2008 MERCEDES BENZ C350 Steering Problems

The ESL system malfunction causes either steering lock or ignition switch to fail resulting in a failure to start the vehicle creating safety issues and a failure to reach safe destination. This problem is reported to be an extremely common issue in the Mercedes Benz W204 C-Class models.

All of a sudden, the car would not start and inserting the key and turning doesn't do anything. Turns out that like many other folks, the Electronic Steering Lock module is faulty and preventing the car from starting. Found out that only the dealer can fix it and mercedes provides the replacement part. The cost is unaffordable at $2200 from the dealer and the part is back ordered and won't be available for approximately 2 months. This is completely unacceptable and mercedes should prioritize and fix this issue as a safety issue with a recall since it completely makes the car non-driveable and nobody but the dealer can fix this, which allows the dealer to charge any amount they like.

The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz C350. The contact attempted to start the vehicle however, the vehicle failed to start-up. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle Electronic Steering Lock failure. The vehicle was currently being repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 78,000.

Mileage: 78,000

ON SUNDAY, JUNE 27, UPON RETURNING TO MY CAR I DISCOVERED THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT DISENGAGE THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK TO ALLOW ME TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH TO THE ON POSITION OR STEER THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE GEARSHIFT COULD NOT BE DISLODGED FROM THE PARK POSITION. I CONTACTED AAA. A TEST OF BATTERY REVEALED THAT IT WAS FULLY CHARGED. I WAS ABLE TO MANUALLY DISENGAGE THE GEAR SHIFT AND PLACE THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, HOWEVER, THE CAR WAS UNABLE TO BE LOADED ON TO THE FLATBED TOW-TRUCK, AS THE FRONT WHEELS WERE LOCKED AT AN ANGLE AND I WAS PARKED IN PARKING SPACE, BETWEEN THE SIDEWALK TO MY FRONT AND RIGHT SIDE AND A CAR TO MY LEFT. I WAS FORCED TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE AND FIND AN ALTERNATIVE MEANS OF GETTING HOME. FIVE DAYS AND NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS LATER, AAA WAS FINALLY ABLE TO RETRIEVE MY VEHICLE. CONVERSATION WITH MECHANICS AT MB DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS MB TRAINED PRIVATE MECHANIC IDENTIFIED PROBLEM AS DEFECTIVE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH (EIS/ EZS) AND ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL/ ELV). CONTACTED MBUSA CORPORATE OFFICE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR (APPROXIMATELY $1,600) WAS MINE, SINCE, DESPITE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING SIMILAR MECHANICAL ISSUE, THERE IS NOT A RECALL

Mileage: 71,906

STEERING WHEEL LOCKS WITHOUT WARNING, SHUTTING OFF CONTROL TO THE VEHICLE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE GEAR SHIFT. PROBLEM OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING AND CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS AS WELL AS LEAVE YOU STRANDED WITHOUT AWAY OF STARTING YOUR CAR OR DRIVING IT SAFELY.

Mileage: 133,000

VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT START.

Mileage: 70,000

VEHICLE FAILED TO START/CRANK AFTER ONLY 28,000 MILES. CAUSE WAS A FAILED ESL (ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK) PART OF THE ELECTRONIC THEFT SYSTEM THAT TIES WITH THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH. THE FAILURE OF THIS PART DISABLES THE CAR AND IS UNUSABLE. THIS ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL, W204 - C-CLASS 300/350, HAS AN ABNORMAL AMOUNT OF REPORTS VIA MERCEDES BENZ INTERNET FORUMS ABOUT THIS VERY FAILURE. 13 PAGES WORTH ON ONE. GIVEN THE LOW AMOUNT OF MILES ON MY VEHICLE, THE FAILURE RATE SEEMS UNREASONABLY HIGH. THE PART FAILURE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE USE/ABUSE OF THE VEHICLE.

Mileage: 28,000

ESL FAILED IN UNLOCKED POSITION, CAR WONT START.

