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2008 Mercedes-Benz C63Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 5 owner complaints about the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C63, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 15V-711 the manufacturer reports only 54% of affected cars repaired.

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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls3Lowest repair rate 54%Owner complaints50 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage83kElectrical system, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 15, 2016. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C63 has problems

5 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system20
Exterior lighting20
Fuel/propulsion system10
Steering10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

3 recalls

2008 Mercedes-Benz C63 recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

66%repaired · 2026 Q3

Passenger side: inflator module

Recall 16V-363 · May 26, 2016 · 258,163 vehicles · 169,998 repaired

Risk. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

54%repaired · 2017 Q2

Frontal: sensor/control module-inactive

Recall 15V-711 · Oct 27, 2015 · 127,504 vehicles · 68,800 repaired

Risk. The malfunctioning air bag control unit may cause the air bags to unexpectedly deploy increasing the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

67%repaired · 2015 Q4

Exterior lighting: tail lights

Recall 14V-177 · Apr 11, 2014 · 252,867 vehicles · 170,117 repaired

Risk. Dimming or failure of the tail lights reduces the ability to warn other motorists of the driver's intentions of stopping or turning, increasing the risk of a…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Mercedes-Benz.

Best & worst years

2008 vs. every other C63 year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the C63 median. How we score

'08'09'10'11
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C63, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Loss of rear lighting assemblyEA13008 · closed May 12, 2014
    Led to recall 14V-177
  2. Loss of rear tail light functionalityPE13026 · closed Dec 30, 2013
    No recall
In owners' words

What C63 owners report

Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

THE ELECTRONIC STEERING CONTROL LOCK MODULE WENT OUT ON MY CAR. THIS SEEMS TO BE A REOCCURRING ISSUE WITH ANY "W204" 2008/2009 MERCEDES BENZ MODEL CAR. I'VE DOCUMENTED OVER A FEW HUNDRED CASES ALONE ON THE FORUMS ONLINE. THIS IS A DEALERSHIP ONLY FIX AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. BASICALLY, SECURITY…
Complaint 10884993 · Jul 15, 2016 · 135,000 miles

Own a 2008 C63?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.