SAME PARTS GOING BAD AND DEALERSHIP PARTIES ALSO TELLING US THESE ARE BAD PARTS BUT I RECALL HAS NOT BEEN INITIATED. BUT OTHER ANCILLARY ISSUES HAVE BEEN RECALLED THAT ARE LITTLE TO NO IMPORTANCE HOWEVER THIS ONE AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT CAN LOCK UP YOUR STEERING WHEEL AND COULD POTENTIAL HE CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. IS WHAT TWO DEALERSHIPS TOLD ME OF COURSE THE ONE THAT I AM GETTING REPAIRED WOULD NOT ADMIT THAT. PLEASE HELP US GET A RECALL ON THIS WE ARE AT YOUR MERCY FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR FAMILIES DRIVING A MERCEDES-BENZ CAR.

Mileage: 165,000

THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND CAME BACK OUT AND IT WOULD NOT START. THE FRONT WHEELS WERE LOCKED. THE KEY WENT IN AND TURNED. THE LIGHTS AND POWER WAS THERE BUT, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE FRONT WHEELS WERE LOCKED AND SO WAS THE DRIVE SHIFTER. THE FIRST TIME THE CAR WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND MY WIFE WAS LEFT STRANDED. THE SECOND TIME WAS IN OUT DRIVEWAY. WE CAME HOME TO GET SOMETHING AND WHEN WE WENT OUT IT WOULDN'T START.

NOTICED A RECALL FOR THIS PART

MY 2008 C300 HAD THE RIGHT TAIL BREAK LIGHT + REAR RIGHT TURN SIGNAL LIGHT ERROR MESSAGE THESE FEW DAYS, I REPLACE THE LIGHT BULBS WHICH DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM THEN I FOUND THE BROWN WIRE AT CONNECTOR MELT BADLY, I GOOGLE THIS ISSUE ON THE WEB AND FOUND ALL 2008/2009 MERCEDEZ C CLASS HAS THE SAME ISSUE, CAN WE GET A RECALL TO FIX IT ON THIS ?

Mileage: 140,000

TOOK CAR IN FOR AIRBAG RECALL, WEEK LATER THE CAR WONT UNLOCK, HAD TO PAY $50 TO GET IN, WAS TOLD BATTERY HAD 12.4 AMPS, CAR WONT TURN OVER, ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS NOT ENGAGING, ALARM GOES OFF, REPLACED BATTERY $160CHECKED FUSES AND BOUGHT $25, NOTHING NOW HAVING TO TOW BACK TO MERCEDES BENZ OF CHANDLER THAT DID MY "RECALLS" OUT OF POCKET. THE RECALL SERVICE MESSED IT UP. THE EXACT THING AS IN COMPLAINT 212.

Mileage: 124,000

I HAVE A MB C300 2008 THE CAR NEVER HAD AN ISSUE UNTIL I BROUGHT IT IN FOR A AIRBAG RECALL 2 WEEKS LATER I GET AN SRS MALFUNCTION, ESP AND ABS FAILURE CAR DOESNT TURN ON NEXT DAY THE CAR TURNS ON AND ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON, THEN LIGHTS STAYED ON EVEN AFTER CAR WAS OFF NEXT DAY LIGHTS WENT OFF WHILE DRIVING IN DARK MAKING FOR HAZARDOUS AND QUITE SCARY SITUATION MB IS DOING THESE RECALLS BUT JEOPARDIZING THE OVERALL INTEGRITY OF CAR I EVEN REPLACED BATTERY BUT THIS STILL OCCURRED CAR WAS RENDERED UNDRIVABLE AND STUCK IN MY DRIVEWAY AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AND PAY $380 JUST TO LOOK AT IT EVEN THOUGH I TOLD THEM THEY CAUSED DAMAGE THERE IS NO WAY A PERFECTLY RUNNING CAR COINCIDENTALLY HAS MAJOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES POST RECALL (THEY REPLACED ENTIRE STASH BOARD AND STEERING WHEEL COVER)

Mileage: 112,000

ELECTRICAL FAULT IN 2008 C300 MERCEDES IN FRONT SAM MODULE HAS WATER INTRUSION FROM WINDSHIELD WATER DRAIN NEXT TO DRIVER SIDE FUSE PANEL/ SAM. WATER INTRUSION CAUSED CUSTOMERS VEHICLE TO DIE WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSED ESL STEERING LOCK TO LOCK STEERING COLUMN AND IGNITION KEY ESI TO LOSE COMMUNICATION WITH LOW VOLTAGE CODES. DASH INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ONLY COMES ON WHEN OPENING THE DOOR AND BCM BECOMES ACTIVE. NO RESPONSE FROM IGNITION AND DRIVER ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHEN STEERING LOCKED DURING MALFUNCTION/ POWER PROBLEMS. DRIVER HAD VEHICLE TOWED WITH STEERING LOCKED IN A LEFT TURN. ESM[EWM] - ELECTRONIC SELECTOR MODULE(N15/5) 1 PROBLEMS EXIST 1.U016800 COMMUNICATION WITH THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION LOCK HAS A MALFUNCTION. EZS - ELECTRONIC IGNITION LOCK(N73) 2 PROBLEMS EXIST 1.A10D00 THE POWER SUPPLY IS TOO LOW._ 2.C14600 COMMUNICATION WITH THE CENTRAL GATEWAY HAS A MALFUNCTION. DRIVER-SIDE SAM - FRONT SIGNAL ACQUISITION AND ACTUATION MODULE 7 PROBLEMS EXIST 1.B215F71 RELAY 1 ''CIRCUIT 15R'' HAS A MALFUNCTION.THE ACTUATOR IS BLOCKED. 2.B212171 RELAY 1 ''CIRCUIT 15'' HAS A MALFUNCTION.THE ACTUATOR IS BLOCKED. 3.B172B15 THE OUTPUT OF THE FRONT FOOTWELL ILLUMINATION HAS A MALFUNCTION.THERE IS A SHORT CIRCUIT TO POSITIVE OR AN OPEN CIRCUIT. 4.B179715 LEFT STANDING LIGHT 2 HAS A MALFUNCTION.THERE IS A SHORT CIRCUIT TO POSITIVE OR AN OPEN CIRCUIT. 5.B126231 A MAGNETIC INTERFERENCE FIELD WAS DETECTED. 6.B126322 CONTROL UNIT ''N10/1 (FRONT SAM CONTROL UNIT WITH FUSE AND RELAY MODULE)'' HAS RECEIVED NO LIN MESSAGE FROM COMPONENT ''COMPASS MODULE''. 7.B127A54 COMPONENT ''COMPASS MODULE'' IS NOT CALIBRATED. REAR SAM - REAR SIGNAL ACQUISITION AND ACTUATION MODULE 2 PROBLEMS EXIST 1.B182811 THE OUTPUT FOR REMOTE TRUNK OPENING HAS A MALFUNCTION.THERE IS A SHORT CIRCUIT TO GROUND. 2.U016800 COMMUNICATION WITH THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION LOCK HAS A MALFUNCTION.

Mileage: 151,825

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF SOUTH CHARLOTTE (950 N POLK ST, PINEVILLE, NC 28134, (704) 837-7955) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SEIZED AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,017. *AS*JB

Mileage: 142,017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING, THE SRS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE HORN, HEADLIGHTS, CRUISE CONTROL, AND TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 AND 16V363000 (AIR BAGS) AND CALLED MERCEDES-BENZ OF AUGUSTA (3061 WASHINGTON RD, AUGUSTA, GA 30907, (706) 860-1111). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SHE WOULD BE PLACED ON A WAITING LIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTICED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

Mileage: 134,000

THE ELS WENT OUT . WHICH I'VE BEEN TOLD IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN OF THE ELS

Mileage: 150,000

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 OVER $1K FOR THE DESPAIR. I GO TO PICK IT UP THEN I'M TOLD IT SHUT OFF. THIS IS AFTER A FULL DIAGNOSTIC TEST. MIND YOU, MY MECHANIC CALLED THE REP AT MERCEDES BENZ AND TOLD THEM EXACTLY WHAT THE ISSUES WAS AND THEY IGNORED IT. FAST FORWARD, I TELL THEM IN MY FRUSTRATION TO GO AND FIX THE CAR. I GET A QUOTE OF 878, AND THAT THEY WOULDN'T CHARGE FOR LABOR, PARTS ONLY. THEY CLAIM THE PARTS HAD TO BE ORDERED FROM GERMANY. TWO WEEKS LATER, A FULL MONTH AND A HALF OF WAITING FOR MY CAR, THE DEALER TELLS ME THE COST IS NOW 1919. LUDICROUS! THEY CLAIM THAT I NEEDED A KEY, THAT MY KEY WASN'T WORKING. WHAT? MY KEY WAS WORKING JUST FINE. THE C300 IGNITION ISSUES ARE OVERWHELMING AND NEED TO BE RECALLED. BUYER BEWARE!

Mileage: 67,574

TAKATA RECALL HEADLIGHTS FLICKERING WHEN CAR IS OFF ALSO HEADLIGHT RANDOMLY GO OFF WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ETC AND WHEN LIGHTS STAY ON IT DRAINS THE CAR BATTERY

CAR WILL NOT START AFTER DIVING. POWER FROM BATTERY IS GOOD. DOOR STILL LOCK AND UNLOCK. THIS PARTICLUAF BRAND HAS ISSUE WITH ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCKING AND LEAVING CAR MOBILELESS. CANNOT PLACE CAR IN NEAUTRAL FOR TOWING.

Mileage: 125,000

TRANSFER CASE RESEAL. I HAVE A 2008 C300 I BOUGHT WITH 56K MILES ON IT, I HAD TO HAVE THE WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED IMMEDIATELY. WHEN THIS SERVICE TOOK PLACE, I WAS INFORMED THAT I NEED TO HAVE MY TRANSFER CASE RESEALED AND THE CAM SHAFT MAGNETS REPLACED. THIS CAR HAS SUCH LOW MILES ON IT. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS NEEDED AT THIS TIME. I HAVE SEEN ON MANY BOARDS, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. WHY HASN'T MB RECALLED THIS YET? IT APPEARS THE 2008 MODEL IS PLAGUED WITH PROBLEMS AS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING LOCK AS WELL AS IT FAILED. AGAIN, COMMON PROBLEM AND NOT RECALL. I NOW HAVE A SEATBELT SENSOR THAT FAULTY. ALL OF THIS BEFORE I HAVE EVEN HIT 100K. MY 2001 ML IS WELL OVER 200K AND I HAVE NEVER HAD THESE ISSUES WITH THE ML.

Mileage: 56,800

TAKATA RECALL, AND SRS MODULE. MERCEDES BENZ PARAMUS WILL NOT FIX RECALL UNLESS I PAY 400 DOLLARS FOR A MALFUNCTION ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT BUCKLE, WHICH WORKS FINE AND LOCKS IN PLACE. FOR PREVIOUS RECALL AT MERCEDES BENZ IN ENGLEWOOD NJ, THEY SERVICE SHOP ALWAYS UPCHARGES AND IF I REFUSE TO PAY THEY WILL NOT DO RECALL. THE ENGLEWOOD ONE TRIED TO CHARGE ME 700 DOLLARS FOR A O2 SENSOR THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BEFORE THEY CAN FIX RECALL AND I HAD REFUSED. THIS WAS TWO YEARS AGO. NOW ON 9/12/18 AT 3:00PM I DROPPED MY CAR OFF FOR THE RECALL, THEN THEY STATED THAT THEY WILL DO IT, THEN MAGICALLY MY STEERING WHEEL COLUMN LOCKED AND CHARGED ME 1100 DOLLARS TO FIX IT WITHOUT FIXING ME RECALL BECAUSE THEY STATED THAT THE SEATBELT BUCKLE WAS FAULTY AND THEY NEED TO FIX THAT AND CHARGE ME 400 DOLLARS BEFORE THEY CAN FIX RECALL. MY PHONE NUMBER IS [XXX] I AM [XXX] AND I RESIDE AT [XXX], THE SHOP GIVING ME PROBLEMS IS LOCATED IN MERCEDES BENZ IN PARAMUS NJ. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 81,500

THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START AND DOESN'T RECOGNIZE THE KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DEAD AND HAD TO JUMP START IT. I DROVE THE CAR TO HAVE THE BATTERY REPLACED THINKING THAT WAS IT. WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE GARAGE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS AS THE DEALERSHIP WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT COULD DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR.

Mileage: 65,000

TAKATA RECALL CAR IS COMPLETELY LOCKED UP SAYS REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION, LEFT ME STRANDED SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE FAILURE WITH STEERING LOCK AND ESL

Mileage: 88,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, 'TAKE THE KEY OUT THE IGNITION' APPEARED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF BOSTON (259 MCGRATH HWY, SOMERVILLE, MA 02143, (617) 666-4100) AND REPAIRED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE OF THE DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,669.

Mileage: 127,669

TAKATA RECALL , EXTERIOR LIGHTING RECALL

Mileage: 80,000

TAKATA RECALL MY AIRBAG IS NOT WORKING, AND MY LIGHTING HAS A PROBLEM . MY BACK LIGHT STAY ON ALL OF THE TIME EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS OFF .I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR 3 WEEKS AGO AND I JUST REALIZED THAT.

COMAND UNIT WENT OUT ALONG WITH STEREO FUNCTIONS DRIVER SEAT CONTROL WENT OUT

Mileage: 86,420

TAKATA RECALL , EIS , ESL SEIZED UP AND CAR WON'T START ANYMORE , COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND REPAIR IS COSTLY SHOULD BE RECALLED SINCE IT'S A MANUFACTURED DEFECT AND NOT CAUSED BY THE USER, THIS PROBLEM CAN LEAVE ANYONE STRANDED IN THE WORST OF SITUATIONS AND IT CAN SEIZE UP WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION CAUSING ACCIDENTS AND DANGER TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER

Mileage: 120,000

MY CAR WOULD NOT START... NOTHING WHEN THE I TURN THE KEY INTO THE ON POSITION . THE BATTERY WAS CHECKED AND WAS GOOD. THIS HAPPED SEVERAL TIMES OVER MONTHS BUT TWICE THE CAR STARTED AFTER SITTING MAYBE 8 HOURS. THIS HAPPENED A THIRD TIME A FEW MONTHS LATER. I WAS STRANDED AND ENDED UP HAVING THE CAR TOWED HOME. I TRIED STARTING IT THE NEXT DAY ..NOTHING. MY AUTHORIZED MERCEDES REPAIR SHOP INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION MODULE. I WAITED 2 WEEKS FOR THE PART. COST WAS $1600. JUST A NOTE... I OCCASIONALLY HEARD A FAINT NOISE LIKE A MOTOR RUNNING INSIDE OF MY CAR WHENEVER I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF FOR A COUPLE YEARS BUT DID NOT THINK IT WAS ANY THING TO BE CONCERNED BUT APPARENTLY THIS MAY HAVE BEEN A SIGN OF A FAILING PART.

Mileage: 86,990

DRIVERS SIDE REAR TAILLIGHT ISSUES; BROWN GROUND WIRE SHORTED OUT AND MELTED CONNECTOR PLUG AND SHORTED OUT LAMP ASSEMBLY .

Mileage: 91,000

TAKATA RECALL. THIS TAKATA RECALL MIGHT BE MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO RESELL MY VEHICLE.

Mileage: 55,100

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT OPENED THE DOOR AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTING WAS NOT ILLUMINATED, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTING WAS DIM, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, AND THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER (SCHUMACHER EUROPEAN, LOCATED AT 18530 N SCOTTSDALE RD PHOENIX, AZ 85054) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 1-956218644. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

Mileage: 59,000

2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REPLACEMENT PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO REPAIR BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS. *LD THE UPDATED 08/23/2017*JS

STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK DISABLING THE CAR FROM BEING STARTED .THE KEY WILL TURN BUT THE CAR WILL NOT START . GOOD THING IT WAS PARKED ON DRIVEWAY !WE ARE UNABLE TO MOVE THE CAR WHATSOEVER , SHIFT MECHANISM IS LOCKED AS WELL DISABLING THE MOVEMENT OF CAR

Mileage: 100,000

MY MERCEDES WAS RUNNING GOOD ALL DAY THEN WHEN I WENT TO THE MALL AND CAME BACK BACK TO START MY CAR IT HAD NO POWER. WE TRY JUMPING THE CAR NOTHING. USE A DIFFERENT KEY NOTHING.. IT WON'T START I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK . I TOOK IT TO MERCEDES DEALER JUST TO LOOK AT IT $300 .. NOW THEY SAY IT'S THE KEY INGOTION THAT NEEDS TO REPLACE COST ME $1200+.. I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR 7 MONTHS AGO I HAVE NO WARRANT.. I GOOGLE THE PROBLEM AND IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM THAT PPL HAVE PLZ INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM CUZ IT COST A LOT OF MONEY TO FIX AND I'M OUT OF A CAR FOR A WEEK . THANK YOU

Mileage: 117

TAKATA INFLATORS RECALL SRS CONTROLS MANUFACTURING ERROR THIS AUTO SHOULD HAVE NEVER LEFT THE FACTORY FLOOR IT HAS COST ME CONSIDERABLE MENTAL UPSET AND MONEY WHICH I CAN NOT AFFORD IT PARKED UNSAFE TO DRIVE ENGINE LITE ON MERCEDES SHOULD REPAIR OR REBUILT THIS AUTO I AM A DISABLE VETERAN AND NEED MY TRANSPORTATION. MERCEDES SHOULD TAKE THE AIR BAGS OUT BETTER THERE OUT THAN GO OFF ACCIDENTLY

Mileage: 1,005,000

APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AGO THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK MODULE (ESL MODULE) FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHILE THE STEERING WHEEL AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WERE LOCKED. HAD TO TAKE TO THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE MODULE AT A COST OF $840.00. RIGHT NOW THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH MODULE (EIS MODULE) FAILED AND AGAIN THE STEERING WHEEL AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WERE LOCKED AND THE CAR WILL NOT START. DEALER IS ASKING FOR $1150.00 TO REPAIR. THESE ARE KNOWN DEFECTS IN MERCEDES VEHICLES. I ASKED MERCEDES BENZ USA TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIRS OF THE VEHICLE IN BOTH CASES AND THEY HAVE REFUSED TO ADMIT THAT THESE ARE KNOWN DEFECTS AND TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE.

