2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300 Steering Problems

On [XXX] the car refused to start due to the electronic steering lock failure. The car was towed to the nearest Mercedes Benz Dealer at Stevens Creek Blvd, San Jose CA 95129. An inspection was done and Mercedes Benz wanted $3457.66 to replace the Steering Lock. This item is a recall item in other years of the C300 Mercedes Benz. Google shows: Mercedes-Benz has issued a recall for the Mercedes- Benz C-Class models, including the C300, due to potential steering lock issues. The recall specifically affects 2015- 2016 C300 models, as well as other C-Class variations like the 2017-2019 C300 Cabrio and Coupe. The recall is due to a potential problem with the Electronic Steering Lock (ESL) module, which is responsible for locking and unlocking the steering wheel. A faulty ESL module can prevent the steering wheel from unlocking, causing the vehicle to be unable to start. We feel that the recall should also apply to the C300 2008 model as it is exactly the same issue and completely incapacitates the car and is a danger to the public as involves the electronic steering. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

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

ESL failed suddenly. This appears to be a common problem with C300 MB. As such it should be part and f a recall as the expense to replace is over $2000.

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.

After repair done on the confirmed recall airbag computer/module my vehicle became immobile, malfuctioned. The vehicle warning lamps alerted the airbag malfunctioned, srs malfunction. I seeked service for repair of this recall by experts. This safety issue is still ongoing and urgency is needed for this to be resolved.

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.

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

STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AND THE CAR VEERED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT. VEHICLE FELT VERY UNSTABLE. WOULD OF BEEN HORRIBLE IF THE SURFACE WAS SNOW COVERED OR ICY. TOOK INTO A REPAIR FACILITY AND FOUND OUT THE REAR SUBFRAME HAS RUSTED TO THE POINT OF FAILURE. THE REAR TIRE COULD MOVE SEVERAL INCHES. SOMEBODY COULD BE KILLED OR SEVERELY INJURED.

Mileage: 105,000

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.

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

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

AFTER DRIVING COMPLETELY NORMALLY FOR OVER 30 MINUTES, I PARKED IN A LOT AND STEPPED OUT OF THE CAR WITHOUT ISSUE TO RUN AN ERRAND. AFTER GETTING BACK INTO THE CAR ONLY 5 MINUTES LATER, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THERE WAS NO NOISE, JUST AN MESSAGE ON THE DISPLAY: "REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION". NO OTHER LIGHTS CAME UP. THE KEY COULD TURN, BUT NOTHING ELSE HAPPEN. AFTER DETERMINING THAT IT WAS NOT A BATTERY OR ENGINE ISSUE, THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP THAT DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A FAILURE OF THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK, WHICH CAUSED THE NO START CONDITION. THIS WAS A SUDDEN FAILURE WITH NO WARNINGS, LEAVING DRIVER AND PASSENGERS COMPLETELY IMMOBILE. DEALERSHIP IS CHARGING OVER $1600 FOR REPLACEMENT, CITING THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL.

Mileage: 72,000

ISSUE: PARKED VEHICLE FAILED TO START. STEERING LOCKED. SHIFTER LOCKED. SUDDEN FAILURE, NO WARNINGS. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER DIAGNOSTIC: ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL) FAILED. AFFECTED P/N: 204-545-81-32. SPECIAL NOTES: (1) CAR MAINTAINED BY DEALER. OEM PARTS PURCHASED FROM DEALER. (2) THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME PART IS REPLACED BY THE DEALER ON THIS VEHICLE. LAST REPLACED IN 2012. (3) CONTACTED MB CUSTOMER CARE (CASE MANAGER) TO SHARE CONCERN. IMMEDIATELY STATED: "NOT A SAFETY CONCERN." NO INTEREST IN REPORTING ISSUE TO LEADERSHIP OR APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENT. SAFETY CONCERN AND RECOMMENDATIONS: (1) PAST HISTORY * AND LACK OF OEM INTERVENTION SUGGEST ESL COULD FAIL WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE COMPLETE STEERING CONTROL OF VEHICLE. (2) BOTH A FAILURE MODES AND EFFECTS ANALYSIS (FMEA) AND SYSTEM SAFETY ANALYSIS (SSA) SHOULD BE PERFORMED AND REPORTED TO NHTSA TO ASCERTAIN THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. (3) SAFETY SUMMARY REPORT OR OFFICIAL STATEMENT SHOULD BE SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC. * OVER 100 COMBINED COMPLAINTS REPORTED IN THIS WEBSITE, MB FORUMS, AND OFF-LINE.

Mileage: 109,000

I GOT OUT OF MY VEHICLE TO STOP AT AN ATM WHEN I GOT BACK INTO MY PARKED CAR IT WOULD NOT START. NONE OF THE DIAGNOSTICS WORKED. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK STOPPED WORKING. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE C300.

