MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS · model year

2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS

18 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2008MERCEDES-BENZC-CLASS carries 18 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 3 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2008 C-CLASS is electrical system with 7 filings, followed by exterior lighting (6) and tires (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 15 investigation files overlapping the 2008 C-CLASS. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

18
Complaints
2
Crashes
3
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

18 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM7
EXTERIOR LIGHTING6
TIRES2
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL1
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE1
TIRES:SIDEWALL1

Recent Complaints

20140325ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY REAR BACK TAIL LIGHT WIRING PANEL FRIED . THE LIGHT IS NOT WORKING AT ALL AND WHEN I CALLED MANHATTAN MERCEDES DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NOT AN APPOINTMENT AVAILABLE TWO WEEKS FROM 3/7/2014 THEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP IN BROOKLYN AND THEY TOLD ME THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY APPOINTMENTS EITHER SO I JUST SHOWED UP THERE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT DUE TO MY TAIL LIGHT BEING FULLY OUT I AM NOT ALOUD TO DRIVE MY CAR SINCE ITS A SAFETY ISSUES BUT THEY DID NOTHING TO HELP ME OUT AND TOLD ME THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO ORDER THE PART EVEN THOUGH IT IS A RECALL THEN THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY AROUND $ 400 DOLLARS FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR BUT STILL THEY HAD NO APPOINTMENT FOR ME TO COME IN AND FIX IT IS 3/25/2014 AND I STILL HAVE A BROKEN CAR AND NO WAY OF DRIVING IT OR FIXING IT BECAUSE NO OTHER SHOP WILL TAKE MY CAR IN SINCE IT IS A DEALER ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 63,000

20140325EXTERIOR LIGHTING

MY REAR BACK TAIL LIGHT WIRING PANEL FRIED . THE LIGHT IS NOT WORKING AT ALL AND WHEN I CALLED MANHATTAN MERCEDES DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NOT AN APPOINTMENT AVAILABLE TWO WEEKS FROM 3/7/2014 THEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP IN BROOKLYN AND THEY TOLD ME THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY APPOINTMENTS EITHER SO I JUST SHOWED UP THERE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT DUE TO MY TAIL LIGHT BEING FULLY OUT I AM NOT ALOUD TO DRIVE MY CAR SINCE ITS A SAFETY ISSUES BUT THEY DID NOTHING TO HELP ME OUT AND TOLD ME THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO ORDER THE PART EVEN THOUGH IT IS A RECALL THEN THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY AROUND $ 400 DOLLARS FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR BUT STILL THEY HAD NO APPOINTMENT FOR ME TO COME IN AND FIX IT IS 3/25/2014 AND I STILL HAVE A BROKEN CAR AND NO WAY OF DRIVING IT OR FIXING IT BECAUSE NO OTHER SHOP WILL TAKE MY CAR IN SINCE IT IS A DEALER ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 63,000

20140103ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

FAULT INDICATOR FOR LEFT SIDED REAR LIGHTS SPORADICALLY SHOW DEFECT LAMPS, BUT THEY ARE NOT. FINALLY A PARTLY BROKEN/CORRODED GROUND RETURN WAS DETECTED. THE SAME HAPPENED TO THE RIGHT SIDED REAR LIGHTS ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER. DEFECT WAS FINALLY REPAIRED, EXPENSES COVERED BY MERCEDES INTERNATIONAL ADRESS COTTONWOOD ARIZONA IS INCORRECT BUT COUNTRY IS AUSTRIA, CITY VIENNA [XXX] IS INCORRECT BUT ERROR CHECKER DID NOT ACCEPT CORRECT AUSTRIAN PHONE NUMBERS PHONE NUMBER [XXX] AND [XXX] ARE CORRECT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 50,000

20131220ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

REAR LIGHTING FAILURE (TAILLIGHT). FAILURE CAUSING MY VEHICLE LIGHTS TO VERY DIM AND SOME BULBS ARE NOT ILLUMINATE AT ALL. OCCURS WITH LEFT TAILLIGHT (BRAKE LIGHT). I SEE SOME BURNING ON PLASTIC PANEL THAT BULBS GOES IN. *TR

20131220EXTERIOR LIGHTING

REAR LIGHTING FAILURE (TAILLIGHT). FAILURE CAUSING MY VEHICLE LIGHTS TO VERY DIM AND SOME BULBS ARE NOT ILLUMINATE AT ALL. OCCURS WITH LEFT TAILLIGHT (BRAKE LIGHT). I SEE SOME BURNING ON PLASTIC PANEL THAT BULBS GOES IN. *TR

20131216ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

STARTED TO GET THE MESSAGE TO CHECK MY REAR, RIGHT TURNINF SIGNA, FOG LAMPS, BRAKE LIGHTS. CHECKED ALL THE BULBS AND THEY ARE FINE. PUT THE HARNESS BACK AND REALIZED IT WAS A LITTLE HOT AND WHEN I LOOKED THE WIRE TO THE FAR RIGHT I THINK IS EXPOSE AND ON THE OTHER SIDE IT IS BURNT THROUGH THE PLASTIC. MESSAGE COMES OFF AND ON DURING DRIVING. *TR