Mileage: 110,000

VEHICLE PARKED AND LOCKED. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO UNLOCK VEHICLE WITH REMOTE CONTROL, VEHICLE WOULD NOT UNLOCK. DOOR HAD TO BE OPENED MANUALLY WITH "KEY". WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE, NO WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON IN POSITION 2 AND CAR WOUD NOT START IN POSITION 3. TOWING COMPANY WAS CALLED. WAS UNABLE TO START VEHICLE. VEHICLE TOWED TO MBZ DEALER. DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTIONED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. REPLACEMENT COMPLETED.

Mileage: 50,815

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND WILL NOT MOVE. DEALERSHIP AND WEB STATE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL OF THE CAR AND THE EIS AND ESL SWITCHES NEED TO BE REMOVED AND REPLACED.

Mileage: 120,000

ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK PREVENTS CAR FROM STARTING. CAR WAS AT A STOP AND MOTOR TURNED OFF - CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. STRANDED MILES FROM HOME. THIS HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES NECESSITATING AUTO CLUB TO ATTEMPT TO START.

Mileage: 85,600

ESP CONTROL MODULE AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, SPECIFICALLY GETTING OFF THE INTERSTATE ON A CURVED ROAD, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE/CODE ILLUMINATED ACROSS MY DASHBOARD, "BRAKE" EBR ABS ESP INOPERATIVE. I WASN'T SURE WHAT THIS MEANT AND I WAS EXTREMELY ALARMED AND NERVOUS. AS SOON AS I COULD I BROUGHT IT INTO THE SHOP AND THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME IT WASN'T A BRAKE ISSUE, IT WAS A FAULTY ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL PANEL THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT HE HAD JUST REPLACED THESE IN ABOUT 4 OTHER VEHICLES. SAME EXACT PROBLEM. AFTER DOING RESEARCH, IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IT READS THE WHEEL DATA FROM THE SENSORS AS WELL AS THE ABS MODULE WHICH PREVENTS TRACTION AND SLIPPAGE WHEN DRIVING ON THE ROAD, WHEN MAKING SHARP TURNS, OR EVEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. THE CAR SEEMS TO FISHTAIL. IT ALSO PREVENTS STABILITY ON THE ROAD IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. I'VE ALSO NOTICED IT HAS AFFECTED OTHER AREAS OF THE CAR SUCH AS THE TURN SIGNAL, CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISM, STEERING COLUMN AND STARTING UP THE CAR HAS ALSO BEEN AN ISSUE. I'VE HAD TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH A COUPLE OF TIMES TO GET THE CAR STARTED. THE CAR IS ALSO DRIVING ROUGHER THAN USUAL. THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN FOR US BECAUSE I AM A SINGLE MOTHER AND I HAVE A NINE YEAR OLD SON WHO DRIVES WITH ME FREQUENTLY. I'M WORRIED ABOUT OUR SAFETY. NOT TO MENTION OUR FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER TAKATA AIRBAGS STILL HAVE A RECALL THAT HAVE YET TO BE DEALT WITH. IT HAS BEEN WELL OVER A YEAR AND THE PROBLEM STILL HASN'T BEEN RESOLVED. THIS ESP CONTROL MODULE COSTS $1,500 TO REPLACE AND I CANNOT AFFORD THIS. I'M DRIVING AROUND IN A TICKING TIME BOMB JUST WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN. IT IS A MAJOR CONCERN AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I CERTAINLY HOPE YOU TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY AND PLACE THIS ON THE RECALL LIST TO AVOID A BAD SITUATION.

Mileage: 76,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY INOPERABLE AND DISABLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

Mileage: 101,000

ESL/EIS FAILURE. WHEN THE KEY IS INSERTED THE CAR WILL NOT START. LIGHTS WORK BUT WINDOWS AND DASH MESSAGE ARE NOT WORKING.

Mileage: 104,000

LAST WEEK I DROVE MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL. THEN I WENT TO THE GAS STATION AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR TO LEAVE, IT WOULD NOT START. IT DID NOT DO ANYTHING. I COULD NOT EVEN ROLL THE WINDOWS UP. THE CAR DID NOTHING OTHER THAN SAY "REMOVE IGNITION KEY." THE BATTERY WAS TESTED AND FINE. IT HAD JUST BEEN REPLACED 1 MONTH AGO. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER BROUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO THEN SAID IT HAD TO BE BROUGHT TO THE DEALER. THE MERCEDES DEALER SAID IT WAS THE EIS/STEERING SWITCH. THE COST WILL BE $1900. I'VE CALLED OTHER MECHANICS. NO-ONE CAN FIX IT BECAUSE MERCEDES HAS THE PARTS AND CODING EXCLUSIVELY. THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY AND WITH THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. LAST YEAR MY CAR ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SRS LIGHT MALFUNCTION. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND THIS WAS ALSO ANOTHER HUGE EXPENSE. THE DEALER DID NOT TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF A RECALL. THEY ACTED LIKE IT WAS A BIG SURPRISE.

Mileage: 122,000

START FAILURE AND LOCKED STEERING WHEEL

Mileage: 77,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED AND SHUT OFF WHILE IN PARK. THE FAILURE DID NOT OCCUR WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT ALSO SMELLED A FUEL ODOR. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Mileage: 80,000

EIS FAILURE. VEHICLE HAS 136,000 MILES. INSERTED KEY INTO IGNITION AND TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE. NOTHING HAPPENED, NO START. TRANSMISSION STUCK IN PARK. TRIED JUMP STARTING, REPLACED BATTERY EVEN THOUGH IT TESTED O.K. BUT WAS OLD ENOUGH TO MAKE ME QUESTION IT'S VIABILITY, CHECKED FUSES, ETC. ONLINE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT EIS FAILURE IS A FAIRLY COMMON ISSUE WITH MB PRODUCTS, PARTICULARLY THE C CLASS. THIS IS NOT AN OWNER REPARABLE ITEM. WILL HAVE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND REPAIRED THERE AT THE USUAL INFLATED COST OF DOING SO.

Mileage: 136,000

ORDINARY DAY AT MY JOB, GOT OFF AND WENT TO MY CAR AND PUT THE KEY IN LIGHTS IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CAME ON AND MESSAGE WAS " REMOVE THE KEY" TURN THE KEY TO ACCESSORY NOTHING HAPPENS, TURN IT ALL THE WAY TO START THE IGNITION NOTHING HAPPENS, THE VEHICLE IS STUCK IN PARK AND THERE IS NO WAY TO MOVE THE SHIFTER. AFTER A RESEARCH ONLINE AND FEW PHONE CALLS I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AMONG MERCEDES VEHICLES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY DID DIAGNOSE IT FOR STEERING WHEEL LOCK AND QUOTED ME $1,300 FOR REPAIRS. I DO BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL OR AT LEASE MERCEDES-BENZ OF USA TAKE IT'S PART AND REIMBURSE THE PARTS SINCE IT'S A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. I'M NOT HAPPY AT ALL OF THE WAY THEY DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM.

Mileage: 93,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO OPERATE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE CABLE WIRE CONNECTED TO THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT BULBS WERE DAMAGED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE PARKING INDICATOR ALSO FAILED AND THE CABLE CONNECTED TO THE PARKING INDICATOR WAS DAMAGED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS NEEDED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

Mileage: 105,000

2008 MERCEDES C300 WITH BAD ESL. COST TO FIX IS $1200. SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUES WITH MERCEDES AS AN INTERNET SEARCH LEADS TO MANY OTHER WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I PARKED THE CAR AT WORK, THEN WENT OUT SEVERAL HOURS LATER TO GO TO LUNCH AND IT WOULD NOT START. THERE WAS NO SOUND OF THE STARTER OR ANY OTHER NOISES WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY, BUT ALL THE LIGHTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE ELECTRICAL WORKED ON THE CAR. JUST TO BE SAFE, TRIED TO JUMP THE CAR, BUT IT STILL DID NOT START. CAR WAS STUCK AND COULD NOT SHIFT IT INTO NEUTRAL. HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO GET IT TOWED MY LOCAL MBZ DEALER. TURNS OUT IT HAS A BAD ESL.

Mileage: 50,000

AN HOUR AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, I WAS UNABLE TO START IT BACK UP. HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER AND DIAGNOSED WITH EIS/ESL FAILURE, AT A COST OF $1700 TO REPLACE. MERCEDES DISAVOWED ALL KNOWLEDGE OF THIS BEING A COMMON ISSUE, DESPITE HUNDREDS OF ONLINE COMPLAINTS TO THE CONTRARY. ALL SIGNS POINT TO THIS BEING DUE TO A CHEAP/FAULTY PART AT MANUFACTURE, WHICH CAN FAIL AT ANY TIME, LEAVING DRIVERS STRANDED IN POTENTIALLY UNSAFE AREAS OR ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CAR HAS 75000 MILES AND EXEMPLARY SERVICE RECORD. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

WHEN REPLACING A HEADLIGHT BULB I NOTICED THE H7 WIRE WAS COMPLETELY EXPOSED WITH NO INSULATION, AS I TRIED TO WRAPPED THEM IN ELECTRICAL TAPE TO GET A TEMPORARY FIX, THE LITTLE INSULATION STILL LEFT ON THE CABLE CRUMBLED. I ENCOURAGE TO CHECK THE CABLE INSULATION ON YOUR VEHICLE AS THIS CAN CAUSE A SHORTAGE AND FAIL HEADLIGHTS.

Mileage: 107,000

CAR WAS PARKED AND WENT TO DRIVE CAR. IT WILL NOT START. BOTH KEYS WILL NOT WORK. PROBLEM IS WITH ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. NO INSTRUMENTATION DISPLAY. CAN NOT SHIFT CAR OUT OF PARK. TRIED JUMPING CAR AND IT WILL NOT START. REPLACED BATTERY AND IT WILL NOT START.

Mileage: 167,000

C300 NOT STARTING DUE TO BAD ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK MECHANISM, SEEMS TO BE COMMON.

Mileage: 107,000

CAR WILL NOT START WHILE PARKED. BATTERY CHECKED AND TESTED GOOD BY AAA. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. CAR WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. TOWED TO CHRISTIAN BROTHERS AUTOMOTIVE AND PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS EIS FAILURE. WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS CAR. HOWEVER, IT IS A 'DEALER ONLY' REPAIR DUE TO MERCEDES REFUSAL TO EITHER SELL PARTS OR RELEASE CODES TO INDEPENDENT DEALERS. WAS ALSO TOLD THERE IS A LAWSUIT ATTEMPTING TO FORCE MERCEDES TO CEASE WITH THE PROPRIETARY BALONEY. THE REPAIRS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE AND THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL OR, AT THE VERY LEAST, ALL THE NECESSARY PARTS AND CODES NEED TO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITIES.

Mileage: 79,000

CAR WONT START ,LOCAL MECHANIC REFER TO COMMON PROBLEM (IGNITION MODUEL),I WAS COMING OUT OF THE CVS PHATMACY AND THE CAR JUST WONT START ,CALLED MB THE Y ASKED ME TO JUMP START BUT NOTHING ,DIFFERENT KEY NOTHING SO I TOWED TO THE DEALER .

Mileage: 115,000

FROM A PARKED VEHICLE, I UNLOCKED CAR AND INSERTED KEY AND TURNED TO START POSITION 2. NO STEERING UNLOCK, SHIFT LEVER STUCK IN PARK AND NO ENGINE START. MESSAGE "TAKE YOUR KEY FROM IGNITION" APPEARED AS WELL WHEN I OPENED DOOR. VOLTAGE FROM BATTERY WAS 12.7 VDC. HAD CAR TOWED TO MERCEDES BENZ DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH EIS FAILURE (ELECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM). COST FOR REPAIR: $1,350.

Mileage: 81,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK AND IGNITION MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

Mileage: 99,000

I TOOK MY C300 MERCEDES BENZ (WITH ONLY 52,000 MILES), TO THE MERCEDES BENZ OF MIAMI DEALERSHIP TO CHECK THE WIRING IN BOTH HEAD LAMPS, SINCE THE HEADLIGHTS WERE INTERMITTENTLY FLICKERING ON AND OFF, WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THIS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WAS OF SERIOUS CONCERN FOR ME AS A 72 YEARS' OLD SENIOR, COULD BE A DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE, CREATING A LIFE AND DEATH SITUATION. MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER, JUAN OBANDO, TOLD ME THAT THE WIRING TO THE HEADLAMPS WAS CORRODED AND COULD NOT BE REPLACED. I WOULD HAVE TO BUY TWO (2) COMPLETE NEW HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY UNITS COSTING $1,890.- PLUS TAX AND LABOR INSTALLATION. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHTS AND UNPREDICTABLY AND INTERMITTENTLY LOSING HEAD AND LOW BEAM LIGHTS, IS OF GRAVE SAFETY CONCERN TO ME AND CREATES A HAZARD TO PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROADWAY AND HIGHWAYS. UPDATED 03/29/2017 *JS

Mileage: 50,000

ON JULY 21,2016 AT 9AM AND I PARKED MY CAR AND WENT TO WORK, 2 HOURS LATER CAME BACK AND TRY TO START THE CAR, DID NOT START. CAR DOOR LOCKS AND TRUNK LOCKS OPEN AND CLOSE BUT WHEN I TURN THE IGNITION ON , NO RESPONSE, NO DISPLAY ON INSTRUMENT PANEL AROUND SPEEDOMETER GAUGES. NO HISSING OR CRANKING OR BEEPING NOISE ALSO. STEERING COLUMN WAS ALSO LOCKED UP AND INOPERABLE.ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO COMMAND SCREEN WITH LCD DISPLAY THAT CONTROLS ALL FUNCTIONS SMOKED A LITTLE AND WAS SHUT DOWN DISPLAY. GOING TO THE LAST WEEKS PROBLEM STEERING COLUMN HAS LOCKED ME OUT AND ALSO EIS THAT IS THE COMMUNICATOR FROM IGNITION SWITCH AND ALTERNATOR OR STARTED DO NOT FUNCTION ALSO. I HAPPENED TO SEE MORE THAN HUNDREDS OF CAR WITH THE SAME YEAR GROUP AND MODEL HAS SMILIAR PROBLEMS .MY CAR MILEAGE WAS 93121. I WOULD LIKE MAKE THIS AS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM OF UNRELIABILITY OF THE PARTS AND THE MANUFACTURER LET IT ROLL OFF ASSEMBLY LINE WITH OUT DOING DILIGENT TESTING OF THE PARTS INVOLVED FROM THE SUPPLIERS FOR RELIABLITY AND DURABILITY AND IN TURN COST THE CONSUMERS $2000-3000 OF UNNECESSARY EXPENSE/TROUBLESHOOT AND FIX/ THAN YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HELP.

Mileage: 93,121

KEY IS NOT RECOGNIZED WHEN INSERTED IN THE IGNITION. THEREFORE, CAR WILL NOT START. DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH (EIS)IS FAULTY. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED THROUGH OUT THE USA. THE REPAIR COSTS IS ESTIMATED AT $800-2,000 DOLLARS. ON JULY 19TH, 2016, I RAN SEVERAL ERRANDS. ONCE AT HOME, I TRIED TO START MY CAR. THE IGNITION DID NOT TURN BUT BATTERY LIFE WAS STRONG. DASHBOARD READ " REMOVE KEY CAR WILL NOT START..."

Mileage: 161,000

ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH (EIS) HAS FAILED TWICE! IN 6 WEEKS AND NOW THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK MUST ALSO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A CONCERN THAT THE ESL MAY MALFUNCTION AND LOCK STEERING WHILE DRIVING. THIS ISSUE APPEARS TO BE WIDE SPREAD IN 2008 AND 2009 MERCEDES C300 VEHICLES. NO SUPPORT FROM MERCEDES AFTER CALLS TO NJ HEADQUARTERS.

