2008 Mercedes Benz C300 Steering Problems
Owners have filed 136 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the 2008 Mercedes Benz C300, 20% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 90,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “steering lock” (41% of reports).
- 136steering complaints
- 90,000median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $1,800typical repair cost reported by owners
- 18%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Steering lock: mentioned in 56 of 136 complaints (41%)
- Key ignition: mentioned in 13 of 136 complaints (10%)
- Failed start: mentioned in 13 of 136 complaints (10%)
- Wheel locked: mentioned in 10 of 136 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical steering repair on the 2008 Mercedes Benz C300 at $1,800, and half of them between $1,650 and $2,100.
Based on 14 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2014–2024), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do steering problems happen?
Based on 119 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 136 complaints, 2 an injury.
Mercedes-Benz C300 steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 C300 | 1 | 4% | — |
| 2020 C300 | 2 | 6% | — |
| 2019 C300 | 5 | 7% | 30,253 |
| 2018 C300 | 12 | 12% | 57,000 |
| 2017 C300 | 13 | 6% | 25,000 |
| 2016 C300 | 13 | 5% | 54,405 |
| 2015 C300 | 23 | 6% | 40,000 |
| 2014 C300 | 13 | 14% | 47,582 |
| 2013 C300 | 26 | 10% | 68,031 |
| 2012 C300 | 8 | 3% | 92,000 |
| 2011 C300 | 34 | 7% | 82,000 |
| 2010 C300 | 71 | 16% | 71,517 |
| 2009 C300 | 136 | 24% | 74,200 |
| 2008 C300 | 136 | 20% | 90,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists steering for the 2008 Mercedes Benz C300. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
On [XXX] the car refused to start due to the electronic steering lock failure. The car was towed to the nearest Mercedes Benz Dealer at Stevens Creek Blvd, San Jose CA 95129. An inspection was done and Mercedes Benz wanted $3457.66 to replace the Steering Lock. This item is a recall item in other…
The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. The contact stated that a message to remove the ignition key was displayed. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The contact…
ESL failed suddenly. This appears to be a common problem with C300 MB. As such it should be part and f a recall as the expense to replace is over $2000.
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2008 Mercedes Benz C300s have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 136 owner complaints about steering for the 2008 Mercedes Benz C300 (20% of the 672 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2008 Mercedes Benz C300 steering?
No recall currently lists steering for this vehicle.
At what mileage do steering problems start?
The median reported mileage is 90,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix steering problems on the 2008 Mercedes Benz C300?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,800 (half paid between $1,650 and $2,100), from 14 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about steering problems on the 2008 Mercedes Benz C300?
The most frequent phrase is “steering lock”, in 56 of 136 complaints, followed by “key ignition” (13).
Other 2008 Mercedes Benz C300 problems
- Air Bags problems (270)
- Electrical System problems (228)
- Exterior Lighting problems (108)
See all 2008 Mercedes Benz C300 problems or steering problems across all C300 years.