2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Complaint Log

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, A WARNING INDICATOR ALERTED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE DRIVER SIDE BULB, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

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

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.

ENTER THE CAR AND PUT THE KEY IN. ALL I CAN HEAR WAS LITTLE TICKING SOUND CAME FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AFTER PUTTING THE FOB KEY IN. THE BATTER HAS BEEN CHECKED AND IS OK. SHIFTER WON'T MOVE, THE STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T COME OUT OF ITS LOCK AND THE CAR WON'T START. CONSOLE AND RADIO TURNS ON AND CAR LOCKS/UNLOCKS.THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WITH THESE COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME YEAR CAR IN THE SAME CLASS BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. MERCEDES BENZ NEEDS TO COVER THESE PARTS AND REPAIR BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE USE OR ABUSE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

ABOUT 3 MOTHS AGO MY CAR WAS UNABLE TO START, MERCEDES BENZ (MB) TECHNICIAN CAME AND DIAGNOSE IT THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH(EIS) - THAT IT WAS NOT RECOGNIZING MY KEY. THE TECH. WIGGLE AROUND THE KEY AND WAS ABLE TO CRANK AND START MY CAR. IT NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL LAST WEEK (AUGUST 16,2014), THE CAR WON'T START AGAIN. I CALLED MB AND THEY SEND ME A TECHNICIAN AT MY HOUSE, HIS DIAGNOSIS WAS THE EIS ISSUE AGAIN AND THIS TIME HE WAS NOT ABLE TO START MY CAR. HE SUGGESTED THAT IT SHOULD BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. THIS MORNING (AUG. 18, 2014), I TRIED TO START MY CAR AND WIGGLE THE KEY ON THE IGNITION AND I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AGAIN. UNFORTUNATELY WHEN I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, I WAS NOT ABLE TO START IT AGAIN. A FRIEND OF MY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE EIS OF MERCEDES BENZ C 350 IN 2008. THE MB CAMPAIGN NO. IS 2008020003, MARCH 2008. I CALLED MERCEDES BENZ AND ASKED THEM IF THEY WILL COVER THE COST FOR REPLACING THE EIS. THEIR RESPONSE WAS, THEY WILL NOT BECAUSE MY CAR VIN WAS NOT ONE OF THE CARS THAT IS BEING RECALLED ABOUT THIS EIS PROBLEM. WHY IS MB IS NOT COVERING THE COST, THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE ON THE RECALL REGARDING THE EIS MALFUNCTION THAT WAS SENT IN MARCH 2008. *TR

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE THAT THE DRIVING PATTERN ON THE ROAD CHANGED AND CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 11/05/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HER SON RECEIVED SEVERE FACIAL, HEAD INJURIES. SURGERY WAS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO RECONSTRUCT FACIAL FRACTURES AND LACERATIONS. UPDATED 7/15/2015*JS

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

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

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

NEAR THE END OF A 388 MILE DRIVE, THE WARNING LIGHT FOR SRS MALFUNCTION CAME ON ALTHOUGH IT SEEMED THAT NO CONDITION CHANGED. MY CAR ALREADY HAD THE TAIL LIGHT FAILURE NOTIFICATION LIGHT ENGAGED FOR A FEW MONTHS ALREADY. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS MAY BE MORE THAN AN ELECTRICAL NOTIFICATION ISSUE AND THAT THE SRS (SECONDARY RESTRAINING SYSTEM) IS NOT GOING TO WORK SHOULD I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. *TR

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

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

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

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

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

TAKATA RECALL! WARNING SIGN APPEARED FOR PASSANGER SEAT!! I CAN'T DRIVE THIS CAR WITH AIRBAG MAL FUNCTION!