Mileage: 39,940

PARKED VECHILE TO MAKE A QUICK STOP WHEN I RETURNED VECHILE WILL NOT START. GOT A JUMP AND IT WAS CONFIRMED IT WAS NOT THE BATTERY CAR WAS ONLY AT 75000 MILES

Mileage: 75,000

FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. HUNDREDS OF FORUMS ONLINE PROVE THAT WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM IN C - CLASS CARS AND OTHERS FROM MERCEDES BENZ THEIR IGNITION SWITCHES PROVE TO BE FAULTY. CAR BECAUSE AUTOMATICALLY STUCK IN PARK AND REQUIRES THOUSANDS TO FIX THE ISSUE. CAR RAN FINE TO WORK AND LEAVING WORK I WAS LEFT IN THE DARK AND LATE HOURS HAVING TO GET IT TOWED. WHICH COULD NOT BE TOWED DUE TO IT BEING STUCK IN PARK. I'VE BEEN QUOTED $1500 TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND IT APPEARS THIS IS COMMON FOR THESE VEHICLES. COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. THE NEAREST DEALER TO FIX THE ISSUE WAS OVER 20 MILES AWAY.

FRONT DRIVER SEAT BELT MAKE THE AIRBAG LIGHT COME ON AND OFF WHEN DRIVING ON THE DASH. CAR WILL NOT START SHORTAGE THAT KILL THE BATTIER THIS IS MY SECOND BATTIER IN A WEEK.

MY CAR WON'T START, READ ONLINE HUNDREDS OF OTHERS CARS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM FOR 2008 4MATIC C300. WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL.

Mileage: 100,000

NAVIGATION SCREEN STARTED FLICKERING ON AND OFF AND THEN SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM IT. THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THE RADIO/ NAVIGATION. IF THERE IS SMOKE THEN THERE IS WIRES BURNING WHICH CAN CAUSE A FIRE.

STEERING COLUMN LOCK FAILURE. THIS DISABLED THE IGNITION NOT ALLOWING THE CAR TO START. FROM A LITTLE REASEARCH ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON MANY OF THEIR VEHICLES. THIS LEFT ME COMPLETELY STRANDED AND MERCEDES DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THE ISSUE ALTHOUGH IT IS EASY TO FIND AND DIAGNOSE WITH A FEW MINUTES ON THE INTERNET. THERE IS ALSO A EIS ISSUE BUT MINE IS THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK MOTOR CAUSING THE PROBLEM. MERCEDES NEEDS TO RECALL THESE AND MAKE IT RIGHT. THAY COULD STRAND PEOPLE IN A BAD SITUATION. MY CAR RAN FINE BIT WOULD NOT RESTART. ALL LOCK AND UNLOCK FUNCTIONS WORKED. I HAD A MESSAGE ON THE DASH TO REMOVE KEY. IT HAD NO ACCESSORY TURN ON OR CRANK FUNCTION.

ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK - KNOWN DEFECT - CAR DOESN'T START NO RECALL ISSUED.

Mileage: 92,000

VEHICLE WILL NOT START. IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND IT HAS LEFT ME STRANDED FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. I GET "REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION" WHEN EITHER KEY IS PLACED IN THE IGNITION. THIS PROBLEM IS CONSISTENT WITH OTHER C300 OWNERS AROUND THE COUNTRY. WHEN I TOLD MY SERVICE ADVISOR AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, J WAS TOLD IT COULD RANGE FROM $475 TO OVER $2000. THE KEYS AND THE IGNITION SYSTEM ARE THE CULPRIT AND MERCEDES HAS YET TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS.

Mileage: 140,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE DRIVER DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS POWERED OFF BUT FAILED TO RESTART WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS ADVISED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH AND THE IGNITION STARTER SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,747. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 100,747

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

THE C-CLASS HAS A SURMOUNTABLE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS PERTAINING TO THE IGNITION SWITCH AND STEERING LOCK. BOTH OF WHICH CAN GO OUT AT ANYTIME, INCLUDING WHILE DRIVING AND BEING STRANDED IN DESOLATE LOCATIONS WITHOUT WARNING. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH PARTS AND THE COST IS UNFAIR TO THE CONSUMER BECAUSE THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT THAT IS NOT BEING ACKNOWLEDGED. BOTH INSTANCES, I PARKED MY VEHICLE, WENT INTO A BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENT, RETURNED TO MY VEHICLE TO LEAVE AND FOUND MYSELF STRANDED. THANK GOD, I WAS IN SAFE LOCATIONS BUT WHAT IF I WASN'T. THESE CARS ARE NOT RELIABLE AND THESE PROBLEMS NEED TO BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY. ALSO, MERCEDES IS NOT SURE IF THIS CAN GO OUT WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION WHICH IS EVEN MOR SCARIER.

CAR WILL NOT START, FAILURE IN THE ELECTRICAL STEERING SYSTEM

MY 2008 C300 WITH ONLY 68,000 DECIDED TO DIE WITH NO WARNING. I DROVE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP HAD A TAILLIGHT FIXED THEN PARKED THE CAR. THE NEXT DAY THE CAR WOULDN'T TURN ON. ALL THE LIGHTING IN THE DASH TURNS ON BUT I'M GETTING A NOTIFICATION SAYING REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION. THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING! I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND AM GETTING AN IDEA THAT IS IS THE EIS. THIS SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO BE OPERATED MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY, IT SHOULDN'T BE FAILING.

Mileage: 68,000

WAKING UP TO GO TO WORK, I ATTEMPTED TO START MY CAR. I HAVE HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE SINCE I PURCHASED IT A YEAR AGO, AND WITH ONLY 65K MILES I DIDNT EXPECT ANY PROBLEMS. SINCE IM NOT A CAR GUY I GOT IT TOWED SINCE IT WOULDNT START. NO TICKING NO NOTHING, AND NO WARNING AT ALL. THE MECHANIC SAID THE BATTERY WAS IN GOOD ORDER BUT IT WAS THE EIS THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. LOOKS TO BE A MAJOR CONCERN AND A COMMON PROBLEM FOR OTHER OWNERS. WHAT A WAY TO START THE WEEK OF CHRISTMAS IN TEXAS WITH 70 DEGREE WEATHER

Mileage: 65,000

WOKE UP TO GO TO MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. I WAS HEADED INTO WORK AND WAS LATE BECAUSE OF IT. I TRIED RELAXING EVERYTHING THING FROM FUSES TO NEW KEY TO NEW BATTERY. NOTHING WORKED. IT KEPT MAKING A TICKING NOISE WHEN I WOULD TURN THE CAR ON. THE LIGHTS WOULD LIGHT UP BUT CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER. I OWN A 2008 C300 AND NOTICED IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS PART BUT MERCEDES WILL IT FIX THE ISSUE.

Mileage: 100,000

EIS ELECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM OR ESL ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK. PUT KEY IN IGNITION AND NOTHING HAPPENS. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. CAR WON'T COME OUT OF PARK. CAR WAS PARKED ALL THREE TIMES THIS HAPPENED, TWICE BEFORE THE CAR WAS DIAGNOSED AT THE MY DEALERSHIP ON CLARK ROAD, IN SARASOTA, FLORIDA, AND ONCE, SO FAR, AFTER PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. REPAIR LASTED TWO DAYS.

Mileage: 58,200

STEERING LOCK FAILED. 10 CENT MOTOR WILL NOT LOCK STEERING WHEEL. CAUSES CAR TO THINK IT IS STOLEN, DISABLES THE ENTIRE CAR. LEFT ME STRANDED IN FREEZING TEMPERATURE WITH NO WARNING. I GOT GAS, GOT IN THE CAR TO LEAVE TO WORK, AND NOTHING WORKED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET SOMEONE TO PICK ME UP, AS MY CELL PHONE WAS ABOUT TO DIE.

Mileage: 93,000

I PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE EARLY AFTER NOON IN NOVEMBER 2014, AND SOME TIME LATER THAT DAY THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL RIGHT THEN LEFT THINKING IT MIGHT BE A STEERING LOCK PROBLEM AND KEPT MESSING WITH STEERING COLUMN TRYING TO FIND PROBLEM BEING POSSIBLY A PINCHED WIRE AND THE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS CAME ON DO A SELF CHECK THEN CAR STARTED. USED SCAN TOOL TO RETRIEVE CODES AND NONE WERE FOUND. SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN I PARKED AT A GAS STATION AND PAID FOR GAS AND THE CAR DID NOT START, NOR DID THE USUAL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS COME ON WHEN THE KEY IS INSERTED AND TURNED AS IN THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED. I STARTED TO ADJUST THE STEERING COLUMN SUCH AS TO RAISE THE WHEEL AND THE LIGHTS CAME ON, AND I TURNED THE KEY AND THE CAR STARTED. RAN A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK FOR CODES AND STILL NO CODES STORED. THIRD INCIDENT, PARKED THE CAR AFTER LEAVING CHURCH SERVICE AND THEN WAS ASKED TO MOVE IT FROM THE LAWN SO THE YARD COULD BE WORKED ON. I STARTED THE CAR AND TURNED THE WHEEL AS TO BACK IT UP INTO A DIFFERENT LOCATION. I SHUT THE CAR OFF WITH THE WHEEL TURNED ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT AND THEN WENT TO START IT 2 TO 3 HOURS LATER AND IT WOULD NOT START AND STEERING WHEEL IS ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT AND LOCKED IN THAT POSITION. THINGS I CHECKED. CHARGED BATTERY, BOTH KEY FABS LOCK AND UNLOCK VEHICLE, THE KEY IS RECOGNIZED BY THE SECURITY SYSTEM BUT WILL NOT START THE CAR. THE KEY IS ALSO RECOGNIZED WHEN IN THE IGNITION. AUDIO WARNING COMES ON WHEN KEY IS LEFT IN IGNITION WITH DOOR OPEN. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS IN THE STEERING COLUMN, ONLY BECAUSE EVERY INCIDENT THAT HAS INVOLVED THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSED IT TO START AND NOW WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT GAVE IT THE FINAL FAILURE STATUS.

Mileage: 160,000

A FEW MONTHS BACK, MY WIFE WAS STRANDED IN HER OFFICE PARKING LOT AS THE CAR WON'T START. WHEN SHE PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IT WOULD SIMPLY MAKE CLICKING SOUNDS BUT WILL NOT START. SHE WAS ABLE TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE CAR. WE CALLED AAA WHO CHECKED THE BATTERY AND SAID IT WAS WORKING FINE. THE AAA REP SAID THAT HE HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM QUITE A FEW TIMES BEFORE IN THE MB CARS AND WE WOULD HAVE TO CALL MB OR THEY CAN TOW IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. WE THEN CALLED MERCEDES BENZ (MB) ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE WHO CAME AND CHECKED THE CAR. THE MB REP SAID THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK AND IT WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THEY GAVE ME A QUOTE OF AROUND $1500 OVER PHONE. FINALLY I HAD AAA TOW MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND GOT IT REPAIRED FOR AROUND $800. WHILE RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THAT THERE WERE 1000S OF THREADS ONLINE WHERE THE OWNERS OF 2008 AND 2009 C CLASS WERE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE AND HOW EACH ONE HAD TO SHELL OUT ANYWHERE FROM $1200 TO $1600 AT THE DEALERSHIP TO GET IT REPAIRED. I CALLED MB AND THEY ADMITTED THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE BUT CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I WAS QUITE APPALLED AT THIS SITUATION WHERE THIS BEING A KNOWN ISSUE FACED BY 1000S OF MB CUSTOMERS BUT MB WOULD NOT FIX IT. HERE IS A SAMPLE OF GOOGLE SEARCH WHERE YOU WILL FIND MULTIPLE PEOPLE REPORTING THIS PROBLEM - HTTPS://WWW.GOOGLE.COM/WEBHP?SOURCEID=CHROME-INSTANT&ION=1&ESPV=2&IE=UTF-8#Q=2008%20MERCEDES%20C300%20ELECTRONIC%20STEERING%20LOCK EVEN YOUTUBE HAS MULTIPLE VIDEOS WHERE CUSTOMERS HAVE RECORDED THIS ISSUE. ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK, ELECTRONIC IGNITION LOCK AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL ARE KNOWN AND VERY PREVALENT ISSUES RELATED TO C CLASS OF YEAR 2008 AND 2009. AS I CUSTOMER, I WOULD APPRECIATE IF THE NHA CAN LOOK INTO THIS AND HELP CUSTOMERS RECOVER THE MONEY THEY HAVE SPENT TOWARDS THE REPAIR OF THESE ISSUES.

Mileage: 42,000

I REPLACED THE BATTERY AND KEY DUE TO CAR NOT STARTING ($600 AND 1 WEEK IN THE SHOP). 2 DAYS LATER, THE NEW KEY FAILED TO START THE CAR DUE TO THE SAME ISSUE. EIS FAILURE WILL COST ANOTHER $1200. THIS SHOULD BE PART OF A RECALL, I WAS STRANDED TWICE AND IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL.

Mileage: 110,000

HELLO, I INSERTED MY KEY INTO MY 2008 C300, BUT THE CAR WON'T START. IT TURNS AS IT SHOULD, BUT THE CAR ISN'T STARTING. THE BATTERY FOR THE CAR IS NEW AND READS 12.6 V WHEN TESTED. THE RADIO AND LIGHTS WORK, BUT THE WINDOWS WON'T ROLL UP OR THE SUNROOF, AND THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT DOESN'T LIGHT UP. WITH THE KEY INSIDE THE IGNITION AND THE DOOR OPENED, THE CAR NOTIFIES ME TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. I AM NOT SURE WHAT'S GOING ON, ANY IDEAS?

Mileage: 100,000

WE PARKED THE VEHICLE IN A STORE PARKING LOT AFTER DRIVING FOR 40 MINUTES, WENT INTO THE STORE FOR 30 MINUTES CAME OUT AND CAR WOULD NOT START, STEERING WOULD NOT UNLOCK AND SHIFTER WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK. TOWED TO MERCEDES BENZ OF SAN JOSE AND WAS TOLD ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK HAD FAILED. CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ AS VEHICLE ONLY HAD 52,000 MILES AND MERCEDES CUSTOMER RELATIONS STATED THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME THEY HAD HEARD OF THIS. THEY GAVE $200.00 TOWARD THE $1100.00 REPAIR. I ASKED IF THIS COULD OF HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND HE STATED HE NEVER HEARD OF THAT BUT DID NOT GUARENTEE IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING THE WHEEL WOULD HAVE LOCKED AND I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STEER.

Mileage: 52,228

PARKED CAR LEFT FOR AN HOUR CAME BACK AND TRIED TO START VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT START DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE EIS (ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH) AND CHARGED ME $1900 TO FIX IT, ALSO BEFORE I TOOK IT IN FOR THAT REPAIR THE SUNROOF WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY AND REAR RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT WENT OUT THEY FIXED THAT UNDER RECALL FREE AFTER THAT MY SUNROOF WORKED FINE. NOW MY SERPENTINE BELT BROKE AND SHREDDED WHILE I WAS DRIVING LOOKED IN MY ENGINE AND THE BELT WAS ALL OVER ENGINE IN PIECES.

Mileage: 76,900

UPDATE: OCT 19, 2015 MY CAR WOULDN'T TURN OVER. THE LIGHTS, RADIO AND BATTERY WERE FINE. I TRIED TO JUMP THE CAR JUST IN CASE (IT WASN'T THE BATTERY) HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME IT WAS THE EIS SWITCH (ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK). PRICE TAG $1212 AND SOME CHANGE.

MY 2008 C300 WAS PARKED. I CAME OUTSIDE TO HEAD OUT AND MY IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN OVER BUT ALL LIGHTS, RADIO, SEAT, ETC WERE WORKING JUST FINE. WINDOWS AND SUNROOF DON'T WORK. MY CAR IS STOPPED AT 68,018 MILES.

Mileage: 68,018

2ND TIME WITH SAME EIS ISSUE IN ONE YEAR. IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN OVER BUT ALL LIGHTS, RADIO, ETC WERE WORKING JUST FINE. IT COST ME $1300 TO GET IT FIXED THE FIRST TIME AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. A YEAR LATER I HAVE TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN?!?! IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT MERCEDES DOES NOT RECALL THIS ISSUE AS IT IS SO COMMON AFTER READING SO MANY POSTS ABOUT IT.

Mileage: 96,000

DROVE MY CAR HOME AND IT RAN FINE. THE NEXT MORNING THE CAR WOULD NOT START. DASH LIGHTS AND RADIO CAME ON BUT ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. TOOK MY VEHICLE TO DEALER AND FOUND OUT IT WAS THE EIS SWITCH THAT IS BAD WHICH SEEMS TO FAIL IN THE MODEL. IT COST ME $1500 TO REPLACE SWITCH. MERCEDES NEEDS TO DO A RECALL OR REIMBURSE FOR REPAIRS BECAUSE THERE ARE OVER 2,000 COMPLAINTS ON THIS PART AND YEAR VEHICLE.

Mileage: 103,000

IGNATION SWITCH COMPLELY DEAD. BATTERY OK. VEHICALE WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY. USED VEHICALE IN MORNING RAN FINE. WENT USED VEHICALE AFTERNOON. IGNATION SWITCH COMPLELY DEAD. THEY MUST BE RECALL ON THIS IGNATION SWITCH PROBLEM. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER.

