2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 complaints

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO OPERATE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE CABLE WIRE CONNECTED TO THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT BULBS WERE DAMAGED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE PARKING INDICATOR ALSO FAILED AND THE CABLE CONNECTED TO THE PARKING INDICATOR WAS DAMAGED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS NEEDED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

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.

BELT HAS TORN TO SHREDS HAS HAD IT REPLACED 2 TIMES THE PULLIES ARE BAD

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. *TR

WHEN REPLACING A HEADLIGHT BULB I NOTICED THE H7 WIRE WAS COMPLETELY EXPOSED WITH NO INSULATION, AS I TRIED TO WRAPPED THEM IN ELECTRICAL TAPE TO GET A TEMPORARY FIX, THE LITTLE INSULATION STILL LEFT ON THE CABLE CRUMBLED. I ENCOURAGE TO CHECK THE CABLE INSULATION ON YOUR VEHICLE AS THIS CAN CAUSE A SHORTAGE AND FAIL HEADLIGHTS.

SO FAR NOTHING IS AFFECTED BUT I USE THIS CAR TO GO TO WORK EVERY DAY, TO TAKE MY CHILDREN TO THEIR SPORTS AND DO ALL THE ERRANDS OF MY HOUSEHOLD.. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR ANYMORE ALWAYS THINKING THAT I CAN HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND CAN BE INJURED FOR WHAT IT SUPPOSE TO PROTECT US OR EVEN DIE. I NEED A SOLUTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, I CANT WAIT FOR SOMETHING TO GET WRONG. I FEEL THE NEED TO PROTECT MY CHILDREN AND MYSELF TO A POSSIBLE DANGER.

CAR WAS PARKED AND WENT TO DRIVE CAR. IT WILL NOT START. BOTH KEYS WILL NOT WORK. PROBLEM IS WITH ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. NO INSTRUMENTATION DISPLAY. CAN NOT SHIFT CAR OUT OF PARK. TRIED JUMPING CAR AND IT WILL NOT START. REPLACED BATTERY AND IT WILL NOT START.

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 $1200.00 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.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

C300 NOT STARTING DUE TO BAD ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK MECHANISM, SEEMS TO BE COMMON.

ISSUE WITH CAM GEARS. MERCEDES HAS KNOW ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR MANY MANY YEARS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. CAR IS UNSAFE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND COSTS ABOUT $8000 TO FIX. FROM THE ONLINE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FROM 2013 "THE ENGINES ARE EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE GEARS IN THEIR BALANCE SHAFTS OR WITH DEFECTIVE IDLE GEARS. THESE DEFECTIVE GEARS WEAR OUT PREMATURELY, EXCESSIVELY, AND WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MALFUNCTION, THE 'CHECK ENGINE LIGHT' TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE TO MISFIRE AND/OR STOP DRIVING." *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ SPORTS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FAIL SPORADICALLY. THE CONTACT WOULD SHUT OFF THE HEADLIGHTS BUT THEY WOULD RE-ILLUMINATE INDEPENDENTLY WITHIN 1-2 HOURS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS 16V363000 (AIR BAGS) AND 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED BUT ADVISED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR BOTH RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED BUT COULD NOT ADVISE THE CONTACT WHEN THE NECESSARY PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *LN VIN UNAVAILABLE 6/26/18*JB

ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK FAIL CAR WON'T TURN ON

TAKATA RECALL IS EFFECTING MY ABILITY TO FEEL SAFE , AND CONFIDENT ABOUT DRIVING THIS VEHICLE PLUS NO DEALER REALLY WANTS THIS VEHICLE ON TRADE UNTIL THE RECALL IS PERFORMED. WHY AREN'T PARTS BEING RELEASED FOR THIS VEHICLE BUT OTHER CAR MANUFACTURES HAVE SEEMED TO BE REPLACING THEIRS?? I WOULD LOVE TO BE INFORMED A LITTLE MORE OR THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF ACTION US CONSUMERS CAN TAKE AGAINST THE MANUFACTURE OF THESE AIRBAGS!!!! *TR

