2008 Mercedes-Benz C350 problems
The 2008 Mercedes-Benz C350 has 196 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (28%) concerns electrical system. Next are air bags (27%) and steering (16%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 196 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 28% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 3 and 4
- Injuries and deaths
- 2 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 71,000 miles 144 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 8 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 11 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 21 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 44 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 28 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 20 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 6 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 4 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 2 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 144 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 71,000 miles. For electrical system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 78,000 miles (48 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 3 complaints mention a crash; 4 complaints mention a fire; 2 injuries reported. Its complaints are less severe on average than those of 86% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2008 ranks 1st most-complained-about out of 4 model years of the Mercedes-Benz C350 with enough data (44 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 6 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
In my 2008 mercedes c350 my airbags failed to deploy in a head on crash at 50 miles per hour, the car had 18,000 in damage and no airbags went off.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 mercedes benz c350. The contact stated that the instrument panel caught on fire. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer where it was determined that the radio and the wiring needed to be replaced. The failure and current mileages were 109,000.
After receiving several dashboard warning messages and, I went into higgenbothom mercedes in jackson, ms on 10/12/12 my vehicle was diagnosed as needing a right rear contact plate and harness is shorted out. About a week in a half ago my lights on right side (both front and back tail lights) will flash on and off periodically when my lights are in the auto position and the engine is off.
Driver side bulb burned out. Replaced bulb. After further inspection noticed the passenger side lights dimmer than right side. Replaced the passenger side bulb with new one but remained dim. Noticed that bulb assembly gets very hot and also noticed a dark spot that appears to be indication of burning like a short circuit.
Drove car to work without any problems. At the end of day, car would not start and engine would not crank or turn over. Dashboard indicator, radio, windows, interior/exterior lights worked. Got a jump from employee parking services, but car still would not start. Steering column locked and unable to shift gear to neutral. Towed car to auto repair shop and had service diagnostic performed.