Mileage: 51,000

HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH AND/OR STEERING WHEEL LOCKING MECHANISM. VEHICLE WILL NOT START. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MANY C 300'S

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH OR THE COMPUTER SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR UPDATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING IGNITION AND LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

Mileage: 74,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V303000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

Mileage: 73,000

SAME ISSUE AS LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF OTHERS ARE COMPLAINING OF...CAR FAILS TO START DUE TO EITHER A FAULTY STEERING WHEEL IGNITION LOCK OR EIS NOT RECOGNIZING THE KEY AND THEREFORE NOT STARTING. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE TO ME, DEALER SERVICE ADVISOR KNEW IMMEDIATELY AND EVEN GUESSED AT THE MODEL AND YEAR OF MY VEHICLE, WHICH TELLS ME THAT THIS IS A PREVALENT ISSUE, SUPPORTED BY THE THOUSANDS OF POSTS I HAVE READ ON VARIOUS FORUMS. THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY NIGHTMARE WAITING TO HAPPEN, SIMILAR IN NATURE, IF NOT SCOPE, TO THE GM IGNITION SWITCH RECALL! THE SAME THING COULD HAPPEN IF THE FAILURE OCCURS AT HIGHWAY SPEED.

Mileage: 86,400

LAST WEEK 8/11/2015 I DROVE TO THE LUMBAR STORE, PARKED THE CAR AND UPON RETURNING TO THE CAR, THE KEY TURNED COMPLETELY TO THE RIGHT, THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON, THE RINGING NOISE SOUNDED, BUT THE CAR DID NOT TURN OVER, NOTHING HAPPENED. THE DASH READ REMOVE THE KEY FROM IGNITION. I CALLED MY MECHANIC WITH THE ISSUE AND HE SAID USE YOUR KEY FOB TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE CAR; THAT DID NOT WORK, STILL NOTHING. I CALLED THE TOW COMPANY THE BATTERY WAS FULLY CHARGED ( I PURCHASED IT LAST YEAR 2014). THE TOW COMPANY DISABLED THE CABLE TO THE BATTERY WAITED 30 SECONDS AND RECONNECTED THE BATTERY, STILL THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN THE ENGINE OVER. BECAUSE THE LUMBER YARD LOCKED THEIR GATE AT 5 PM THE CAR WAS SCHEDULED TO BE TOWED THE NEXT MORNING. THE CAR STARTED THE NEXT MORNING, I ALLOWED THE TOW COMPANY TO TOW IT ANYWAY AND HAVE THEIR MECHANIC ASSESS THE PROBLEM. THOROUGH-OUT THE DAY THE TOW MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE CAR ON AND DETERMINED THE CAR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY START. THE NEXT DAY I DROVE THE CAR TO A FOREIGN CAR SERVICE SHOP, THEY STATED THE EIS SYSTEM IS NOT ALWAYS RECOGNIZING THE KEY AND ONLY A MB DEALERSHIP CAN FIX IGNITION RELATED PROBLEMS. I CALLED AND GOT A QUOTE, THE EIS PART AND LABOR WILL COST ME $872.31 INCLUDES TAXES (ASSUMING THIS IS THE PROBLEM). AS A NOTE, I USED MY OTHER KEY AND STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS MORNING I USED THE KEY I ALWAYS USE AND IT STARTED. OFF TO THE MB DEALERSHIP.

Mileage: 86,381

CAR HAS FAULTY STEERING LOCK AND HAS TO BE REPLACED AT A HIGH EXPENSE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AS I LEARNED VISITING VARIOUS WEBSITES AND FORUMS.

THESE PARTS POSE A RISK VEHICLE SAFETY AND MAY EXIST ON OTHER VEHICLES OF THIS DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE. PLEASE REVIEW AIR BAGS, STEERING LOCK. ELECTRICAL MAIN SYSTEM. AND TIRES USED ON THIS CAR.....UPDATED 03/15/16 *BF UPDATED 03/17/16.*JB

Mileage: 64,890

CAR WOULD NOT START, LOCKED IN PARK. BATTERY CHECKED OK. ALTERNATE KEY DID NOT START CAR. APPEARS TO BE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH -- WHICH WILL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. NOTED MANY ONLINE FORUM SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, ALONG WITH THE BELOW MBUSA CAMPAIGN. CAMPAIGN NO. 2008020003, MARCH 2008 SUBJECT: MODEL 204, MODEL YEAR 2008 REPLACE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH DAIMLER AG HAS DETERMINED THAT THE EIS MAY MALFUNCTION PREVENTING THE ELECTRIC STEERING LOCK AND THE CENTRAL LOCKING FROM FUNCTIONING. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EIS ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES DURING THE NEXT WORKSHOP VISIT.

Mileage: 63,000

THE KEY LOCKS AND UNLOCKS THE DOORS THE LIGHTS COME ON AND THE DASH LIGHTS UP. YOU CAN INSERT AND TURN THE KEY BUT THE CAR WILL NOT START. THE STERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND IT IS STUCK IN PARK. I TRIED POWER JUMPING AND IT DID NOTHING, I DIDN'T THINK THE BATTERY WAS THE PROBLEM BUT HAD IT CHECKED ANYWAYS. THE BATTERY CHECKED OUT FINE. I CHECK THE FUSES THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE STARTER AND ALL WAS FINE ALSO. ONLY THING LEFT WAS GET IT TOWED TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP, FOUND OUT THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK ISSUE IS A COMMON THING WITH MY CAR MODEL, EIS FAILURE SEEMS INCREASINGLY COMMON ON 2008 MODELS FOR SOME REASON.

Mileage: 91,319

WHEN I LEFT THE GYM MY CAR WOULDN'T NOT START. I HAD TO WALK HOME AND HAVE MY CAR TOWED. BATTERY IS FINE BUT THE IGNITION WON'T TURNOVER. BAD EIS JUST LIKE THE OTHER HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT.

Mileage: 104,000

CAR WILL NOT START. VERY COMMON FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. THE KEY WILL NOT START THE ENGINE

Mileage: 57,000

EIS/ STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILURE. LEFT STRANDED FOR 4 HOURS.

Mileage: 65,000

SAME AS MANY OTHERS, STEERING LOCK, WOULDN'T ID KEY, WOULDN'T START. EIS PROBLEM I BELIEVE. $980 TO FIX WITH ONLY 35K MILES! THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE FORUMS I HAVE VISITED.

Mileage: 35,000

ON JULY 6, 2015, I LEFT WORK TO GO HOME AND MY CAR WOULD NOT START. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IN THREE WEEKS I HAVE HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED FROM WORK DUE TO IT NOT STARTING. HOWEVER, THIS TIME I HAD IT TOWED TO THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALER AND WAS INFORMED I HAVE A FAULTY EIS SYSTEM THAT NEEDS $2100 IN REPAIRS. I IMMEDIATELY INFORMED THEM THAT THE CAR HAS BEEN SHUTTING DOWN ON ME FOR THE PAST THREE WEEKS AND I DON'T BELIEVE I AM THE ONLY PERSON HAVING THIS PROBLEM. AFTER BEING GIVEN A LOANER CAR, UNTIL I CAN DECIDE TO HAVE THE REPAIR WORK INITIATED, I FOUND OUT THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH THAT MERCEDES BENZ HAS KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS NOT OFFERED TO RECALL ANY OF THE CARS AFFECTED IN THE 2008 C300 CLASS OR ANY OTHER CLASS OF MB WITH THE SAME EIS PROBLEMS. IT'S SAD THAT WE ALLOW THEM TO SELL US THESE CARS AND THEY WONT HONOR OUR PATRONAGE ENOUGH TO FIX THEM WHEN THE BREAK DOWN AS A FAULT OF DESIGN BY MB. IT IS ABSOLUTELY ASTONISHING THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS WITH THIS SAME ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT PLAGUE MB C-CLASS CARS. THE ONLY REASON NO ONE HAS DIED SO FAR, IS BECAUSE ONCE THEY CUT OFF YOU CAN'T START THEM TO DRIVE ANYWHERE..AND THAT LEADS TO SAFETY ISSUES AS WELL!! I HEARD THAT SOME OF THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS CAN BE COVERED UNDER THE CAM SOLENOID RECALL MB HAS. I PLAN ON CHECKING WITH MY DEALER IN REGARDS TO THIS ON TOMORROW. ..UPDATED 08/24/16 *BF

Mileage: 102

THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK JUST SHUTOFF. THE CAR CAME OUT OF COMFORT WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THE C-IN THE BOX-JUST DISAPPEARED OFF THE CLUSTER AND I KNEW THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE IT HAPPENED THREE TIMES THEM STARTED UP TWO DAYS LATER. THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES C300 AS I READ SO MANY COMPLAINTS AND POSTS.

Mileage: 41,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE RADIO, THE HEADLIGHTS, AND OTHER ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS OPERATED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 108,000

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. FIRST TIME I GO TO START MY 2008 C300 AND IT WILL NOT START, WILL NOT SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, NO WINDOWS WILL GO UP OR DOWN. I AM A REGISTERED NURSE AND WAS WORKING HOME HEALTH. WAS STUCK AT A PATIENTS HOUSE AND NOT ABLE TO SEE ANY OTHER PATIENTS FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK. TOOK TO MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AND TOLD IT WAS THE EIS. SO $1200 DOLLARS LATER IT WAS FIXED. AGAIN 2 YEARS LATER THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENS AND WHAT DO YOU KNOW, EIS AND $1200 REPAIR AGAIN. EVEN THE GUY FROM THE MERCEDES SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL. MERCEDES SHOULD BE ASHAMED TO CHARGE SO MUCH FOR A CAR AND NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR WORK. IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER MERCEDES AS LONG AS I LIVE. MY WIFES FIRST KIA WAS MORE RELIABLE THAN THIS CAR.

Mileage: 90,721

I CAME HOME FROM WORK ON 6/8/2015 AND LATER RETURNED TO MY CAR TO MEET A FRIEND FOR DINNER. THE DOORS UNLOCKED AND THE LIGHTS CAME ON BUT THE CAR WILL NOT START. THE STEERING WHEEL TURNS BUT THE CAR WILL NOT START. I HAVE TRIED BOTH KEYS, CHECKED TH BATTERY. AFTER SPEAKING WITH MY MECHANIC I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT IS IS THE IGNITION SWITCH. I WILL HAVE TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE SEEN ON THE BENZ FORUM THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT MERCEDES WILL NOT TAKE OWNERSHIP OF. I WILL NEVER BY A MERCEDES AGAIN.

Mileage: 74,000

MY LCD NAVIGATION SCREEN DOES NOT TURN ON ANYMORE. IT RANDOMLY FLASHES WHEN I'M DRIVING AND CAUSES A DISTRACTION. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, IT SEEMS LIKE AN EXTREMELY COMMON ISSUE WITH MANY C300 MODELS OF THE 2008 YEAR. SOME OWNERS HAVE REPORTED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE CORNER OF THE SCREEN.

Mileage: 140,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE LOCK POSITION AND THE KEY WAS NOT PROGRAMMED TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE IGNITION LOCK FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 42,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE LOCK POSITION AND THE KEY WAS NOT PROGRAMMED TO THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 70,000

BELT TENSIONER MAKES LOUD METALLIC NOISE AROUND THE ENGINE AREA. CAR WOULDN'T START. CAMSHAFT ADJUSTER MAGNETS REPLACED. WATER LEAK FROM SUN ROOF DRAIN SIDE MIRROR CRACKED UNDER COLD WEATHER. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

GOT IN MY CAR LAST NIGHT TO GO HOME AND ATTEMPTED TO CRANK IT. IT WOULD NOT START. THE KEY TURNED IN THE IGNITION AND LIGHTS WORKED BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. LAST YEAR IN FEBRUARY I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP BY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAVE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED FOR A SIMILAR SITUATION AT MY COST. I AM AWAITING NEWS FROM THE DEALERSHIP AS TO THE PROBLEM THIS TIME BUT THIS IS RIDICULOUS FOR THIS VEHICLE TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF COMPLAINTS FROM SO MANY CONSUMERS AND MERCEDES NOT STAND BEHIND THIS PRODUCT BY RECALLING IT. I AM A WOMAN AND HAD NO ONE TO ASSIST ME OR PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION HOME. YOU BUY A PRODUCT THINKING THAT IT IS DEPENDABLE BUT THIS CAR ISN'T IT. *TR

Mileage: 99,000

SAME AS EVERYONE ELSE. THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND WE HAD IT TOWED IN. I RESEARCHED THE COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND SAW THAT MERCEDES HAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS ISSUE (EIS/SIS) THEY SOLD ME A NEW KEY FOR $547 AND SAID THAT IT WAS FIXED. PICKED IT UP ON SATURDAY AND HAD IT TOWED BACK IN ON TUESDAY. NOW THEY SAY IT'S THE EIS TO THE TUNE OF ANOTHER $1500. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER MERCEDES UNTIL I SEE HOW THEY STAND BEHIND THE ONE I HAVE...I HOPE THAT WE DO NOT HAVE TO CALL THE NEWS STATIONS AND FILE A CLASS ACTION SUIT TO GET IT FIXED. MERCEDES NEEDS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND REPAIR THEIR DEFECT. *TR

Mileage: 61,688

THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, THE KEY TURNED IN THE IGNITION WITH NO CRANK. ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL FEATURES WORKED AND THE BATTERY TESTED AS BEING OK. THE ELECTRICAL IGNITION SYSTEM JUST DID NOT RESPOND. TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP. $1350 TO FIX IT. *TR

Mileage: 57,000

THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM ALSO KNOWN AS EIS IS BROKEN. I TURNED IF THE CAR AND IT DID NOT READ MY KEY. AFTER LOOKING IN THE INTERNET AND SPEAKING WITH THE MECHANIC IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE MODELS 2008 09 10 HAVE THIS DEFECTIVE PART. I ALSO SPOKE TO A SERVICE TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALER WHO WISHED TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS AND HE ADMITTED THAT JUST AT HIS DEALER THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES ARE BROUGHT IN FOR THIS SAME ISSUE AND YET MERCEDES BENZ REFUSES TO RECALL. THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO POLICE THIS MATTER WHICH IS COSTING MINIMUM $1300. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, THE KEY TURNED IN THE IGNITION WITH NO CRANK. ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL FEATURES WORKED AND THE BATTERY TESTED AS BEING OK. THE ELECTRICAL IGNITION SYSTEM JUST DID NOT RESPOND. IN ADDITION, THE WHEELS WERE LOCKED THUS REQUIRING A SPECIAL DOLLY TO TOW THE VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 54,000

UPON ENTERING MY VEHICLE AFTER PUMPING GAS LATE ONE EVENING, I PROCEEDED TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE KEY WOULD NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO START. ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH, RADIO AND HEADLIGHTS WERE OPERATIVE AT THAT TIME. I ATTEMPTED A JUMP START TO NO AVAIL. I PROCEEDED WITH HAVING HE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRICAL STEERING/IGNITION SYSTEM THAT WAS ELECTRICAL IN NATURE AND "COMMON" FOR THE YEAR AND MODEL OF THE CAR. IF THIS POTENTIAL DEFECT IS COMMON THEN IT IS "KNOWN" TO THE MANUFACTURER AND ITS DEALERS WHO CAN BE HELD STRICTLY LIABLE OR ANY MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT, OR INADEQUATE WARNING. THAT BEING SAID, IF THE PRODUCT IS DEFECTIVE, WHAT PREVENTS THE RECURRENCE OF THE ISSUE AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE PART, WHICH WOULD ESSENTIALLY BE REPLACING IT WITH ANOTHER DEFECTIVE PART. THIS MATTER IS SERIOUS TO THE CONSUMER, AND THE MANUFACTURE COULD EASILY REDUCE THE RISK OF HARM TO ITS CONSUMERS BY ALTERING THE DESIGN IN A MUCH MORE COST EFFECTIVE MANNER THAN ALLOWING ITS CONSUMERS TO BEAR THE COSTS OF ITS MANUFACTURING ERROR. *TR

Mileage: 93,000

I ENTERED MY 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300 AFTER WORK, AND IT WOULD NOT START. I WAS STRANDED FOR 2 AND 1/2 HOURS WAITING FOR THE COMPLIMENTARY TOW TRUCK MERCEDES BENZ WAS SENDING. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP AT 7PM WHERE IT SAT ALL WEEKEND UNTIL THEY CHECKED IT ON MONDAY 3/9/15. THEY CALLED ON 3/9/15 AND STATED IT WAS THE ELECTRICAL STEERING DEVICE AND WOULD COST $950. THIS IS A COMMON MALFUNCTION IN THE 2008 C300 THAT MERCEDES IS NOT TAKING OWNERSHIP OF. THERE ARE NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE FACED THIS PROBLEM, AND ARE CHARGED EXTREME AMOUNTS TO HAVE IT FIXED. (SEE MBWORLD) THIS IS NOT A DEFECT DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR, THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MANUFACTURING, A DEFECT WHICH IS UNFAIR TO THE CONSUMER. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THE ELECTRONIC STEERING DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR. CAMPAIGN NUMBER 2008020003 (NJ) TO: ALL MERCEDES BENZ CENTERS, MODEL 204, MODEL YEAR 2008, REPLACE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH WAS PUBLISHED IN MARCH 2008 NOTING "DAIMIER AG HAS DETERMINED THAT THE EIS MAY MALFUNCTION PREVENTING THE ELECTRIC STEERING LOCK AND THE CENTRAL LOCKING FROM FUNCTIONING. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EIS ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES DURING THE NEXT WORKSHOP VISIT." CONSUMERS ARE LEFT SHOULDERING THE COST OF A PROBLEM MERCEDES BENZ IS AWARE OF, YET WILL NOT DO A RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 74,900

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE KEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,685.

