2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 complaints

BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. FIRST, I NOTICED THAT ONE OR THE OTHER OF THE RIGHT SIDE TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO FUNCTION BECAUSE I HEARD A RAPID CLICKING AS I MADE A RIGHT TURN INTO A PARKING LOT. ONCE STOPPED, I NOTICED THAT THE MERCEDES COMMAND SYSTEM SAID TO CHECK THE LEFT REAR TAIL AND BRAKE LIGHT BULBS. I SAW NO MENTION OF THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL. WHEN I LEFT THE PARKING LOT AN HOUR LATER, THERE WAS NO INDICATION ON THE COMMAND SYSTEM AS TO ANYTHING BEING WRONG. AT HOME, I REMOVED THE LEFT PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD AND SAW THAT THE TAIL LIGHT/BRAKE LIGHT BULBS WERE VERY DARK AND GAVE THE APPEARANCE OF HAVING FAILED. ON TESTING THEM WITH AN OHMMETER, I DISCOVERED THAT THEY IN FACT HAD NOT FAILED. EVEN SO I WANTED TO REPLACE THEM, AND ON THE 10TH, WHICH TURNS OUT TO BE 1 DAY AFTER MY 4 YEAR WARRANTY EXPIRED, I WENT BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE REP GAVE ME TWO REPLACEMENT BULBS. I CHANGED OUT THE OLD BULBS AND ALL APPEARED OKAY. HOWEVER, THE NEXT TIME I DROVE THE CAR LONG ENOUGH TO GET IT THOROUGHLY WARMED UP, I GOT INDICATIONS FROM THE COMMAND SYSTEM THAT NOT ONLY HAD A LEFT BRAKE LIGHT FAILED BUT ALSO THE RIGHT REAR TURN SIGNAL AND ALSO A RIGHT SIDE MARKER. I REMOVED THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT CIRCUIT BOARD AND FOUND A BURNED WIRE AND BURNED SPOT ON THE BOARD ITSELF. I SAW NOTHING ON THE LEFT REAR BOARD. ON THE 13TH, I CONSIDERED HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT DECIDED TO DRIVE IT. STANDING OUTSIDE THE CAR I SAW THAT THE RIGHT REAR TURN SIGNAL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENGINE, THE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THERE WAS A STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED LATER AFTER THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7500.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD REST AIR BAG WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT SENSOR WAS MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE IN A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE WALL. THE VEHICLE THEN REVERSED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE WALL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,500.

TURN SIGNALS AND WIPERS / WINDSHIELD WASHERS CEASE TO OPERATE UNTIL CAR IS RESTARTED. WIPERS CONTINUE TO OPERATE IN RAIN SENSING MODE BUT NOT VIA THE WIPER CONTROL LEVEL. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND ANY DIAGNOSTIC CODES AFTERWARD. FAILURE RECURRED A FEW DAYS AFTER DEALER INSPECTION, AND OCCURS SPORADICALLY BOTH IN URBAN AND HIGHWAY DRIVING. TIME BETWEEN FAILURE RANGES FROM HOURS TO MULTIPLE MONTHS. *TR

RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS REPLACED AT 20K FOR BUBBLE THAT FORMED ON THE SIDE WALL AFTER HITTING SMALL POT HOLE; RIGHT FRONT TIRE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED NOW FOR THE SAME REASON. *TR

I WAS EDGING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE IN A SUPERMARKET PARKING LOT. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO ALLOW ANOTHER CAR TO PASS. MY CAR SUDDENLY SURGED AHEAD, HITTING FIVE OTHER VEHICLES AND A PEDESTRIAN, BEFORE SMASHING INTO A BARRIER THAT STOPPED IT. I WAS PUSHING HARD ON THE BRAKE PETAL THROUGHOUT, BUT IT HAD NO EFFECT ON STOPPING THE CAR. IT IS OF COURSE POSSIBLE THAT I STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL AND NOT THE BRAKE PEDAL. EXAMINING THE IDENTICAL MODEL OF THE CAR SUBSEQUENT TO THE ACCIDENT, I FOUND THAT, BECAUSE OF THE CLOSENESS OF THE GAS PEDAL TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE FOR A DRIVER TO HAVE HIS RIGHT FOOT PARTIALLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PARTIALLY ON THE ACCELERATOR. IT APPEARS THAT THE TWO PETALS ARE TOO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER AND SHOULD BE SPACED FURTHER APART, TO ELIMINATE THIS POSSIBLE SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

MY CAR SMELLS LIKE MILDEW AND MOLDY. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER ABOUT 3 TIMES ABOUT THIS SITUATION. I HAVE RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS AND ALLERGIES AND I CAN HARDLY USED THIS CAR, IT STINKS AND BOTHERS MY BREATHING. *TR

LTR FAD FM (IN) FM OWNER OF A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300 RE DEFECTIVE REAR DOOR LOCKING KNOB, THE PLASTIC LOCKING KNOB CAME OFF WHILE UNLOCKING THE DOOR MANUALLY BUT THE DOOR DID NOT UNLOCK, REPLY ATTN. DARLEE MCCOLLUM, DC OFC (ENVELOPE ONLY)