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

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

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

THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK MECHANISM FAILED, LOCKING THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH PREVENTED IGNITION AND THE ABILITY TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO MANUAL FOR TOWING. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED ON A PUBLIC ROADWAY IN ORDER TO ASSIST A LOST CHILD. AFTER THE POLICE ARRIVED TO ASSIST, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART, PUSHED, OR MOVED FURTHER OFF OF THE ROAD. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS REPAIR IS A COMMON COMPLAINT ON 2008 C300 CARS AND THE OEM PARTS WERE PART OF A BAD BATCH OF SUPPLIER PARTS.

Mileage: 106,000

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

VEHICLE PARKED AND LOCKED IN FRONT MY HOUSE. WHEN ATEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT UNLOCK. I TRIED TWO DIFFERENT KEY TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT STILL THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THERE IS NO WARNING LIGHT. MERCEDES BENZ ROADSIDE ASSISTANT WAS CALLED, AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALER. THEN, DEALER CONFIRMED THAT STEERING LOCK MODULE IN THE COLUMN HAS FAILED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACE, AND WILL COST $1100 PARTS, LABOR, AND TAX TO GET IT DONE EVEN WHEN I HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY. IT WAS SAID THAT THE SERVICE CONTRACT IS A NAMED COMPONENT WARRANTY AND THIS COMPONENT IS NOT ON THE LIST, SO IT IS NOT COVERED. THE VEHICLE IS NOW IN AT THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALER AND IS BEING WORKED ON.

CAR WON'T START AND SHOWED NO SYMPTOM. AFTER READING THE BLOG IT APPEARS A LOT PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME ISSUE AND DEALERSHIPS ARE THE ONLY AUTHORIZED TO WORK ON THEM AND TAKING PEOPLE HARD EARNED MONEY. IT STOPPED WORKING WORKING AT 18583 DALLAS PARKWAY SUITE 120 DALLAS, TX 75287 WHILE IT WAS PARKED. PARK PLACE MERCEDES IS WORKING ON THE VEHICLE AND CHARGING IS MORE THAN THOUSAND.

Mileage: 50,000

THE ELECTRON STEERING LOCK FAILED ON MY 2008 C300. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS THAT CAME ON PREVIOUSLY BUT THE CAR JUST DID NOT START ONE DAY. THIS PROBLEM IS PREVELANT AMONG MANY OWNERS SO MERCEDES SHOULD COVER THE COST OF REPAIR.

Mileage: 72,400

THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY STOP WORKING WHILE I AM DRIVING.

Mileage: 128,908

WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT A CERTAIN SPEED THE REAR END STARTS FISHTAILING MAKING IT HARD TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE

Mileage: 102,678

NEED TO HAVE A RECALL FOR CARS ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN SWITCH FAILURE. KEY SWITCH FAILURE CAUSED STEERING COLUMN TO LOCK WHILE VEHICLE IN MOTION. UNABLE TO TURN OR PULL OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD. CAR ENGINE STOPPED IN MIDDLE OF CITY STREET. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. DRIVER AND PASSENGERS UNABLE TO GET TO OR NO WHERE TO GO FOR SAFETY DUE TO HIGH VOLUME OF TRAFFIC. THERE ARE MANY NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND ISSUES PERTAINING TO THE MALFUNCTIONING KEY SWITCH SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND CAR RECALL INITIATED TO UPGRADE TO A SAFER MORE RELIABLE PART IMMEDIATELY.

Mileage: 162,000

STEERING LOCK MECHANISM FAULTY. STEERING LOCKED AND CAR INOPERABLE. CAR WAS PARKED. HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER.

Mileage: 80,000

EIS/ESL FAILED AT 100K DESPITE REGULAR MAINTENANCE

Mileage: 110,000

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

WHILE DRIVING ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING STOPPED WORKING. IT TURNED FREELY BOTH SIDES BUT THE CAR WAS GOING STRAIGHT. IT HAPPENED ON A CITY ROAD. IF IT HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY IT WOULD BE A DISASTER.

Mileage: 145,000

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

STEERING REFUSED TO UNLOCK AND THUS THE CAR WOULD NOT START. CAR WAS STATIONARY SITTING IN THE GARAGE.

Mileage: 80,000

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

Mileage: 90,000

ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL)GOES OUT DAMAGE WITHOUT REASON,HAPPEN ROUTINELY TO MOST OF THIS MODELS MECHANIC SHOPS AND DEALER STATED IT,VEHICLE PARKED WON'T UNLOCK STEERING OR SIMPLE RESTART

Mileage: 95,000

THE STEERING WHEEL ELECTRONIC LOCK, SHUT DOWN MY CAR. I DROVE TO THE DOCTORS OFFICE AND IT STOP WORKING. IT WOULD NOT START. I FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE 1000 OF COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.. BUT SINCE THERE ISN'T A RECALL WE WOULD BE SUBJECTED TO PAYING OUT OF OUR POCKET. ABOUT $950.