Mileage: 73,685

FOR UNKNOWN REASON, A WARNING ABOUT SRS RESTRAINT SYSTEM DRIVER SIDE FAILURE. UNSURE IF THIS IS AIR BAG, OR SEAT BELT RELATED. DEALER WANTED $2200. TO FIX. OUTRAGEOUS SAFETY ISSUE. FROM ONLINE SEARCH THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN REGULARLY TO MB PRODUCTS. WHY HAS DOT NOT TAKEN ACTION. THANK YOU FOR A RESPONSE. *TR

Mileage: 34,000

I DROVE CAR TO WORK IN THE A.M. WHEN I GOT READY TO LEAVE FOR THE DAY THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE LIGHTS AND LOCKS AND RADIO WORKED, BUT THE ENGINE WOULDN'T TURN OVER. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAS BEEN THERE FOR A FEW DAYS. JUST GOT A CALL THAT THEY THINK IT IS BOTH THE EIS AND ESL, BUT THEY NEED MY SECOND KEY TO BE SURE. AFTER READING MULTIPLE FORUMS WITH THIS PROBLEM, AND CALLING ANOTHER DEALERSHIP, IT SEEMS THE REAL ISSUE MY ONLY BE THE ESL. I SAY ONLY BECAUSE IT CUTS MY COST IN HALF, BUT IT REALLY SUCKS THAT THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND MERCEDES HAS YET TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

Mileage: 160,000

CAR WONT START. COMPUTER RECOGNIZES KEY IN IGNITION BUT DOESN'T TURN ON ANY INSTRUMENTS OR START THE CAR. TRIED A SPARE KEY - SAME ISSUE. REMOTES UNLOCK AND LOCK FINE BUT IGNITION WONT TURN ON. *TR

Mileage: 96,000

ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH AND STEERING LOCK RENDERED US COMPLETELY STRANDED IN OUR CAR. COULD NOT EVEN PUT IT IN NEUTRAL WITHOUT USING THE MANUAL OVERRIDE. AFTER RESEARCHING IN THE INTERNET IT SEEMS THIS IS SOMEWHAT COMMON IN THIS VEHICLE, AND UNFORTUNATELY IS COSTING ME $1350!! ONLY THE DEALERSHIP CAN DO THIS. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC ONLY TO HAVE IT TOWED AGAIN TO MERCEDES DEALERSHIP. *TR

Mileage: 107,000

ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2013, MY 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300 WITH 32,050 MILES WOULD NOT START DESPITE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. EACH TIME I WOULD TRY AND START IT EVERYTHING CAME ON IN THE CABIN BUT THERE WAS A COMPLETE DISCONNECT TO THE ENGINE WHICH WOULD NOT EVEN CRANK. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE CAME OUT MY HOME AND DETERMINED THE BATTERY WAS FINE, I THEN HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED INTO THE DEALER. DURING THIS VISIT, THEY REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL CONTROL UNIT AND IT WAS THERE FOR A FULL WEEK. IN OCTOBER 2014 AND AT 39,000 MILES, THE PROBLEM BEGAN AGAIN IN THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT START INTERMITTENTLY AND I HAD TO GO BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY AGAIN REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL CONTROL UNIT WHICH TOOK ANOTHER WEEK. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN FOR AN ENTIRE DAY DESPITE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS AND I WAS STRANDED. ANOTHER TOW AND BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN, THIS TIME THEY STATED IT WAS ALSO THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH (EIS) AND ELETRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL) THAT WERE FAULTY AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT AN APPROXIMATE COST OF $2000. I ARGUED WITH THEM EXTENSIVELY ON WHY ALL THESE PARTS WERE FAILING ON A VEHICLE WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL YEAR. AFTER TWO ADDITIONAL WEEKS IN FOR SERVICE, THE VEHICLE WAS JUST RETURNED TO ME. BESIDES A KNOWN MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH THESE PARTS WHICH MB HAS NOT ADDRESSED, THIS ALSO REPRESENTS POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARDS FOR DRIVERS IF YOU BECOME STUCK IN A REMOTE OR DANGEROUS AREA OR IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND CANNOT CALL OUT FOR ASSISTANCE. BASED ON THIS EXPERIENCE AND THE MANY SIMILAR REPORTED AT THE HTTP://MBWORLD.ORG FORUM, THE NHTSA SHOULD COORDINATE A SAFETY RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES WITH MB. THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN ONE RECALL ON THIS MODEL YEAR RELATED TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE TAILIGHTS WHICH COULD CATCH FIRE, MY VEHICLE ALSO HAD THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *JS

Mileage: 32,050

MY CAR WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE WHEN I TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND TRIED TO START THE CAR. THERE WAS NOTHING. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES, TURNING THE KEY BACK AND FORTH, TAKING IT OUT, TURNING IT. STILL NOTHING. I CALLED AAA. THEY TESTED THE BATTERY. IT WAS FUNCTIONING. THE AAA TECHNICIAN NOTED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS AND AUDIO LOCKING SIGNALS WERE WORKING. I CALLED, BILL, MY SERVICE TECH AT THE MBZ DEALERSHIP AND LEFT A MESSAGE FOR HIM TO PHONE ME. IN THE MEANTIME, I CALLED A LOCAL MECHANIC THAT HAD REPAIRED OTHER FAMILY VEHICLES. HE SAID HE WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT IT. SO I HAD IT TOWED TO HIS SHOP. BILL CALLED ME BACK LATE AFTERNOON AND ASKED ME TO TRY THE SPARE KEY TO SEE IF IT WOULD START. I HAD MY NEIGHBOR DRIVE ME TO THE SHOP WHERE MY CAR WAS AND TRIED THE SPARE KEY. STILL NOTHING. I SPOKE WITH THE FAMILY MECHANIC. HE WAS NOT ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE, NOR HAD HE SERVICED IT. HE BELIEVED THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE EIS AND SAID THE DEALER NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR. I CALLED BILL BACK. LET HIM KNOW THE SPARE DID NOT WORK AND ARRANGED TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY. LATER THE NEXT DAY, BILL CALLED ME AND STATED THAT THE ISSUE WAS WITH THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM. I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE STEERING LOCK. HE COULD ORDER THE PART. THE COST WOULD BE $1,100. I ASKED WHAT WOULD CAUSE THE PART TO FAIL. HE SAID THAT ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS, LIKE HIS TV, JUST FAIL OVER TIME. I AUTHORIZED THE REPAIR. I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN MY CAR INTO THIS DEALERSHIP FOR ITS REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AND WAS SURPRISED THAT IT WOULD NEED SUCH A CRITICAL AND COSTLY REPAIR. I CHECKED ONLINE AND NOTED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2008 MBZ C300. I AM SURPRISED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT NOTIFIED VEHICLES OWNERS AND TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS APPARENT DEFECT. *TR

Mileage: 107,000

CAR WON'T START. KEY WILL TURN BUT NOTHING HAPPENS. TRIED JUMP STARTING THE CAR BUT DID NOT WORK. BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING LOCK IS THE PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 53,900

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO START. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Mileage: 80,000

I WAS DRIVING LISTENING TO MY MUSIC AND ALL OF A SUDDEN SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM MY MONITOR I THEN QUICKLY TURNED MY MUSIC OFF AND PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. I NOW HAVE A BLACK SCREEN AND MERCEDES SAID THE WHOLE UNIT WILL COST 2,000 DOLLARS I SAID YOU ARE CRAZY THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY MERCEDES. *TR

Mileage: 123,002

CAR YEAR: 2008 MODEL: C300 4MATIC SPORT MILEAGE AT TIME OF FAILURE: 30,893 WARRANTY: EXPIRE ON DUE TO AGE OF CAR, NOT MILEAGE ESTIMATE CAUSE: MANUFACTURING DEFECT PART EFFECTED: EIS (ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH), ESL (ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK), ECU ESTIMATED EFFECTED VINS BASED ON EXTENSIVE ONLINE RESEARCH AND CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS: THOUSANDS ESTIMATE COST OF INDIVIDUAL REPAIRS PER INCIDENT DUE TO DEFECT: $1,200. TO $1,990. ESTIMATE PROFIT FOR DEALERSHIPS: $100MM+ RESEARCH KEYWORDS: MERCEDES BENZ, EIS, ESL, C300 SOURCE OF 99% OF COMPLAINTS: WWW.MBWORLD.COM & INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED MB DEALERSHIP. "SERVICE CAMPAIGN BULLETIN" CAMPAIGN NO. 2008020003, MARCH 2008 RECALL: NOT ISSUED THIS IS REGARDS TO A CONSISTENT AND REPEATED KNOW MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN SEVERAL YEARS MERCEDES BENZ MODELS, THAT THE COMPANY, MERCEDES BENZ (MB) IS AWARE OF AND HAS ISSUED A "SERVICE CAMPAIGN BULLETIN" CAMPAIGN NO. 2008020003, MARCH 2008. UNFORTUNATELY MB CLAIMS THAT THIS ISSUE ONLY AFFECTS "APPROXIMATELY 10 VEHICLES". A 08 MERCEDES C300 THAT I BOUGHT ON 6/12/2013 WITH 9,025 MILES WHEN I BOUGHT IT AND NOW HAS ABOUT 30,896 MILES TODAY 11/20/2014. ON 11/19/2014 MY CAR STOPPED WORKING. \ AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE I NOTICED HUNDREDS UPON THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE 08 C300 KNOWING AS THE EIS,ESL, OR THE IGNITION FAILURE AND REPAIRS UP TO $2000 IN SOME CASES. I WILL NEED TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO A MB DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THIS FIX. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE, YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. *TR

Mileage: 30,896

HELLO I AM A OWNER OF A 08 MERCEDES C300 THAT I BOUGHT ON 5/26/2014 WITH ABOUT 77700 MILES WHEN I BOUGHT IT AND NOW HAS ABOUT 80600 MILES TODAY 11/12/2014. ON 11/8/2014 I WAS RUNNING MY USUAL WEEKEND ERRANDS ( BUYING GROCERIES, PAYING BILLS, ETC.) WHEN I STOPPED TO BUYING SOME THINGS FROM A CORNER STORE AND WHEN I GOT BACK INTO MY VEHICLE THE CAR WOULD NOT START WHEN I PUT MY KEY IN. I NOTICE THERE WAS NOT "CLICKING NOISE" FROM WHEN I PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION AND I COULD NOT LOWER MY WINDOWS BUT I STILL HAD POWER NOW KNOWING THAT IT WAS NOT A POWER THING I KNOW IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE IGNITION. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE I NOTICED HUNDREDS UPON THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE 08 C300 KNOWING AS THE EIS,ESL, OR THE IGNITION FAILURE AND REPAIRS UP TO $2000 IN SOME CASES. I GOT MY CAR TOWED TO A MB DEALERSHIP HERE WHERE I LIVE AND THEY ARE NOT LISTENING TO WHAT IAM TELLING. I ALREADY TOLD THEM WHAT IT WRONG AND THEY FORCED ME BASICALLY TO DO THE DIAGNOSTIC ($130) AND TO GET A KEY REPLACEMENT ($300) SO NOW I AM IN THE WHOLE BY A TOTAL OF $2000. I TOLD THEN THAT THESE ISSUES ARE HAPPENING WITH OTHER CUSTOMERS AND THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND THEY DON'T CARE AT ALL. HOW IS THERE NOT A RECALL FOR THIS? SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS CUSTOMERS CANT BE TREATED LIKE THIS ESPECIALLY IF YOU BOUGHT A CAR IN GREAT CONDITION LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AGO. MERCEDES NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THE MISTAKE AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FOR THIS ISSUE HOPEFULLY THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS SOON BECAUSE RIGHT NOW I HAVE TO TAKE A BUS TO WORK EVERYDAY INSTEAD OF HAVING A VEHICLE AND O YA THEY DIDN'T WANNA GIVE ME A COMPLEMENTARY VEHICLE FOR THE MEANTIME. *TR

Mileage: 80,684

I DROVE TO THE STORE AND WHEN I GOT IN MY CAR TO LEAVE THE IGNITION WOULD NOT START WHEN I PUT THE KEY IN AND TRIED TO TURN IT ON. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND I COULD NOT CHANGE THE GEARS OF THE CAR TO NEUTRAL OR ANY OTHER GEAR. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP AND THEY PERFORMED A FULL INSPECTION AND FOUND THAT THE STEERING IS LOCKED. *TR

Mileage: 30,000

ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTIONED. I'M NOW OUT $1100.00 BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM SO COMMON, A GUY WHO HADN'T EVEN SEEN MY CAR WAS ABLE TO GUESS THE MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR OF MY CAR JUST BY TELLING HIM THE ISSUE. HOW HAS A RECALL NOT BEEN MADE ON THIS PROBLEM? CAR WORKED FINE JUST TWO HOURS BEFORE IT WOULDN'T START... UNBELIEVABLE. *TR

Mileage: 68,500

THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD A TREND AMONG MANY PEOPLE WITH THEIR STEERING RANDOMLY DEFAULTING. TO GET IT FIXED THEY QUOTED ME 1300 DOLLARS. MANY PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM RIGHT AFTER THEIR WARRANTY EXPIRES. THE PERSON WHO CONTACTED ME SAID "THERE WAS A FAULTY STEERING PROBLEM". PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG ,BUT TO ME FAULTY MEANS WORKING BADLY OR UNRELIABLY BECAUSE OF IMPERFECTIONS. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A RIDICULOUS THING TO PAY FOR ESPECIALLY KNOWING THAT THIS CAR IS ONLY 6 YEARS OLD AND I BOUGHT THE CAR 6 MONTHS AGO.I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED SOMETHING SO VILE AND CROOKED FROM A COMPANY LIKE THIS IN MY LIFE. THE CAR SEEMED TO BE WORKING PERFECTLY FINE MINUTES BEFORE IT DECIDED TO GIVE OUT, 3 MINUTES TO BE EXACT. IF I WERE TO HAVE BEEN DRIVING AND THE STEERING WHEEL WHERE TO HAVE LOCKED UP ON ME ON AN INTERSTATE LIKE THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IT IS GETTING OUT OF CONTROL FOR A COMPANY TO BE ABLE TO SCAM CUSTOMERS LIKE THIS. *TR

Mileage: 97,000

WALK HOME SCENARIO DUE TO VEHICLE NOT STARTING. PARKED THE CAR AT WORK IN THE MORNING AND IN THE EVENING GOING BACK HOME THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE IGNITION KEY TURNS BUT THERE WAS NO CRANKING. HAS AN 8 MONTH OLD BATTERY. ALL ELECTRICALS -LIKE HEAD LAMP ETC WORK. CHECKED ALL THE FUSES AND THEY WERE OK. GOOGLED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT EIS (ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH) PROBLEM IS A VERY COMMON ONE ON THE C300'S. COULD BE A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE IF THE IGNITION SWITCH DOESNT WORK WHILE THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING AND VEHICLE STALLS. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

PARKED CAR IN THE GARAGE FROM THE DAY BEFORE. WAS LEAVING FOR WORK THE NEXT MORNING AND IT WOULD NOT START. I CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK. WHEN THE DRIVER ARRIVED, HE TESTED THE BATTERY AND SAID THAT ITS NOT THE PROBLEM. SO I DROVE MY OTHER CAR TO WORK. A CO WORKER HAS THE SAME MODEL CAR STATED THAT SHE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. HER CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND SHE WAS TOLD IT WAS AN IGNITION ISSUE. WHAT A COINCIDENCE!! AFTER WORK I WENT HOME TO SEE IF THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE FIRST ATTEMPT...NOTHING...THE SECOND ATTEMPT IT STARTED RIGHT AWAY. SOMEONE HAS TO LOOK INTO THIS. TWO SAME MODEL CARS WITH THE SAME ISSUES. HAD IT BEEN A DIRE SITUATION WHERE I NEED TO FLEE FROM INJURY, THE CAR COULD POSSIBLE NOT START. NHTSA COULD YOU PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS MORE THOROUGHLY. *TR

Mileage: 80,053

I TURNED ON THE COMMAND VIDEO SCREEN AND HEAVY SMOKE STATED COMING OUT OF IT. *TR

Mileage: 102,000

MY WIFE PARKED THE CAR TO GET GAS IN A NOT SO GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD, DUE TO BEING A SCHOOL TEACHER IN THAT AREA, KEY WOULD UNLOCK AND LOCK DOOR, AND WOULD LET YOU TURN KEY, BUT WILL NOT UNLOCK STEERING WHEEL, AND WILL NOT START CAR, NEITHER DID THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH LIGHT UP (CHECK ENGINE, ABS, TPMS, ABS, ETC), CALLED ROADSIDE, TOWED TO DEALER, DIAGNOSED AND CAME UP WITH BAD STEERING LOCK(ESL), WAS QUOTED $1200 FOR THE REPAIR, TOLD THEM TO GO AHEAD SINCE WE NEED THE CAR, CAR IS STILL THERE TODAY, DID GOOGLE SEARCH ON THIS ISSUE AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF CUSTOMERS WITH THIS SAME COMPLAINT. NOW, I THOUGHT I BOUGHT A DEPENDABLE CAR BEING THAT ITS A MERCEDES, GONNA GET RID OF IT NOW AND NOT BUY THIS BRAND AGAIN, THERE IS EVEN A CAMPAIGN SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS ISSUE, I DO HAVE A CASE, WHICH THEY WILL CONTACT ME TOMORROW ABOUT THIS, MERCEDES SHOULD COVER THIS COST BEING THAT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, WHAT IF MY WIFE WAS ROBBED,OR EVEN RAPPED BECAUSE OF WHERE THIS HAPPENED, OR WHAT IF THE COMPONENT DECIDED TO LOCK UP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THEN WILL THEY RECALL THIS? *TR

Mileage: 87,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WIRES WERE FRAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

Mileage: 88,000

MERCEDES ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL) FAILED. CAR WOULD NOT START DUE TO THE KEY NOT BEING RECOGNIZED. I WAS ABLE TO CLOSE AND OPEN THE DOORS, LIGHTS CAME ON, BUT WOULD NOT START. BATTERY WAS TESTED WAS IS FINE. STARTER WAS FINE. ALL FUSES WERE FINE. TOWED TO MERCEDES AND THE ESL IS BEING CHANGED AT THE COST OF $1200.00 . THE AUTOMOBILE IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP ONE WEEK LATER. HEARD A LOT OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR FAILURE WITH THE SAME MODELS. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MERCEDES BENZ OF AMERICA IN MONTVALE NJ, BUT THEY INSIST SINCE THE AUTO IS PAST THE WARRANTY PERIOD THEY CANNOT HELP ME FINANCIALLY WITH THE REPAIRS, THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AS MERCEDES IS AWARE OF THIS AND IS NOT OWNING UP TO THEIR MISTAKE. THERE ARE MANY SIMILAR EXPERIENCES AND COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS WITH THE C300 2008, 2009, AND 2010 MODELS. I KNEW WHAT THE MECHANICAL/ELECTRICAL ISSUE WAS FROM READING THE VARIED STORIES ONLINE AND EXPERIENCES FROM OTHER OWNERS, BEFORE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND LOOKED AT FROM THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP. *TR

Mileage: 110,000

I PARKED & LOCKED MY CAR WALKED AWAY FROM IT FOR 10 MINS, WHEN I CAM BACK I WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK THE CAR THE SIDE MIRROR FOLDED OUT. WHEN I PLACED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION THE KEY TURNED BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT START NOR COULD I TAKE THE GEAR OUT OF PARK. THE DASH HAD A MESSAGE STATING REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION. THINKING THAT THE BATTERY WAS DEAD I HAD THE BATTERY REPLACE. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH & STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY. TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS FAILED TO LOCK MANUALLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE POWER DOOR LOCK SWITCH HAD TO BE USED IN ORDER FOR THE DOORS TO LOCK. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS OPEN AND THE POWER LOCK SWITCH WAS ACTIVATED, ALL THE DOORS, EXCEPT FOR THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, FAILED TO LOCK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. UPDATED 10/24/14*CN UPDATED 4/16/2015 *JS

Mileage: 48,000

MERCEDES ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL) FAILED. CAR WOULD NOT START DUE TO THE KEY NOT BEING RECOGNIZED. EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE CAR WORKS ELECTRONICALLY, RADIO, WINDOWS, LIGHTS, ETC. BATTERY WAS TESTED WAS IS FINE. STARTER WAS FINE. ALL FUSES WERE FINE. TOWED TO MERCEDES AND HAD ESL CHANGED FOR MORE THAN A THOUSAND DOLLARS. HEARD A LOT OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR FAILURE WITH SAME MODELS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AS MERCEDES IS AWARE OF THIS AND IS NOT OWNING UP TO THEIR MISTAKE. *TR

Mileage: 85,056

PARKED BY CAR AS USUAL, CAME OUT AN HOUR LATER AND MY CAR WOULDN'T START. THE KEY FOB LOCKS AND UNLOCKS THE DOOR AND THE LIGHTS STILL COME ON BUT WHEN I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND TURN THE KEY THE CAR WON'T START. THE ROAD SIDE SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED THE KEY FOB IS NOT BEING RECOGNIZED AND THAT IS THE REASON THE CAR WON'T START. *TR

Mileage: 112,324

I WAS DRIVING WHEN I GOT A RIGHT REAR LIGHT TAIL AND BRAKE WARNING NOT WORKING FOR THE SECOND TIME. I JUST REPLACED THE BULBS A MONTH AGO JULY 2014. WHEN I CHECKED TO REPLACE THEM I SMELL SOMETHING BURNT AND UPON FURTHER CLOSE INSPECTION I SAW BARED BROWN WIRE BURNT CONNECTOR (OUTER EDGE WIRE ON THE CONNECTOR) AND SOME SIGNS OF MELTING ON THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE BROWN WIRE THAT WAS BARE BURNT THROUGH THE CONNECTION THAT PROBABLY CAUSED THE SHORTING. *TR

Mileage: 122,735

EIS STEERING FAILURE, CAR UNABLE TO START! THIS HAPPENED LESS THAT A MONTH AFTER BRINGING MY CAR IN FOR EXPENSIVE DEALERSHIP SERVICE AND EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT! BUYER BEWARE! *TR

Mileage: 97,500

THE ENGINE DIES. THIS IS KNOWN BY MERCEDES BENZ AND IS BEING REPORTED ALL OVER. THE IGNITION SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND REPLACED. WHY IS NHTSA DRAGGING ITS FEET ON THIS ISSUE. SOMEONE WILL BE INJURED OR KILLED BY THIS, IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY HAPPENED. *TR

Mileage: 66,000

PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE AND THE NEXT MORNING, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. FIRST, I THOUGHT IT WAS A BATTERY PROBLEM. CHANGED THE BATTERY AND USED A NEW ELECTRONIC KEY BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START. *TR

Mileage: 62,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, WHICH STARTED FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A NEIGHBOR EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT A FAILED FUSE BOX CAUSED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

Mileage: 52,000

CAR WOULD NOT START MORNING OF 8/8. AAA WAS CALLED. TOW TRUCK DRIVER DETERMINED IT WAS NOT THE BATTERY AND TOWED THE CAR TO MB SERVICE. MERCEDES DIAGNOSED THE FOLLOWING ISSUES WITH MY 2008 C300 WITH 55K MILES: REPLACE ELECTRICAL IGNITION SWITCH, $561 FOR THE PART. REPLACE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK, $384 FOR THE PART. REPROGRAM BOTH KEYS, $595. LABOR FOR ALL OF THE ABOVE, TBD, AS MY CAR IS STILL WITH MERCEDES AS I FILE THIS COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA ON 8/15. THESE ARE OBVIOUSLY MAJOR AND ONGOING ISSUES EXPERIENCED BY MANY C300 OWNERS, AND MERCEDES IS VERY WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE SIMPLY FOUND A GREAT WAY TO EXTORT MONEY FROM THEIR CUSTOMERS, RATHER THAN DOING THE RIGHT THING AND RECALLING THESE FAULTY PARTS BEFORE SOMEONE REALLY GETS HURT. *TR

Mileage: 55,000

MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE IN MANY FORUMS. I WONDER IF SOMEONE HAS TO BE INJURED OR KILLED (IF NOT ALREADY) BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE. THE CAR ARBITRARILY AND WITHOUT NOTICE DIES AND WILL NOT RESTART. IT LEAVES THE DRIVER COMPLETELY VULNERABLE, WHEREVER IT OCCURS. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED IN MY SITUATION. NOTHING WORKED, I HAD TO CALL, TO BE TOLD THAT THIS IS A BATTERY ISSUE. IT WAS NOT, AS DETERMINED BY THE TOW TRUCK COMPANY AND THE DEALERSHIP, AFTER THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THEM. IS THIS EVER GOING TO BE INVESTIGATED AND RECALLED BEFORE FURTHER DAMAGE AND/OR INJURY OCCURS ? *TR

Mileage: 66,000

CAR WOULD NOT START OR SHIFT GEARS. BATTERY WAS FOUND TO BE FULLY CHARGED. GEARS AND STEERING COMPLETELY LOCKED OUT. NO DASH BOARD LIGHTING. MERCEDES BENZ DISPATCHED BUT COULD NOT JUMP START. TOWING ONLY AFTER FORCING COVER OFF GEAR SHIFTER AND OVERRIDING GEARS TO PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. 69K MILES. *TR

Mileage: 69,069

CAR WOULD NOT START. DROVE VEHICLE TO WORK AND WORKED PERFECTLY BUT LATER THAT MORNING WHEN I TRIED TO TURN ON THE VEHICLE NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO TURN IT ON. THE LIGHTS AND LOCKS WORKED. ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE ATTEMPTED TO JUMP VEHICLE BUT WAS TOLD BATTERY WAS NOT THE ISSUE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD STEERING LOCK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. SEEMS THIS IS A TYPICAL PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL YEAR. *TR

Mileage: 112,000

PARKED CAR AT A GAS STATION FOR 5 MINS. RETURNED AND CAR WOULD NOT START. DASH STATES REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION. DEALER STATES EIS FAILURE. VERY COMMON IN THESE CARS. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED!! MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS FAILURE. VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD HAPPEN ANYWHERE AT ANYTIME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE BATTERY WAS REMOVED, CHARGED, AND RE-INSTALLED, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESTART. THE RADIO AND HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED WHEN THE BATTERY WAS RE-INSTALLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

Mileage: 83,000

PARKED THE CAR IN MY DRIVE WAY N T CAR WOULD NOT START. KEY WOULD NOT FUNCTION. *TR

Mileage: 77,000

THE ENTIRE CAR LOSES POWER, NOTHING WORKS. *JS

Mileage: 66,000

CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN. NOTHING WORKED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THIS HAS OCCURRED TO MANY OTHER CARS AND THE MANUFACTURER IS WELL AWARE OF THIS CONDITION. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO BE INJURED OR KILLED (IF THIS HAS NOT ALREADY HAPPENED) BEFORE THIS DEFECT IS ADDRESSED ? *TR

Mileage: 66,000

PARKED MY CAR IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY JOB, CAME BACK SAND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. WE TESTED THE BATTERY AND NO RESULTS. WE EVENTUALLY TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND DETERMINE IT WAS THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK AND THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THE CAR GENERALLY DOES NOT LET YOU KNOW WHEN THIS ISSUE WILL ARISE. I WAS QUOTED $2,428 TO FIX BOTH, AFTER ARGUING WITH THEM ABOUT THIS ISSUE, THEY LATER DISCOUNT IT TO $1,780. I THINK THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. I COULD HAVE BEEN ON THE FREEWAY WHEN IT STOP AND WOULD HAVE BEEN A CATASTROPHIC EVENT. ALSO, I AM CONSTANTLY REPLACING MY LIGHT BULBS. CAN YOU INVESTIGATE IF THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THESE CAR. *TR

Mileage: 123,000

CAR WILL NOT START. WINDOWS, SUNROOF, STEERING INOPERABLE. NO POWER TO CAR WITH EXCEPTION OF RADIO AND LOCK/UNLOCK. NEED TO OVERRIDE TO GET CAR OUT OF PARK. OCCURRED FIRST TIME ON 7/7 AND I WAS STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT. SECOND TIME OCCURRED ON 7/12, CAR WAS PARKED ON SIDE OF ROAD AND WOULD NOT START. NEEDED TO BE TOWED ON FLATBED TO DEALER. DEALER CONFIRMED ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK DEFECTIVE AND $1,000 FOR REPLACEMENT AND PART. VERY COMMON IN MERCEDES C300 MODELS. PLEASE RESEARCH TO SEE IF THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. I PERFORMED A GOOGLE SEARCH ON THE ISSUE AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE OWNERS AND FORUMS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUE FROM A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES INCLUDING USA. THANK YOU. *TR

Mileage: 94,500

IT APPEARS THAT THE EIS MODULE HAS FAILED, I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND SEVERAL OTHER CONSUMERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES WITH THIS PARTICULAR YEAR AND MODEL VEHICLE. THIS CONCERNS ME. WHY HASN'T ANY RECALLS BEEN DONE TO FIX THIS ISSUE. IT SEEM LIKE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. WHAT IF I WERE DRIVING MY CAR AND THE EIS HAD MALFUNCTIONED. I WOULD HAVE LOST POWER TO MY VEHICLE AS WELL AS ALL STEERING ABILITIES. COULD YOU PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE? *TR

Mileage: 84,756

ON WAY HOME FROM WORK IN POURING DOWN RAIN, I STOPPED AT SUPERMARKET. WHEN I RETURNED TO VEHICLE AND TURNED THE IGNITION TO START CAR, NOTHING HAPPENED. IT WAS DEAD. AFTER TRYING FOR THIRD TIME, WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED, "REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION." WHEN TOWER ARRIVED, THE GEAR SHIFT WOULD NOT MOVE OUT OF PARK. GARAGE MECHANIC ELIMINATED BATTERY PROBLEM AND RECOMMENDED IT BE TOWED BACK TO DEALERSHIP, 50 MILES AWAY. I AM WAITING FOR THEIR MECHANIC TO DISCOVER ROOT CAUSE. I DO NOT LIKE THE UNEXPECTED PROBLEM OF BEING STRANDED. THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS OF A PRE-WARNING. IF MERCEDES-BENZ DOES NOT OWN THIS, I WILL TRADE IT SOLELY ON GROUNDS OF RELIABILITY AND WILL NOT PURCHASE A MERCEDES-BENZ AGAIN. *TR

Mileage: 54,000

IGNITION/ENGINE AND COMPLETE SYSTEM FAILURE. SAFETY ISSUE. THE CAR LOSES ALL CONTROL, INCLUDING BRAKES AND STEERING. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO BE INJURED OR DIE (IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY HAPPENED) BEFORE THIS ISSUE IS ADDRESSED. *TR

Mileage: 66,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING LOCK/IGNITION COMPONENT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

Mileage: 83,000

WHILE ON HIGHWAY I NOTICED BURNING PLASTIC SMELL COMING FROM REAR OF CAR. WHEN I PULLED OVER AND OPENED MY TRUNK, I NOTICED THAT THE TAIL LIGHT WAS SMOKING. WHEN I DETACHED THE LIGHTING PLATE I NOTICED THAT THE BROWN WIRE CONNECTOR HAD MELTED THROUGH THE LIGHTING PLATE AND THAT ALL OF MY TAIL LIGHTS WERE VERY DIM. *TR

Mileage: 92,250

GOOD MORNING, I AM EMAILING YOU REGARDING AN INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON MAY 13, 2014 ON THE LIE 495. MY VEHICLE, A 208 MERCEDES C300 STALLED IN THE EMERGENCY LANE AND THE WHEEL LOCKED SOON AFTERWARD. I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE MY CAR, CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ME. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS SITUATION GOES NOTICED. THIS ISSUE CONSISTS IN THESE VEHICLES AND I URGE FOR IT TO GET RECALLED. THE ISSUE IS THE "STEERING LOCK COLUMN". THIS CAUSES THE WHEEL TO LOCK AND BECOME IMMOVABLE. I AM AWARE THAT AN INCIDENT SUCH AS MINE HAPPENED TO A FRIEND WHO HAS THE SAME VEHICLE. IT IS NOT SAFE AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED BEFORE IT RISKS SOMEBODY ELSE'S LIFE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C-300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE PROBLEM RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

Mileage: 66,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C-300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE PROBLEM RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

Mileage: 66,000

NUMEROUS LIGHT ISSUES CONNECTED TO THE REAR AND FRONT LIGHTING. DIMMING - LOW STRENGTH - AND COMPLETE NON-FUNCTION OF THE REAR LIGHTS AND FRONT LIGHTS ALSO. SO MANY EVENTS THAT REQUIRED REPAIRING. INCIDENTS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT REQUIRING REPAIR. INABILITY TO UTILIZE THE VEHICLE IN THE EVENING. IT WAS A GREAT CAR - BUT I FELT A LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN IT'S SAFETY BECAUSE OF AND WHAT I PERCEIVED AS ELECTRICAL ISSUES. I DECIDED, AFTER MUCH CONSIDERATION, THAT THE CAR NEEDED TO BE TRADED IN. IT WAS PURCHASED BY [XXX]IN NEWPORT BEACH. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 57,500

RIGHT TAIL LIGHT WARNING SIGNALS APPEARED, UPON EXAMINING THE TAIL LIGHT CONNECTION IT APPEARED BURNED AND MELTED. ALL RIGHT TAIL LIGHTS WERE OUT INCLUDING SIGNALING. *TR