TWO SEPARATE INSTANCES OF COMMANDED ACCELERATION WITH 2008 MERCEDES C300. PURCHASED THE CAR FROM A PRIVATE USED CAR DEALER IN SEPTEMBER 2009 WITH 10,500 MILES. ON NOVEMBER 1, 2009 I EXPERIENCED FIRST INSTANCE OF UNCOMMANDED ACCELERATION WHILE SLOWING TO A STOP IN A DRIVEWAY. ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO A HIGH RATE AND STRUCK A PARKED TRUCK IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF CAR. SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND CAR SPED AT MAXIMUM RPM ACROSS LAWNS AND STREET UNTIL FINALLY RETURNING TO NORMAL. AT NO TIME WERE THE BRAKES ABLE TO HAVE ANY EFFECT ON SLOWING MY SPEED. THIS INCIDENT WAS NOT REPORTED TO POLICE SINCE NO SERIOUS PROPERTY DAMAGE OCCURRED. HOWEVER, I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED DEALER FROM WHOM WE PURCHASED THE CAR. THEY CLAIMED WE NEEDED TO CONTACT MERCEDES SINCE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. WHEN I VISITED THE LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER THE FOLLOWING DAY, THEY INITIALLY EXPRESSED INTEREST IN INSPECTING THE CAR RIGHT AWAY HOWEVER NEARLY 2 WEEKS PASSED BEFORE THEY TOLD US TO BRING THE CAR IN FOR INSPECTION. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR 3 DAYS AND TOLD US THEY FOUND NO MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL FAULTS. WE WERE GREATLY DISAPPOINTED WITH THEIR FINDINGS AND SENT A CERTIFIED LETTER TO MERCEDES USA WITH FULL DETAILS OF THE INCIDENT. THEIR REACTION WAS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. WE CONTINUED TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE AND ON MAY 21, 2010 A SECOND INSTANCE OF SUDDEN UNCOMMANDED RAPID ACCELERATION OCCURRED. I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AT A SLOW RATE WHILE SLOWING TO A STOP AS ANOTHER VEHICLE PAS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 30 MPH, A VEHICLE MADE AND IMPROPER TURN TO GET IN FRONT OF THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WHICH THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACTS FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MODERATE INJURIES TO HIS CHEST, HEAD, HANDS, KNEES AND LOWER BACK. THE POLICE ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS MADE. AFTERWARD, THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND AN INVESTIGATOR WAS SENT TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE FOR DEFECTS IN THE AIR BAG. THE INVESTIGATOR DID NOT FIND ANY FAILURES TO THE AIR BAGS. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT TAKE ANY LIABILITY FOR THE FAILURE STATING THAT THE THRESHOLD FOR THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WAS "NOT REACHED." REPAIRS WERE MADE BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,250. UPDATED 4/7/2010 *CN 09/23/10

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. SHE HAD TO REPLACE FIVE TIRES. THE FIVE TIRES THAT WERE REPLACED ALSO INCLUDED THE NEW TIRE SHE USED TO REPLACED ANOTHER TIRE. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON MAY 14, 2008 WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH MAKING A RIGHT TURN AND THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SIDE WALL SPLIT. AND ON MARCH 13, 2009 SHE HIT A POT HOLE AND NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT REAR FRONT AND LEFT TIRE FAILED AGAIN, THEY BOTH HAD A BUBBLE IN THEM. THE THIRD INCIDENT OCCURRED ON FEBRUARY 28, 2010. SHE HIT A POT HOLE AND AGAIN THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. SHE WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED. THE TIRES THAT FAILED WERE MANUFACTURED BY CONTINENTAL, LINE CONTI PRO CONTACT, SIZE 225-45 R17 91H, DOT 65TYPXH6 ALL TIRES HAD THE SAME DOT NUMBER EXCEPT ONE DOT NUMBER WAS LM7RPXH6. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000. SHE CONTACTED THE TIRE MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY DIDN'T OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH BUT HIS AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SINCE THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, HIS BODY HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING COLUMN TO BREAK. THE CONTACT WAS SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS HEAD AND CHEST. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. HE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE; THE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND IT FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 20,000.

