On July 6, 2015, I left work to go home and my car would not start. This is the third time in three weeks I have had to have my car towed from work due to it not starting. However, this time I had it towed to the Mercedes Benz dealer and was informed I have a faulty eis system that needs $2100 in repairs. I immediately informed them that the car has been shutting down on me for the past three weeks and I don't believe I am the only person having this problem. After being given a loaner car, until I can decide to have the repair work initiated, I found out through online research that Mercedes Benz has known of this problem and has not offered to recall any of the cars affected in the 2008 C300 class or any other class of mb with the same eis problems. It's sad that we allow them to sell us these cars and they wont honor our patronage enough to fix them when the break down as a fault of design by mb. It is absolutely astonishing the number of complaints with this same electrical issues that plague mb C-class cars. The only reason no one has died so far, is because once they cut off you can't start them to drive anywhere..and that leads to safety issues as well!! I heard that some of the electrical problems can be covered under the cam solenoid recall mb has. I plan on checking with my dealer in regards to this on tomorrow...updated 08/24/16

- Baltimore, MD, USA

Same as many others, steering lock, wouldn't id key, wouldn't start. Eis problem I believe. $980 to fix with only 35K miles! this is a frequent problem according to the forums I have visited.

- Jamestown, NC, USA

The electronic steering lock just shutoff. The car came out of comfort while I was driving, the C-in the box-just disappeared off the cluster and I knew this is what happened because it happened three times them started up two days later. This has been a common problem with Mercedes C300 as I read so many complaints and posts.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes Benz C300. The contact stated that when the key was turned in the ignition switch, the vehicle failed to start without warning. The contact mentioned that the radio, the headlights, and other electrical functions operated but the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to a dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 108,000. The VIN was not available.

- Henrico, VA, USA

This is the second time this has happened. First time I go to start my 2008 C300 and it will not start, will not shift into neutral, no windows will go up or down. I am a registered nurse and was working home health. Was stuck at a patients house and not able to see any other patients for the rest of the week. Took to Mercedes dealership and told it was the eis. So $1200 dollars later it was fixed. Again 2 years later the exact same thing happens and what do you know, eis and $1200 repair again. Even the guy from the Mercedes service department said this is a very common problem with this year and model. Mercedes should be ashamed to charge so much for a car and not stand behind their work. If this is a common problem it should be a recall. I will never own another Mercedes as long as I live. My wifes first Kia was more reliable than this car.

- Taylors , SC, USA

I came home from work on 6/8/2015 and later returned to my car to meet a friend for dinner. The doors unlocked and the lights came on but the car will not start. The steering wheel turns but the car will not start. I have tried both keys, checked th battery. After speaking with my mechanic I have found out that is is the ignition switch. I will have to have the car towed to the dealership. I have seen on the Benz forum that this is a common problem that Mercedes will not take ownership of. I will never by a Mercedes again.

- High Point, NC, USA

My lcd navigation screen does not turn on anymore. It randomly flashes when I'm driving and causes a distraction. After some research, it seems like an extremely common issue with many C300 models of the 2008 year. Some owners have reported smoke coming out of the corner of the screen.

- Chino, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes Benz C300. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The contact mentioned that the key was stuck in the lock position and the key was not programmed to the ignition switch. In addition, the steering wheel failed. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine ignition lock fractured and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 42,000. The VIN was not available.

- Houston, TX, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes Benz C300. While the vehicle was parked, the key was stuck in the lock position and the key was not programmed to the ignition. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was in the process of being repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000. The VIN was not available.

- Simivalley , CA, USA

Belt tensioner makes loud metallic noise around the engine area. Car wouldn't start. Camshaft adjuster magnets replaced. Water leak from sun roof drain side mirror cracked under cold weather.

- Ridgewood, NJ, USA

Got in my car last night to go home and attempted to crank it. It would not start. The key turned in the ignition and lights worked but the engine would not turn over. Last year in February I had to have the car towed to the dealership by roadside assistance and have ignition switch replaced for a similar situation at my cost. I am awaiting news from the dealership as to the problem this time but this is ridiculous for this vehicle to have this type of complaints from so many consumers and Mercedes not stand behind this product by recalling it. I am a woman and had no one to assist me or provide transportation home. You buy a product thinking that it is dependable but this car isn't it.