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

SRS MALFUNCTION FOR FRONT LEFT SEAT MESSAGE POPPED UP RECENTLY. ON FURTHER INVESTIGATION BY A MECHANIC IS WAS FOUND THAT THE ERROR CODE WAS 9B51 WHICH MEAN THAT THE FRONT LEFT SEAT BELT BUCKLE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS ISSUE IS(AS EXPLAINED BY THE MECHANIC) THAT IN AN EVENT OF A CRASH THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY, WHICH IS PRETTY SERIOUS. ALTHOUGH I WAS STILL UNDER THE FACTORY WARRANTY FOR MILES (50,000) MY YEARS WITH THE CAR WAS ABOVE THEIR YEAR LIMIT(4 YEARS). I HAVE SEEN EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE BEING REPORTED BY MANY BENZ C300 YEAR 2008+ OWNERS REPORTING THIS ISSUE IN MANY FORUMS ONLINE AND THERE'S A MENTION OF THIS ISSUE TO NHTSA AS WELL. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C350. THE REAR PASSENGER TAILLIGHT MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING ME TO BE PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE. MERCEDES BENZ HAS SINCE RECALLED THE FAULTY TAIL LIGHTS AND IS SCHEDULED TO RELEASE REPLACEMENT PARTS TO MB DEALERS NEXT MONTH. HOWEVER, IT SEEMS THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. SOMETIMES THE RADIO STATION CHANGES WHEN I ADJUST THE CABIN AIR TEMPERATURE (AIR CONDITIONER). THE DASHBOARD CONTROL PANEL CONSTANTLY DISPLAYS WARNING MESSAGES ABOUT FAILING HEADLIGHTS AND SIDE MARKERS. ASIDE FROM THE RECALLED PASSENGER TAILLIGHT WHICH IS VISIBLY DIMMER THAN THE DRIVER SIDE TAILLIGHT, THE OTHER LIGHTS APPEARED TO BE WORKING FINE. YESTERDAY THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR AND THE COOLANT INDICATOR ON THE DASH CAME ON - THE ANTIFREEZE AND FUEL TANKS ARE BOTH FULL. I HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT THE LIGHTS, ONLY TO DISCOVER THE PLASTIC HOUSING IS COMPLETELY SINGED AND MELTED IN THE HEADLIGHTS AND SIDE MARKERS, JUST LIKE IT IS IN THE DEFECTIVE RECALLED TAILLIGHT. THE CAR IS ONE OVER-PRICED FIRE TRAP - AT THIS POINT I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT. WHAT IS EVEN MORE DISTURBING TO ME, IS THAT MERCEDES BENZ IS WELL AWARE OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE C CLASS. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE ONLINE - POSTED TO BLOGS AND NHTSA WEBSITE. MERCEDES IS TRYING TO PIECE-MEAL OUT A REMEDY. MEANWHILE, THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE! WHEN WILL NHTSA RECALL THE ENTIRE MERCEDES C CLASS LINE DUE TO DEFECTIVE ELECTRICAL ISSUES? *TR

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

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND TURNING INTO KING SOOPERS SHOPPING MART WHEN MY CAR JUST DIED. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY AND COASTED INTO A PARKING SPOT. I THEN CHECKED MY STEREO AND INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS TO SEE IF IT WAS THE BATTERY. IT WASN'T, THEY ALL WORKED FINE. BUT TURNING THE IGNITION TO START THE CAR DID NOTHING. IT SEEMED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. AFTER PLAYING WITH THE STEERING WHEEL FOR A FEW MINUTES IT UNLOCKED ITSELF AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AGAIN. I CONTINUED TO THE GROCERY STORE BUT BEFORE I GOT THERE IT DID THE SAME THING AGAIN. I DRIFTED INTO A PARKING SPOT AGAIN AND THIS TIME IT WAS DEAD FOR GOOD. I HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED TO A MERCEDES REPAIR SHOP (SALIMS SILVER STAR). MY MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH AND A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MERCEDES. AFTER $1700 ON A CAR WITH LESS THAN 50,000 IT IS FINALLY FIXED. MY LIFE WAS IN DANGER DRIVING A CAR KNOWN TO HAVE IGNITION SWITCH ISSUES. THIS IS CRIMINAL AND I'M LUCKY THE PROBLEM OCCURRED WHILE IN A PARKING LOT AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 65. PLEASE RECALL THIS ISSUE AS MERCEDES IS MAKING A FORTUNE OFF OF IT'S CUSTOMERS CHARGING $1700 FOR AN ISSUE THEY CAUSED !!! *TR

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.

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

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

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C 300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V177000 (LIGHTING). HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT SURE WHEN THEY WOULD RECEIVE THE PARTS NEEDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,936.

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

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

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

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

TAIL LAMP REPLACEMENT- I GOT A RECALL LETTER 4 MONTHS AGO AND NO FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS. EMAIL TO THE DEALER AND COMPANY NOT BEING SATISFACTORILY RESPONDED TO. WHAT'S THE TIMELINE ON THESE RECALLS? *TR

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

I WAS DRIVING AROUND 8PM HERE IN CANADA WHEN I WAS PULLED OVER FOR A FLICKERING DRIVER-SIDE TAIL LIGHT. THE OFFICER WARNED ME THAT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. MY WIFE TOLD ME AFTER DRIVING BESIDE ME THAT THE LIGHT FLICKERS INTERMITTENTLY, AND WHEN IT IS NOT, THE PARKING LIGHT ITSELF IS MUCH DIMMER THAN THE PASSENGER-SIDE TAIL LIGHT. I'VE TRIED REPLACING THE BULBS, BUT NOTHING CHANGES. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ONLINE, I'VE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH 2008-2011 MERCEDES C-CLASS MODELS. I'VE FOUND THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRING FOR THE TAILLIGHTS IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY GROUNDED, CAUSING MELTING OF THE WIRING HARNESS, AND IN SOME CASES, CAUSING A FIRE. I'VE CALLED MERCEDES DEALERSHIPS HERE IN VANCOUVER, BUT BECAUSE THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, IT IS AN EXPENSIVE ISSUE TO FIX. IT IS ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD TO MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TR

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

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