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

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

EIS ISSUE/STEERING WHEEL LOCK MODULE. VEHICLE WAS DISABLED AND WOULD NOT START DUE TO EIS/STEERING WHEEL LOCK MODULE COMPLICATION. VERY COMMON IN C300 MBZ

Mileage: 130,000

CAR SUDDENLY WOULD NOT START. STEERING LOCKED, IGNITION WOULD TURN, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. IN A LOANER CAR NOW. SAID IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $1200.00 TO FIX THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK PROBLEM. TECHNICIAN SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG C300. THIS IS AN OUTRAGE, AND MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE.

Mileage: 92,717

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

Mileage: 107,000

ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK FAIL CAR WON'T TURN ON

Mileage: 91,234

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

DRIVING AT NIGHT AND CAR WAS PARKED. TRIED TO START THE CAR BUT IT WON'T START AT ALL. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS A STEERING LOCK MECHANISM MALFUNCTION. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN SUBMITTED BY OTHER C300 OWNERS AND HAS BEEN A COMMON COMPLAINT. THERE IS A SAFETY CONCERN BY ALL OF US REGARDING THE PROBLEM ESPECIALLY IT CAN HAPPEN ANYTIME. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT THIS BE ESCALATED TO A RECALL FOR ALL AFFECTED MODELS FROM MERCEDES. IT IS UNFAIR TO US TO KEEP PAYING OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE REPAIR. MY CAR ONLY HAS 62200MILES IN IT.

Mileage: 62,200

ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK MOTOR FAILURE - CAR DID NOT START AND ENGINE NON-RESPONSIVE. ONLY THE DEALER AND MERCEDES BENZ AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOPS CAN FIX THIS ISSUE. UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.

Mileage: 75,250

THIS OCCURRED IN STATIONARY POSITION IN MY GARAGE. STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP WHEN PARKED WITH WHEELS FORWARD / TURNING KEY TO START ENGINE DOES NOT WORK. PER THE DEALER, THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION LOCK ANTI-THEFT CONTROL UNIT IS FAULTY. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF A PROBLEM PRIOR. THIS COULD LEAVE PEOPLE STRANDED IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS.

Mileage: 57,811

I STOPPED AT A KWIK TRIP (2006 N SPRING ST, BEAVER DAM, WI 53916) TO PUT GAS IN MY 2008 MERCEDES C300. CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER FILLING UP. MY STEERING WAS LOCKED AND SO WAS MY SHIFTING AS I WAS STUCK IN PARK. AFTER TROUBLESHOOTING THINGS SUCH AS THE BATTERY, FUSES, ETC I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND OUT MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN IN THE SAME SITUATION. THERE ARE VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE AND FORUMS WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF VIEWS AND NUMEROUS POSTS DESCRIBING WHAT SEEMS TO BE A ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL) OR ELECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM (EIS). I KNOW MERCEDES HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE ARGUED IT IS NOT A SAFETY HAZARD BUT THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES WHERE IT CAN BE A BIG SAFETY HAZARD. LUCKILY IT WAS SUMMER HERE IN WISCONSIN WHERE I WAS STUCK AT THAT GAS STATION FROM 7:30PM - 1:00AM. SO ESSENTIALLY THE PROBLEM HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH FILLING UP WITH GASOLINE. IT IS JUST WITH THE CAR SUDDENLY NOT STARTING. IT IS A ESL FAILURE AND IT ISN'T ONLY A SAFETY HAZARD, MERCEDES IS CHARGING 1300-1900 FOR WHAT THEY ACKNOWLEDGE HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE WITH CERTAIN MODELS! I FILED THIS THANKS TO A FORUM, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER THERE IS A LOT OF EVIDENCE OF THIS ON THE WEB.

Mileage: 88,000

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

TRIED TO START THE CAR TOTALLY DEAD, STEERING COLUMN LOCKED, TOWED IT TO THE MECHANIC THE MECHANIC STATES THAT HE IS TRYING TO PURCHASE THE PART FROM MERCEDES. MERCEDES STATES THAT THE CAR MIGHT HAVE TO TOWED THERE BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THEY HAVE TO HANDLE THE REPAIR. WAITING TO HEAR IF MERCEDES WILL SELL THE PART 8/1/16. OBVIOUSLY A RECALL ISSUE HOW CAN THE GOVERNMENT HELP US WITH THIS OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.