CAR WILL NOT START WHILE PARKED. BATTERY CHECKED AND TESTED GOOD BY AAA. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. CAR WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. TOWED TO CHRISTIAN BROTHERS AUTOMOTIVE AND PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS EIS FAILURE. WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS CAR. HOWEVER, IT IS A 'DEALER ONLY' REPAIR DUE TO MERCEDES REFUSAL TO EITHER SELL PARTS OR RELEASE CODES TO INDEPENDENT DEALERS. WAS ALSO TOLD THERE IS A LAWSUIT ATTEMPTING TO FORCE MERCEDES TO CEASE WITH THE PROPRIETARY BALONEY. THE REPAIRS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE AND THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL OR, AT THE VERY LEAST, ALL THE NECESSARY PARTS AND CODES NEED TO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITIES.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND16V363000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

CAR WONT START ,LOCAL MECHANIC REFER TO COMMON PROBLEM (IGNITION MODUEL),I WAS COMING OUT OF THE CVS PHATMACY AND THE CAR JUST WONT START ,CALLED MB THE Y ASKED ME TO JUMP START BUT NOTHING ,DIFFERENT KEY NOTHING SO I TOWED TO THE DEALER .

DRIVING AT NIGHT AND CAR WAS PARKED. TRIED TO START THE CAR BUT IT WON'T START AT ALL. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS A STEERING LOCK MECHANISM MALFUNCTION. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN SUBMITTED BY OTHER C300 OWNERS AND HAS BEEN A COMMON COMPLAINT. THERE IS A SAFETY CONCERN BY ALL OF US REGARDING THE PROBLEM ESPECIALLY IT CAN HAPPEN ANYTIME. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT THIS BE ESCALATED TO A RECALL FOR ALL AFFECTED MODELS FROM MERCEDES. IT IS UNFAIR TO US TO KEEP PAYING OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE REPAIR. MY CAR ONLY HAS 62200MILES IN IT.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 AND 16V363000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

FROM A PARKED VEHICLE, I UNLOCKED CAR AND INSERTED KEY AND TURNED TO START POSITION 2. NO STEERING UNLOCK, SHIFT LEVER STUCK IN PARK AND NO ENGINE START. MESSAGE "TAKE YOUR KEY FROM IGNITION" APPEARED AS WELL WHEN I OPENED DOOR. VOLTAGE FROM BATTERY WAS 12.7 VDC. HAD CAR TOWED TO MERCEDES BENZ DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH EIS FAILURE (ELECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM). COST FOR REPAIR: $1,350.

1ST LETTER: APRIL 2016....STATED PASSENGER AIRBAG TAKATA RECALL. NO LETTER THAT PART IS IN. 2ND LETTER JULY 2016 STATED DRIVER'S AIRBAG TAKATA RECALL. NO LETTER THAT PART IS IN. I AM DRIVING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE FOR DRIVER AND PASSENGER!! LET'S GET GOING PLEASE ON GETTING THE REPLACEMENT AIRBAGS!!!

ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK MOTOR FAILURE - CAR DID NOT START AND ENGINE NON-RESPONSIVE. ONLY THE DEALER AND MERCEDES BENZ AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOPS CAN FIX THIS ISSUE. UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

THIS OCCURRED IN STATIONARY POSITION IN MY GARAGE. STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP WHEN PARKED WITH WHEELS FORWARD / TURNING KEY TO START ENGINE DOES NOT WORK. PER THE DEALER, THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION LOCK ANTI-THEFT CONTROL UNIT IS FAULTY. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF A PROBLEM PRIOR. THIS COULD LEAVE PEOPLE STRANDED IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS.

I STOPPED AT A KWIK TRIP (2006 N SPRING ST, BEAVER DAM, WI 53916) TO PUT GAS IN MY 2008 MERCEDES C300. CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER FILLING UP. MY STEERING WAS LOCKED AND SO WAS MY SHIFTING AS I WAS STUCK IN PARK. AFTER TROUBLESHOOTING THINGS SUCH AS THE BATTERY, FUSES, ETC I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND OUT MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN IN THE SAME SITUATION. THERE ARE VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE AND FORUMS WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF VIEWS AND NUMEROUS POSTS DESCRIBING WHAT SEEMS TO BE A ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL) OR ELECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM (EIS). I KNOW MERCEDES HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE ARGUED IT IS NOT A SAFETY HAZARD BUT THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES WHERE IT CAN BE A BIG SAFETY HAZARD. LUCKILY IT WAS SUMMER HERE IN WISCONSIN WHERE I WAS STUCK AT THAT GAS STATION FROM 7:30PM - 1:00AM. SO ESSENTIALLY THE PROBLEM HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH FILLING UP WITH GASOLINE. IT IS JUST WITH THE CAR SUDDENLY NOT STARTING. IT IS A ESL FAILURE AND IT ISN'T ONLY A SAFETY HAZARD, MERCEDES IS CHARGING 1300-1900 FOR WHAT THEY ACKNOWLEDGE HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE WITH CERTAIN MODELS! I FILED THIS THANKS TO A FORUM, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER THERE IS A LOT OF EVIDENCE OF THIS ON THE WEB.

