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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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 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.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Manchester, CT, USA