Mileage: 122,115

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

I WENT TO THE CINEMA AS REGULAR DAY, NO RAIN NOR HOT. WHEN I'M BACK AFTER 2 HOURS, THE CAR SUDDENLY COULD NOT START WITHOUT WARNINGS OR ANYTHING ELSE. THE LIGHT STILL GOOD, BATTERY IS GOOD, RADIO STILL ON. SO I WENT ON RESEARCH AND THERE ARE TONS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS C300 MODEL ON THE STEERING LOCK PROBLEM. I DON'T KNOW WHY MERCEDES BENZ LET IT HAPPEN, THERE ARE NO FAULT FROM CUSTOMERS; THEY SHOULD RECALL TO CHANGE THE STEER WHEEL, WHICH EASY COST YOU $1,600. I WOULD NOT HAPPY AT ALL FOR MERCEDES BENZ QUALITY CONTROL SINCE IT LET THE C300 HAS THAT DEFAULT WITHOUT ANY NOTICES OR ATTEMPT TO ALERT CONSUMERS.

Mileage: 87,000

MALFUNCTIONING ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT WHICH SEEMS TO BE A COMMON DEFECT FOR MB W204

08 MERCEDES C300W -- WENT INTO H.E.B FOR 5 MINS, CAR WAS STATIONED ON FLAT SURFACE. RETURNING TO VEHICLE I INSERTED THE KEY, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR WOULD NOT START, NO CRANK WHAT SO EVER. LIGHTS AND RADIO WORKED, BUT THE WINDOWS, STEERING AND SHIFTER WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. DEALER SAYS ITS THE STEERING LOCK AND LOTS OF CUSTOMERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM; UNFORTUNATELY, MERCEDES HAS NOT PUT A RECALL ON IT AS OF YET. TOTAL COST $1,500.00 AS OF 07/05/2016. PART 575.00 DIAGNOSE 175.00 AND LABOR 750.00 WOW. I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER MERCEDES. I NOW KNOW HOW TO RESPOND TO THOSE WHO ASK HOW I FEEL ABOUT MERCEDES. VERY DISAPPOINTING.

Mileage: 90,000

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

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

ON 3/6/16 THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT GAS STATION FOR A FEW MINUTES. UPON MY RETURN TO THE CAR, THE CAR WOULDN'T START. CONTACTED ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEY TRIED IN VAIN TO START CAR. HAD TO TOW VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP. NEXT DAY, MECHANIC TESTED AND RAN DIAGNOSTICS - FOUND BAD EZL STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY. MILEAGE WAS 92950 AT TIME OF FAILURE. COST $1200. HAD TO WAIT A WEEK TO GET PARTS AND FOR REPAIR. RENTAL EXPENSE WAS AN ADDITIONAL $200. GRAND TOTAL - $1400.

Mileage: 92,956

COULD NOT START MY CAR WHILE STATIONARY. PUT KEY IN THE IGNITION AND GOT A MESSAGE ON THE DASH TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION. NO DASH LIGHTS CAME ON. THERE WAS NO CLICKING OR NOISE...IT WAS JUST DEAD. THE ALARM SYSTEM AND HEADLIGHT AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE ALL WORKING SO IT WAS NOT THE BATTERY. I CALLED ROADSIDE AND THE GAVE ME A JUMP, BUT CONFIRMED THAT MY BATTERY WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON SATURDAY NIGHT AFTER WAITING FOR 5 HOURS. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT EVEN CONDUCT THE DIAGNOSTICS ON THE CAR UNTIL TUESDAY AFTERNOON. THEY DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING LOCK WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $1000. THEY DID NOT EVEN OFFER TO LOAN ME A CAR, OR ASK IF I NEEDED TRANSPORTATION. SO ESSENTIALLY THEY LEFT THEIR CUSTOMER STRANDED! THIS IS NOT THE SERVICE THAT IS EXPECTED FROM MERCEDES! I HAVE HAD CARS (ACURA AND BMW) LONGER THAN MY 2008 C300 WITH MORE MILES WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE A REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING LOCK. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG ALL MERCEDES AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER.

Mileage: 118,000

ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK FAILURE. COULDN'T GET CAR STARTED. ONLY 63K MILES. WHY HAS THIS ISSUE NOT BEING RECALLED YET?

Mileage: 63,000

CARS STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP WHILE CAR WAS PARKED SEVERAL TIMES AND AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS WITH THE KEYS IT EVENTUALLY STARTED UP. BUT ONE DAY I PARKED IT AND IT WOULD NOT START UP AT ALL. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO MERCEDES SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS THE EIS AND THAT IT WOULD COST 1300 DOLLARS TO REPAIR. DID RESEARCH ONLINE AND NOTICED THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE FOR THIS VEHICLE YEARS 2008-2009 AND THAT THIS IS MORE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A MERCEDES BENZ RECALL RATHER THAN PASSING THIS COST OFF TO THE CONSUMER. I TALKED THIS OVER WITH THE SERVICE TECH AND HE STATED THAT HE GETS NUMEROUS VEHICLES IN FOR THIS SERVICE AND THAT HE ANTICIPATES THAT THIS WILL EVENTUALLY BE A RECALL IN THE FUTURE BUT PRESENTLY I WOULD NEED TO PAY UP FRONT AND WAIT FOR THE RECALL TO BE GENERATED BY MERCEDES. THIS IS UNFAIR THAT A DEFECTIVE PART IS BEING PASSED ON TO THE CUSTOMER, MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 50,000 AND IT IS APPARENT THAT THIS PART GOES BAD ON THE VEHICLE JUST ABOUT THE TIME THE WARRANTY EXPIRES. MERCEDES NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND IT'S VEHICLE AND SATISFY ITS CUSTOMERS WITH A RECALL OF THIS PART.

