2008 Mercedes-Benz C Class recalls and problems

The 2008 Mercedes-Benz C Class has 1 recall and 13 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is electrical system.

How the 2008 compares

High

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

High complaint count among 9 C Class model years — 4th most.

1recalls

13complaints

2crashes

2fires

1injuries

48,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

1 recall

Seat Belts

Oct 3, 2007 · NHTSA campaign 07V465000 · 5,823 vehicles

Problem: Certain vehicles fail to comply with some of the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, "occupant crash protection." the rear outboard seat belts do not comply with the lap-belt lockability requirement which enables the lap belt portion of the belt to be locked by the user to facilitate the use of older non-latch design child restraint devices.

Original NHTSA wording

CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE REAR OUTBOARD SEAT BELTS DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE LAP-BELT LOCKABILITY REQUIREMENT WHICH ENABLES THE LAP BELT PORTION OF THE BELT TO BE LOCKED BY THE USER TO FACILITATE THE USE OF OLDER NON-LATCH DESIGN CHILD RESTRAINT DEVICES.

Risk: Under certain circumstances, this situation May cause the locking mechanism not to perform as required by the standard for use with older non-latch child restraints.

Original NHTSA wording

UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, THIS SITUATION MAY CAUSE THE LOCKING MECHANISM NOT TO PERFORM AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD FOR USE WITH OLDER NON-LATCH CHILD RESTRAINTS.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace all potentially affected seat belts. The recall began on November 19, 2007. Owners May contact Mercedes-Benz at 1-800-367-6372.

Mercedes-Benz recall no. 2007-100002.customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

NHTSA investigations

Loss of rear lighting assembly

EA13008 · opened Dec 20, 2013 · closed May 12, 2014 · led to recall 14V177000

Summary

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of loss of rear lighting in model year (MY) 2008-2011 Mercedes Benz C-Class vehicles.Complainants alleged that one or both rear lighting assemblies fail to illuminate (i.e., all lights housed within the assembly extinguish, including the stop, tail, and turn signal functions) or illuminate dimly.In some reports, complainants also alleged that the failure was accompanied by a burning smell emanating from the trunk of the vehicle.When examined, these vehicles showed evidence of overheating at the lighting assembly harness connector, including damaged (blackened) wiring and plastic.The rear lighting failures typically involved one side of the vehicle however in some cases both assemblies failed (although probably not simultaneously).ODI identified 5 fire and one injury allegations during the course of this investigation.Two fires occurred while the vehicles were parked.One originated in the vicinity of the driver?s side light assembly where the fire and associated damage was confined to the trunk area, and the fire self extinguished due to oxygen starvation.As a result of the fire, the vehicle was repurchased by Mercedes and salvaged.The second fire originated on the passenger's side and required fire department response to extinguish; the fire damaged the tail light and surrounding body panels as well as the trunk area and wiring.The vehicle was repaired and returned to service.Two f…

Loss of rear tail light functionality

PE13026 · opened Jul 11, 2013 · closed Dec 30, 2013

Summary

ODI initially received 21 reports of rear light assembly failure due to a melted electrical connector or housing.Since opening the initial , ODI has received a total of 114 complaints reflecting an ongoing and increasing trend.In each report, one or both rear light assemblies fail completely (i.e., all lights housed within the assembly extinguish, including the stop, tail, and turn signal functions) when the electrical ground connection is compromised as a result of high resistance and subsequent thermal over-heating.According to Mercedes-Benz, the over-heating of the ground wire is caused by corrosion between the connectors in the ground circuit to the tail light.ODI is aware of a total of 5 reports alleging fire including one injury allegation as a result of this issue.Analysis of subject vehicle complaint data indicates an increased likelihood of failure as the vehicles age.As a result of the evidence presented, this investigation has been upgraded to EA13-008.

2008 vs. other Mercedes-Benz C Class years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2008. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C Class have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign covering the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C Class, the latest from Oct 3, 2007 (seat belts). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C Class?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention electrical system (7), exterior lighting (6), tires (3). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.