TAKATA RECALL THIS PROBLEM HAS GONE FROM A TAKARA RECALL TO A PASSENGER -SIDE AIRBAG RECALL. I AM HIGHLY CONCERNED THAT EVERYDAY I TRANSPORT MY CHILD TO AND FROM SCHOOL CAN BE AT DANGER OF METAL FRAGMENTS DEPLOYING IF THIS AIRBAG RELEASES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK AND IGNITION MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V363000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

STILL NOT FIXED ----2 YEARS LATER THEY SAY (M/B) "THE BEST OR NOTHING " AND I HAVE NOTHING BUT UN- SAFETY AND DANGER,AND PLENTY OF LETTERS THAT DO NOTHING AGAIN, BUT THEY SAID THAT . LETS PUT A DATE TO IT.!!!!!!!!

I TOOK MY C300 MERCEDES BENZ (WITH ONLY 52,000 MILES), TO THE MERCEDES BENZ OF MIAMI DEALERSHIP TO CHECK THE WIRING IN BOTH HEAD LAMPS, SINCE THE HEADLIGHTS WERE INTERMITTENTLY FLICKERING ON AND OFF, WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THIS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WAS OF SERIOUS CONCERN FOR ME AS A 72 YEARS' OLD SENIOR, COULD BE A DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE, CREATING A LIFE AND DEATH SITUATION. MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER, JUAN OBANDO, TOLD ME THAT THE WIRING TO THE HEADLAMPS WAS CORRODED AND COULD NOT BE REPLACED. I WOULD HAVE TO BUY TWO (2) COMPLETE NEW HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY UNITS COSTING $1,890.- PLUS TAX AND LABOR INSTALLATION. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHTS AND UNPREDICTABLY AND INTERMITTENTLY LOSING HEAD AND LOW BEAM LIGHTS, IS OF GRAVE SAFETY CONCERN TO ME AND CREATES A HAZARD TO PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROADWAY AND HIGHWAYS. UPDATED 03/29/2017 *JS

TRIED TO START THE CAR TOTALLY DEAD, STEERING COLUMN LOCKED, TOWED IT TO THE MECHANIC THE MECHANIC STATES THAT HE IS TRYING TO PURCHASE THE PART FROM MERCEDES. MERCEDES STATES THAT THE CAR MIGHT HAVE TO TOWED THERE BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THEY HAVE TO HANDLE THE REPAIR. WAITING TO HEAR IF MERCEDES WILL SELL THE PART 8/1/16. OBVIOUSLY A RECALL ISSUE HOW CAN THE GOVERNMENT HELP US WITH THIS OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.

ON JULY 21,2016 AT 9AM AND I PARKED MY CAR AND WENT TO WORK, 2 HOURS LATER CAME BACK AND TRY TO START THE CAR, DID NOT START. CAR DOOR LOCKS AND TRUNK LOCKS OPEN AND CLOSE BUT WHEN I TURN THE IGNITION ON , NO RESPONSE, NO DISPLAY ON INSTRUMENT PANEL AROUND SPEEDOMETER GAUGES. NO HISSING OR CRANKING OR BEEPING NOISE ALSO. STEERING COLUMN WAS ALSO LOCKED UP AND INOPERABLE.ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO COMMAND SCREEN WITH LCD DISPLAY THAT CONTROLS ALL FUNCTIONS SMOKED A LITTLE AND WAS SHUT DOWN DISPLAY. GOING TO THE LAST WEEKS PROBLEM STEERING COLUMN HAS LOCKED ME OUT AND ALSO EIS THAT IS THE COMMUNICATOR FROM IGNITION SWITCH AND ALTERNATOR OR STARTED DO NOT FUNCTION ALSO. I HAPPENED TO SEE MORE THAN HUNDREDS OF CAR WITH THE SAME YEAR GROUP AND MODEL HAS SMILIAR PROBLEMS .MY CAR MILEAGE WAS 93121. I WOULD LIKE MAKE THIS AS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM OF UNRELIABILITY OF THE PARTS AND THE MANUFACTURER LET IT ROLL OFF ASSEMBLY LINE WITH OUT DOING DILIGENT TESTING OF THE PARTS INVOLVED FROM THE SUPPLIERS FOR RELIABLITY AND DURABILITY AND IN TURN COST THE CONSUMERS $2000-3000 OF UNNECESSARY EXPENSE/TROUBLESHOOT AND FIX/ THAN YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HELP.