Mileage: 50,000

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REMOTE KEY FAILED TO START THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE PEDAL LOCKED UP, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED, AND THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO COME OUT OF PARK. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

Mileage: 90,000

CAR WILL NOT START, FAILURE IN THE ELECTRICAL STEERING SYSTEM

I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 MERCEDES 300C, PARKED THE CAR FOR LESS THAN 10 MINUTES RETURNED TO LEAVE AND IT WOULD NOT START. THE KEY LOCKS AND UNLOCKS THE DOORS, THE LIGHTS COME ON, THE RADIO TURNS ON, AND THE DASH LIGHTS UP. YOU CAN INSERT AND TURN THE KEY BUT THE CAR WILL NOT START. THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND THE DRIVE IS LOCKED IN PARK. I TRIED JUMPING IT AND IT DID NOTHING I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS THE BATTERY BUT HAD IT CHECKED ANYWAYS. NOW I'M STRANDED AND HAD TO CALL AAA AND WAIT FOR 2 AND 1/2 HOURS TO HAVE IT TOWED ON A FLAT BED BY A 2ND TOW DRIVER(THE 1ST TOW TRUCK COULDN'T TOW IT BECAUSE THE CAR WOULDN'T SHIFT IN NEUTRAL) TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE EIS AND STEERING LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE COST WAS $1647.24. AFTER RESEARCHING EIS REPLACEMENT THIS IS A COMMON AMONG AMONG MANY MODELS AND MERCEDES SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS.

Mileage: 78,921

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

MY C300 WAS FUNCTIONING PERFECTLY WITH NO ISSUES. WHEN I CAME OUT TO START THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY. I HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT'S THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK FAIL. I LOOKED THIS UP AND IT IS SOMETHING VERY COMMON WITH THE 2009 MODEL. THERE ARE SEVERAL POST ON THE INTERNET ASKING FOR THIS TO BE A RECALL ITEM. THIS IS THE SECOND OR THIRD TIME. THIS NEEDS A RECALL.

Mileage: 87,000

ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK FAIL OR EIS THE CAR WILL NOT START

Mileage: 95,000

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

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

ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILED

Mileage: 102,000

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

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

PARK THIS CAR ON MY DAUGHTER SCHOOL AFTER CLASS TURN OFF WHEN TRAY TO STAR ENGINE NOTHING HAPPENS THE STEERING LOCK DOESN'T WORK AND SHUT DOWN ALL CAR COST ME 1600 PLUS TWO WEEK RENT A CAR BECAUSE DE PART HAVE TO BUY ON GERMANY BELIEVE IT OR NOT THE PART COST $350 TWO HRS DEALER WORK $1250

Mileage: 65,367

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

I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY C300 FOR THE LAST 3-4 YEARS AND HAVE MULTIPLE ISSUES RANGING FROM STEERING PUMP FAILURE TO CONDENSOR ISSUES AND LIGHTING ISSUES INCLUDING A RECALL FOR THE TAIL LIGHTS. YESTERDAY AFTER HAVING PARKED MY CAR FOR ALMOST 4 DAYS SINCE I COMMUTE FOR WORK AND TAKE TRAIN, UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS NO IGNITION. I COULD SEE THE LIGHTS INSIDE THE CAR INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER WAS VISIBLE AND I CAN ACTIVATE THE LOCKS WITH KEY, BUT ENGINE WOULD NOT START. CAR IS STANDING IN PARK POSITION SO I CANNOT EVEN MOVE IT TO NEUTRAL. I CALLED MBENZ ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT IS RELATED TO STEERING LOCK. NOW THAT I GOT IT TOWED, CHECKED WITH MECEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP I HAVE TO PAY ALMOST 1000$ JUST FOR THIS STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTION. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN OCCURRING TO A LOT OF C300 2008 MODELS. THIS SHOULD BE SEEN AS A SERIOUS ISSUE AS VEHICLE IS TOTALLY NON-FUNCTIONAL. MY WORK IS EFFECTED AND MISSED A COUPLE BUSINESS MEETINGS.

