2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Steering

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 years of the C300 Mercedes Benz. Google shows: Mercedes-Benz has issued a recall for the Mercedes- Benz C-Class models, including the C300, due to potential steering lock issues. The recall specifically affects 2015- 2016 C300 models, as well as other C-Class variations like the 2017-2019 C300 Cabrio and Coupe. The recall is due to a potential problem with the Electronic Steering Lock (ESL) module, which is responsible for locking and unlocking the steering wheel. A faulty ESL module can prevent the steering wheel from unlocking, causing the vehicle to be unable to start. We feel that the recall should also apply to the C300 2008 model as it is exactly the same issue and completely incapacitates the car and is a danger to the public as involves the electronic steering. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

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.

The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz C350. The contact attempted to start the vehicle however, the vehicle failed to start-up. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle Electronic Steering Lock failure. The vehicle was currently being repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 78,000.

AFTER DRIVING COMPLETELY NORMALLY FOR OVER 30 MINUTES, I PARKED IN A LOT AND STEPPED OUT OF THE CAR WITHOUT ISSUE TO RUN AN ERRAND. AFTER GETTING BACK INTO THE CAR ONLY 5 MINUTES LATER, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THERE WAS NO NOISE, JUST AN MESSAGE ON THE DISPLAY: "REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION". NO OTHER LIGHTS CAME UP. THE KEY COULD TURN, BUT NOTHING ELSE HAPPEN. AFTER DETERMINING THAT IT WAS NOT A BATTERY OR ENGINE ISSUE, THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP THAT DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A FAILURE OF THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK, WHICH CAUSED THE NO START CONDITION. THIS WAS A SUDDEN FAILURE WITH NO WARNINGS, LEAVING DRIVER AND PASSENGERS COMPLETELY IMMOBILE. DEALERSHIP IS CHARGING OVER $1600 FOR REPLACEMENT, CITING THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL.

ISSUE: PARKED VEHICLE FAILED TO START. STEERING LOCKED. SHIFTER LOCKED. SUDDEN FAILURE, NO WARNINGS. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER DIAGNOSTIC: ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL) FAILED. AFFECTED P/N: 204-545-81-32. SPECIAL NOTES: (1) CAR MAINTAINED BY DEALER. OEM PARTS PURCHASED FROM DEALER. (2) THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME PART IS REPLACED BY THE DEALER ON THIS VEHICLE. LAST REPLACED IN 2012. (3) CONTACTED MB CUSTOMER CARE (CASE MANAGER) TO SHARE CONCERN. IMMEDIATELY STATED: "NOT A SAFETY CONCERN." NO INTEREST IN REPORTING ISSUE TO LEADERSHIP OR APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENT. SAFETY CONCERN AND RECOMMENDATIONS: (1) PAST HISTORY * AND LACK OF OEM INTERVENTION SUGGEST ESL COULD FAIL WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE COMPLETE STEERING CONTROL OF VEHICLE. (2) BOTH A FAILURE MODES AND EFFECTS ANALYSIS (FMEA) AND SYSTEM SAFETY ANALYSIS (SSA) SHOULD BE PERFORMED AND REPORTED TO NHTSA TO ASCERTAIN THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. (3) SAFETY SUMMARY REPORT OR OFFICIAL STATEMENT SHOULD BE SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC. * OVER 100 COMBINED COMPLAINTS REPORTED IN THIS WEBSITE, MB FORUMS, AND OFF-LINE.

STEERING WHEEL LOCKS WITHOUT WARNING, SHUTTING OFF CONTROL TO THE VEHICLE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE GEAR SHIFT. PROBLEM OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING AND CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS AS WELL AS LEAVE YOU STRANDED WITHOUT AWAY OF STARTING YOUR CAR OR DRIVING IT SAFELY.

I GOT OUT OF MY VEHICLE TO STOP AT AN ATM WHEN I GOT BACK INTO MY PARKED CAR IT WOULD NOT START. NONE OF THE DIAGNOSTICS WORKED. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK STOPPED WORKING. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE C300.

THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK MECHANISM FAILED, LOCKING THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH PREVENTED IGNITION AND THE ABILITY TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO MANUAL FOR TOWING. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED ON A PUBLIC ROADWAY IN ORDER TO ASSIST A LOST CHILD. AFTER THE POLICE ARRIVED TO ASSIST, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART, PUSHED, OR MOVED FURTHER OFF OF THE ROAD. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS REPAIR IS A COMMON COMPLAINT ON 2008 C300 CARS AND THE OEM PARTS WERE PART OF A BAD BATCH OF SUPPLIER PARTS.

VEHICLE PARKED AND LOCKED IN FRONT MY HOUSE. WHEN ATEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT UNLOCK. I TRIED TWO DIFFERENT KEY TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT STILL THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THERE IS NO WARNING LIGHT. MERCEDES BENZ ROADSIDE ASSISTANT WAS CALLED, AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALER. THEN, DEALER CONFIRMED THAT STEERING LOCK MODULE IN THE COLUMN HAS FAILED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACE, AND WILL COST $1100 PARTS, LABOR, AND TAX TO GET IT DONE EVEN WHEN I HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY. IT WAS SAID THAT THE SERVICE CONTRACT IS A NAMED COMPONENT WARRANTY AND THIS COMPONENT IS NOT ON THE LIST, SO IT IS NOT COVERED. THE VEHICLE IS NOW IN AT THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALER AND IS BEING WORKED ON.

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.

CAR WON'T START AND SHOWED NO SYMPTOM. AFTER READING THE BLOG IT APPEARS A LOT PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME ISSUE AND DEALERSHIPS ARE THE ONLY AUTHORIZED TO WORK ON THEM AND TAKING PEOPLE HARD EARNED MONEY. IT STOPPED WORKING WORKING AT 18583 DALLAS PARKWAY SUITE 120 DALLAS, TX 75287 WHILE IT WAS PARKED. PARK PLACE MERCEDES IS WORKING ON THE VEHICLE AND CHARGING IS MORE THAN THOUSAND.

VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT START.

STEERING LOCK MECHANISM FAULTY. STEERING LOCKED AND CAR INOPERABLE. CAR WAS PARKED. HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER.

EIS/ESL FAILED AT 100K DESPITE REGULAR MAINTENANCE

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.

STEERING REFUSED TO UNLOCK AND THUS THE CAR WOULD NOT START. CAR WAS STATIONARY SITTING IN THE GARAGE.

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.

TL* 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.

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

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.

MALFUNCTIONING ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT WHICH SEEMS TO BE A COMMON DEFECT FOR MB W204

ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK FAIL CAR WON'T TURN ON

DRIVING AT NIGHT AND CAR WAS PARKED. TRIED TO START THE CAR BUT IT WON'T START AT ALL. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS A STEERING LOCK MECHANISM MALFUNCTION. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN SUBMITTED BY OTHER C300 OWNERS AND HAS BEEN A COMMON COMPLAINT. THERE IS A SAFETY CONCERN BY ALL OF US REGARDING THE PROBLEM ESPECIALLY IT CAN HAPPEN ANYTIME. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT THIS BE ESCALATED TO A RECALL FOR ALL AFFECTED MODELS FROM MERCEDES. IT IS UNFAIR TO US TO KEEP PAYING OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE REPAIR. MY CAR ONLY HAS 62200MILES IN IT.

ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK MOTOR FAILURE - CAR DID NOT START AND ENGINE NON-RESPONSIVE. ONLY THE DEALER AND MERCEDES BENZ AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOPS CAN FIX THIS ISSUE. UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.

THIS OCCURRED IN STATIONARY POSITION IN MY GARAGE. STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP WHEN PARKED WITH WHEELS FORWARD / TURNING KEY TO START ENGINE DOES NOT WORK. PER THE DEALER, THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION LOCK ANTI-THEFT CONTROL UNIT IS FAULTY. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF A PROBLEM PRIOR. THIS COULD LEAVE PEOPLE STRANDED IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS.