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2.7

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
55,235 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Owner Comments

problem #15

Jan 082017

C300

  • 77,749 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Transmission leaks so car starts shifting hard jerking learching. Mechanic says it is a torque converter seal that leaks so needs to be replaced. But have to pull the engine & transmission out to split so the labor is 22-23 hours labor when the part is only like $23 so the repair because of the labor would be about $2200 which we can't afford. The mechanic found so many same vehicles with this problem that there should be a recall. But of course the dealer won't report because they don't want to have to make this expensive repair to so many vehicles. While driving fast or slow accelerating breaking to slow down, taking off at a stop sign stop light going in reverse etc it hesitates to go into gear. Keeps happening multiple times a year we have to keep checking changing the transmission fluid & getting it topped off.

- West Chester, OH, USA

problem #14

Sep 182018

C300

  • 56,800 miles
Transfer case reseal. I have a 2008 C300 I bought with 56K miles on it, I had to have the wheel bearings replaced immediately. When this service took place, I was informed that I need to have my transfer case resealed and the cam shaft magnets replaced. This car has such low miles on it. I do not understand how this is needed at this time. I have seen on many boards, this is a common problem. Why hasn't mb recalled this yet? it appears the 2008 model is plagued with problems as I have had to replace the steering lock as well as it failed. Again, common problem and not recall. I now have a seatbelt sensor that faulty. All of this before I have even hit 100K. My 2001 ml is well over 200K and I have never had these issues with the ml.

- Thornton, CO, USA

problem #13

Oct 162016

C300 6-cyl

  • miles
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."

- Naples, FL, USA

problem #12

Jun 292016

C300

  • 75,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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

- Bronx, NY, USA

problem #11

Jan 262016

C300

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that the remote key failed to start the vehicle. The brake pedal locked up, the steering wheel seized, and the gear shifter failed to come out of park. The instrument panel indicated to remove the key from the ignition switch. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

- Manville, LA, USA

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problem #10

Jun 172015

C300

  • 1 miles
Transmission at 60000 started making noise. My mechanic diagnosed as transmission rear drive shaft bearing. Looking on internet, many people had same issue at even lower mileage. And Mercedes does not make just bearing, the entire transmission needs replaced.used transmissions are doing same thing. I think it is time to issue a recall

- New Albin, IA, USA

problem #9

Jul 062015

C300

  • 76,900 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Parked car left for an hour came back and tried to start vehicle and it would not start dealership said it was the eis (electronic ignition switch) and charged me $1900 to fix it, also before I took it in for that repair the sunroof would not work properly and rear right brake light went out they fixed that under recall free after that my sunroof worked fine. Now my serpentine belt broke and shredded while I was driving looked in my engine and the belt was all over engine in pieces.

- Pikesville, MD, USA

problem #8

Jul 082015

C300

  • 49,004 miles
Started reversing car when I stopped the car continued moving. Car was in park. Can start car but it appears to be stuck in neutral, will roll back or forward - no gears engage.

- Vancouver, WA, USA

problem #7

Jun 262015

C300

  • 84,000 miles
Was making a turn and the steering wheel locked up and gas would not work. Car slowed to the stop and I had to turn off and turn back on. 5 minutes later was driving and steering wheel locked again and car slowed to a stop. Had to get car towed when it would not turn back on.

- Sewell, NJ, USA

problem #6

Apr 032015

C300 6-cyl

  • 51,000 miles
The serpentine belt shredded for the third time after having it replaced twice within four weeks. As of 4/15/2015 this car will have its 4th belt installed. Clearly the tensioner and pulley(s) are majorly defected. Each time these incidents were life threatening for me and my daughters. We were simply blessed not have been hit by other drivers when the car lost total control with no steering power. Each time of the car's malfunction, I was surrounded by other drivers, moving with the steady flow of traffic.these are serious issues. I can't imagine if I had been driving on the freeway at a faster pace. Now I am facing the expense of replacing the belt for the third time(making this the 4th belt), replacing the parts, the cost of labor, and the cost for a rental during the repair time. Mercedes should be honorable and demand a recall on these parts immediately, before serious injuries or death(s) occur. This country does not need to be reminded of the senseless behaviors of the Ford pinto or the most recent, Toyota tragedies. Mercedes can control the outcome of these situations with a simple recall. The cost of the parts in bulk or wholesale would be a very small price compared to the heartache of loosing the quality of life or causing the ultimate result - death!

- Murrieta, CA, USA

problem #5

Jun 112014

C300

  • 66,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Plantation, FL, USA

problem #4

Aug 082014

C300 6-cyl

  • 69,069 miles
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.

- Glen Allen, VA, USA

problem #3

Jul 042013

C300

  • 66,000 miles
The entire car loses power, nothing works.

- Plantation, FL, USA

problem #2

Jul 102012

C300

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes Benz C300. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was restarted and functioned properly. The vehicle was inspected by a local dealer and was diagnosed with having a short in the transmission computer. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The approximate failure vehicle mileage was 50,000.

- Minneapolis, MN, USA

problem #1

Aug 162009

C300

  • 17,000 miles
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.

- San Gabriel, CA, USA

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