71 of the
323 complaints filed about the Mercedes Benz C350
are about the electrical system —
22% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2008.
The ESL system malfunction causes either steering lock or ignition switch to fail resulting in a failure to start the vehicle creating safety issues and a failure to reach safe destination. This problem is reported to be an extremely common issue in the Mercedes Benz W204 C-Class models.
NHTSA complaint #11640772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
All of a sudden, the car would not start and inserting the key and turning doesn't do anything. Turns out that like many other folks, the Electronic Steering Lock module is faulty and preventing the car from starting. Found out that only the dealer can fix it and mercedes provides the replacement part. The cost is unaffordable at $2200 from the dealer and the part is back ordered and won't be available for approximately 2 months. This is completely unacceptable and mercedes should prioritize and fix this issue as a safety issue with a recall since it completely makes the car non-driveable and nobody but the dealer can fix this, which allows the dealer to charge any amount they like.
NHTSA complaint #11543743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz C350. The contact stated that after the vehicle was turned off, she attempted to restart the vehicle, but the engine failed to turn over. The contact stated that the next day the vehicle started; however, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the speedometer started to malfunction. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the contact was unsure if the vehicle was diagnosed. Additionally, the contact stated that on a separate occasion while driving at an undisclosed speed, she noticed that water had started to leak from the sun visor. The contact also heard water moving around on the floorboard. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 166,000.
NHTSA complaint #11496251 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AFTER A FEW YEARS OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE FOLLOWING STOPPED WORKING CAUSING DIFFICULTY DRIVING THE VEHICLE ABS/EPS INOPERATIVE CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE
NHTSA complaint #11399778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, SEVERAL ELECTRICAL FAILURES HAD OCCURRED AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. IT WAS LATER DISCOVERED THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY FUSE. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAD STOPPED WORKING AND THE SRS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WERE NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER PLAZA MERCEDES BENZ LOCATED AT 11910 OLIVE BLVD, CREVE COEUR, MO 63141 AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
NHTSA complaint #11390961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON SUNDAY, JUNE 27, UPON RETURNING TO MY CAR I DISCOVERED THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT DISENGAGE THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK TO ALLOW ME TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH TO THE ON POSITION OR STEER THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE GEARSHIFT COULD NOT BE DISLODGED FROM THE PARK POSITION. I CONTACTED AAA. A TEST OF BATTERY REVEALED THAT IT WAS FULLY CHARGED. I WAS ABLE TO MANUALLY DISENGAGE THE GEAR SHIFT AND PLACE THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, HOWEVER, THE CAR WAS UNABLE TO BE LOADED ON TO THE FLATBED TOW-TRUCK, AS THE FRONT WHEELS WERE LOCKED AT AN ANGLE AND I WAS PARKED IN PARKING SPACE, BETWEEN THE SIDEWALK TO MY FRONT AND RIGHT SIDE AND A CAR TO MY LEFT. I WAS FORCED TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE AND FIND AN ALTERNATIVE MEANS OF GETTING HOME. FIVE DAYS AND NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS LATER, AAA WAS FINALLY ABLE TO RETRIEVE MY VEHICLE. CONVERSATION WITH MECHANICS AT MB DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS MB TRAINED PRIVATE MECHANIC IDENTIFIED PROBLEM AS DEFECTIVE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH (EIS/ EZS) AND ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL/ ELV). CONTACTED MBUSA CORPORATE OFFICE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR (APPROXIMATELY $1,600) WAS MINE, SINCE, DESPITE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING SIMILAR MECHANICAL ISSUE, THERE IS NOT A RECALL
NHTSA complaint #11104682 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C350. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, A FAMILY MEMBER NOTIFIED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TRUNK. THE CONTACT OPENED THE TRUNK AND NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS IN FLAMES AROUND THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS PRESENT, BUT NO REPORT WAS FILED. THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED APPROXIMATELY FOUR YEARS AGO PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL BY MERCEDES-BENZ OF SOUTH ORLANDO IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA. HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED FOR THE RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.
NHTSA complaint #11079750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE FAILED TO START/CRANK AFTER ONLY 28,000 MILES. CAUSE WAS A FAILED ESL (ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK) PART OF THE ELECTRONIC THEFT SYSTEM THAT TIES WITH THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH. THE FAILURE OF THIS PART DISABLES THE CAR AND IS UNUSABLE. THIS ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL, W204 - C-CLASS 300/350, HAS AN ABNORMAL AMOUNT OF REPORTS VIA MERCEDES BENZ INTERNET FORUMS ABOUT THIS VERY FAILURE. 13 PAGES WORTH ON ONE. GIVEN THE LOW AMOUNT OF MILES ON MY VEHICLE, THE FAILURE RATE SEEMS UNREASONABLY HIGH. THE PART FAILURE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE USE/ABUSE OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #11024090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2 YEARS AGO MANAGER TOLD ME THE WIRING OF THE HEAD LAMPS WAS MELTING BUT HE CAN ONLY REPLACE THE WHOLE UNIT( BOTH). I TOLD HIM THAT A CAR WITH 30000 MILS THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. NOTHING HE CAN DO. THE CAR HAS STARTED TO BURN ON THE INSIDE , SMOKE COMES OUT OF THE ENGINE. CAR TRANSPORTS CHILDREN. TO AND FROM SCHOOL. EERY OTHER ONTH LAMPS BURN OUT, HAPPENING SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. FINALLY WENT TO SHOP AGAIN TODAY AND THEY PUT IT ON PAPER. WIRE COATING FALLING APART, CAUSES BURN OUT OF LAMPS. THIS IS A HUGE DANGER AND SHOULD BE RECALLED NOT PAID BY USER. HAVE SENT 2 OTHER COMPLAINTS TO NHTSA WITH NO RESOLUTION. WHY????? ADDITIONALLY CAR HAS HAD TAIL LAMP PROBLEMS SINCE THE BEGINNING WITH ONE RECALL. ADDITIONALLY THE SEAT COVER OF THE DRIVER SIDE IS COMING APART IN PIECES SINCE YEAR 2. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN?
