This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 ?
- Plantation, FL, USA
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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 ?
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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- Plantation, FL, USA