Mileage: 115,000

ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL) GOES OUT DAMAGED WITHOUT REASON, HAPPENED ALL OF A SUDDEN TO MY PARKED CAR. CAR SIMPLY WON'T ATTEMPT TO START AND STEERING HIS COMPLETELY LOCKED. ONLY OPTION IS TO TOW IT TO THE SHOP AND A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR FIX. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF CASES ALREADY REGISTERED ON THIS AND IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS PART USED IN MANY MERCEDES CARS.

Mileage: 82,500

STEERING LOCK ISSUE. ENGINE DOES NOT CRANK AND CAR DOES NOT START. UPON INSERTING KEY, AN MESSAGE POPS UP ASKING TO REMOVE THE KEY. STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND CAR STUCK IN PARK. DUE TO THE CONFIGURATION OF MY PARKING GARAGE AND THE FACT THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED, IT TOOK ME SEVERAL DAYS AND 4 DIFFERENT TOW TRUCKS TO SUCCESSFULLY TOW THE CAR 1.5 MILES TO MY LOCAL MB DEALERSHIP. THE DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR OF THE FAULTY STEERING LOCK, WHICH THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAYS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WITH MY MODEL, TOOK AN ENTIRE WEEK. I WAS TOLD MB DOES NOT OFFER A LOANER CAR IN THIS SITUATION. ALL IN ALL, IT TOOK MY 2 WEEKS TO FINALLY GET MY CAR WORKING AGAIN. THE REPAIR WAS $1,200. ADD IN THE 4 TOW TRUCKS, AND 2 WEEKS OF RENTAL CAR AND THIS WAS EASILY A $2,000 ISSUE. MB SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL GIVEN THAT THIS ISSUE IS SO PREVALENT AND CLEARLY A FAULT WITH THE STEERING LOCK PART.

Mileage: 80,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C350. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT THE IGNITION FAILED TO TURN OVER AND START. A WARNING INDICATOR TO REMOVE THE KEY APPEARED. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED AND WOULD NOT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL STEERING LOCK MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DECLINED TO FILE A COMPLAINT UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,000. UPDATED 10/04/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE OLD PARTS AND REPAIR RECEIPT ARE AVAILABLE. UPDATED 10/13/16.*JB

Mileage: 77,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C350. WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH, A CLICKING SOUND WAS HEARD AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Mileage: 100,000

STATIONARY VEHICLE NO START, NO CRANK WITHOUT WARNING WHILE PARKED ON A CITY STREET. FAILURE WITHIN THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK. VEHICLE WILL NOT RECOGNIZE THE DRIVERS KEY. DRIVER AND PASSENGERS LEFT DANGEROUSLY STRANDED WHERE EVER THE VEHICLE IS PARKED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS. THIS FAILURE MAKES IT UNABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL POSITION FOR TOWING.

Mileage: 36,617

ONLY 45,000 MILES ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK FAILED NEED TO TOW THE CAR.

THIS IS THE 2ND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME SAME ISSUE WITH THE EIS STEERING MECHANISM. FIRST TIME I PAID OVER $800 TO HAVE THE PART REPLACED THEN SECOND TIME I AM BEING CHARGED OVER $900 & THAT'S WITH A DISCOUNT! I COMPLAINED & MERCEDES DOES NOT CARE! VERY FRUSTRATING WHEN YOU THINK YOU PURCHASED A CAR FOR RELIABILITY & QUALITY BUT IT IS ALWAYS BREAKING DOWN. MERCEDES KNOWS THE PROBLEM & IS WELL AWARE OF IT BUT WILL NOT FIX IT BECAUSE THEY ARE MAKING A LOT OF MONEY FROM IT! I WAS AT THE GAS STATION READY TO LEAVE & CAR WOULD NOT START. THE LIGHTS WERE ON & RADIO BUT NO LUCK GETTING THE KEY TO TURN AT ALL. HAD TO GET A TOW TRUCK & PAY MORE BECAUSE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO NEUTRAL. I WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN & THEY COULD NOT HELP WITH ANY DISCOUNTS EITHER! JUST NOT RIGHT! SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!!!