Mileage: 78,000

MY CAR DID NOT RESPOND WHEN I TRIED TO START AND THE STEERING WAS LOCKED AND I COULD NOT FIRE THE IGNITION. I TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST MERCEDES SHOWROOM AND THEY SAID THAT THE STEERING WAS LOCKED AND SHOULD BE REPLACED WHICH WILL COST ME $1100. I HAVE READ COUPLE OF POSTS ONLINE AND I SEE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND IT IS REALLY BAD THAT MERCEDES DID NOT FIX THIS AND NOT EVEN TAKING CARE OF THE VEHICLES WHICH ARE EFFECTED.

Mileage: 65,000

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

THE CAR CUT OFF AND THEN WOULD NOT STAR TOR GO INTO GEAR AFTER THAT. TRIED USING BOTH KEYS WITH NO RESPONSE FROM THE VEHICLE.

Mileage: 67,000

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

PARKED THE CAR AND WENT TO WORK. CAME BACK AND THE CAR COULDN'T START. HAD TO TOW TO THE DEALERS PLACE LAST NIGHT. TODAY, GOT A CALL FROM THEM SAYING THE STEERING GOT LOCKED AND SAID TAT IT IS VERY COMMON ON THESE CARS. IT WILL COST ABOUT $1200 TO TEAR UP STEERING AND CHANGE THE ESL. BY CHECKING ONLINE Y'DAY EVENING AND TODAY, I CAME TO KNOW, THIS IS NOT NEW AND MOST OF THE 2008/2009 C300 HAVE THIS ISSUE. WE ASKED DEALERS NOT TO REPAIR IT AS THEY ARE WAITING ON OUR WORD. I AM PLANNING TO CONTACT THE BENZ CUSTOMER SERVICE FIRST AND SEE WHAT THEY SAY. THEN I WILL GO AN ATTORNEY AND FILE THE COMPLAINT. I DO SEE THAT CUSTOMER SERVICE DID NOT EVEN RESPOND TO THE REQUEST. SO, I DO NOT WANT WASTE MY TIME BY CALLING THEM AND GETTING UPSET. THEY HAVE THE DETAILS AND CONTACT INFO IF THEY WANT TO CONTACT ME. WE BUY BENZ FOR RELIABILITY AND THAT VERY POINT IS NOT TRUE LOOKING AT THIS ISSUE AND CHECKING THE ONLINE COMPLAINTS. LUCKILY WE DO HAVE A 3RD CAR THAT OUR SON USES AND I CAN LEAVE BENZ IN GARAGE UNTIL THIS ISSUE GETS FIXED FROM BENZ CORPORATION.

Mileage: 70,000

CAR WILL NOT START - DID A SEARCH COMMON FAULT STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAIL - MERCEDES NEEDS TO RECALL FIX FOR FREE

Mileage: 65,000

I WENT TO A STORE AND WHEN A RETURN BACK FOR MY CAR, MY MERCEDES BENZ C300 2088 DIDN'T START, I THOUGH IT WAS THE KEY BUT WHEN I USE MY OTHER KEY DIDN'T WORK ETHER. I TOWED MY CAR AND TOOK IT TO THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALER. NOW THE TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE STEERING COLUMN LOO AND THEY WANT ME TO CARGO ME OVER $1400. I DON'T THINK IS FARE BECAUSE IT IS A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM, A LOT O PEOPLE IS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME THINK, EVEN THE EMPLOYES TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE ONE CAR A WEEK FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THAT HAS TO BE A RECALL. I'M NOT PAYING FOR A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM. LETS DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

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

WAS MAKING A TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND GAS WOULD NOT WORK. CAR SLOWED TO THE STOP AND I HAD TO TURN OFF AND TURN BACK ON. 5 MINUTES LATER WAS DRIVING AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AGAIN AND CAR SLOWED TO A STOP. HAD TO GET CAR TOWED WHEN IT WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON.

Mileage: 84,000

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

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 SERPENTINE BELT SHREDDED FOR THE THIRD TIME AFTER HAVING IT REPLACED TWICE WITHIN FOUR WEEKS. AS OF 4/15/2015 THIS CAR WILL HAVE ITS 4TH BELT INSTALLED. CLEARLY THE TENSIONER AND PULLEY(S) ARE MAJORLY DEFECTED. EACH TIME THESE INCIDENTS WERE LIFE THREATENING FOR ME AND MY DAUGHTERS. WE WERE SIMPLY BLESSED NOT HAVE BEEN HIT BY OTHER DRIVERS WHEN THE CAR LOST TOTAL CONTROL WITH NO STEERING POWER. EACH TIME OF THE CAR'S MALFUNCTION, I WAS SURROUNDED BY OTHER DRIVERS, MOVING WITH THE STEADY FLOW OF TRAFFIC.THESE ARE SERIOUS ISSUES. I CAN'T IMAGINE IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT A FASTER PACE. NOW I AM FACING THE EXPENSE OF REPLACING THE BELT FOR THE THIRD TIME(MAKING THIS THE 4TH BELT), REPLACING THE PARTS, THE COST OF LABOR, AND THE COST FOR A RENTAL DURING THE REPAIR TIME. MERCEDES SHOULD BE HONORABLE AND DEMAND A RECALL ON THESE PARTS IMMEDIATELY, BEFORE SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATH(S) OCCUR. THIS COUNTRY DOES NOT NEED TO BE REMINDED OF THE SENSELESS BEHAVIORS OF THE FORD PINTO OR THE MOST RECENT, TOYOTA TRAGEDIES. MERCEDES CAN CONTROL THE OUTCOME OF THESE SITUATIONS WITH A SIMPLE RECALL. THE COST OF THE PARTS IN BULK OR WHOLESALE WOULD BE A VERY SMALL PRICE COMPARED TO THE HEARTACHE OF LOOSING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OR CAUSING THE ULTIMATE RESULT - DEATH! *TR