Mileage: 46,000

TAIL LIGHT CONNECTORS OVERHEAT AND MELTED THE LIGHT HOLDER ASSEMBLY. FIRE RISK. *TR

Mileage: 53,000

GOOD AFTERNOON. I CURRENTLY OWN A 2008 C300. I NOTICED MY REAR TAIL LIGHT WARNING INDICATOR CAME ON ABOUT A MONTH AGO. UPON CHECKING THE BULB, I NOTICED THE JACKET ON ONE OF THE WIRES GOING INTO THE CONNECTOR WAS FRAYED. I PUT SOME ELECTRICAL TAPE ON IT HOPING THAT WOULD SOLVE THE ISSUE. 1 MONTH LATER, I AM NOW HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN. I WENT TO CHECK ON THE LIGHT AND NOTICED THE FRAYING WAS GROWING WORSE AND THE WIRE WAS SO HOT I WAS CONCERNED IT WAS GOING TO START A FIRE. I HAVE SINCE REMOVED THE BULB TO PREVENT A FIRE FROM STARTING. IN DOING SOME RESEARCH, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE ON THIS VEHICLE. BEING THAT THIS IS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD AND COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO A FIRE AND EVEN THE LOSS OF LIFE, I AM CURIOUS HOW AND WHY THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THIS DEFECT. IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THIS ISSUE PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THANK YOU *TR

Mileage: 73,000

I BEGAN TO GET WARNINGS THAT THE LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE LEFT REAR SIGNAL INDICATOR IN THE DASH BLINKED RAPIDLY, AND THE COMPUTER GAVE WARNING MESSAGE. WHEN I REMOVED THE BULB PANEL I NOTICED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS PLUG WAS BURNT AND THE PLASTIC HOUSING THAT HELD THE BULBS WAS BURNT. THE BROWN WIRE ON THE END OF THE HARNESS CONNECTOR WAS BURNT AND THE METAL TAB THAT THE CONNECTOR CONNECTED TO WAS MELTED ALONG WITH THE PLASTIC PLUG. *TR

Mileage: 84,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BULBS WERE CHANGED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE WIRING HARNESS AND THE LIGHTING BOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

Mileage: 54,000

THE REAR WIRING FOR THE TAIL LIGHT LIGHTING SPARKED. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR SMELLED STRONGLY OF BURNING PLASTIC. AFTER A QUICK LOOK OVER I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING ALARMING. THE VERY NEXT DAY ALL OF THE LIGHTING ON THE REAR RIGHT TAIL LIGHTS WENT OUT, ALL INDICATORS CAME ON IN THE DASH SHOWING THAT ALL BULBS WERE MALFUNCTIONING. AFTER PULLING THE HOUSING UNIT OUT, I FOUND THAT THE WIRE WAS BURNED AND SO WAS THE UNIT THE WIRES ATTACHED TO; MELTED AND BURNED. WIRING SHOULD NOT CATCH ON FIRE, THIS COULD HAVE EASILY SPREAD AND WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO FIX, THEY CUT THE WIRE TO ATTACH MORE BUT CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. *TT

Mileage: 47,700

REAR PASSENGER TAIL LIGHTS IN MY 2008 C300 WERE DIM AND GOT DASH WARNING LIGHT TO CHECK REAR LIGHTS. A COUPLE BULBS WERE OUT SO WHEN I LOOKED AT THE ASSEMBLY AND PUSHED ON IT THE LIGHTS THAT WERE OUT LIT UP TEMPORARILY AND I NOTICED THE CABLE HARNESS THAT PLUGS IN IT WAS CORRODED ON THE END AND THE BROWN WIRE AT THE END WAS EXPOSED (MELTED?) AND THE BLACK PLUG LOOKS WARPED (MELTED?), LOOKS LIKE A COMMON PROBLEM BASED ON FORUM REPORTS. *TR

Mileage: 86,766

RIGHT SIDE TAILLIGHT WIRING MELTING, LIGHTS NOT WORKING. *TR

DASH PANEL READ AN ERROR OF TAIL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS OUT ON RIGHT SIDE. DROVE HOME FROM WORK , APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES, SMELLED WIRES BURNING. WAITED TOOK CAR TO AUTOZONE TO GET BULBS REPLACED. BY THE TIME I ARRIVED, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE COMPARTMENT. THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY HAD CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED THE PLUG AND THE BOARD. *TR

Mileage: 72,000

RECEIVED WARNING ON DASH TO CHECK REAR DRIVER TAIL LIGHT. TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER TO GET IT CHECKED OUT AND WAS TOLD THE WIRES FROM THE TAIL LIGHT WERE MELTED FROM THE ELECTRICAL PANEL AND MY CAR IS RUNNING ON BACK UP LIGHTS. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL BACK LIGHT SYSTEM SINCE THE MELTED WIRES WOULD EVENTUALLY DAMAGE THE ENTIRE BRAKE LIGHT SYSTEM. THE COST TO REPAIR $900. CAR SMELLS BURNT INSIDE, AND IN THE TRUNK. I AM AFRAID OF A FIRE, AND GETTING REAR ENDED IF MY BRAKE LIGHTS STOP WORKING. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

AS I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT BOTH MY WIFE, KIDS AND MYSELF SMELLED A STRONG ODOR IN THE CABIN OF THE CAR. IT WAS WORSE TOWARDS THE BACK SEAT WHERE THE KIDS WERE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND GOT THE FAMILY OUT OF THE VEHICLE (MERCEDES BENZ C300 2008) AND SAW THAT GREY SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE TRUNK OF THE CAR. WHEN I OPENED THE TRUNK I NOTICED THAT THE SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE RIGHT TAIL LIGHT. THE CABLE THAT FEEDS ELECTRICITY TO THAT PANEL SHORTED AND CAUSED A SMALL FIRE WHICH TURNED OFF THE MINUTE I SHUT THE VEHICLE DOWN. I THEN TRIED PULLING OUT THE CABLE FROM THE LIGHT PANEL AND IT DID NOT BUDGE BECAUSE IT MELTED AND FUSED TOGETHER WITH THE LIGHT PANEL. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

GETTING INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MESSAGES ABOUT TAIL AND BRAKE LIGHTS TO BE CHECKED. I REPLACED BULBS AND HAVE THE SAME MESSAGES. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE SENSOR MONITORS RESISTANCE AND THE BULBS MAY BE FINE. GETTING MESSAGE FOR BOTH SIDES NOW AND I AM VERY CONCERNED READING SOME OF THE OTHER RESPONSES THAT WE HAVE A DEFECT IN THIS CAR THAT COULD CAUSE INJURIES OR FIRES, THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL FROM MERCEDES. DANGER! DANGER! *TR

Mileage: 80,000

RIGHT & LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY WIRING HARNESS PLUGS HAVE MELTED WHERE ATTACHED TO THE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY, CAUSING BRAKE, TURN SIGNAL, HAZARD, AND RUNNING LAMPS TO NOT WORK INTERMITTENTLY. BROWN WIRES GET TOO HOT TO TOUCH. SAFETY ISSUE WITH ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS. *TR

Mileage: 32,200

RANDOMLY I STARTED RECEIVING CHECK BULB MESSAGES FOR THE REAR LIGHTS ON BOTH SIDES OF MY CAR. I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT AS I DON'T THINK THEY HAD EVER BEEN CHANGED SO I CHANGED THEM AND ALL WAS FINE AND THEN A FEW WEEKS LATER THE MESSAGES STARTED TO POP UP AGAIN. I RECHECKED THE BULBS TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE SECURELY IN PLACE AND THEY WERE SO I STARTED DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE. PRESENTLY THE ENTIRE LEFT REAR SIDE IS OUT AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE WIRING HAS OVERHEATED AND BEEN SINGED (LOOKS LIKE IT HAD BURNED).WHEN CALLING ALL THE LOCAL SOUTHERN CALI DEALERSHIPS (ORANGE COUNTY/LONG BEACH) NONE OF THEM WILL ADMIT TO IT BEING A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AND FIXING IT FOR FREE BECAUSE THE PARENT COMPANY, MERCEDES BENZ, HASN'T YET. I HAVE NO DESIRE TO PAY FOR A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER OCCURRED IN THE FIRST PLACE. MY MAJOR CONCERN IS ABOUT POTENTIAL FIRES IN THE TRUNK DUE TO THIS. ALL IT WILL TAKE IS ONE SPARK TO CATCH ON SOMETHING IN THE TRUNK AND THEN WELL CAR IS ON FIRE. AS MUCH A MERCEDES BENZ CLAIMS TO BE ABOUT SAFETY, I'M SHOCKED, ONE AT THE DESIGN FLAW AND TWO THAT THEY ARE GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS OF PRETENDING LIKE THE THOUSANDS OF OWNERS WHO HAVE REPORTED THIS ARE MAKING IT UP. THEY NEED TO GET ON THIS ASAP. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

RIGHT TAIL LIGHT CONNECTOR, BROWN WIRE HAS MELTED AND HAS AFFECTED THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE BULBS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

REAR LIGHT HOUSING ASSEMBLY WIRING SMELLING LIKE SMOKE, OPEN THE TRUCK AND PLASTICS HOUSING WAS MELTING AND VERY HOT. *TR

Mileage: 3,000,000

THE BROWN WIRE IN THE RIGHT HAND BRAKE LIGHT MELTED THROUGH THE WIRE HARNESS AND STARTED TO MELT THE LIGHT BOARD. THIS IS A FIRE WAITING TO HAPPEN, I SMELT BURNING IN MY CAR WHEN I WAS DRIVING. THE BREAK LIGHT NO LONGER WORKS. *TR

Mileage: 91,000

MULTIPLE SYSTEM WARNINGS ON DASH SAYING TO CHECK RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT, BRAKE LAMP, AND SIGNAL LIGHT. UPON REPLACEMENT OF LIGHT BULBS, NOTICED THAT THE GROUND WIRE CABLE COVERING WAS MELTED AS WELL AS BURNS AND MELTING ON THE BULB HOUSING UNIT. ALL RIGHT REAR LIGHTS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY OR DIMLY AND NOW DON'T WORK AT ALL. NOW, THERE ARE SYSTEM WARNINGS FOR LEFT REAR LIGHTS AS WELL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS A FIRE CAN START IN THE TRUNK OF THE CAR AS WELL AS HAVING REAR LIGHTS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL WITH NO WARNING. VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WON'T REPAIR AT NO CHARGE UNLESS THERE IS A RECALL. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES, BY BOTH THE MANUFACTURER AND AUTHORIZED DEALERS. RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. *TR

Mileage: 73,000

WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAYED IN INSTRUMENT PANEL ADVISING TO CHECK REAR RIGHT HAND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS, ON INITIAL INSPECTION IN THE TRUCK THEIR WAS A SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC EMIGRATING FROM THE RIGHT HAND SIDE REAR LIGHT CLUSTER ON REMOVAL OF THE FUSE PANEL COVER AND INSPECTION THE WIRES WHICH CONNECT THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE LIGHTING BACKPLATEI I WAS UNABLE TO HOLD THE CONNECTOR WITH A NAKED HAND DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE TEMPERATURE. AFTER LEAVING THINGS TO COOL DOWN FOR 60 MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR FROM LIGHTING CLUSTER BACK PLATE TO FIND THAT THE EARTH PIN (BROWN WIRE EXTREME RIGHT HAND SIDE ) WAS MELTED AND ALSO THE PIN TO WHICH IT MATED TOO HAD ALSO BEGAN TO MELT THE PLASTIC WHICH SUPPORTED THE PIN ON HE LIGHTING BACK PLATE. THE EARTH (BROWN WIRE) IS OF AN EXTREMELY LOW GAUGE FOR THE POTENTIAL LOAD THIS WIRE WOULD POTENTIALLY NEED TO CARRY UNDER MAXIMUM LOAD (ALL LIGHTS LIT). *TR

Mileage: 90,000

REAR LIGHTS CIRCUIT BOARD BURNT AND WIRE FOR LIGHTS MELTED. *TR

Mileage: 62,157

RIGHT READ BRAKE LAMP HARNESS MELTED CAUSING MALFUNCTION OF THE BRAKE LAMPS. WARNING INDICATOR IN THE DASH. I AM WORRIED ABOUT A FIRE. ALSO LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS STOPPED WORKING FOR NO REASON. CHECKED THE BULBS AND THEY ARE BOTH GOOD. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

CONNECTOR (HARNESS) IS MELTED AND SHORTED THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR TAIL LIGHTS AND IS NOW INOP. *TR

Mileage: 110,330

I DROVE MY CAR HOME FROM WORK. EVERYTHING WAS WORKING FINE AND TEN MINUTES LATER WHEN I WENT TO GO BACK TO WORK, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I COULD GET ALL THE ELECTRICAL WORKING , BUT THE CAR WOULD JUST NOT START UP. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK, AND IT NEEDS REPLACED.I GOT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT MY STEERING LOCK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR ANYMORE. IMAGING DRIVING IN A BAD PART OF TOWN SUDDENLY YOUR "STEERING LOCK" MALFUNCTIONS OR MY WIFE IS DRIVING AND IS STUCK IN A BAD PART OF NEW ORLEANS. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

MY RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT CONNECTOR BOARD IS MELTED. ALL MY LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING AT ONCE AND DEALER STATED ITS A FAULTY CONNECTOR BOARD THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. SAME ISSUE SO MANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED. MB NEEDS TO RECALL THIS ISSUE BC IT MAKES NO SINCE I HAVE TO PAY 400.00 FOR A WELL KNOWN ISSUE THAT IS HAZARDOUS WHICH THE DEALER ADVISED. *TR

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 RECURRENCE AUTHORIZED DEALERS KNOW WELL ABOUT THE PROBLEM. "RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED" "RECALL IS SURELY COMING" BUT WILL NOT REPLACE IF OUT OF WARRANTY REFERENCES: PRIOR REPORT CHAIN NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10499828 PICTURES AND MULTIPLE INFORMATION HTTP://MBWORLD.ORG/FORUMS/C-CLASS-W204/465331-TAIL-LIGHT-CONNECTOR-MELTED.HTML. *TR

Mileage: 36,000

THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE TAIL LAMP ON THE RIGHT SIDE WAS FRIED & FILLED WITH SMOKE AND NOW THE TAIL LAMP GOES VERY DIM & ALMOST OFF, BUT REPLACING WITH NEW BULB DOESN'T HELP. *TR

Mileage: 54,500

TAIL LIGHT MESSAGE. FOUND HARNESS MELTED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT. NOW I GET A MESSAGE FROM BOTH SIDES. *JB

Mileage: 54,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE FUEL GAUGE READING DISPLAYED EMPTY ALTHOUGH THE FUEL CAPACITY LEVEL WAS HALF FULL. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS 08V303000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

Mileage: 45,000

CARS AUTOMATED WARNING SYSTEM INDICATED PROBLEMS WITH RIGHT REAR LIGHTING SYSTEM ("CHECK RIGHT REAR TURN SIGNAL ETC"). TOOK CAR TO MECHANIC. THERE HAD BEEN A SHORT IN THE RIGHT REAR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM...PLASTIC CIRCUIT BOX EXHIBITED SIGNS OF A SHORT AND MELTED PLASTIC. MECHANIC REPLACED WIRING, CIRCUIT BOX AND LIGHTS. COULD VERY EASILY HAVE HAD A FIRE IN THE TRUNK OF THE CAR. *TR

Mileage: 54,000

BURNING SMELL AND MELTED CONNECTORS ON REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. *TR

Mileage: 51,000

THE LEFT REAR LIGHT WAS NOTICED TO BE DIMMER THAN THE RIGHT ONE. ONCE THE LIGHT CLUSTER WAS OPEN UP, A BURN /MELTING OF THE ELECTRICAL SOCKET WAS NOTICED. *TR

Mileage: 36,000

THE RIGHT REAR BULB ASSEMBLY AND HARNESS HAVE MELTED AND ARE ONLY INTERMITTENTLY FUNCTIONAL. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

THE LEFT TAIL LIGHT CONNECTOR AND THE PLATE CONNECTION MELTED. REPORTED THE ISSUE TO MB DEALER AND MB CAC BUT THEY REFUSED TO ACCEPT IT AS A DESIGN FLAW. THE EXPLANATION GIVEN TO ME WAS IT MELTED BECAUSE OF HEAT OF LIGHT BULBS. THE SAME FLAW HAS BEEN REPORTED ON MANY FORUM AND I THINK IT IS A RECALL ITEM. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

BOTH TAIL LIGHTS LAMP CARRIERS AND CONTACT BUSHINGS HAD MELTED AROUND GROUND WIRES IN MY 2008 C300 MERCEDES. *TR

Mileage: 78,858

DRIVER INFORMATION SYSTEM SHOWED THAT THE REAR RIGHT BRAKE LAMP WAS OUT. WHILE CHECKING THE REAR TAIL LIGHT TO REPLACE THE BULBS WE CHECKED THE HARNESS AND IT WAS COMPLETELY MELTED! THEN I KNEW WHY I HAD SMELT A BURNING SMELL BEFORE. I CALLED MY NEAREST MERCEDES DEALER SHIP AND THEY SAID IT WOULD COST AROUND $500-$600 TO FIX. I DIDN'T HAVE TO EXPLAIN HE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS TALKING ABOUT BUT IM OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS SHOULD BE FIXED BY MERCEDES. ITS ABSURD AND NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO ATTENTION FOR OUR SAFETY. *TR