KEY IS NOT RECOGNIZED WHEN INSERTED IN THE IGNITION. THEREFORE, CAR WILL NOT START. DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH (EIS)IS FAULTY. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED THROUGH OUT THE USA. THE REPAIR COSTS IS ESTIMATED AT $800-2,000 DOLLARS. ON JULY 19TH, 2016, I RAN SEVERAL ERRANDS. ONCE AT HOME, I TRIED TO START MY CAR. THE IGNITION DID NOT TURN BUT BATTERY LIFE WAS STRONG. DASHBOARD READ " REMOVE KEY CAR WILL NOT START..."

I WAS DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH WHEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION. A FEW SECONDS LATER, I FELT THE CAR PULLING SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT. A FEW GLASS FRAGMENTS THEN STARTED TO COME THROUGH THE SUNROOF COVER AND THIS IS WHEN I SURMISED THAT THE SUNROOF HAD SHATTERED UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS HAPPENED AROUND 6PM TOWARDS THE END OF JULY IN TEXAS DURING A HOT DAY (~+100DEG F). I HAD THE AIR CONDITION ON THE COOLEST (60 DEG F) SETTING AND A LOW TO MODERATE BLOWER FAN SPEED. WHEN I GOT HOME, I NOTICED THAT THE SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED OUTWARDLY. I CAN EASILY IMAGINE SOMEONE SWERVING DUE TO THE SHOCKED OF THE LOUD EXPLOSION AND CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE....UPDATED 11/01/16 *BF

ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH (EIS) HAS FAILED TWICE! IN 6 WEEKS AND NOW THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK MUST ALSO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A CONCERN THAT THE ESL MAY MALFUNCTION AND LOCK STEERING WHILE DRIVING. THIS ISSUE APPEARS TO BE WIDE SPREAD IN 2008 AND 2009 MERCEDES C300 VEHICLES. NO SUPPORT FROM MERCEDES AFTER CALLS TO NJ HEADQUARTERS.

I WENT TO THE CINEMA AS REGULAR DAY, NO RAIN NOR HOT. WHEN I'M BACK AFTER 2 HOURS, THE CAR SUDDENLY COULD NOT START WITHOUT WARNINGS OR ANYTHING ELSE. THE LIGHT STILL GOOD, BATTERY IS GOOD, RADIO STILL ON. SO I WENT ON RESEARCH AND THERE ARE TONS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS C300 MODEL ON THE STEERING LOCK PROBLEM. I DON'T KNOW WHY MERCEDES BENZ LET IT HAPPEN, THERE ARE NO FAULT FROM CUSTOMERS; THEY SHOULD RECALL TO CHANGE THE STEER WHEEL, WHICH EASY COST YOU $1,600. I WOULD NOT HAPPY AT ALL FOR MERCEDES BENZ QUALITY CONTROL SINCE IT LET THE C300 HAS THAT DEFAULT WITHOUT ANY NOTICES OR ATTEMPT TO ALERT CONSUMERS.

MALFUNCTIONING ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT WHICH SEEMS TO BE A COMMON DEFECT FOR MB W204

08 MERCEDES C300W -- WENT INTO H.E.B FOR 5 MINS, CAR WAS STATIONED ON FLAT SURFACE. RETURNING TO VEHICLE I INSERTED THE KEY, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR WOULD NOT START, NO CRANK WHAT SO EVER. LIGHTS AND RADIO WORKED, BUT THE WINDOWS, STEERING AND SHIFTER WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. DEALER SAYS ITS THE STEERING LOCK AND LOTS OF CUSTOMERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM; UNFORTUNATELY, MERCEDES HAS NOT PUT A RECALL ON IT AS OF YET. TOTAL COST $1,500.00 AS OF 07/05/2016. PART 575.00 DIAGNOSE 175.00 AND LABOR 750.00 WOW. I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER MERCEDES. I NOW KNOW HOW TO RESPOND TO THOSE WHO ASK HOW I FEEL ABOUT MERCEDES. VERY DISAPPOINTING.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