Mileage: 100,000

THE VEHICLE LEFT ME STRANDED AND LOCKED OUT. I WAS UNABLE TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL PREVENTING A PROPER TOW.

Mileage: 80,000

MY 2008 C350 FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING, I CALLED AAA TO COME CHECK THE BATTERY AND THEY SAID THE BATTERY WAS GOOD. I ALSO NOTICED THAT MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT UNLOVK WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED. I CALLED AAA AGAIN AND REQUESTED TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED TO TELL ME THAT MY STEERING COLUMN AND EIS BOTH FAILED AND IT WOULD COST AROUND $1500 TO REPLACE. I WENT ON THE MBUSA FORUM WEBSITE AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, I EVEN SAW A CAMPAIGN NUMBER LISTED FOR THE EIS. IF THESE DEFECTS ARE KNOWN ISSUES AND SINCE THEY FAIL WITHOUT WARNING AND COULD CAUSE THE EIS TO FAIL AND ALONG WITH THE STEERING COLUMN TO LOCK WHILE THE DRIVER IS DRIVING CAUSING AN ACCIDENT OR LEAVING A FAMILY STRANDED, I'M NOT TO SURE WHY THIS SAFETY ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED AND ADDRESSED YET. DO WE NEED PEOPLE TO DIE IN VEHICLE ACCIDENTS FROM THESE PARTS FAILING BEFORE WE DO THE RIGHT THING AND RECALL THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS? I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT MY PARTS FAILED WHEN I WASN'T DRIVING BECAUSE I MIGHT NOT BE THE ONE WRITING THIS COMPLAINT, IT WOULD BE MY DAUGHTERS AND WIFE WRITING AND CRYING BECAUSE A KNOWN DEFECT WAS NOT CORRECTED IN A TIMELY MANNER AND IT TOOK MY LIFE AND POSSIBLY OTHERS. LET'S BE PROACTIVE AND NOT REACTIVE!

I DROVE WITHOUT PROBLEM TO A LOCAL STORE, LESS THAN 4 MILES AWAY. I WAS IN THE STORE 5 MINUTES. WHEN I CAME OUT AND TRIED TO START MY CAR, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED IN PLACE AND THE DASH SAID "TAKE KEY FROM IGNITION". THE LIGHTS AND RADIO WORKED, HOWEVER THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT WORK AND THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON. ALSO, THE SHIFT WAS STUCK IN "PARK" AND COULD NOT BE PLACED INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT AN OVERRIDE.

Mileage: 88,700

STEERING LOCK FAILURE: I CAN NOT TURN WHEELS AND START THE ENGINE. A LOT OF MERCEDES CUSTOMERS COMPLAINTS ABOUT EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS TO BE TOWED AND REPAIR ONLY BY THE DEALER. IT SHOULD QUALIFIED FOR RECALL!!!

Mileage: 60,097

2008 MERCEDES BENZ C350 - 70,677 AFTER DRIVING THE CAR IN THE MORNING, I WENT TO CRANK THE CAR LATER IN THE DAY AND IT WOULD NOT START. IGNITION WOULD TURN, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED - ONLY A CLICKING SOUND WHEN I REMOVED THE KEY. LOCKS, ALARM, LIGHTS (INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR), RADIO AND AIR CONDITIONER WORKED FINE, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK AND THE BRAKE WAS LOCKED IN PLACE. BATTERY TESTED NORMAL AT 12.4 VOLTS. I TRIED THE SECOND KEY, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START. TOOK IT TO MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A STEERING LOCK / IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM AND IT WAS A COMMON ISSUE THEY SEE IN THIS YEAR AND MODEL. THEY WANTED $1,200 TO REPLACE THE STEERING LOCK. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM IN MERCEDES BENZ 2008 C CLASS, BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL AND MERCEDES WILL NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