20131216EXTERIOR LIGHTING

STARTED TO GET THE MESSAGE TO CHECK MY REAR, RIGHT TURNINF SIGNA, FOG LAMPS, BRAKE LIGHTS. CHECKED ALL THE BULBS AND THEY ARE FINE. PUT THE HARNESS BACK AND REALIZED IT WAS A LITTLE HOT AND WHEN I LOOKED THE WIRE TO THE FAR RIGHT I THINK IS EXPOSE AND ON THE OTHER SIDE IT IS BURNT THROUGH THE PLASTIC. MESSAGE COMES OFF AND ON DURING DRIVING. *TR

20131106TIRES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C CLASS. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL SPORT TIRES, TIRES SIZE 255/35/ZR18. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY DEFLATED. THE DEFECTIVE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE A NEW TIRE WAS INSTALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000. UPDATED 3/5/14*CN

Mileage: 33,000

20130717EXTERIOR LIGHTING

EXPERIENCE REAR LIGHTING FAILURE (REAR PASSENGER TAIL/BRAKE LIGHT OUT). HOWEVER, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER REAR TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY/CONNECTORS/ WIRING WERE IN A BURNT/ MELTED CONDITION. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. *TR

Mileage: 49,250

20130513CrashELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES C CLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT ONE MONTH LATER, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH AND STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V303000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

Mileage: 48,000

20130423ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES C- CLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE LIGHT BULBS CHANGED AND THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *TR

20130423EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES C- CLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE LIGHT BULBS CHANGED AND THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *TR

20130413FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

RIGHT REAR TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY. LIGHTS APPEARED DIM FOR A COUPLE MONTHS AND FIGURED LIGHTS WERE ABOUT IT GO OUT. WENT TO BUY NEW LIGHT BULBS TO REPLACE THE DIMMING BULBS AND WHEN I OPENED THE RIGHT SIDE TO INSTALL THE LIGHT I NOTICED THE ELECTRICAL CORD ATTACHED TO THE ASSEMBLY HAD MELTED. LIGHTS WERE STILL DIM AND CHECKED TO SEE WHAT IT SOUNDED LIKE WHEN I TURNED THE LIGHTS ON AND IT MAKES A CRACKLING ELECTRICAL SOUND. I ASSUME THAT'S WHY IT SMELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING AND WHY THE 8 PRONG PIECE MELTED. 1-6 ON THE ELECTRICAL PIECE LOOK GOOD. 7 IS DAMAGED DUE TO NUMBER 8 COMPLETELY MELTING OFF. *TR

Mileage: 48,763

20130413FireEXTERIOR LIGHTING

RIGHT REAR TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY. LIGHTS APPEARED DIM FOR A COUPLE MONTHS AND FIGURED LIGHTS WERE ABOUT IT GO OUT. WENT TO BUY NEW LIGHT BULBS TO REPLACE THE DIMMING BULBS AND WHEN I OPENED THE RIGHT SIDE TO INSTALL THE LIGHT I NOTICED THE ELECTRICAL CORD ATTACHED TO THE ASSEMBLY HAD MELTED. LIGHTS WERE STILL DIM AND CHECKED TO SEE WHAT IT SOUNDED LIKE WHEN I TURNED THE LIGHTS ON AND IT MAKES A CRACKLING ELECTRICAL SOUND. I ASSUME THAT'S WHY IT SMELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING AND WHY THE 8 PRONG PIECE MELTED. 1-6 ON THE ELECTRICAL PIECE LOOK GOOD. 7 IS DAMAGED DUE TO NUMBER 8 COMPLETELY MELTING OFF. *TR

Mileage: 48,763

20080725TIRES

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE VEHICLE HAS MICHELIN PILOT SPORT TIRES, SIZE 232/35/19 (NA) IN THE FRONT AND SIZE 265/30/19 (NA) IN THE REAR. THE TIRES WERE UNDERINFLATED BY THE DEALER, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE ROUGHLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

Mileage: 3,000

20080414TIRES:SIDEWALL

THE TIRES OF THE CAR STARTED GROWING BUMPS ON THE FACE OF THE TIRE. INITIALLY ONE IN ONE TIRE, THEN THE SECOND ONE ON THE SAME TIRE, THEN ONE ON A SECOND TIRE AND FINALLY A THIRD ONE ON THE FIRST TIRE. I CALLED THE DISTRIBUTOR AND WAS TOLD TO BUY NEW TIRES OR GO TO THE TIRE MANUFACTURER FOR WARRANTY. THIS IN MY OPINION IS A SERIOUS SECURITY RISK THAT THE MANUFACTURERS ARE NOT TAKING SERIOUSLY. *TR

Mileage: 2,100

20080129AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C350. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING SYSTEM LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE LIGHT; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVEN DAYS LATER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

Mileage: 600

20071026CrashFireAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

ACCIDENT. 2008 MERCEDES C-350 REAR ENDED A DELIVERY TRUCK. MERCEDES BEGAN SMOKING IMMEDIATELY AND CAUGHT FIRE WITHIN ONE MINUTE. WITHIN 3-5 MINUTES ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WERE FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAME. DRIVER ESCAPED BEFORE CAR BURNED. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN THIS FRONT END CRASH. DRIVER HAD CONCUSSION AND FACIAL INJURIES FROM HITTING, POSSIBLY STEERING WHEEL. DRIVER SUSTAINED OTHER INJURIES AS WELL. *TR

Mileage: 900

Compare 2008MERCEDES-BENZC-CLASS to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS have?
The 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS has 18 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 3 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS?
The most-complained component for the 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include EXTERIOR LIGHTING and TIRES.
Is the 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.