THE TAXI CAB STOPPED UNEXPECTEDLY AND WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND AND THE MOTOR DID NOT DIE, IT JUST KEPT GOING UNTIL I HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE AT 20 OR 25 MILES AN HOUR. I BELIEVE THERE WAS A STRANGE SOUND WITH THE BRAKES THAT I HAD SEVERAL TIMES REPORTED TO THE DEALER SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW. *TR

GOOD EVENING, I DRIVE A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300 SPORT WHICH I FINANCED FROM A VW DEALER, WHICH SOLD IT AS A PRE OWNED/USED VEHICLE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, REGARDLESS, I OPTED TO ENSURE I HAD THE MAXIMUM WARRANTY AVAILABLE. ON THURSDAY, SEPT 03 I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE OPERATING THIS VEHICLE. INSIDE THE VEHICLE WAS A FRONT PASSENGER AND A REAR PASSENGER AS WELL, NEITHER OF WHOM I THINK WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN WET CONDITIONS AROUND A CAR, CONTROL WAS LOST, WENT OVER MIDDLE MEDIUM, AND HEAD ON WITH A TREE. THE POINT OF IMPACT WAS THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, SEEMED VERY DEAD CENTER IN BETWEEN THE TWO HEADLIGHTS. THE TRUNK OF THE TREE MUST HAVE BEEN OVER 5 FEET IN CIRCUMFERENCE, IT WAS VERY BIG AND STABLE. THE GRAVITATIONAL PULL AND ANGLE OF IMPACT CAUSED FOR WAY MORE DAMAGE THAN NORMALLY AT THE SPEED OF IMPACT. THE TREE WAS MOVED BACK. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS IN THE CAR WERE DEPLOYED, AND ALL THREE OF THE OCCUPANTS WERE HURT. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT A TOWING LOT AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT ANY OF THE DAMAGE. *TR

I PURCHASED A NEW 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300, ON 8/16/2009, UPON STATING THE CAR ENGINE STARTED TO RACE SO FAST REACHED 7000 RPM WITHIN LESS THAN 5 SECONDS. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF WAITED 2,TO 3 MINUTES I STARTED THE ENGINE AGAIN SAME THING HAPPENED . I WAITED 4 TO 5 MINUTES STARTED THE ENGINE EVERY THING BACK TO NORMAL. DEALER CHECKED THE COMPUTER HARD DISK AND COULD NOT FIND THAT INCIDENT. KNOWING IF POWER SURGE OR COMPUTER GLITCH HAPPENS WILL NOT BE RECORDED BY THE SAME COMPUTER.. SAME THING HAPPENED BEFORE WHEN I HAD 4000 MILES.. IF SIMILAR HAPPENS IN THE FREEWAY WILL BE DEATH FOR MORE THAN THE DRIVER. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT STRUCK A PARKED VEHICLE. HER VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. SHE SUSTAINED MODERATE INJURIES AND PICTURES WERE TAKEN OF THE FAILURE. AN INSPECTOR FROM THE MANUFACTURER CONCLUDED THAT THE CRASH DID NOT WARRANT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT; HOWEVER, A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 30,000.

SERIOUS DEFECT OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION IN MERCEDES MODEL C300 YEAR 2008. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED AS HE WAS ABOUT TO PARK THE VEHICLE, HE RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, WENT OVER A CONCRETE BARRIER AND HIT THE WALL OF THE BUILDING FINALLY COMING TO REST. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS A RENTAL. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DRIVES THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TIRE INFLATION WARNING INDICATOR APPEARS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, EVEN THOUGH THE TIRES HAVE THE CORRECT TIRE PRESSURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ILLUMINATION WAS DUE TO THE CHANGE IN TEMPERATURE. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES BEFOREHAND. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,200 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,800.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHEN THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE CHANGE IN TEMPERATURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,500 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS AGO I RECEIVED A MESSAGE ON MY DASH BOARD TO CORRECT THE TIRE PRESSURE IN MY NEW 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300 WITH LESS THAN 4000 MILES. I INSPECTED THE TIRES AND NOTICED A BULGE IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE REAR TIRE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. I CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND I HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW TIRE, WHICH I DID. NOW APPROX 2 WEEKS LATER, I HAVE A BULGE IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE FRONT TIRE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. THE TIRES CONTINENTAL CONTIPROCONTACT 225/45 R17 91H COST APPROX $280 EACH TO REPLACE AT THE DEALER. THIS HAS GOT TO BE A DEFECT FROM THE TIRE COMPANY. TIRE BRAND: CONTINENTAL TIRE LINE: CONTIPRO CONTACT TIRE SIZE: 225/45 R17 91H COMPONENT: SIDEWALL BULGE DOT CODE: LM7R PXH6 3707 TIRE WAS MOUNTED ON: 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300 4 DOOR. *TR

MY 2008 C300 MOONROOF HAS A DEFECT. THE OPERATION CONTROL PANEL WILL NOT AUTO OPEN OR AUTO CLOSE. MY CAR HAS 338 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE HAD IT FOR 8 DAYS. 4 OF THESE 8 DAYS IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP. MERECEDES ENGINEERING IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THEIR WILL BE A SOFTWARE UP DATE FOR THE CAR IN JUNE, BUT IT IS APRIL. THERE ARE FIVE REPORTED CASES AND ONE OF THEM IS MINE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE OCP WITH ONE FROM ANOTHER C300 FROM THEIR LOT NOT EVEN BRAND NEW PARTS!!!! BUYER BEWARE. THIS IS A TEMPORARY FIX THEY SAID AND ALL C300 WILL NEED THIS SOFTWARE UPDATE. I AM SURPRISED THERE ISN'T A SERVICE BULLETIN YET! *TR