Mileage: 70,677

DROVE CAR TO WORK WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. AT THE END OF DAY, CAR WOULD NOT START AND ENGINE WOULD NOT CRANK OR TURN OVER. DASHBOARD INDICATOR, RADIO, WINDOWS, INTERIOR/EXTERIOR LIGHTS WORKED. GOT A JUMP FROM EMPLOYEE PARKING SERVICES, BUT CAR STILL WOULD NOT START. STEERING COLUMN LOCKED AND UNABLE TO SHIFT GEAR TO NEUTRAL. TOWED CAR TO AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND HAD SERVICE DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. ERROR FOUND TO BE RELATED TO SERVICE CAMPAIGN 2008020003 ISSUED MARCH 2008 IN WHICH THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. PER CAMPAIGN, "DAIMLER AG HAS DETERMINED THAT THE EIS MAY MALFUNCTION PREVENTING THE ELECTRIC STEERING LOCK AND THE CENTRAL LOCK FROM FUNCTIONING. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EIS ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES DURING THE NEXT WORKSHOP VISIT. PLEASE NOTE THAT RECALL AND SERVICE CAMPAIGNS DO NOT EXPIRE AND MAY ALSO BE PERFORMED ON A VEHICLE WITH A VEHICLE STATUS INDICATOR. ORDER NO. P-SC-2008020003." PARTS--PART NAME:EIS PART NO: A204 545 14 08 ESTIMATED REPLACEMENT RATE 100%; PART NAME:ORANGE WORKSHOP KEY (MUST BE ORDERED BY VIN) PART NO: A000 766 96 06 9999 ESTIMATED REPLACEMENT RATE 100%. WARRANTY INFORMATION: OPERATION: REPLACE EIS CONTROL MODULE (02-5644); CONNECT/DISCONNECT STAR DIAGNOSIS (02-4762); CONNECT/DISCONNECT BATTERY CHARGER (02-5058). DAMAGE CODE: 46 926 31 7. DO YOUR RESEARCH--THIS PROBLEM HAS AFFECTED THOUSANDS OF MB OWNERS AND HAS OCCURRED TO SOME WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD, MORE SO THAN THE BACK TAIL LIGHT ISSUE WHICH WAS RECALLED. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE AND MAKE THIS A REQUIRED RECALL COVERED BY MERCEDES. DON'T BUY ANOTHER MERCEDES WITHOUT CHECKING THE VMI, VEHICLE MASTER INQUIRY FIRST. LIVES MATTER.

Mileage: 102,000

MY VEHICLE WENT COMPLETELY OUT OF SERVICE AND WAS UNABLE TO START DUE TO A FAULTY ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL). MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 69,000 MILES ON IT AND THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH PLENTY OF OTHER C-CLASS MERCEDES BENZ OWNERS WHO HAVE ENCOUNTERED THE SAME ISSUE. MERCEDES BENZ IS FAILING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY WHILE ALSO MY EXTENEDED WARRANTY THAT I PAID $2000 FOR HAS ALSO SAID THEY WILL NOT COVER THIS. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND NOT EVER BUYING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM PRIVILEGE PROTECTION CARE. THEY PLACE GENERIC TERMS IN PARTS OF WHAT THEY COVER AND IF THE DEALER OR SHOP HAS A SPECIFIC NAME FOR YOUR PART, ALTHOUGH IT IS THE PRODUCT OR PART OF THE SAME PART THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, THEY WILL HONOR THE WARRANTY. ALSO THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS RUDE AND NOT VERY HELPFUL AT ALL.