Mileage: 51,000

MY WIFE WAS GOING TO TAKE MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL WENT TO START THE CAR AND CAR WON'T START. THE KEY WOULD TURN LIGHT S WORK BUT ENGINE WOULDN'T TURN OVER HAD IT TOWED TO GAINESVILLE MERCEDES WHERE THEY SAID THE STEERING INTERLOCK SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1200.00. THERE ARE LOTS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME ISSUE LUCKY MY WIFE WAS NOT ALONE AT AND THIS HAPPENED NO WARNING AT ALL!! *TR

Mileage: 107,000

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 C CLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING SYSTEM SEIZED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

Mileage: 70,000

I DROVE TO WORK ON THE 29TH, AND TO AND BACK AN APPOINTMENT, I WENT TO LEAVE WORK THAT EVENING AND MY CAR WOULD NOT START. THE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. AND WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ICE STORM, I CALLED MERCEDES ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE AND I GUESS MY ASSISTANCE EXPIRED SO THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE $175 TO TOW MY CAR, SO I USED MY VERIZON ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO PICK UP AND TAKE TO A FRIENDS SHOP TO FIX BUT BECAUSE OF THE STORM I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET MY CAR PICKED UP FOR 25 HOURS AND SINCE IT WAS FRIDAY NIGHT BY THAT TIME MY CAR DIDN'T GET LOOKED AT BY MY FRIENDS REPAIR SHOP UNTIL MONDAY 4 DAYS LATER I FIND OUT THAT THE VEHICLE CANT BE FIXED BY ANYONE ELSE BUT MERCEDES, BECAUSE EVERYTHING IN THE CAR IS SEIZED UP AND NO ONE KNEW HOW TO GET IT UNSEIZED. SO MONDAY AT NOON I CALLED MERCEDES ROADSIDEAGAIN TO GET THE CAR TOWED AGAIN. BECAUSE OF THE WONDERFUL CUSTOMER SERVICE FROM THE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TEAM AT MERCEDES THEY ENDED UP SENDING 3 TOW TRUCKS OVER TO PICK MY CAR UP, THE FIRST ONE SHOWED UP AFTER MY FIRST SHOP CLOSED, THE SECOND TOW TRUCK WAS UNABLE TO PICK UP THE CAR BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW IT WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR SO FINALLY ANOTHER 24 HOURS HAD PAST BEFORE THEY GOT MY CAR WHICH IS 1/4 OF A MILE AWAY FROM THE REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS. MY CAR HAS BEEN BROKE FOR ALMOST A WHOLE WEEK KNOW AND STILL KNOW ONE KNOWS WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR IN THE MEAN TIME THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO LOANER CAR FOR ME TO USE AND I SPENT 3 HOURS SITIING IN A DISABLED CAR IN AN ICE STORM WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO COME AND GET ME. IT REALLY SOUNDS LIKE THE SAME PROBLEM EVERYONE ELSE ON THIS SITE HAS EXPERIENCED WHO KNOWS HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE THEM TO KFIGURE IT OUT AT THIS PACE, I WILL UPDATE THIS IF I EVER FIND OUT. *TR

Mileage: 96,000

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

MY CAR WOULD NOT START, BUT THE KEY TURNED OVER. I HAD IT TOWED AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK, AND MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN REPAIR IT. I WAS TOLD THAT A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED FOR THIS PART. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I DID RESEARCH AND SAW THAT HUNDREDS OF CARS OF THE SAME MODEL HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS PART. I INFORMED THE DEALER THAT I WAS AMAZED THAT THERE IS NOT A RECALL BECAUSE IT IS EVIDENT THAT THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THIS PRODUCT AND MERCEDES NEEDS TO ADDRESS IT, AND I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. MY SERVICE ADVISOR ADMITTED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS PART BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. THE GENERAL MANAGER FORWARDED MY CONCERNS TO MERCEDES. THEY CALLED ME BACK AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. IT IS BETWEEN THE DEALER AND ME, SO AS OF NOW, I AM PROBABLY GONNA END UP PAYING NEARLY A $1000 FOR A PART THAT IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT THERE IS NOT ONE! *TR