PARKED VECHILE TO MAKE A QUICK STOP WHEN I RETURNED VECHILE WILL NOT START. GOT A JUMP AND IT WAS CONFIRMED IT WAS NOT THE BATTERY CAR WAS ONLY AT 75000 MILES

FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. HUNDREDS OF FORUMS ONLINE PROVE THAT WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM IN C - CLASS CARS AND OTHERS FROM MERCEDES BENZ THEIR IGNITION SWITCHES PROVE TO BE FAULTY. CAR BECAUSE AUTOMATICALLY STUCK IN PARK AND REQUIRES THOUSANDS TO FIX THE ISSUE. CAR RAN FINE TO WORK AND LEAVING WORK I WAS LEFT IN THE DARK AND LATE HOURS HAVING TO GET IT TOWED. WHICH COULD NOT BE TOWED DUE TO IT BEING STUCK IN PARK. I'VE BEEN QUOTED $1500 TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND IT APPEARS THIS IS COMMON FOR THESE VEHICLES. COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. THE NEAREST DEALER TO FIX THE ISSUE WAS OVER 20 MILES AWAY.

FRONT DRIVER SEAT BELT MAKE THE AIRBAG LIGHT COME ON AND OFF WHEN DRIVING ON THE DASH. CAR WILL NOT START SHORTAGE THAT KILL THE BATTIER THIS IS MY SECOND BATTIER IN A WEEK.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V711000 (AIR BAGS). WHEN THE CONTACT RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE, THE SRS WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THE RECALL WAS FOR THE SRS CONTROL MODULE AND THE SRS WARNING INDICATOR WAS A DIFFERENT MATTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

JAN 2015 STARTED CARE AND IMMEDIATELY SRS AND SEATBELT LIGHT MESSAGE APPEARED ON DASH. LATE FALL 2015 RECEIVED RECALL LETTER, CALLED MB OF CATONSVILLE, RECEIVED/WENT TO APPOINTMENT FOR REPAIR. MISSED TIME FROM FROM WORK ONLY TO BE TOLD W/N THE HOUR PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE, I WOULD RECEIVE A CALL WHEN IT CAME IN. LATE MAY 16 I RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL LETTER FROM MBUSA REFERRING ME BACK TO THE DEALER. WEDNESDAY 06/15/16 I CONTACTED MBUSA WHO EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE PART FOR THE AIRBAG WAS NOT IN BUT THE SRA PART WAS AVAILABLE AT THE DEALER. I WAS DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO MB OF CATONSVILLE BY MBUSA AND WAS ASSURED PART WAS THERE/ I WAS GIVEN AN APPOINTMENT NEXT DAY THURSDAY AT 8:15 A.M. AT APPT., 2 HOURS LATER I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE SVC MGR. PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. IT MIGHT TAKE UNTIL MONDAY JUNE 20, 2016. IT IS NOW TUESDAY JUNE 21, 2016. I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM MB OF CATONSVILE ABOUT THE PART. NO ONE HAS REACHED OUT TO ME. I ASK FOR A LOANER BECAUSE I WAS TIRED OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH ANXIETY SINCE 2015. IN ORDER FOR ME TO RECEIVE A LOANER I HAVE TO ALLOW THE DEALERSHIP TO HOLD $150.00 ON MY BANK ACCOUNT WHILE I HAVE POSSESSION OF THE LOANER. I CANNOT AFFORD THE COST AT THIS TIME. AND AGAIN I MESSED TIME FROM WORK TO HAVE CAR SERVICED. PLEASE ADVISE OF ANY OPTIONS I HAVE AT THIS TIME.

AIR BAG NOT WORKING03.

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO A SOCCER TOURNAMENT WITH THE GIRLS WHILE I WAS OUT OF TOWN. SHE GOT GAS IN AN AREA UNFAMILIAR AND WENT TO START THE CAR AND THE REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION APPEARED. SHE HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AND THEY WERE LEFT STRANDED AT A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT IN AN UNFAMILIAR AND SEEDY AREA UNTIL HER PARENTS COULD COME GET THEM. THEY MISSED THE TOURNAMENT. WHEN I GOT HOME I WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF HOW COMMON THIS IS. VERY FRUSTRATED AT MB. THIS IS MY SECOND C300 AND IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE AFTER THE AIRBAG RECALL I GET CALLS FROM THE DEALER ONCE A WEEK TO UPGRADE THIS CAR BECAUSE SUPPOSEDLY THEY ARE WORTH GOOD TRADE IN RIGHT NOW.