2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class problems and complaints
Owners have filed 836 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The most-reported areas: Air Bags (324), Electrical System (291), Steering (169).
Key takeaways
- 836 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 25 involve a crash, 21 a fire, 30 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 324 | 39% |
| Electrical System | 291 | 35% |
| Steering | 169 | 20% |
| Exterior Lighting | 149 | 18% |
| Unknown Or Other | 44 | 5% |
| Engine | 38 | 5% |
| Seat Belts | 23 | 3% |
| Power Train | 18 | 2% |
| Service Brakes | 17 | 2% |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 17 | 2% |
| Suspension | 13 | 2% |
| Structure | 11 | 1% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4-DR. w/SAB | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic - filed 2025-08-19
The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, attempting to stop, the vehicle failed to respond as intended and causing the contact to drive through a stop sign, then merge onto the interstate independently. The driver's side rear tire was leaking brake fluid. The...
Electrical System,exterior Lighting - filed 2025-08-01
The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while at the car wash and attempting to wash the vehicle, there was popping sound coming from the vehicle, and the contact saw smoke coming from the speakers and called the Fire Department however, no damages were found. The vehicle was taken to the residen...
Service Brakes - filed 2025-07-27
Certified Mercedes dealership confirmed that the subframe of my 2008 C300 is rusted and needs to be replaced which is under warranty. However, they are unwilling and do not acknowledge that the brake lines are also rusted and need to be replaced which is CAUSED by the rusted subframe. I first consulted my local mechani...
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More for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.