Mileage: 69,000

I HAD JUST STOPPED TO PUT GAS IN THE VEHICLE AND UPON COMPLETION I GOT BACK IN THE CAR TO START IT. WHEN I TURNED THE KEY, THE CAR WOULDN'T START. I HAD HEADLIGHTS AND MY DASHBOARD WAS PARTIALLY LIT UP, BUT NOTHING ELSE WOULD WORK. I THEN CALLED THE MB ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE AND A TECHNICIAN CAME OUT AND DETERMINED IT WAS NOT A BATTERY OR STARTER PROBLEM. THE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT IT WAS PROBABLY THE EIS SINCE HE HAD SEEN THE SAME SITUATION BEFORE. AN HOUR LATER THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND DROPPED OFF WITH MUCH TROUBLE SINCE THE STEERING COLUMN DIDN'T FUNCTION. SEVERAL DAYS LATER I GOT A CALL FROM MY SERVICE CONSULTANT, INFORMING ME THAT THE CAR NEEDED THE IGNITION STARTER SWITCH AS WELL AS THE EIS UNIT AND TWO NEW KEYS NEEDED TO BE PROGRAMMED. THE TOTAL WAS $2500. IN THE MEANTIME, I FOUND A TSB NUMBER 2008020003, DATED MARCH 1, 2008, DOCUMENTING THE EXACT PROBLEM I WAS HAVING. IT APPEARS THAT IT WAS A KNOW PROBLEM EVEN BACK IN 2008. MY CAR IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND IT HAS ONLY 32,260 MILES. WHY DIDN'T THIS BECOME A RECALL? I ALSO FEEL LIKE I WAS ROBBED ON THE COST OF THE REPAIRS. I'LL NEVER TRUST THIS CAR AGAIN AND I'M NOT BUYING ANOTHER MERCEDES. *TR

Mileage: 32,262

I HAVE A C350 SPORT, I WENT TO START THE CAR AND THE CAR DIDN'T START. THE LIGHTS CAME ON, NAVIGATION CAME UP, BUT IT WOULD NOT START. IT SEEMED AS IF THE CAR DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY; AS THE DISPLAYED MESSAGE WAS "TAKE KEY FROM IGNITION". THE FOLLOWING DAY I PAID SOMEONE TO COME OUT AND LOOK AT THE CAR, AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. BATTERY TESTED NORMAL AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A CLOSE CALL. THEN I LEFT TO RUN ERRANDS AND IT WOULDN'T START AND NEVER STARTED AGAIN. AFTER PAYING $160 FOR THE TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP; I WAS TOLD IF I DID NOT HAVE 2 KEYS THEN THEY CAN'T TEST IT. SO AFTER ORDERING A SECOND KEY AT $375; I FOUND OUT IT WASN'T THE KEY! IF THIS CAR HAS SO MUCH TECHNOLOGY IN IT, WHY CAN'T YOU TEST THE EIS WITH A DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER, WITHOUT BLOWING MONEY ON A $375 DOLLAR KEY? AFTER THAT FAILURE I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH. I HAVE A 15 YEAR OLD TOYOTA CAMRY AND THE [XXX] THING HAS NEVER HAD 1 ISSUE. I BUY THIS CAR AND AT 89,000 MILES THE EIS GOES OUT. POORLY MADE AND HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED. THE TOTAL COST FOR THIS JOKE WAS $1,780 AND I DIDN'T EVEN GET THE OIL CHANGED! I THINK THEY DO THIS TO GET MORE MONEY, THEY SHOULD RECALL THE EIS AND ELS IN ALL MERCEDES THAT ARE HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES AND NOT MAKE THE CUSTOMER PAY. IT MAKES ME NOT WANT TO BE A CUSTOMER ANYMORE BECAUSE OF THIS AND THEIR LACK OF WANTING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FAILURE. *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 89,000

I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A SNAP , AS SOON I TRY TO PULL OVER MY STEERING WHEEL BECOMES VERY STIFF, VERY HARD TO TURN. HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND CALL FOR A TOW TRUCK. WHEN I OPEN THE HOOD IT SMELL LIKE SOMETHING BURNT AND I SAW THE BELT IN PIECES. I SPOKE TO MY MECHANIC AND HE CONFIRMED IT WAS THE BELT AND THE IDLE PULLEY. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND ALOT OF C CLASS CARS ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. HOPEFULLY MERCEDES BENZ CAN FIX THIS BEFORE A TRAGEDY HAPPENS. *TR

Mileage: 62,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK SYSTEM AND THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

