Print this page

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
79,192 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 steering problems

steering problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Owner Comments (Page 2 of 7)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #110

Feb 062018

C300

  • 72,400 miles

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

The electron steering lock failed on my 2008 C300. There were no warning lights that came on previously but the car just did not start one day. This problem is prevelant among many owners so Mercedes should cover the cost of repair.

- Hicksville, NY, USA

problem #109

Dec 162017

C300

  • 128,908 miles
The power steering suddenly stop working while I am driving.

- Manchester, CT, USA

problem #108

Oct 012017

C300

  • 102,678 miles
When driving on the freeway at a certain speed the rear end starts fishtailing making it hard to control the vehicle

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #107

Sep 262017

C300

  • 162,000 miles

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

Need to have a recall for cars electronic steering column switch failure. Key switch failure caused steering column to lock while vehicle in motion. Unable to turn or pull over to side of road. Car engine stopped in middle of city street. Very dangerous situation. Driver and passengers unable to get to or no where to go for safety due to high volume of traffic. There are many numerous complaints and issues pertaining to the malfunctioning key switch should be investigated and car recall initiated to upgrade to a safer more reliable part immediately.

- Manteca, CA, USA

problem #106

Jul 082017

C300

  • 80,000 miles
Steering lock mechanism faulty. Steering locked and car inoperable. Car was parked. Had to be towed to dealer.

- New Providence, NJ, USA

problem #105

Jun 302017

C300

  • 110,000 miles
Eis/esl failed at 100K despite regular maintenance

- Turner, ME, USA

problem #104

Aug 092017

C300

  • 100,000 miles

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

Steering wheel will lock disabling the car from being started.the key will turn but the car will not start. Good thing it was parked on driveway !we are unable to move the car whatsoever, shift mechanism is locked as well disabling the movement of car

- Selma, CA, USA

problem #103

Jul 262017

C300

  • 117 miles
My Mercedes was running good all day then when I went to the mall and came back back to start my car it had no power. We try jumping the car nothing. Use a different key nothing.. it won't start I had to call a tow truck. I took it to Mercedes dealer just to look at it $300.. now they say it's the key ingotion that needs to replace cost me $1200+.. I just bought the car 7 months ago I have no warrant.. I google the problem and it's a common problem that ppl have plz investigate this problem cuz it cost a lot of money to fix and I'm out of a car for a week. Thank you

- Perth Amboy, NJ, USA

problem #102

Jul 162017

C300

  • 145,000 miles
While driving all of a sudden the steering stopped working. It turned freely both sides but the car was going straight. It happened on a city road. If it happened on a highway it would be a disaster.

- Northville, MI, USA

problem #101

May 062017

C300

  • 50,815 miles
Vehicle parked and locked. When I attempted to unlock vehicle with remote control, vehicle would not unlock. Door had to be opened manually with "key". when attempting to start vehicle, no warning lights went on in position 2 and car woud not start in position 3. towing company was called. Was unable to start vehicle. Vehicle towed to mbz dealer. Dealer confirmed that the electronic ignition steering lock malfunctioned and required replacement. Replacement completed.

- Woodland Hills, CA, USA

problem #100

May 022017

C300

  • 120,000 miles

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

The steering wheel locks up and will not move. Dealership and web state this is a common problem with this model of the car and the eis and esl switches need to be removed and replaced.

- Warwick, RI, USA

problem #99

Mar 162017

C300

  • 80,000 miles
Steering refused to unlock and thus the car would not start. Car was stationary sitting in the garage.

- Winchester, VA, USA

problem #98

Mar 032017

C300

  • 122,000 miles
Last week I drove my daughter to school. Then I went to the gas station and turned the car off. When I tried to start the car to leave, it would not start. It did not do anything. I could not even roll the windows up. The car did nothing other than say "remove ignition key." The battery was tested and fine. It had just been replaced 1 month ago. The tow truck driver brought it to my mechanic who then said it had to be brought to the dealer. The Mercedes dealer said it was the eis/steering switch. The cost will be $1900. I've called other mechanics. No-one can fix it because Mercedes has the parts and coding exclusively. This is a lot of money and with the amount of complaints it should be a recall. Last year my car also experienced the SRS light malfunction. I brought it to the dealer and this was also another huge expense. The dealer did not take the responsibility of a recall. They acted like it was a big surprise.

- Santa Rosa Beach, FL, USA

problem #97

Feb 162017

C300

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering. As a result, the vehicle was not operable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 90,000. The VIN was not provided.

- Chico, CA, USA

problem #96

Jan 102017

C300

  • 95,000 miles
Electronic steering lock (esl)goes out damage without reason, happen routinely to most of this models mechanic shops and dealer stated it, vehicle parked won't unlock steering or simple restart

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #95

Dec 212016

C300

  • miles
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.

- Sayreville, NJ, USA

problem #94

Dec 172016

C300

  • 93,000 miles
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.

- Plano, TX, USA

problem #93

Dec 022016

C300

  • 50,000 miles
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.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #92

Nov 282016

C300 6-cyl

  • 75,000 miles
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.

- Frederick, MD, USA

problem #91

Sep 022016

C300

  • 130,000 miles
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

- Laughlin, NV, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?