Mileage: 55,000

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 WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

Mileage: 150,000

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

C300 2008 WITH 217,000 MILES. WENT TO START CAR AND IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. POWER EVERYWHERE BUT THE ENGINE. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS. STEERING LOCKED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. SAME COMPLAINT AS HUNDREDS OF OTHERS ON THIS SITE AND MANY MORE READ ONLINE AT VARIOUS SITES. SHOULD BE A RECALL FROM MERCEDES. OVER $1,500 IN REPAIR COSTS. ALSO PROBLEMS WITH FRONT LIGHTS SAME AS REAR LIGHTS THAT ARE ON RECALL. MERCEDES WOULD NOT REPAIR THE FRONT LIGHTS AND WANTED TO CHARGE OVER $700 TO FIX ONE LIGHT. WITH 217K MILES AND BARELY ANY OTHER REPAIRS I SUPPOSE I SHOULD BE HAPPY BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING COMPLAINT FROM SO MANY IT IS OBVIOUSLY AN ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 217,000

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE STEERING SEIZED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,005.

Mileage: 100,005

PARKED IN THE GARAGE AT NIGHT IN THE MORNING IT WOULD NOT START, STEERING LOCKED, TRANSMISSION LOCKED AND THE WORSE THE TIRES WERE HALF TURNED, AFTER 3 HOURS WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT OUT AND TOW IT TO MBZ DEALER, AFTER 2 DAYS DIAGNOSED AS IGNITION FAILURE AND STEERING LOCKED, IT TOOK 5 DAYS TO GET REPAIRED AT A $1000.00, FROM DAY ONE THIS CAR ONLY SERVICED BY MBZ DEALER AND I SEE SO MANY SAME COMPLAINTS BY OWNERS AND CANNOT BELIEVE MBZ WONT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE, NOW I'M KIND OF SCARRED IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE I'M DRIVING. *TR

Mileage: 104,000

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

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,918.

Mileage: 51,918

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND NO WARNING SENSORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

Mileage: 101,000

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

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

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

I WENT TO START MY CAR AFTER JUST USING IT AND IT DID NOT START. THE LIGHTS WORKED, RADIO WORKED, EVERYTHING BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE CAR WOULDN'T EVEN TURN OVER AS IF IT WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN ON. I REMOVED THE BATTERY AND GOT IT CHECKED. AUTO ZONE STATED THE BATTERY WAS AT 79% BUT THIS SHOULD NOT KEEP THE CAR FROM RUNNING. I GOT MY CAR TOWED TO THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP IN GEORGETOWN TX. I WAS ADVISED AFTER THE DIAGNOSTIC WAS RAN THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE "STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY" NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WITH PARTS AND LABOR I WAS QUOTED ABOUT $1,067. *TR

Mileage: 65,000

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS ABLE TO TURN FROM THE ON AND OFF POSITION BUT WOULD NOT START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,952.

Mileage: 108,952

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENGINE, THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK ENGAGED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSE THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

Mileage: 113,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO START AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,800.

Mileage: 50,800

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND I FELT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HAVING WEIRD PROBLEM WHEN I WAS TRYING TO TURN, AFTER I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND IT DIDN'T TURN BACK TO ITS OWN POSITION, SO I HAD TO TURN IT BY MYSELF. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE POWER STEERING PUMP OR THE RACK HAD PROBLEM, BUT THEN I BOUGHT TO THE SHOP AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE PUMP AND THE RACK WORKED FINE AND THEY DID RUN COMPUTERIZE ON MY CAR AND COULDN'T SEE ANY PROBLEM, BUT WHEN HE DROVE HE DID FELT SOMETHING IS WEIR FROM THE STEERING WHEEL STIFFNESS AND STILL NOW WE ALL DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME MY CAR IS STILL VERY NEW, IT HAS BEEN 6 YEARS, IT HAS ONLY 39,654 AND IT SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM YET AT THIS TIME. *TR

Mileage: 39,654

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PARTS WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN WERE DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

Mileage: 56,000

SHAME ON YOU MERCEDES BENZ! IT APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE THAT THE STEERING LOCK GOES OUT LEAVING YOUR LOYAL CUSTOMERS STRANDED WITH NO ABILITY TO START THE CAR. OK! NOW, I AM TOLD THE COST TO REPAIR IS $1450 FOR THE PART AND THE LABOR. LOOKS LIKE MY NEXT CAR WILL BE A BMW! (STEERING LOCK WENT OUT AT 80K- LEAVING THE CAR UNABLE TO START). *TR

Mileage: 80,000

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

STEERING LOCKED! NO RESPONSE FROM THE MAIN PANEL, I CAN JUST LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DOORS. *TR

Mileage: 140,040

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING LOCK FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Mileage: 80,000

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

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

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

Mileage: 7,500