Mileage: 96,000

UNABLE TO START VEHICLE. KEY TURNS BUT NO CRANK. SERVICE TECH WAS ABLE TO RELEASE / UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL BY VIOLENTLY SHAKING THE STEERING WHEEL FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AS IF HE WAS TRYING TO BREAK IT. SOMETHING DID RELEASE AND HE WAS THEN ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. BROUGHT THE CAR DIRECTLY TO DEALERSHIP AND I WAS QUOTED $1018 FOR THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK. LOOKS LIKE THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE AND IT'S AN ONGOING ISSUE W/ MERCEDES. *TR

Mileage: 88,000

I WENT TO START UP MY CAR, BUT WHEN I INSERTED THE KEY AND TURNED IT, THE CAR DID NOT START. TYPICALLY WHEN I INSERT THE KEY, THERE IS A FAST AND STRONG SOUND THAT MAKES IT SEEM LIKE THE CAR IS LOCKING IN THE KEY. THIS TIME, THE SOUND WAS INCREDIBLY SLOW AND WEAK, A SOUND THAT CAUSED ME TO IMMEDIATELY KNOW IT WAS BROKEN. POWER WAS RUNNING THROUGH THE CAR JUST FINE THOUGH, BUT I WAS STILL STRANDED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THEY SAID THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH (EIS) AND ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL) HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 67,234

I HAVE A 2008 C350 WITH 81,300 MILES. I DROVE THE CAR HOME FROM SCHOOL THURSDAY PARKED IT IN MY PARKING GARAGE WENT OUT THIS MORNING AND IT WOULDN'T START. 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 STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND THE DRIVE IS LOCKED IN PARK. I TRIED JUMPING AND IT DID NOTHING I DIDN'T THINK THE BATTERY WAS BAD BUT WENT AND HAD IT CHECKED ANYWAYS. THE BATTERY BEING CHANGED. I CHECK THE FUSES THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE STARTER AND THEY SEEM TO BE OK. I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO DO NEXT AND NOT EXCITED ABOUT HAVING IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. ANY INFORMATION WOULD BE HELPFUL. *TR

Mileage: 81,300

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

Mileage: 63,000

IN THE C300 AND C350 MODELS, THERE HAS BEEN AN ON-GOING ISSUE WITH STEERING WHEEL LOCKS. MERCEDES BENZ HAS DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THIS OR CHANGE THE PART THAT HAVE BEEN FAULTY, DUE TO THIS PROBLEM THIS CAN LEAVE AN INDIVIDUAL STRANDED WITH OUT ANY WARNING AS IT JUST HAPPENS OUT OF NO WHERE. MY VEHICLE IS UP TO DATE ON ALL IT'S MAINTENANCE, AND OUT OF NO WHERE IT JUST WOULDN'T START AND IT WASN'T THE BATTERY IT WAS THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK (PART #2019005912). THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AS IT'S BEEN A PROBLEM FOR MANY YEARS ONT EH C300 AND C350 MODELS. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

MERCEDES C350 2008 52,000 MILES.CAR SUDDENLY WOULD NOT START. LIGHTS WORKED, CONSOLE SCREEN CAME ON, NAVIGATION SCREEN POPPED UP. IT WASN'T BATTERY,NOT BOTH CAR KEYS.CANNOT GET OUT OF PARK,STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. HAD TO TOW TO NEAREST DEALERSHIP 70 MILES AWAY. BAD STEERING WHEEL LOCK (ICM)IGNITION CONTROL REPLACEMENT COST $1500. MECHANIC PRIOR LOOKED AND TRIED ORDERING PART. WOULDN'T SELL IT TO HIM BECAUSE IT WAS SUPPOSABLE A RECALLED PART!? DEALERSHIP SAID NO RECALL OR WARRANTY, OUT OF POCKET. THEN WHEN INFORMED REPAIR DONE, I WAS TOLD COMMAND CONTROL NOT WORKING $500 TO FIX. I BOUGHT MERCEDES BECAUSE ITS SUPPOSE TO BE RELIABLE.VERY DISAPPOINTED. GOING BACK TO BMW ACCORDING TO MB BLOGS IT IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH 2088 C CLASS. THERE'S A BULLETIN NOTICE ON THIS ISSUE ALSO CALLED EIS !! *TR

Mileage: 52,000