- Pike Road, AL, USA

Same as everyone else. The car would not start and we had it towed in. I researched the complaints online and saw that Mercedes has a problem with this issue (eis/sis) they sold me a new key for $547 and said that it was fixed. Picked it up on Saturday and had it towed back in on Tuesday. Now they say it's the eis to the tune of another $1500. I will not buy another Mercedes until I see how they stand behind the one I have...I hope that we do not have to call the news stations and file a class action suit to get it fixed. Mercedes needs to do the right thing and repair their defect.

- Hutto, TX, USA

The vehicle would not start, the key turned in the ignition with no crank. All other electrical features worked and the battery tested as being ok. The electrical ignition system just did not respond. Tow to the dealership. $1350 to fix it.

- San Jose, CA, USA

The electronic ignition system also known as eis is broken. I turned if the car and it did not read my key. After looking in the internet and speaking with the mechanic it is obvious that the models 2008 09 10 have this defective part. I also spoke to a service technician at the dealer who wished to remain anonymous and he admitted that just at his dealer thousands of vehicles are brought in for this same issue and yet Mercedes Benz refuses to recall. The government needs to police this matter which is costing minimum $1300.

- Miami, FL, USA

The vehicle would not start, the key turned in the ignition with no crank. All other electrical features worked and the battery tested as being ok. The electrical ignition system just did not respond. In addition, the wheels were locked thus requiring a special dolly to tow the vehicle.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

Upon entering my vehicle after pumping gas late one evening, I proceeded to turn the key in the ignition and the key would not allow the car to start. All the lights on the dash, radio and headlights were operative at that time. I attempted a jump start to no avail. I proceeded with having he vehicle towed to a local dealer where it was determined that there was an issue with the electrical steering/ignition system that was electrical in nature and "common" for the year and model of the car. If this potential defect is common then it is "known" to the manufacturer and its dealers who can be held strictly liable or any manufacturing or design defect, or inadequate warning. That being said, if the product is defective, what prevents the recurrence of the issue after replacement of the part, which would essentially be replacing it with another defective part. This matter is serious to the consumer, and the manufacture could easily reduce the risk of harm to its consumers by altering the design in a much more cost effective manner than allowing its consumers to bear the costs of its manufacturing error.

- Orlando, FL, USA

I entered my 2008 Mercedes Benz C300 after work, and it would not start. I was stranded for 2 and 1/2 hours waiting for the complimentary tow truck Mercedes Benz was sending. I had it towed to the Mercedes Benz dealership at 7pm where it sat all weekend until they checked it on Monday 3/9/15. They called on 3/9/15 and stated it was the electrical steering device and would cost $950. This is a common malfunction in the 2008 C300 that Mercedes is not taking ownership of. There are numerous individuals who have faced this problem, and are charged extreme amounts to have it fixed. (see mbworld) this is not a defect due to wear and tear, this is a problem with manufacturing, a defect which is unfair to the consumer. There needs to be a recall on the electronic steering device and electronic ignition system on this make and model of car. Campaign number 2008020003 (NJ) to: All Mercedes Benz centers, model 204, model year 2008, replace electronic ignition switch was published in March 2008 noting "daimier ag has determined that the eis may malfunction preventing the electric steering lock and the central locking from functioning. Dealers will replace the eis on the affected vehicles during the next workshop visit." Consumers are left shouldering the cost of a problem Mercedes Benz is aware of, yet will not do a recall.

- Grayson, GA, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes Benz C300. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the key needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 73,685.

- Cleveland, OH, USA

For unknown reason, a warning about SRS restraint system driver side failure. Unsure if this is air bag, or seat belt related. Dealer wanted $2200. To fix. Outrageous safety issue. From online search this seems to happen regularly to mb products. Why has dot not taken action. Thank you for a response.

- Rockville, MD, USA

I drove car to work in the a.M. when I got ready to leave for the day the car would not start. The lights and locks and radio worked, but the engine wouldn't turn over. It was towed to the dealership and has been there for a few days. Just got a call that they think it is both the eis and esl, but they need my second key to be sure. After reading multiple forums with this problem, and calling another dealership, it seems the real issue my only be the esl. I say only because it cuts my cost in half, but it really sucks that this is obviously a very common problem and Mercedes has yet to do anything about it.

- Richmond, TX, USA