GROUND WIRE TO REAR RIGHT TAIL LIGHT MELTED AT THE CONNECTION POINT TO THE TAIL LIGHT BOARD AND HARNESS. SMELLED SMOKE AND FOUND DAMAGE SHORTLY AFTER. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS A FAILURE FOR HEAD LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO REPAIR THE BULBS AND THEY TOLD ME THE CONTROL BOARD FAILED, MELTED AND THEY REPLACED IT. I WAS LATER TOLD THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE 2008 C300. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

NOTICED FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT THE LEFT REAR BRAKE AND TAIL LIGHT WAS MUCH MORE DIM THAN THE CORRESPONDING LIGHTS ON THE RIGHT SIDE. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THESE SAME LAMPS ALSO FLICKERED FROM DIM TO SLIGHTLY BRIGHTER AND REPORTED ON THE NEXT SERVICE APPOINTMENT. WHEN IT CAME BACK FROM THE DEALER THE PROBLEM WAS MARGINALLY BETTER; HOWEVER, IT STILL EXISTS TO THIS DAY. I SEE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON MERCEDES OWNERS HOTLINES WITH VARIOUS DEGREES OF SUCCESS AT THAT DEALERS. I HAVE ALSO SEEN COMMENTS ABOUT A SO-CALLED FIX THAT HAS BEEN MENTIONED. MY COMPLAINT WAS NEVER PRINTED OUT ON MY COPY OF THE WORK ORDER FOR THAT SERVICE DATE EITHER. I'VE GIVEN UP.ON COMPLAINING TO MERCEDES AS I HAD ANOTHER COMPLAINT TO THE FACTORY WHICH ENDED UP JUST BEING BRUSHED OFF AS NORMAL. ONCE AGAIN NO DOCUMENTATION OF THAT VISIT WAS GIVEN EVEN THOUGHT A FACTORY REP WAS PRESENT. MY BELIEF IS THAT THE TAIL LAMPS SHOULD BE FAIRLY EQUALLY BRIGHT IN ORDER TO PROVIDE VEHICLES BEHIND YOU AN ACCURATE LOCATION OF THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE. A PROPER FIX THAT COMPLETELY CORRECTS THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO BE PERFORMED ON THESE VEHICLES AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNERS. I AM THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 36,000

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS MESSAGES ON MY 2008 C300 MERCEDES REGARDING TAIL LIGHT/ BRAKE LIGHT OUT. I HAVE NOTICED THAT MY PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHTS/ RUNNING LIGHTS ARE MUCH DIMMER THAN THE DRIVER SIDE LIGHTS. I HAVE INSPECTED THE WIRING HARNESS ASSEMBLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND NOTICED SIGNIFICANT DISCOLORATION WITH THE "BROWN WIRE" AND ASSOCIATED CONNECTOR; THE CONNECTOR HAS ALSO BEEN "HOT" TO THE TOUCH. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER NEXT WEEK TO HAVE IT INSPECTED/ EVALUATED. I REALLY BECAME MORE CAUTIOUS FOLLOWING THE RECENT NEWS ARTICLE REGARDING 2008-2009 MERCEDES TAIL LIGHT ISSUES. SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED/ CORRECTED. *TR

Mileage: 56,000

THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. AFTER EXAMINING THE WIRING AND HARNESS WERE MELTED. HAD TO BRING IN TO FIX. THE BACK BOARD WERE THE LIGHTS ARE ON WAS ALSO BURNT. NOW HAVING PROBLEMS ON THE LEFT SIDE. I JUST SAW ON THE NATIONAL NEWS WERE OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR CAR. IT SEEMS THE WIRING IS NOT PROPER SIZE TO HANDLE THE ELECTRIC LOAD. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WITH THE REAR LIGHTS GOING OUT. THE LIGHTS ARE RUNNING WAY TO HOT. SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT ON THIS YEAR 2008 VEHICLE. I HEARD THAT THIS IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY YOU. MY WIFE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE OF GETTING HIT FROM BEHIND BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WITH LIGHTS BURNING OUT OR MAYBE A FIRE FROM THE WIRING MELTING. MERCEDES SAYS THEY WILL NOT FIX AND THAT THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONNECTORS TO THE BULBS AND THE PANEL WAS MELTED DUE TO HEAT AND THEREFORE, DIMMING OF THE LIGHTS OCCURRED FOLLOWED BY COMPLETE MALFUNCTION. THE FIRST TIME WAS REPLACED UNDER MANUFACTURER WARRANTY. THE SECOND AND THIRD TIME THIS OCCURRED WAS PAID FOR OUT OF POCKET BECAUSE VEHICLE'S MILEAGE EXCEEDED THE MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY COVERAGE. *TR

Mileage: 38,000

RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT DASH MONITOR INDICATED A PROBLEM. FOUND THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT CIRCUIT BOARD GROUND WIRE BURNED AND SMOKING. PLASTIC CONNECTOR AND LIGHTING CIRCUIT BOARD MELTING. APPEARS THAT THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT DRAW IS GREATER THAN THE GROUND WIRE CAN HANDLE. TAKEN TO DEALER FOR FIX. NO RESPONSE AS YET, BUT BASED ON OTHER ONLINE REPORTS, IT APPEARS UNLIKELY THEY WILL SUPPORT A WARRANTY CLAIM FIX. *TR

Mileage: 36,000

WHILE DRIVING IN THE EVENING ON HIGHWAY, BOTH TAIL LAMP WARNINGS CAME ON INDICATING BULBS HAD BURNED OUT. I STOPPED CAR AFTER SMELLING AN ODOR. I SAW THE LEFT TAIL LAMP WAS DIM AND THE RIGHT TAIL LAMP WAS NORMAL. I DID NOT OPEN TRUNK. AFTER REACHING MY DESTINATION I CHANGED THE LEFT TAIL LAMP BULB, BUT BULB WAS STILL DIM. I PULLED OFF THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AND FOUND 3 LEADS ON THE CONNECTER BURNED AND MELTED. I WENT TO THE DEALER IN ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA AND INQUIRED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I WAS INFORMED NO RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED AND THE DEALER WOULD NOT FIX. SO, I PURCHASED LEFT TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY, CONNECTOR AND PINS TO MAKE REPAIR MYSELF (I AM A FORMER AIRPLANE MECHANIC). TAIL LAMPS HAVE BEEN FUNCTIONING NORMALLY SINCE I REPLACED THE PARTS. *TR

Mileage: 56,450

MY MESSAGE CTR ON MY MERCEDES C 300 (2008) STEERING WHEEL SAID TO CHECK RIGHT, REAR TAIL AND BRAKE LIGHT. I HAVE CHECKED THE LIGHTS AND HAD A MECHANIC CHECK LIGHTS, AND ALL SEEM FINE. I HEARD THE REPORT ON WBZ RADIO ON 7-15-2013 ABOUT REAR LIGHTS ON MERCEDES 2008, AND 2009 POSSIBLY CAUSING FIRES, AND WONDER IF THE MESSAGE ON MY CAR MAY BE WARNING OF A POSSIBLE FIRE OR FUTURE FAILURE.. I CALLED THE MERCEDES SERVICE DEPT. AND THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM! I CALLED WBZ RADIO IN BOSTON, AND THEY DIRECTED ME TO NHTSB WEB SITE. THE MESSAGE TO CHECK REAR LIGHTS STILL COMES ON. *TR

Mileage: 24,450

THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TAIL LIGHT HARNESS CAUGHT FIRE AND MELTED. THERE ARE COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS AND REPORTS ON THIS ISSUE, BUT MERCEDES REFUSES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM OR DO A RECALL. MOST INCIDENTS OCCUR BETWEEN 50,000 AND 60,000 MILES AND IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. YOU CAN GOOGLE THIS ISSUE AND SEE THE WIDE SPREAD COMPLAINTS ON THE MELTING WIRING HARNESS. THERE ARE ALSO SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS ON MB FORUM. BELOW IS ANOTHER WEBSITE WITH SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF MELTED TAIL LIGHT WIRING AND NON-WORKING TAIL/BRAKE AND TURN SIGNALS. I'VE CONTACTED RELIABLE MERCEDES IN SPRINGFIELD, MO AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEIR SHOP HAS REPAIRED MANY MERCEDES C300'S WITH MELTED TAIL LIGHT WIRING, BUT SAID MERCEDES WILL NOT FIX RECALL THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A TREMENDOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOUR AGENCY ADDRESS THIS MATTER WITH MERCEDES. HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2009/MERCEDES/C300/ELECTRICAL_SYSTEM/PROBLEM.ASPX. *TR

Mileage: 49,000

MORE PROBLEMS WITH MODEL 204. THERE IS A NO EXPIRE RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 200802003 FOR THE ISSUE I HAVE HOWEVER MY VIN IS NOT PART OF IT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. PLACED MY KEY AND CAR WON'T START, NO CRANK. GOT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT MY STEERING LOCK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR ANYMORE. IMAGING DRIVING HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY FROM HOME AND SUDDENLY YOUR "STEERING LOCK" MALFUNCTIONS! SCARY. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

AFTER TAKING MY CARE TO THE DEALER, I HAD A ERROR MESSAGE ON MY DISPLAY STATING THAT MY RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT IS OUT. THEN A MESSAGE STATING MY RIGHT LOW BEAM IS OUT. I REPLACED ALL THE BULBS..... FIVE DAYS LATER I GET ANOTHER RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT IS OUT. TWO WEEKS LATER MY RIGHT LOW BEAM IS OUT AGAIN. SEEMS THERE IS A WIRING SHORT THAT KEEPS BURNING OUT THE LOW BEAM AND TAIL LIGHT. OH BY THE WAY TAIL LIGHT/BRAKE LIGHTS WORK. STILL HAVE ERROR MESSAGE. *TR

Mileage: 56,000

PASSENGER TAIL WIRE HARNESS HAS MELTED TO THE CONNECTOR AND THE LAMP HOLDER. THIS IS BECAUSE THE CONNECTOR PINS USED FOR THE GROUND WIRE CANNOT SIMPLY HANDLE THE LOAD. I AM NOT SURE HOW THE PASSED THE MB QUALITY CONTROL. THIS COULD EASILY BE A FIRE HAZARD. MB DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDED THE SAME PIN CONNECTOR TO FIX BUT I'M SURE THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. I AM FILING THIS INCASE MY CAR BURNS BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

MERCEDES BENZ C300, 2008 WAS STOPPED IN ORDER TO BE PARKED. I ACCIDENTALLY LEFT THE CAR IN "DRIVE" AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF COMPLETELY. I DO NOT PLACE MY KEY IN THE CAR IGNITION...I USE THE "KEYLESS GO" FEATURE AVAILABLE BY MERCEDES BENZ. THE KEY FOB ALWAYS REMAINS IN MY POCKET. I EXITED THE CAR, CLOSED THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR AND WITH MY KEY FOB I LOCKED ALL THE CAR DOORS AND WALKED AWAY FROM THE CAR. 45 MINUTES LATER I NOTICED FROM MY OFFICE WINDOW THE CAR HAD ROLLED APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET. I FEEL THERE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE IN THAT IT SHOULD NOT HAVE ALLOWED ME TO LOCK ALL THE CAR DOORS WITH THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE. OTHER MERCEDES BENZ VEHICLES DO NOT EXHIBIT THIS FAULTY FEATURE AND MAKE THE DRIVER AWARE THAT THE CAR IS IN DRIVE OR ELSE SOME MERCEDES MODELS AUTOMATICALLY MOVE THE CAR INTO "PARK" FROM "DRIVE" TO AVOID THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT THE CAR CAN ROLL AWAY BY ITSELF. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

THE TAIL LIGHTS OF MY MERCEDES BENZ C300 2008 STOPPED WORKING. WHEN I WENT TO MY LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER TO SEE WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR, THE SERVICE PERSON AT THE DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE FULLY AWARE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT IT. THEY SAID THAT THE PLASTIC COVERS OF BOTH REAL TAIL LIGHTS ALONG WITH THE WIRE HARNESS HAD MELTED. IN FACT, THE SERVICE PERSON PUT HIS HAND BACK THERE AND HE GOT BURNED BECAUSE THE ENTIRE WIRE ASSEMBLY WAS MELTED AND WAS SHORT. I ASKED THEM TO REPAIR THE CAR FOR FREE BECAUSE THIS IS A DEFECT SINCE THE WIRE HARNESS ASSEMBLIES AND PLASTIC TAIL COVER LIGHTS SHOULD NOT MELT UNDER ANY CONDITIONS. THIS IS BOTH A COLLISION HAZARD AND A FIRE HAZARD AND IT IS VERY COMMON IN THIS MODEL. MERCEDES BENZ USA REFUSED TO FIX THE VEHICLE FOR FREE AS THEY HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO DO SINCE THIS IS A DEFECT. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE PLASTIC COVER AND WIRE HARNESS OF THE REAL TAIL LIGHTS OF THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE THIS SITUATION IS DANGEROUS BOTH IN TERMS OF A FIRE HAZARD AND IN TERMS OF A COLLISION HAZARD. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

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 UNIT. I HAVE PICTURES OF BOTH THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY UNIT PLUG AND SOCKET SHOWING THE BURNED MARKINGS. THIS IS A VERY CONCERNING ELECTRICAL SAFETY HAZARD THAT COULD LEAD TO A FIRE. THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO BE SIMILAR TO 2 OTHER INCIDENTS REPORTED IN THE NHTSA DATABASE FOR THE MERCEDES BENZ C300 2008 MODEL YEAR (INCIDENT #S 10475771 AND 10466181). *TR

Mileage: 86,949

C300 FAILED TO START. THE IGNITION SEEM TO WORK CORRECTLY.THE ENGINE WOULD START AND CUT OFF IMMEDIATELY. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES, FINALLY THE CAR STARTED AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT WAS PROBABLY COMPUTER AND A FULL RESET WILL FIX THE ISSUE. I GOT THE CAR BACK A WEEK LATER. WHILE DRIVING BACK HOME, I STOPPED TO GET GAS. I TURNED OF THE CAR AND AFTER PUMPING THE GAS, IT REFUSED TO START AGAIN. I HAD TO CALL THE ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE. THE CAR IS BACK AT THE DEALER NOW FOR 7 WEEKS. I ALSO HAVE A CASE OPEN WITH MERCEDES BENZ. SO FAR THERE IS NO RESPONSE AS TO WHAT MAY BE CAUSING THE ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 43,000

BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. FIRST, I NOTICED THAT ONE OR THE OTHER OF THE RIGHT SIDE TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO FUNCTION BECAUSE I HEARD A RAPID CLICKING AS I MADE A RIGHT TURN INTO A PARKING LOT. ONCE STOPPED, I NOTICED THAT THE MERCEDES COMMAND SYSTEM SAID TO CHECK THE LEFT REAR TAIL AND BRAKE LIGHT BULBS. I SAW NO MENTION OF THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL. WHEN I LEFT THE PARKING LOT AN HOUR LATER, THERE WAS NO INDICATION ON THE COMMAND SYSTEM AS TO ANYTHING BEING WRONG. AT HOME, I REMOVED THE LEFT PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD AND SAW THAT THE TAIL LIGHT/BRAKE LIGHT BULBS WERE VERY DARK AND GAVE THE APPEARANCE OF HAVING FAILED. ON TESTING THEM WITH AN OHMMETER, I DISCOVERED THAT THEY IN FACT HAD NOT FAILED. EVEN SO I WANTED TO REPLACE THEM, AND ON THE 10TH, WHICH TURNS OUT TO BE 1 DAY AFTER MY 4 YEAR WARRANTY EXPIRED, I WENT BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE REP GAVE ME TWO REPLACEMENT BULBS. I CHANGED OUT THE OLD BULBS AND ALL APPEARED OKAY. HOWEVER, THE NEXT TIME I DROVE THE CAR LONG ENOUGH TO GET IT THOROUGHLY WARMED UP, I GOT INDICATIONS FROM THE COMMAND SYSTEM THAT NOT ONLY HAD A LEFT BRAKE LIGHT FAILED BUT ALSO THE RIGHT REAR TURN SIGNAL AND ALSO A RIGHT SIDE MARKER. I REMOVED THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT CIRCUIT BOARD AND FOUND A BURNED WIRE AND BURNED SPOT ON THE BOARD ITSELF. I SAW NOTHING ON THE LEFT REAR BOARD. ON THE 13TH, I CONSIDERED HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT DECIDED TO DRIVE IT. STANDING OUTSIDE THE CAR I SAW THAT THE RIGHT REAR TURN SIGNAL WASN'T WORKING AT TIMES, BUT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS APPEARED TO FUNCTION. IN SUMMARY, THERE APPEARED TO BE A MALFUNCTION IN ONE OR BOTH TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLIES THAT OCCURRED DUE TO HEAT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD ON THE RIGHT AND MADE OTHER NECESSARY AND RETURNED THE CAR IN WHAT APPEARS TO BE GOOD CONDITION. MY COST WAS 50% OF THE TOTAL.

Mileage: 39,000