NHTSA complaint #11016312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK- CAR WAS RUNNING FINE NO ISSUES PARKED THE CAR WENT BACK OUT TO START LESS THAN AN HOUR AFTER PARKING AND GOT NOTHING DASH CAME ON NO RADIO,NO WINDOWS,NO RELEASE FROM PARK, AND STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND WILL NOT UNLOCK. LEFT STRANDED HAVE TO HAVE A TOW TO CLOSEST MERCEDES BENZ DEALER 45 MILES AWAY....ESTIMATED COST AFTER 310.80 TOW 1200 TO 2000
NHTSA complaint #10991891 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL) GOES OUT DAMAGED WITHOUT REASON, HAPPENED ALL OF A SUDDEN TO MY PARKED CAR. CAR SIMPLY WON'T ATTEMPT TO START AND STEERING HIS COMPLETELY LOCKED. ONLY OPTION IS TO TOW IT TO THE SHOP AND A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR FIX. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF CASES ALREADY REGISTERED ON THIS AND IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS PART USED IN MANY MERCEDES CARS.
NHTSA complaint #10991727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C350W. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 113,773.
NHTSA complaint #10984683 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING LOCK ISSUE. ENGINE DOES NOT CRANK AND CAR DOES NOT START. UPON INSERTING KEY, AN MESSAGE POPS UP ASKING TO REMOVE THE KEY. STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND CAR STUCK IN PARK. DUE TO THE CONFIGURATION OF MY PARKING GARAGE AND THE FACT THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED, IT TOOK ME SEVERAL DAYS AND 4 DIFFERENT TOW TRUCKS TO SUCCESSFULLY TOW THE CAR 1.5 MILES TO MY LOCAL MB DEALERSHIP. THE DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR OF THE FAULTY STEERING LOCK, WHICH THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAYS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WITH MY MODEL, TOOK AN ENTIRE WEEK. I WAS TOLD MB DOES NOT OFFER A LOANER CAR IN THIS SITUATION. ALL IN ALL, IT TOOK MY 2 WEEKS TO FINALLY GET MY CAR WORKING AGAIN. THE REPAIR WAS $1,200. ADD IN THE 4 TOW TRUCKS, AND 2 WEEKS OF RENTAL CAR AND THIS WAS EASILY A $2,000 ISSUE. MB SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL GIVEN THAT THIS ISSUE IS SO PREVALENT AND CLEARLY A FAULT WITH THE STEERING LOCK PART.
NHTSA complaint #10954054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SECOND WARNING REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL WIRING REGARDING THE FRONT HEAD LAMPS. THE WIRING IS BURNING UP AND IT WILL CAUSE A FIRE WITH DEADLY CONSEQUENCES. THIS CAR HAS HAD A RECALL BEFORE REGARDING THE WIRING OF THE BACK STOP LIGHTS, IF NOTHING IS DONE THERE WILL BE A FIRE. THE SEAT (FRONT) COVERING IS PEELING OFF, CO. SAYS ITS NORMAL. THIS IS MY 2ND REPORT AND THE SMOKE IS GETTING HEAVIER ALL THE TIME AND IT IS AFFECTING THE COMPUTER OF THE CAR FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE IS ALWAYS PICKING UP CHILDREN WITH MY WIFE. VERY DIFFICULT TO GET PHOTO, BUT IS VISIBLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FRONT HEAD LIGHTS. THERE HAS BEEN NO FIRE YET BUT THERE IS SMOKE.
NHTSA complaint #10948957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE WIRING TO THE HEAD LAMBS (BOTH) ARE BURNING UP, CAUSING A BURNT SMELL IN THE CAR, COMPANY SAYS TO BUY NEW HEAD LAMPS. THE ELECTRIC WIRE SYSTEM IN THE CAR HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE BEGINNING. EVIDENTLY THE HEAT IN THE MOTOR AREA IS TO MUCH FOR THE QUALITY OF THE WIRING COVERS AND THEY CAUSE LAMP BURN OUT,AND BURN THE PLASTIC WIRE COVERING. CAR IS USED FOR PLEASURE HAS VERY FEW MILES. VERY HARD TO TAKE A PICTURE , TECH HAD A HARD TIME GETTING TO IT.
NHTSA complaint #10937330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FRONT LAMPS AND HEADLIGHT KEEP RANDOMLY NOT FUNCTIONING AT START OR WHEN DRIVING. WARNING LIGHT THAT BULB IS OUT COMES ON BUT THEN GOES AWAY AND THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON AFTER A LITTLE OF TIME AND A RESTART OF ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #10927785 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C350. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT THE IGNITION FAILED TO TURN OVER AND START. A WARNING INDICATOR TO REMOVE THE KEY APPEARED. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED AND WOULD NOT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL STEERING LOCK MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DECLINED TO FILE A COMPLAINT UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,000. UPDATED 10/04/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE OLD PARTS AND REPAIR RECEIPT ARE AVAILABLE. UPDATED 10/13/16.
NHTSA complaint #10897279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C350. WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH, A CLICKING SOUND WAS HEARD AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #10894394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.